On the Yankees beat

Just a quick side note looking at the lineup: We all agree Cody Ransom has earned a spot on the 2009 Yankees bench yes? Probably at the expense of Wilson Betemit.

If it is at the expense of Betemit, then yes. Given what we've been looking at this year, Ransom looks like an improvement.

But I have no idea what the options are out there. As I've said before, I think it's imperative that we actually HAVE a bench next year -- having had nothing worthy of the name this year. Whoever the most useful guys we can get, I want them. No one who can't do situational hitting as well as play some useful defense should be allotted a single inch of pine. No cute kids who are hoping to make it onto the starting roster (and never will) need apply. Professional role players who understand their role and are dedicated to playing it ONLY. IMO.

Man, the Red Sox really want to spoil Moose's bid for a 20th win as they have put their best lineup out there today. I thought Moose should have pitched against Wakefield but I don't know what his reasons are for choosing the daytime assignment so I can't condemn him for it.

I see on a previous thread that Chip actually agreed with Rick on something....can a sane post from Ant be far behind? Is this the end of the world as we know it?

Saw somewhere today (can't keep track of Sunday newspaper articles for the life of me) that the Yanks won't be spending at all on FA relief pitchers. That's a relief--no pun intended--I guess, considering how badly they've fared in recent years (Hawkins, Karsay, Farnsworth, etc...).

So they'll be relying on the guys on the team now and what they have coming up. Presumably, it also means that it will allow for more spending on bench players (as per Diane's request--and many others').

I'm sold on the bullpen approach now. I've learned my lesson. I voiced rather loudly my feeling that they should spend on bullpen arms and the bench last winter, and I even pushed for Hawkins. I was right in the bench area, but I was completely wrong on Hawkins. Still, he ate up some inning early on (if giving up taters can be considered eating up innings), when some of the kids were either injured or not quite ready. I think the team has the numbers, and the kids have the maturity now, for them to field a strong bullpen with what they have between Scranton and the Bronx.

The bigger off-season failure was the bench. I saw it coming, but I didn't see how bad it was. Betemit has to go. Molina's a keeper. Ransom's hit well the last couple weeks, but is that really enough of a gauge? Hughes looked good last September, too. What does it mean. It's tough for me to tell without seeing a lot of games, but it seems there's going to have to be a better middle infielder to replace Jeter/Cano if one of them goes down for an extended period. Someone with Sojo/Cairo sensibilities. And what to do about the 4th OF? For that matter, what to do about the 2 and 3 OF?

Not to kick a dead horse, but I'd sure love to see Nate McClouth in CF. I'm guessing it would take Cano, and a lot more, to get him. But you could have Abreu back in right, Xavier in left, and Orlando Hudson at 2B. Or, you could have Xavier in right, and Damon/Matsui in left, and still sign Hudson for 2B.

How 'bout it, Chip?

I'm hearing John Lennon in the background somewhere. But I'm not the only one.

Congrats to Mike Mussina on his 20th win and being the oldest player to get it.

Did anyone catch all the demonstrating from Papelbon out on the mound in the top of the 9th? He switched rosin bags three times, cleaned his spikes after every pitch, shook his head a dozen times etc. and what did Mo do in the bottom of the 9th? Threw a pitch, got the ball back, threw another pitch (and repeat).

I do have to wonder what Francona was thinking with Papelbon there, I would not have had my closer on the mound in a meaningless game when it was pouring rain out there. oh well, nobody got hurt and the Yanks won so it's a good day so far.

Congrats to the Moose.

It's fair to say I've been one of his biggest critics around here but I'll say this, even though he never won a ring here, his signing 8 years ago may go down as the second best move of Cashman's career (trading for Alex being the #1).

Mussina this year finally did what I've complained he never did in years past - he adjusted. He accepted that things weren't going to be perfect for him game in and game out and he learned to embrace that and alter his style to compensate.

I doubt he's coming back, all the tea leaves say he's retiring, but I'll tell you this. Coming off of this season if the choice is Moose OR Andy - I would be hard pressed to not take Mussina.

Mussina: Comback player of the year?

Papelbon: Sportsman of the year?

Diane:

Moose: comeback from what?

Papelbon: Sportschmuck of the Year, maybe.

Look, as unfair as it may seem, I think Sportsman of the Year should go to the kid with the funny ears, the perversely disproportionate and sinewy torso, the frog's legs and size 48 feet, who made every other swimmer in Beijing look human.