On the Yankees beat

Gee whiz. Guess we're stuck with Melky!

Whatever will the Yankees *do* with a switch-hitting, Gold Glove-caliber, 22-year old making the Major League minimum salary?

Obviously, this deal would have SOME impact on what they ask for Santana since their needs would change somewhat. Time will tell us exactly what that impact is.

I think that is the CF they were looking for. No need for Melky now. And that's good because we need his defense. Now they have to replace Garza. Phil Hughes?

This trade will change a lot to what the Twins will be asking for from the Yanks.

They fill their Center Field needs with Delmon and Pridie. So they probably will not need Melky.

It makes the Twins go after Cano a lot more then. Which I can not see the Yanks doing since they have no one who can replace him within the organization or outside the organization. It also gives the Twins more of a reason to go after more than just Huges. Maybe Kennedy as well.

In my eyes this is bad news for the Yanks because Melky was our best chip to give them. Now they are going to want more of the players we are not willing to part with.

WFAN is also reporting the Twins are looking to move Nathan as well. Replacing him with possibly Rincon.

Wow interesting deal! Delmon has said from the start he has no interest in staying long term with the Rays, but I hope they didn't throw in Brendan Harris who actually played decent at short! Let's pray Garza adds some good pitching, because the Rays need it BAD!!!

This trade may ease Minnesota's demand for an immediate impact player besides the pitching. The yankees could get away with trading Hughes or Kennedy plus two or three not-so-coveted minor league players.

I think this trade might send a signal that the Twins are more intent on keeping Santana.

If they deal him, and Silva leaves as a FA and Garza now is gone that means the Twins would be redoing 3/5 of their rotation. They have the arms to do it with Slowey, Perkins, Liriano, and Baker - but I don't see it. Maybe getting a stud like Delmon Young is supposed to be a sign to Johan, "Look, sure we let Torii go, but we got one of the top young outfielders in the game to replace him."

For the Rays this is a fantastic trade by the way. They've got three very good, young pitchers in Kazmir, Shields and now Garza - plus they'll get David Price (the #1 pick last year) up at some point. They lose some offense with Young, but you figure that BJ Upton, Carl Crawford, and Johnny Gomes will be their outfield (maybe Elijiah Dukes if he gets his head on straight) they upgrade at short with Bartlett over Harris or Zobrist. Evan Longoria will be their starting 3b moving the Japanese guy they signed last year to 2nd. Pena at 1st and Navarro behind the plate. If they were in ANY other division I would say that's a playoff team.

Young is not your prototypical centerfielder. I dont think this trade has any barring on the Twins interest in Melky. They could move Cuddyer back to 3rd and have an outfield of Melky, Young and Pirdie. Reports on Pirdie are that he needs more seasoning in the minors as he was injured most of last season.

McCarthy - if they just traded Rincon then they can't use him to replace Nathan right? I could see there being a HUGE market for Nathan. He's one of the top closers in the game right now. Cubs would be foolish not to take a run at him. Maybe Ronny Cedeno and Matt Murton for Nathan.

here's some info for the next person who says they want Bedard:

BOTH Bedard and Santana were born in March 1979 (THEY ARE THE SAME EXACT AGE)

Bedard has NEVER pitched 200 innings in any professional year. HE MISSED THE ENTIRE 2002 and 2003 seasons w/ arm problems.

Bedard's last 2 years combined: 28-16, 61 GS, 378.3 IP, 337 H, 126 BB, 146 ER, 392 K's, 1.224 WHIP, 3.47 ERA

Santana's last 2 years combined: 34-19, 67 GS, 452.7 IP, 369 H, 99 BB, 153 ER, 478 K's, 1.034 WHIP, 3.04 ERA

These two pitchers aren't on the same PLANET (especially when you consider Bedard's previous arm trouble and his DL stint last year w/ a strained oblique muscle).

As for Santana ... the big gripe I hear is that he's thrown 1300 innings over his 8 year career (but only his last 4 years are over 200 IP) .... just to give you an idea, here's a list of a couple of pitchers and the innings they had logged by age 28 (maybe you've heard of some of these guys)....

Clemens: 1783 IP
R. Johnson: 979 IP
N. Ryan: 1651 IP
Seaver: 1931 IP
Gibson: 1149 IP

So, it's pretty safe to say that Santana hasn't "burned out" his arm like so many people are trying to say on this blog. Folks ... WAKE UP!!!! The guy's a stud and will continue to be one for the next several years.

The only real issue now is how this other potential trade by the Twins will affect what they might want from the Yanks. Plus, just heard on M&MD that Twins are also considering trading Nathan so that will bring them in even more bounty!!!!

Yanksfan - I think they moved Cuddyer off 3rd because he is not a good player there. I could though see them rekindling talks with the Cards for Scotty Rolen.

Diane

Good point!!

We all love Hughes and I am certain that to a man (not named Roy or Rick) we'd all wince parting ways with his potential BUT Diane is right the kid threw 2 not 3..TWO PITCHES ALL SEASON INCLUDING THE GAMES AGAINST THE INDIANS.

WHERE IS THIS 3RD PITCH WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT CAUSE I NEVER SAW IT!!

Sure it's still fresh in our minds and him showing up heroically against the Indians does have significant impact in all this talk and it should but has anyone ever considered that the Indians may just not match up well with Hughes? He murdered them ever time he faced them and changeup schmange up he owns the Indians.

I don't mean to down play it too much because his courage and poise especially given the circumstance and his age was yes very impressive. I'm just trying to point out that we should try to keep a proper perspective regarding that performance in October.

Now if he had a 3rd pitch ie A CHANGE UP!! that he could throw with his curve and 91mph (Yes not 96) fastball than I may change my mind.

$hit if anyone can guarantee me the kid will have just an average change up that he can throw with decent command I'd probably pull the kid off the table altogether.

Until then If it's Hughes/Melky/Tabata I make the deal, drink a fifth of bourbon, and cry myself to sleep.

Bedard and Kazmir would be FANTASTIC but as someone has already pointed out it's lunacy. No way do you give up those guys so you can face them 20 times a year.

That leaves Haren.

Sure I'd take him. In fact I'm quite fond of the young man but he's RIGHT HANDED!!

With Pettitte pulling a Hamlet not to mention his age...I mean seriously if he comes back it's probably just this year so we NEED A LEFTY.

Not to mention this Santana fellow is pretty good.

Yankee Bri ...

If you got up at the plate 500 times vs. Bedard or Santana, you know you would strike out 499 times and maybe foul off one ball out of sheer law of probabilty.

Have you ever seen a game up close? Stood in the box?

Bedard can be JUST AS NASTY as Santana in his own way. Even Lilly or Kazmir can be nasty. Their ball moves. Damon faced Kazmir one time and said "Oh my, I can't believe they traded him!"

Ask the hitters, as Bruce Hurst once told me.

Only the hitters can speak.

Not the stats.

Look at the career of Jon Matlack as an example. Even Joe Morgan and the Reds in their prime all marvelled at his stuff vs his stats.

As Mark Twain said, "There are three kinds of lies, white lies, damned lies and statistics."

We will gladly take Bedard or Shields or Kazmir if we don't have to trade away the farm. The farm is the one redeeming quality Cashman gave us after his never ending bad decisions. Let him have his due. We are not our mistakes and Cash has come through with the kids and also praise for the scouts who went for real American talent at USC ... it provides the Yanks with the right direction, the direction others, including GS's son in law, might not want to follow, but are in the best interests of the Yanks and America. Honestly there can be no doubt.

Or if PH still has only two pitches then we can put him into the bp (as the Twins did with Santana) for several seasons to complete developing his repertoire as well as his strength. I'm sure he'd be great there, too, in the meantime.

And, since everyone is sure of Girardi's discretion regarding relievers, we could feel quite confident that he would not be overused there in the meantime, right?

With this new trade... i dont think the yanks are in the running anymore for Santana. They have there outfield, so now its time to focus our attention somewhere else maybe towards oakland or the orioles.

According to Michael the midnight blue helo is already hovering over Oakland.

http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article3201608.ece

Sorry but we can't afford Johan.

Neither can the Mets nor Boston.

I read a lot of fianance and I do mean a lot. I don't claim to understand it all but from the looks of it, Central Banks all over the world are printing and pumping in mega billions to sure up the dike but the holes remain. The Subprime Disaster created in large part by giving illegal Third World Immigrants to the USA huge housing loans they, no matter how hard they worked or what they endured, praise be given to them, could not be sustained ... it's not their fault ... they are the salt of the Earth ... but the numbers don't lie. The so called elites on Wall Street, by breaking all kinds of long established rules, have created an economic Tsunami that is NOT part of the regular business cycle as Diane tried to say.

Sorry. It's not about politics.

This is bigger than any of us can imagine. T

his ain't going away. This is 2007. Not 1997.

The Internet based dream, one global shopping mall, Dow is going to 50,000 fantasy world is about to have a stake through the heart.

As the above link shows ... 16 B here, 30 B there ... on and on and on ... I am telling everyone as I told you about Ankiel and other things ... it is all falling apart ...

IThat being the case I really think we need to re-evaluate the Yanks spending spree. The owner of Minny is the richest man in sports. What does he see coming that we mortals don't?

Look at the waste ...

Igawa
Farns
Giambi
Abreu (first half last year)
Mussina (who can replace me? Get in line bro)
Posada
Mo
A Rod
Pettitte if he comes back

If we get Jimmy Shields from Tampa Bay. That's 14, 15 wins with our lineup. He had 180 K's and like 35 Walks. He's good. Period. The kids's really good. I had no idea he was that good.

So Santana wins 20. Shields give us 15. We can make up the other five games with the talent we'd save.

The Yanks must decide if they are America's team, a family, a global empire or cracked out Paris Hilton on a spending binge with daddy's credit card.

Even with Santana on board Boston is still better than us.

If they have Santana of course they are better than us.

But if we get a few players like Eckstein, Shields, Gregg, Ludwick, Brandon Phillips ... and jettison the whole global empire thing (Igawa), we can beat them. I am sure of it. Even this year !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Diane I guess you had to bring in the word 'helo...'

My bad... :-(

You know what ...

Forget the Twins, A's and O's.

Just keep our kids and keep on what we are doing.

X the China thing.

X the signing children from the Caribbean till they are 18... really its a criminal thing. We don't sign 16 year olds from the USA and I can tell you having lived in both regions I think life is equally valuable ... the State Department should discontiue this MLB crime ... if the people in the Caribbean had statesmen to stand up for their own people this would be shut down ASAP.

That said ...

Just play ball ...

Get rid of the brutally insane contracts ... Clemens, Moose, Giambi, Abreu, Giambi, Farns, Damon, Igawa ...

And keep finding a Hughes, an Ian at USC, a Joba at Nebraska ... find a Brandon Phillips who dives for balls in infield practice ... find tough, hungry, hard nosed kids rather than these old, injury prone, spoiled vets (though Matsui and Damon are very good people I admire in many ways) and keep building ...

We are entering a Cinderella Man economic period. Barring nuclear terrorism, baseball will continue in a time of major ticket price reduction. The current paradigm is over. The elite don't see this but it certainly is a part of the future within five to seven years at most. Recession means a lower payroll. We can do this by jettisoning the dead weight. No problem ...

We need to be more like the old Expos, Minny and Billy Beane.

We will still be the Yanks.

We will still be great.

We will just be more mobile, tight, sustainable, lean, mean.

Live, draft and play by faith, not fear.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Too much preaching.

HYD is back ladies and gentleman!

Seriously, it would be a HUGE mistake for the Yanks to trade away Hughes. If you want to know my thought, the Yanks are getting into Santana's head. Here's what they're telling him:

Whether we can work out a trade for you or not, MAKE SURE you become a free agent at the end of the season as WE WILL outbid EVERYONE!

If we have to give up Kennedy, Melky, & Horne, fine, but if we need to include Hughes, Cano, Tabata, we'd be fools.

DNR in hospital parlance means DO NOT RESUSCITATE.

We could adopt dnr (no caps) to mean do not read.

But then we'd need a way to attach the tag to 'that stuff'.

TECHIES!!

O-OH-H T-E-CH-IE-S!!!

Nobody talks about more non-baseball related issues on this blog than Anthony.

It is indeed possible that a recession is looming. That said, it's isn't going to change the economics of baseball or the Yankees one iota.

We had a recession in 2000/01 with 9/11 on top of it and the Yanks payroll never decreased a single penny.

Secondly, Carl Pohlad is a cheap @ss no matter what how well or bad the economy is doing. The guy has NEVER spent the extra money on his team.

When was the last time you saw MLB ticket prices reduced?

That's not going to happen.

I didn't mean you, HYD.

Hey.

Thought maybe all this talk about trading away your boy had driven you screaming from our neighborhood. Welcome back. Gimme a stat.

Okay, Lucy.

Now you're the only holdout.

L-U-U-C-Y-Y!!!

...and bring those techies with you...

"Until then If it's Hughes/Melky/Tabata I make the deal, drink a fifth of bourbon, and cry myself to sleep"

***************************************************************

I'm right there w/ you Phucker. Well, not right there, you know, sleeping and stuff, but in spirit of course as I bring an unblemished record of staunch heterosexuality to the table.

A little about Hughes' changeup from about a year-ago:

Changeup: When Hughes made the decision to not throw his plus slider and instead focus all of his breaking effort on the curveball, it quickly became clear that he would need a 3rd pitch. Enter the changeup. He throws a 78-79 mph changeup fairly well, although it is not as developed as his other pitches. That will change. The Yankees put him on a constant diet of changeups throughout the 2006 season, forcing him to throw it as often as his curveball. It worked. He is still a step away from throwing the changeup in any situation (he goes to his curve with men on), but he is getting a better feel for it. Hughes would benefit from a few innings in AAA to finally nail it down without the big league pressure on him. Right now it will sometimes make hitters look foolish or sometimes fall way out of the strike zone. If Hughes' track record is at all predictive, expect him to throw it as well as he does his fastball.

The Yanks didn't plan to pitch him in the bigs until September this year, after the change-up was worked out better. Well, let me just tell you that it will be and he could always pull his slider out once in a while (former go-to pitch before he developed the curve). I've seen Hughes reach back and hit 97/98 on the radar gun, but generally he's hitting 93 consistently and 94/95 consistently when he's really feeling good.

Welcome back, HYD.

Just the guy to tell us what happened to that third pitch PH was promising us?

Welcome back HYD!

Synchronicity in action, HYD.

Knew you'd have something to say on that.

Have any of you seen Tabata rack? This kid can hit and WILL hit.

Di - I don't like how a bunch of people are making an assessment on Hughes based on a VERY limited sample size. These same people were proclaiming him the as the next Pedro a year ago, and as a GOD when he nearly pitched his no-hitter, and then of course there are those who heralded him after his performance in Cleveland. He's a STUD still and will have a BETTER career than Joba...I guarantee it. He's 21 and has the pose of a wily vet and great command. He's going to be special and if we trade him now, we'll be looking to make a similar trade to get him back later.

What makes ANYONE think that Santana will want to sign now? What incentive does he have? Oh, that he might get injured this year? Sure, but if that was his concern, he wouldn't have turned down $20 million/year. He WANTS to be HUGE. That's right, he's looking to cash in. He wants to be the AROD of pitchers and he wants to play for the Yanks. He could be traded to Boston, but he won't sign there, so why not let him go? Let Boston have one more great year, but lose a number of their kids...it works for me.

HYD,

In case you haven't been lurking I'll just tell you up front that there's a whole contingent on this blog who are as reluctant to trade Hughes as you are.

But an equally large bloc (just guessing, statties, haven't made an actual count) seems to want to go for the proven Ace even if it means giving up a potential one.

Immense bandwidth dedicated to this conversation here lately.

HYD- My official position on Hughes being involved in a trade for Santana is.....I'm waffling badly. I've changed my mind hour by hour. If I was the GM of the Yankees I'd be guzzling Pepto by the gallon while I thought about this.

If the Dollar implodes, and I hope it doesn't but after six months of intense research I would rather doubt it, I fail to see a soft landing.

All of this wild speculation, and I include me in that, on Santana and who goes and who stays bla bla bla ... it's just too much ...

Keep the kids ...

And let's play ball.

We will send a scout to Venezuela USC or Australia and find our own Santana ...

I haven't been lurking, so I don't know where people stand, but I know where I stand now and always. Even WITH Santana, the Yanks won't win next year's WS unless the remaining youngsters REALLY step it up, but if you don't think Hughes will, why think the others will?

By saying you, it's a group of thinkers, not any specific blogger...

I'm not saying I'm giving up on 2008 for the future, but I am saying that the future is brighter than 2008...

I think the Yanks still need to explore trading Moose and one of the corner outfielders. I'm not a Farns fan, but I think if the Yanks were to trade him now, they'd get fleeced, but he could be someone to trade in July.

I thought HYD was going off to teach in Australia? Nice beer, pretty women ...

Anyway ...

If Phillip Hughes and Joba and Garcia and Kennedy are so good, and I believe they are, and Tabata will be so great ... then keep them.

The heck with Minny or the Mets or the Red Sox.

Get James Shields and Mahay and Redmond and turn inward.

We don't hit the best pitchers anyway ...

Santana
Lackey
Escobar
Kazmir
Halladay

We don't have plate discipline ... Cano, Melky

We don't have a leadoff hitter ... Damon vs. Eckstein

We don't have esprit de corps (4 or 5 languages)

We don't have lefties in the rotation

We don't have lefties in the pen

We are stuck with Moose, Igawa, Farns

So, why worry?

We won't win next year, no way?.Too many wrong decisions over the past five years need to be corrected.

Look at the elite American institutions ... the few that remain ...

Coca Cola
Microsoft
McDonalds
New England Patriots
Herb Brooks 1980 Gold Medal (golden oldie)
82nd Airborne

Do you think for one second ANY of them would let Brian Cashman lead them, set the pace, follow the political correctness?

Women, race, PC, feelings, Affirmative Action ... they don't care.

They go for the throat.

They don't turn human weakness into a virtue.

Right or wrong ...

With the highest equity and payroll, why aren't that Yanks in that elite group?

Think about it ...

whoever hid this dude's medicine, give it back please, this is getting annoying.

You've heard of psycho-babble.

And you've seen religi-socio-politi-babble.

RSPB for short?

That disposed of --

I'm an unrepentant Hughes-trader, as long as what we get back is Santana.

Not that I'm eager to get rid of Hughes.

Not that he's the only one I'd let go of.

But if it's true that at 22 he's basically a two-pitch wonder, it takes the AL East two innings to catch up. And it takes him a year or two of further development before we have any clue what if any degree of true Ace-ness resides in his future.

In my NSH opinion.

P.S. For me true Ace-ness doesn't mean the possibility that he might be the best guy a team has, but that he becomes a true dominating stopper that when he comes to the mound you trust that tonight we win. Like Santana and only a small handful of others.

Angels Owner Arte Moreno - Hank Part 2?

The Yankee haters can't take Hank Steinbrenner because He's loudmouth and won't shut up. I like Hank because He's friendly to media and speak what on his mind. When Moreno speaks, I don't see any backlash by Media, I wonder why.

[quote]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071128&content_id=2313285&vkey=hotstove2007&fext=.jsp

Arte Moreno frustrated over Cabrera talks

"I've felt we had a deal with them twice," Moreno said of the Marlins, who apparently cut bait and decided they needed more in exchange for the 24-year-old slugger.

"It's going to be hard to give up that talent," he said. "They're doing it to everybody. I read that the Dodgers' [general manager] Ned Colletti had a deal, and they changed [players] on him.

"They've maneuvered us against each other. They've got a 24-year-old power hitter who plays third base, and you've got about six teams that need a third baseman.

"They're asking for four Major League players -- three Major League players and a pitcher, or two pitchers and two players. He is arbitration-eligible this year -- $12 million-plus -- and then you've got to re-sign him."

Moreno said he leaves the negotiations to new general manager Tony Reagins and his staff, adding that they come to him when "it's time to talk about money."

"If you're looking at straight budget, we're over budget," Moreno said. "Yeah, I would [lose money] if I need to. It would be short-term.

"We did that in '04. We were losing $20 million and people thought I was the stupidest guy on Earth when I signed all those guys [Bartolo Colon, Orlando Cabrera, extending Vladimir Guerrero]. You have to believe long-term it's going to be a good investment. We felt we needed to step to the next level."

"The next question is, `Does the right player fall into place?' Obviously, the big question is [Miguel] Cabrera."

"We got so fond of one player, and then the market moved away from us," he said, referring to the Angels' pursuit last winter of free agent Alfonso Soriano, who signed with the Chicago Cubs. "I don't want to do something that sets us back. We made an unbelievable move with Torii Hunter and didn't give away any of our kids."

"You never have too much pitching -- and we're young," Moreno said, adding that he's enthused with the prospect of Erick Aybar, Izturis and possibly Wood taking over at shortstop for Cabrera, a Rawlings Gold Glove winner.

"Our baseball people feel Aybar is ready -- Aybar slash Izturis," Moreno said. "Brandon Wood, we keep trying to move him to third, and our scouts tell us he's a Major League shortstop.
[/quote]

Frank,

Do what I do, just scroll down the page whenever you see "Ant Colony" Sometimes his posts start out normal, then out of nowhere he gets crazy.

He also claims to have relationships with people such as Bruce Hurst and John Heyman. Having read Heyman's articles and hearing him on the radio, I find it hard to believe he would have anything to do with Ant Colony.

Heyman showed up for a gig with a journalism class wherever it is Anthony says he teaches. The further that recedes in the distance the closer the two objects in your viewfinder appear.

Heyman by the way is an approachable guy who responds to e-mails from strangers.

"... the closer TOGETHER the two objects in your viewfinder ... "

This whole Santana thing has become weird, difficut, unpredicatable, lacking in return, like Grampa and his Depends, the poster child for euthanasia ...

So ... if there is no trade for J, S., why panic?

A poster on Pete A.'s blog is claiming that "cbssportsline is reporting that the Twins deal is on hold because of elbow concerns with Rincons elbow."

An interesting view on how ARod's new deal is a bargain....

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ys-gennaroarod112707&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Back to your pen and ink, sonny, you haven't picked up the gist yet.

But you can do it. Start slow -- keep you mind on what you're writing --

"Judge not... "

Diane,

Thanks for the info!

Btw, I was doing some googeling and found this posted about a year ago , elsewhere. It breaks down his top 30 Yankee Minor League prospects with indepth(sp?) breakdowns for each. Its a great read and this guy seems to really know his stuff.

http://yankeeprospects.blogspot.com/2006/12/age-20-height-65-weight-220-lbs-drafted.html

Just click on the names to the left to view their summations...fyi , the Hughes pic doesn't come in for me but all summaries work.

That's EJ Fagan's old site. He writes for MVN now with Pending Pinstripes and he's working on this year's top 30...he's revealed 30, 29, 28, and 27 so far.

Thanks HYD! I thought I reckognised his name and really enjoyed reading this. Do you have a link for his new Top 30?

Diane,

Eduardo Morlan , a minor league pitcher , seems to have replaced Rincon....making it a done deal , supposedly?

http://mvn.com/mlb-rays/2007/11/28/delmongarza-blockbuster-close-to-done/

In the end you would like to be in control of your own destiny regardless of what external variables there are.

As Jack Nickelson said "I don't want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me."

Ant, ,

Great quote and words to live by :-)!

Realist,

Thanks for the update!

So how does the Delmon deal affect the Red Sox's prospects of getting Santana? Does it mean they can get him without giving up Ellsbury, or does it mean they no longer have enough to interest the Twins?

I'm okay with the Yankees passing on Santana if the price is too steep, but only if he's not going to the Sox.

Ive counted at least 3 quality pitches from hughes. His fastball is above average and at times exceptional and his curveball is also very advanced. But has anyone else noticed that quasi-slider pitch he can throw? the name escapes me, it might just be a slider, but it starts of looking like a fastball thats running in on the hands of right-handed batters and then just dives in, sort of like a cutter i guess...

Yankees can return to greatness, Damon says

[quote]
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/sports/2007/11/29/132820/Yankees-can.htm

Thursday, November 29, 2007
By Martin Petty, Reuters

BANGKOK -- The New York Yankees can end their barren World Series run next year and return the franchise to their glory days, according to outfielder Johnny Damon.

The Yankees last won the World Series in 2000, but have not made it to the "Fall Classic" since 2003, though with a new manager, a crop of talented young pitchers and the re-signing of some of their influential stalwarts, Damon is confident they will soon end that drought.
[b]
"We should able to (win) next year because the Yankees, we always give ourselves a chance," Damon told Reuters in an interview during a visit to Thailand, his mother's home country.

"We were the only team who made it back to the playoffs this year from the year before. We're going to be as good as ever. It's about our guys coming through at the right time.[/b]"

After a below-par season, rumours circulated the Yankees would trade him, though he said new manager Joe Girardi had since assured him of a future in the Bronx.
[b]
"I had breakfast with him (Girardi) and that went great, he plans to put me in as the leftfielder and the leadoff, I can't wait to get it going," said the 34-year-old.

"There's definitely a few more years in me, hopefully a few good ones and probably another championship.

"I'm all about wining and when it's time for me to walk away, I'll know, but that's no time soon."[/b]

Damon is excited by the prospect of playing under Girardi and added re-signing American League MVP Alex Rodriguez and veterans Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera had been a huge boost.

"Re-signing Alex Rodriguez was a great move and getting Girardi is a very positive step. (His players) said he might be the best manager they ever played for and when players say that, it means a big thing."

Damon, who won the World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2004, left for the Yankees at the end of the following season.

Despite being vilified by Red Sox fans, he believes the time was right for him to move to the Yankees, even though they have found themselves playing second-fiddle to his former team. The Red Sox won their second World Series in four seasons last month.
[b]
"The Yankees can get back on track, everyone knows how great our offence is, we compare with the Red Sox, we may even be better than them," he said.[/b]

Damon also believes the key to success will be fun in the clubhouse, where his bizarre antics have earned him a reputation as a joker and a man a little too comfortable with nudity.
[b]
"You have to try to have fun and enjoy playing.

"It's all about jokes, doing naked pull ups and putting on my shorts in front of the other guys. We have to keep things as loose as possible," he added with a huge grin.

"Sometimes, last year wasn't fun, everyone was focusing on us losing. You've got to focus on the positive and being a happy person.[/b]"
[/quote]

Yankees/Red Sox rivalry is another sore spot for Rudy Giuliani & Mitt Romney
[quote]
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2007/11/29/2007-11-29_yankeesred_sox_rivalry_is_another_sore_s.html

Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani bury the hatchet after squaring off during the Republican Debate Wednesday night.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney went from boxing to baseball Wednesday night, with the bitter GOP rivals trading Yankees-Red Sox taunts.

"We're gonna beat you next year," piped Giuliani, after he was called on the carpet to explain rooting for the Sox in the World Series.

He ascribed the temporary switch to an American League allegiance.

"As soon as the World Series are over, I rooted for the Yankees again," he quipped.

"When I was mayor of New York City, the Yankees won four world championships," he quipped, noting the Bronx Bombers haven't won a World Series since he left office.

Romney jumped on the Yankees, and Giuliani's shifting fandom.

"I have to tell you that like most Americans, we love our sports teams and we hate the Yankees," he boasted.

And then he rubbed it in a little bit: "We could not have been more happy than to see the Red Sox win the World Series, except by being able to beat the Yankees when they were ahead three games to none [in the 2004 playoffs]."

Romney said Red Sox Nation waited 87 "long years" for the 2004 Series win.

Actually, it was 86 years - it only felt like 87.
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Most Americans hates Yankees? How about Redsox? Mr Romney. Mitt Romney is an idiot... Most Americans hates Yankees and Redsox.. F*cking numbnut

I'm not voting for Mr.Romney and I hope he lose for being an idiot. Yea, Boston a long suffering sports town, when Celtics won 16 championships, Pats won 3, and Redsox won two world series in this decade long despite winning a championships in 2004. This year Celtics are back from dead and probably win their 17 nba title, Pats will probably win their four superbowl title, Redsox already won.

Not for nothing folks but I reported this trade in between Biblical quotes and talks about Xmas gift cards yesterday only McCarthy and Norton picked up on it. Not tooting my own horn but this is a baseball blog.

see the yankees should have made that trade , Delmon Young!!!

wow that guy is good.

Iwould have inquired about those OF;s in Tampa and dee what came out of it then could have used Bobby A as Trade Bait