On the Yankees beat

Kat: I dare you to say the word "Yankee-licious" when you're on the air.

I'm pumped that Mariano seems to be happy about Girardi taking over. That's gotta be good news.

Kat if you say "Yankee-licious" I will scream!

I repeat: NOOOOOOOOOOO Yankee-licious!

Questions for you to discuss on air:

How can the Yankees draft 16 year old children from the Caribbean. We don't draft USA kids that age. Why? Shouldn't the State Department put a stop to that as child abuse? How many of the draftees DONT MAKE IT to MLB?

How can the Yankees do business with the government of Mainland China considering their horrendously evil human rights abuses. Sanctions on an old ally like the very flawed South Africa but MFN for China?

I quote The Donger from Sixteen Candles, "This place so confusing!"

Ok. Now I'll pay Kat $10 to say "Yankee-licious" if it makes Ant Colony scream. Anyone else want to kick in?

I want to know more about Hank, and whether the general impression of his work in Nashville was good or bad. The fact that the Sox still don't have him is either testimony to the fact that 1) the Twins *were* playing the Yankees, like Hank said or 2) The Twins were hallucinating if they thought anybody would meet their ridiculous price for Santana.

Well Ant, a 16 year old Caribbean boy doesn’t have too many options to make a living in these developing nations. The Yanks, and other baseball affiliates, take these kids, some off the street, give them a roof, 3 square meals and a shot at making something out of themselves. There are no child labor laws or minimum wage. So if they weren’t at these complexes ( yanks and Mets built huge ones in DR ) then they would be working for peanuts in some god for saken sweat shop or in a field. I take many trips to the Caribbean and have seen the living conditions, not very pleasant. Opportunities are limited. Some kids are fortunate enough to go to school and move on to greater things, most though, never had these chances. I work with some Haitians and Dominicans, they tell me 1st hand about how their countries are and that baseball is the only option for some.

But lets not get into all of that..this is baseball site…

GO GET EM KAT!!!

Kat: enjoy the experience and say whatever the hell you want to say.

You are one impressive reporter, Kat. Great info from Mo.

We are fortunate to have ya!

Knock 'em dead!
Go Yankees!!!

International players are signed as free agents, not drafted.

RANT ALERT

I believe that these 'baseball academies' now provide basic education for the young men as well as the necessities of life, and if I am not mistaken many also pay a stipend to the family.

I lived seven years in a Latin American country. I promise you that what we consider poverty in this country is laughable in comparison to the poverty of the countryside in third world countries. Not having the right brand of sneakers? No cable TV? The indigenous population where I lived (equivalent of Native Americans here) lost the majority, I mean well over the majority, of their children BEFORE THE AGE OF FIVE to disease and malnutrition. Those of you who have never lost a child (bless your hearts and may you never know) can not fathom the death in the heart of a parent like this. I have personally provided daily supplies of canned baby food to keep babies from death or the mental retardation that results from severe malnutrition. I have heard a mother say to me, "This one is yours" when her baby recovered.

Baseball academies are not a problem, honey. In the scale of problems really impoverished people face?

Of course most of the kids won't be stars, or even make a living in sports. They'll have good food, medical care, fundamental education, a clean, healthy environment, and some money, and when they leave they'll be better prepared for a decent life than most of their contemporaries in the world they live in.

Please forgive my rant, my fellow bloggers.

Live on the ground, among the locals, before you bloviate.

Self-righteous ignorance annoys me.

Thank you Diane, you nailed it. I knew I liked you!

A virtual high five for you Diane!

Kat,

I posted the La Prensa link right after it came out in PeteAbe's blog, but nobody ran with it.

Glad you did.

JRVJ

Anthony: The sickness exists in YOUR head. It's the way you see the world because it's based on your guilt. The trouble is right inside your brain. YOU are the one that needs serious help -- not the Yankees organization.

Anyone hear anything about Matsui being traded to the Giants?

Never mind. Here is MLB story:

The Yankees may have left the Winter Meetings without pulling off a major trade, but they also departed discussing a potential deal that would involve Hideki Matsui.

Sankei Sports reported on Thursday that the Giants have inquired about Matsui's availability, interested in upgrading their offense by adding the 33-year-old outfielder.

But interest alone would not create a match. Matsui has a full no-trade clause and would need to approve any deal. It was not immediately clear if the Yankees have interest in moving Matsui, who has two years and $26 million remaining on his contract.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said on Thursday that the club's priority remains with improving its pitching staff, and he said that the Yankees are willing to add to their bullpen via trade or free agency.

Coming on the heels of New York's aborted pursuit of Twins ace Johan Santana, the Giants could offer starting pitching in a potential swap -- Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum would not figure to be moved in a Matsui deal, but it is believed the Giants would consider trading others.

Noah Lowry could be one potential target for New York. The 27-year-old Lowry is coming off a 14-8 season for San Francisco in which he posted a 3.92 ERA, but his walks and strikeouts were even, 87, and he allowed 155 hits in 156 innings.

Still, Lowry would provide a veteran presence to help soak up innings. That is a concern for the Yankees, who are still sticking to unknown innings totals for youngsters Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy.

Of the three pitchers, Hughes has compiled the highest professional innings total -- 146, in 2006 -- and Cashman said this week that none of the three will be permitted to go well over 200 innings. Andy Pettitte's return helps that cause, but Mike Mussina wore down midseason, and another healthy arm would only help.

Winter Meetings

Matsui batted .285 with 25 home runs and 103 RBIs for New York in 2007, his fifth Major League season after a standout career in Japan. A .295 hitter since joining the Yankees, Matsui made 111 starts in left field and 32 more as a designated hitter this past year, undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his troubled right knee in November.

Bravo Ninja.

I stopped reading him months ago.

The interview is now up.

Diane and Anonymous,

Not that I care what you think ...

But I have lived, traveled and or worked in every Central American country except Panama. And I've been to the Caribbean. I understand the poverty. But there are poorer countries I've been to ... like Laos.

18 should be the right age to sign a player. In ANY COUNTRY.

That should be common sense to any decent person.

Notice I don't hear anything from you two about the Yankees doing business with Mainland China re: let's see ... forced sterilization, Tibet, poisoned toys, Wen Ho Lee, Nuclear War threat on LA over Taiwan, arming Venezuela, Sudan dealings, helping Mugabe in Zimbabwe, hacking the Pentagon's computers, AK 47's to California street gangs, mobile execution vans, banning the Internet sites they don't like ... the sickness in the minds running Beijing, let's say, concerning the slave labor laogai, does that exceed the sickness, truly evil sickness of your silent acceptance of it?

There's no need to answer.

Your silence about the Yanks and China is enough for me and anyone who loves the Chinese people, especially the saints being persecuted and martyred there. By doing business with China in spite of it's evil human rights record, the Yankees bring shame on themselves and on all the fans. They are tacitly giving their stamp of approval on the Beijing regime.

That's truly sick.

If you are ok with that, you're sick too.

Sorry but it's true.

I don't think in my heart either of you would support that.

As MLK said silence is not an acceptable response.

It would have been nice and fair if you addressed the sickness of China and doing business there instead of attacking me. I lost all respect for you guys over that.

But whater ...

Hopefully you're not ...

I will pray for you both.

I thought so ...

Anonymous let me ask you ...

The sickness is in ... ???????

The actions of China's government against her own people?

The actions of those who do business with China's government that is the greatest mass murdering regime in human history (exceeding even Stalin) in spite of their human rights record?

Those who protest doing business with China and standing up for it's persecuted people?

Think hard bro.

You too Diane!

In the USA we kill unborn babies. I'm not so presumptous to judge what is better for China or any other country. I also would never judge someone based on their race, religion or opinions on governments policies and world events. Not everyone is an activist and not everyone has the fortitude to join the Peace Corps. To say someone is 'sick' or 'evil' because they don't pick sides, pick your side and speak out in agreement with you is unrealistic, very judgemental and borderline extremism. Hell, most people don't even vote when their voice will most directly affect their life. I don't have intimate knowledge of the Yanks involvement in the Dominican so I can't make an informed decision but from what I gather it sounds like a camp would be a great way to teach youngsters health, discipline, teamwork and likely give them some status in their community regardless of their age. While only a few might make significant money doing this, many others will gain knowledge they would never otherwise have an opportunity to achieve. I certainly wouldn't equate a baseball camp with a sweat shop. That is extremist. It's probably not quite the same thing but there are camps here in the USA for 12 year olds and up. As far as China goes, expressing outrage, ignoring them or standing in front of tanks isn't likely to work. But going there, gaining a foothold, doing business and allowing our way of life to permeate their society will, over time, bring change. Being loud and forceful isn't the only way to address an issue one doesn't agree with.

Remember when this was a baseball blog?

Those were the days

No kidding, Sully.

Anthony, you seem like a well-intentioned guy and good for you for being that way.

However, this is a BASEBALL BLOG.

Politics and religion has no place here which explains much of the silence towards your rants. Simply put, it annoys people just as talking about the Yankees passing up on Johan Santana would be annoying to people who visit a political blog.

You have every right to say what you want about politics, world events, a possible recession on the way, religion, etc. but debate those passionate feelings in a forum designed and created for that discussion.

A blog about the Yankees and baseball in general is not that forum and everyone would like you a lot better if you refrained from posting those rants in the future.

Diane, thank you for helping to put this business in perspective with a heartfelt but intelligent and graceful post. Ant's persitent ignoring of the many requests from his 'friends' on this blog to cease and desist with his politically motivated remarks have driven us all up a wall, to the point that I don't even bother reading his diatribes any longer.

Viper has very eloquently summarized matters. I might agree or not with Ant, but ultimately this is not the place to discuss these things. However, Diane, Viper, Sully, Peter Lacock, Michael PTRS , Jim A, Drew and all the rest of you good folks know by now that the man has problems or he wouldn't continue to make himself as unwelcome as he has. He's what one famous psychologist referred to as a "true believer." Unfortunately, our responses to his rants only encourages him. Among other things, it would appear that he's into getting a 'rise' from folks. It's been going on for a very long time. I've noticed that in the past when the heat gets turned up against him he lays off the political/religious stuff for a few posts, only to return yet again a day or two later. Friends, my suggestion is to do as I have done for weeks now, which is to quite simply stop reading his posts altogether. He's not going to change. He obviously has an obsessive personality.

Remember that Sully when you feel the need to tell us about your make believe career and Viper when you start pontificating about a subject you know very little about. Too many rants on this blog by people who pretend they know what they are talking about

That is why what Sheffield says rings true .......

Actaually Viper ...

The Birth of this Discussion was initiated by the BASEBALL CLINIC talk

Viper...

I apologize ....

Ant is just a nut

Sincere apologies for prolonging any non-baseball aspects of the discussion.

In any case, comparing poverty among economies is a rather obscene luxury in itself. I've seen some pretty ghastly, life-changing stuff not too far from the stadium, myself. I bet we all have. Depravity is depravity--no matter your surroundings. If you can't eat, you can't eat.

Anyway, is it just me or did anyone else notice that Matsui seemed to get a hit every time he came up during the LDS?

Also, Feinsand's saying the Yanks are considering a 1-year deal with LaTroy Hawkins for the pen, which would be reasonable, since everyone and their grandma is getting 3 years and $13m. I mean, J C Romero? Sure, he was good in Philly--and that's a band box, too, but he got ping-ponged out of Fenway!

As am I..Im a newb on this site and didnt realize I was being baited into an argument. Believe me Ant, I have pages of responses that will remain in my head and my heart. Thank god I signed off last night and didnt see this until now.

So, how bout dem Yanks???

Matsui agreed to waive his no trade, get your cream and sugar...something is brewing!

Matsui is one of my favorite players. He was recovering from his wrist injury last season and got off to a slow start. Once he got his stroke back he was killing the ball. I would hate to see him leave but I do believe that Damon is a better LFer. I really wish there was a way to dump Giambino a year early. If we dont get anything significant, I say keep him. We need him more next year assuming we dont sign Abreu to a new contract.

Ant Hill is a nut and we all know this.

Hate to see Matsui go, he has been arguably our best clutch hitter with runners in scoring position ever since we got him, but Yanks are trying to keep Hughes while still acquiring Santana AND lowering their payroll for this year. A lot of "ifs" but if Cash pulls this off.....

Super Genius!!!

Fired Up, I think people would rather hear about my made up career than listen to another diatribe about politics, economics and hearing why New York won't accept a Christian

(For you newbies, I claim to be a TV writer and producer but I actually scrub toilets in Decatur Alabama)

Now to clear our pallets watch this clip of Groucho Marx... my own personal God

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7T-OkqqyfkU&feature=related

I say Matsui has outlived his usefulness. He was a very good sign at the time, but he's just a bat and refuses to go the other way. He has no speed and is well below average in LF with no range. Even his great plays look like accidents in the style of one Manny Ramirez. We absolutely need to move either Matsui, Damon or Giambi. Moving Matsui, whose value may the highest of the three, helps the defense and may bring us something we can use. He's also become a little more brittle these past couple years. We can then go out and sign/acquire a more balanced (read RH power hitter who can run and field) OF the following year. I know that I am in the minority here, but we are already paying Giambi and he can do what Matsui does without a doubt if he's not going to be playing LF. Damon is a fine LF, sans the arm, and serves the dual purpose of leading off for us. I say keep him. Let Giambi DH against RHP and pair him up with Duncan or whomever against LHP and get one last year out of him. He's worthless in trade so the best way to alleviate this logjam is to deal Matsui for (hopefully) decent pitching; starter or reliever. I'm not buying the fiscal restraint argument for failing to deal for Santana, but I'm very happy we still have Phil Hughes even though it may not be for long. Moving Matsui also means not moving Melky (which wouldn't break my heart if we got young pitching we can use for years back) so this discussion assumes as much. The roster needs more flexibility if we are to get the most out of it. It has to be addressed and nobody seems to like any of the alternatives. Like him or not, sitting Giambi all year is not an option. Neither is releasing him. Just my two cents.

I must say...the last time I was in Decatur...I noticed the toilets were uncommonly clean...good work sully....Hey..at least you are employed...according to the knuckledragger sect in here, I am an unemployed, unemployable, inbred, illiterate, rednecked yankee bashing Sox fan from Podunk Maine....and of course we dont have toilets here...so I dont think I'd qualify for your job.

I'll put in a word for you with the people here in Decatur, Casual.

It would be an honor scrubbing toilets side by side with you

Hey, Sully the Seamonster! How you doin'? Those toilets sure are sparklin'!

Cas Ob, you forget to mention: unemployable, inbred, illiterate, rednecked yankee bashing FEMALE from Podunk (rhymes with skunk) Maine.

PS - Don't use the pine cones, use sumac leaves. They cover more area.

Go Yankees!

Well...what the hell,

As long as we are stereo-typing Mikey...you are close...I like to wear flannel, my favorite work boots are a pair of old army boots, I wear my hair short and somewhat spikey.,...yes, I am a lesbian, trapped in a mans body.

Someone quick, get Cashman some roids. We need a nother lefty starter.

Someone quick, give Cashman some roids. We need another lefty starter.