Ok so I realize we're just hours away from the HR Derby at Yankee Stadium, but here's an interesting thought.  Since there are no Yankees competing with A-Rod declining and Jason Giambi not being selected, why not Derek Jeter? 

I believe the Stadium crowd would get a kick out of their favorite son taking part in the last HR Derby in The House That Ruth Built.  Who cares if he hasn't hit for power this season despite connecting for his 200th career HR on Saturday in Toronto, I believe it would be something really fun to see, especially since Jeter has never done it before.

Contrary to other sluggers like Rodriguez, I can't see how it would mess up Jeter's swing, especially his power stroke.  Heck if anything maybe it'll get his bat jumping with some more pop in the 2nd half? 

In any event does it sound any more or less insane than NL HR and RBI leader Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies not even making the NL All-Star team?  And MLB wonders why it has such problems maketing the sport to the African American community.

Let Jeet compete!

As someone who was an advocate for the hiring of Joe Girardi as Yankees manager it pains me to write this.  There needs to be some accountability in the Bronx and a change of culture.  For far too long dating mostly back to the end of the 2004 season, there has been far too much of a prevailing "fat-cat" attitude in which veteran players would stroll into town looking to gravy train a ride to a championship on the backs of the guys who've done it four times before.  Except there's only four guys left from that run and they're getting older and their backs are breaking with nobody else picking up the water.

While a shouting Hank Steinbrenner is much better than an empty missive from "The Boss" via a publicist, those words need to be followed up with action, pronto.  It's not enough to tell A-Rod to go jump in a lake when he opts-out, only to come back and reward him with $300 million, especially when your captain starts talking like the Yankees won before without him and with gamers like say perhaps a Mike Lowell type at 3rd.  You can't complain or should take action if your GM didn't want Johan Santana and you did, you're the new boss, you have the final say to sign off on it.

This Yankees team should've unloaded some fat contracts along with Torre and Cashman after the 2004 ALCS debacle.  The problem here is when you scream at these guys (especially the hitters) they realize that the Yankees can't move 'em because of their contracts and there's no competition off the joke of a bench (somewhere Bernie Williams is laughing) and nobody but the likes of Brett "freaking" Gardner to pressure them from the minors.  And why if you're pegging Ian Kennedy as a big part of your future or you have guys in the minors touted as the next "Joba" or "Mo" such as Mark Melancon, J.B. Cox or Daniel McCutchen are you stunting their growth with stop gaps like Sidney Ponson, Darrell Rasner and LaTroy Hawkins?

In my view if the Yankees after playing the next five games against Boston and Tampa, end up ten games out of a playoff spot at the All-Star break, I would advocate making some serious changes.  This team can't have it both ways, either trade for some big ticket guys who'll help your squad for the next 3-5 years or rip it all down and start getting rid of the old overpaid guys. 

So far there have not been any high expectations held on Girardi like there were on Torre, whose contract renewal was dependent upon incentives such as say reaching the ALCS in 2008.  And why was Girardi chosen?  The same reason Lou Pinella was not: Brian Cashman wanted all the power and Lou Pinella with his popularity, track record and high regard from The Boss, would've usurped Cashman's power with the Yankees in wanting his own players in his clubhouse. 

So if the Yankees are ten out at the All-Star break or trading deadline, I say start making changes at the top.  Hence my new GM would be Gene "Stick" Michael and my new Manager would be Buck Showalter and if A-Rod doesn't like it, tough he can leave just like Roberto Kelly, Mel Hall and the like of the early 90's.

Following that I would try to make some deals to bring back some younger players.  For example the Yankees have a few guys in the last year of their contracts.  Thus I might try and deal a guy like Jason Giambi to a team that needs a bopper and is in contention like his old team the A's, his old manager Joe Torre and the Dodgers or even the Giants who are incredibly still alive in the sorry NL West. 

After that I'd try to flip a guy like Mike Mussina who is having a fine season to a contender where he'd get a shot at a ring.  Moose lives in Pennsylvania and the Phillies with Brett Myers blowing up, could use a vet to help bolster a post-season run and team him up with the guy he was compared with, "slow and slower" Jamie Moyer.

Though he is a quality character guy in the clubhouse and has won in New York before, would be good with the young pitchers and they would risk him not returning next season, they might be able to get something back for Andy Pettitte.  If Texas continues to hover around .500, they need pitching.  Perhaps if Arizona (closer to home) or old skipper Joe Torre comes calling in L.A. Pettitte would be open to it if for just a 2-3 month playoff run. 

Maybe a team with closer issues such as the Tigers or Cardinals takes a bite on either Kyle Farnsworth or LaTroy Hawkins.

Finally, both Bobby Abreu and Johnny Damon are swinging the bats well enough this season to warrant some interest.  Perhaps a team with the need of a veteran presence comes knocking, like Oakland, Minnesota, Florida or Milwaukee.

Of course I could be way off here and the Yankees wheel off 15 wins in a row.  But in any event someone has to stand up and be accountable or held accountable and decide where the Yankees are headed in 2008 or start getting ready for 2009 and beyond.  Because you can't have your cake and eat it for too long, or else you risk getting really fat and imploding all together.

It sounds odd to say just days after Friday afternoon's debacle, but when one takes a step back and looks the the 2008 New York Yankees after 81 games (44-37) they are much improved compared to the 2007 version (40-41) at this point.  Which not to slight Torre, but makes me wonder with the kind of talent he had if Buck Showalter wouldn't have done as good if not better or if Don Zimmer really was the "man behind the curtain" whom Torre had little post-season success without from 2004-2007.  In any event the Joe Girardi Yankees aren't perfect but they are better.

Jorge Posada (A): I know Jorge hasn't had a huge sample given injuries, but he can still flat out hit and his presence alone on this team really shows. 

Jason Giambi (B+): Who says the ghosts don't still come alive at Yankee Stadium?  This guy was dead in April, but now leads the team in homers and is in the top five in the American League and probably should be an All-Star.  Contract year sure, but Girardi really cracked the whip on him in Spring Training and it shows.

Robinson Cano (F): I know that Robbie has picked it up the last two weeks or so, but given his new contract he has just looked lethargic this season.  Terrible on base percentage.

Derek Jeter (B-): Ok its a bit of a pass but Jeter is a gamer, coming back quickly from a strained quad and playing regularly after getting hit on the hand.  Jeter like Cano has picked it up in the average department the last couple of weeks, but it would be nice to see some more power output.

Alex Rodriguez (A): Sure Mike Lowell would've plugged in nicely, but like with Posada and Kobe and Shaq, the Yankees couldn't do without A-Rod.  A-Rod has been blazing a trail since his return and is still near the top of the A.L. with 15 homers and a .327 batting average.

Johnny Damon (A): Another guy who looked almost completely lost but has been burning up the basepaths of late.  Damon has been the consumate table setter, leading the team in hits with 93, doubles with 20, steals with 13 and is sporting a .322 batting average.

Melky Cabrera: (C): Melky got off to a hot start which really raised expectations in a hurry.  No he's not Bernie Williams yet (if ever) but he does give the Yankees a plethora of contributions either in the field or on the bases even when he's not hitting.

Bobby Abreu (A): Probably the most consistent of all Yankees hitters to date.  Abreu leads the team with 53 RBI, is second in hits and third with 10 homers.

Hideki Matsui (A): Was tearing it up, now his knee might be torn up, again.  Helped to carry the team in the early going, but with all of these knee injuries I really have to start wondering about steroids with this guy.

Bench (D): The bench pretty much gets a D.  Duncan didn't play enough, Betemit was hurt too much and Ensberg was a Josh Phelps-esque bust.  Moeller and Molina have provided some stout defense as well as Gonzalez but this group just can't hack it.  Bring back Bernie anyone?

Mike Mussina (A): Speaking of those ghosts at Yankee Stadium, Mussina has been flying around New York but instead with a super-hero's cape.  Moose was being counted on as a 4th/5th starter to win 10-11 games.  In order to keep the Yankees in the race he's had to pitch like a 3rd starter and has already won 10 to lead the staff before the All-Star break.  He would've probably tied last year's total had the Yankees game in Pittsburgh not been rained out.  Who would've thunk Mussina would be the leader in wins and Giambi the leader in homers at this point? 

Andy Pettitte (B+): After a rocky start Andy looked a little tired from all of the off-season circus that was the Mitchell Report.  But with 9 wins and a recently concluded 20.2 scoreless innings streak, Pettitte looks primed for another huge 2nd half.  Pettitte is the best 2nd half pitcher in baseball and who wouldn't rather have him at $16 million for this year than Johan Santana for $150 million minus your best prospects? 

Chien-Ming Wang (B+): Wang looked as if he'd put those doubters to bed with a rapid 6-0 start.  He tailed off a tad and was just starting to get back into a groove before his freak injury.

Darrell Rasner (C): Some of his early starts Rasner got no run support.  In some of his more recent starts he's gotten knocked around.  But Rasner is what he is, an adequate back of the rotation guy who can eat up innings and keep you in the game.

Phil Hughes & Ian Kennedy (F): It should probably be an incomplete because of injuries but a combined record of 0-7 doesn't cut it boys.

Joba Chamberlain (A): Last year contrary to popular belief, he not Roger Clemens spurred this team onto the post-season.  Joba was lights out again in the pen and will try to save the Yankees bacon again, this time as a starter.  One can tell already just how mentally tough those late inning situations out of the pen have helped in Joba's progression.

Mariano Rivera (A+): You can tell I don't throw around A+'s lightly.  Think the Yankees may have wanted to give MO a 4th year on that contract?  Rivera an ERA under 1.00 and perfect in saves with 22, enough said.

Kyle Farnsworth (C+): Has been better than most in the Yanks pen which isn't saying a lot, but he does seem a little more confident with Girardi at the helm.

LaTroy Hawkins (F): I'm sorry but did anyone mention to Brian Cashman that this guy has the worst ERA of any pitcher at Yankee Stadium?  Forget O'Neill or Clemente, why does this guy have anyone's jersey number? 

Ross Ohlendorf (F): Maybe the Yankees should groom his as a starter because his confidence looks shot.

Edwar Ramirez (C+): If this guy could learn a pitch to compliment his change-up he might really turn out to be something good.

Jose Veras (B-): Sometimes he's lights out, sometimes he's lit up.  Effectively wild with some great velocity.

Bullpen etc: Bruney and Albaladejo were solid early before getting hurt, Giese was decent in long relief, but Traber and Igawa have looked like flops as lefties out of the pen.

All in all Joe Girardi has navigated this group fairly well in the early going.  He's done a much better job of balancing the bullpen and seems to have instilled more aggressiveness into this squad.  Given injuries to A-Rod, Posada, Wang, Jeter, Matsui, Hughes, Kennedy, Bruney and Albaladejo, considering the Yankees are only four games back in the loss column to Boston speaks volumes about Girardi.  No Girardi hasn't been as "rah-rah" in public as say Billy Martin, and sometimes he does look like a 2nd year manager still learning the ropes, but he does know and uphold the principle of the "Yankee-way" of the late 1990's. 

This Yankees squad, somewhat in transition is in almost the same place as another pioneer Yankee team.  The 1993 Yankees under 2nd year manager Buck Showlater posted a record of 46-35 after 81 games.  That was the last Yankees team in a non-strike year to miss the playoffs, however had there been a Wild Card back then they would've made it.  This Yankees squad is better than that one talent wise and this time around there is a Wild Card, but the division is still very much within reach.

So apparently in Spring Training Yankees Manager Joe Girardi asked his players to drop and give him 15. And they did so accordingly, dropping right onto the 15 day DL. So now the Yankees try to figure out just what condition their condition is in. Thus far one really has to wonder what the impact was of all that.

When looking at the Yankees roster from top to bottom there has been a plethora of injuries. Jorge Posada will be put on the 15 day DL for the first time in his career with a potential shoulder tear.

Jason Giambi had groin issues in the early going. Andy Pettitte was pushed back in the rotation at the beginning of the season with back spasms. After losing about 20 pounds in the off-season, reliever Brian Bruney may be done for the season with surgery on his right foot. Kyle Farnsworth felt a twinge in his elbow, throwing off the mound in Chicago. The Yankees are without a lefty in their bullpen because Sean Henn developed shoulder tendonitis this spring.

Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez have both suffered quad injuries. Pitcher Jeff Karstens is on the DL with a groin injury. The Yankees other catcher Jose Molina was beset by a hamstring injury. Infielder Wilson Betemit is also on the 15 day DL with corneal ulcers. Even Joba Chamberlain tweaked his hamstring while slipping on the mound in Chicago.

And Mike Mussina's renewed commitment to a more rigorous regiment hasn't exactly translated to quality outings or increased velocity on the hill.

So while I applaud Girardi's philosophy of really pushing his players to bust it and get in great shape, I do find it to be a precarious situation to have evolved this far to this point with these injuries.

Are they too old or were they just pushed too hard? Well here's my take, playing in the cold weather is horrible for older clubs and it takes them longer to get loose and comfortable. Discounting the steroid allegations, even an old 46 year old workout freak like Roger Clemens broke down on numerous occasions for the Yankees last season, so it does happen to old guys. I also believe that more than anything else Girardi was simply trying to foster a different, more focused mindset so that his players would know to be ready from day one.

Apparently that brand new HD scoreboard in Kansas City didn't come with a quality drainage system, though the Yankees bats seemed to go right down it on Wednesday night.  If we're going to have a Northeast team that can't hit in the cold weather, be it April or October, perhaps they may want to add a retractable roof on the new digs across the street.

Honestly though in all fairness, this was a game that only "Mr. Slip 'n Slide" former catcher Rick Dempsey could love.  No there weren't any "Lake Erie Midges" out there this time, though there may have been termites.

While I understand it is early and some guys are hitting .700, I still can't understand how Jason Giambi is batting .056, Robinson Cano .194 and Johnny Damon .212.  And before everyone jumps on me about there being no such thing as "clutch hitting," there is such a thing as timely hitting and this group leaves a lot of people on base, 14 to be exact, scoring no runs against the Kansas City Royals! 

Way to go Brian Cashman!  A-Rod's not going to duplicate last year's totals, nor is Posada who is a year older.  And then you are naieve enough to think that Jason Giambi is going to play first and be productive for 130-140 games a whole year older?  Thus with no power in center or at first you neglect to sign either Torii Hunter or Aaron Rowand?  Having Cabrera-Hunter/Rowand-Abreu in the outfield seems like a much more solid configuration to me!

And oh what you couldn't afford these guys or decided not to sign off on a Johan Santana deal because of lack of "payroll flexibility."  And yet YOU sir signed our vaunted Triple-A "ace" Kei Igawa for $46 million and gave A-Rod a "hardball offer" of $300 million (yeah you guys really show him huh?) and somehow with the four-million plus migrating to the final year of Yankee Stadium and the flood rush of revenue coming in next year from the new ball park, you were having issues with "payroll flexibility?"  OH COME ON PALLY!

To be fair for the record I was for getting Santana, but not for getting ripped off by the Twins in order to get him, just as they were by the Mets.  But really YOUR "genious" robbed us of another year from Bernie Williams, because you said Jason Giambi couldn't play first base a year ago and so you decided to give him the boot, sign Josh Phelps who didn't even last through June and Doug Mientkiewicz who is now history.  And yet now again Giambi is somehow capable of playing first and you have no true defensive first baseman off the bench.  Oh and the Yankees could've used Bernie off the bench to DH when Giambi was hobbling around last October in the playoff and Matsui was having knee issues hitting into double-plays!

Bomber Bites: Can't say I blame manager Joe Girardi too much on his pitching strategy, except for when it comes to using another brilliant Brian Cashman signing, Kyle Farnsworthless.  FARNSWORTHLESS SHOULD NEVER EVER EVER BE USED AGAIN PERIOD!

While Girardi said he was sure he could straighten out his old battery mate from Chicago, its too bad he couldn't coax Cashman into bringing back another one of his old Cubbie teammates, Jon Lieber.  Lieber who pitched pretty decent with the Yankees in 2004, is the long-man/spot-starter for the Cubs this year (something the Yankees don't have) and is 1-1 with a 0.00 ERA pitching in two games striking out three in five innings of work.

 

The Yankees had won two in a row with Giambi out of the lineup, they've lost two in a row since his return.  Well ain't that a co'inkie'dink!

Mr. Matsui, Johnny Gomes and Ross Gload thank you for contributing to their hit totals on this young season.  I guess it always was King Kong who was more prone to scaling large buildings than Godzilla.

Memo to Cashman, I applaud your willingness to cultivate the farm system, but I'm starting to believe that the Yankees need their own version of the "football Giants" Jerry Reese. 

What a suprise, its up to Andy Pettitte fresh off the DL to be the Yankees stopper once again.  Though Pettitte couldn't have rounded up enough leeches to place on LaTroy Hawkins right arm to stop the bleeding on Friday night as the Rays spanked the Yanks 13-4.

It all started when Ian Kennedy walked the ballpark, allowing six runs and four walks in just 2/1/3 innings of work. 

 With the Rays out in front 6-0, the Yankees bats came alive in the bottom half of the 3rd, cutting the deficit to 6-4.  Hideki Matsui homered to get the Yanks on the board, then Jose Molina singled, Derek Jeter tripled him in with a booming fly ball off the wall in center, Bobby Abreu grounded to 2nd scoring Jeter, A-Rod then singled up the middle and Jason Giambi smacked a double off the wall in right to score Rodriguez making it 6-4.

While Johnathan Albaladejo, Ross Ohlendorf and Billy Traber were able to hold the game in check, LaTroy Hawkins became gasoline man in the 8th getting torched for six runs including a HR to Cliff Floyd.  Not to be outdone Kyle Farnsworth then came on and gave up a solo shot to Carlos Pena.

Bomber Bites: Yes it is early, but if the Yankees have to keep dipping into the bullpen in the 4th or 5th inning, these once valuable relievers not named Hawkins and Farnsworthless are going to become very worn out very quickly.

What was so wrong with Luis Vizciano?  If Torre hadn't blown him out he'd have been fine to bring back.  Certainly better than LaTroy "I have an 8.64 ERA at Yankee Stadium" Hawkins!  Additionally if Joe Girardi was so convinced that he could fix Kyle Fransworthless, then why is a 23 year old kid named Joba Chamberlain setting up Mariano Rivera instead of pitching in the Yanks starting rotation?

And another thing... why with a weak bullpen did the Yankees trade Scott Proctor for Wilson Betemit?  You know the same Wilson Betemit who hasn't seen the field at all this year?  Just wonderful!

Andy Pettitte must be the stopper once again, suprise, suprise!

No not quite a bloop and a blast.  But how about two bunts and a bloop?  Yes it was ugly, but it sure beats losing pretty as the Yanks improved to 2-1 on the season, beating the Jays 3-2.

Phil Hughes was particularly sharp throwing six strong innings of two run ball while striking out four along the way.  Phil's velocity wasn't quite up as much as the Yanks would've liked but his control was marvelous all night in his first appearance in the cold Bronx since he picked up the Yankees only win in Game 3 of the 2007 ALDS. 

From there Billy Traber and Brian Bruney looked solid in their respective 2008 debuts, with the lefty Traber striking out the only batter he faced.

Offensively (and some of this could be attributed to being an older team playing in colder weather) the Yankees still have some kinks to work out, though Toronto pitching has to be given a tremendous amount of credit. 

A wild pitch and sac fly resulted in the Yankees first two runs to tie it in the 6th.  Then in the 8th Melky Cabrera found himself in another rally with a single to right, a Johnny Damon bunt muffed by pitcher Scott Downs gave the Yanks two runners aboard.  Derek Jeter then laid down a sacrifice of his own (though wrongly called out at first) and the Yankees had runners in scoring position.  Then it was Bobby Abreu dunking one into short left-center to plate Damon and put the Yanks in front for good.

Then it was Joba Chamberlain giving the 'ol "Omaha Haymaker" to the Blue Jay bats for his first victory of the season.  That kept the seat warm for Mariano Rivera, who with Vernon Wells on 3rd serving as the tying run with two outs, struck out Aaron Hill looking to pick up his 2nd save on the young season the 445th of his illustrious career.

Bomber Bites: The "kiddy carousel" continues Friday night at Yankee Stadium as Ian Kennedy takes to the mound against the Rays or whatever they're calling themselves these days.

Ok Joe, now that we've seen all the relievers, can we also see some bench guys like Duncan, Betemit and Ensberg?

The mark of a solid manager is one that knows how to play situational baseball and knows how to make adjustments throughout the course of a game.  And seeing as how his big boppers weren't booming, Joltin' Joe Girardi-o decided to change it up and play some small-ball rather than waiting on the 3-run homer. 

Perhaps Jason Giambi and Mike Mussina don't speak Spanish, but apparently Bobby Abreu certainly must've heard the words uttered... "contract year."  

For the first time since October 4, 1995, (Game 2 of the ALDS to be exact) a Yankee manager not named Joe Torre led the Bronx Bombers to a victory.  That man was Buck Showalter and just as Buck had a young up and coming star centerfielder in Bernie Williams, so too does the Yanks new skipper Joe Girardi in Melky Cabrera.

And as we embark on a change from this Yankee Stadium to a "new Yankee Stadium" it is evidently clear that change is a good thing (and no I'm not an Obama supporter).  That change in philosophy, brought on by Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman should put the minds of Yankee fans at ease.  When we wonder if we'll ever see the next "Bernie Baseball" we get a young switch hitting kid with speed and a rocket arm, making diving grabs and catches up against the wall with a new confidence and swagger.  That confidence with a little help from the "Ghosts" hanging out on the Bambino's short porch, allowed Melky to take Toronto ace Roy Halladay deep.

Yes it is that same peace of mind we get as fans as we once pondered if we'd ever get an "Andy Pettitte type" pitcher out of the allegedly dry farm system until it produced Chien-Ming Wang.  Like Pettitte, Wang isn't flashy, but he's a workhorse and all the guy does is win and give the team an opportunity to win.

And it is that same pitching first philosophy on the farm which has given us a glimpse of hope that we may have the next Mariano Rivera in Joba Chamberlain.

Folks, Opening Night 2008 was certainly "night and day" in scope from Opening Day 2007.  Wang was on the hill, not Carl Pavano, Cabrera was in center, not Johnny Damon, in the 8th inning Chamberlain was on the mound, not Kyle Farnsworth and at first base it was Giambi, not Josh Phelps.

I know it's only the first game and that Melky is projected to hit 80 homers and Wang to win 30 games and the Yankees to go 162-0, but one can't help but notice the drastic change in preparedness in this ball club.  This team just looks primed, ready and in shape to win.  A lot of that credit goes to manager Joe Girardi

Change is good for these Yankees, especially if the "winning" refrain remains the same.

Bomber Bites: A-Rod looks very comfortable and motivated this season already.  It is obvious that he has taken to New York and the feeling is mutual.  The reassurance that he'll be a Yankee for life, makes him an even more likeable figure in the Bronx.

Anyone else thankful that Melky was doing that in our yard and not in the Metrodome?  Well that and thankful that one is allowed to appeal Spring Training suspensions.

Robbie Cano, slowly but surely creeping up to 6th in the batting order.

Jason Giambi flashes the leather.  Donnie Baseball left the building and apparently left his glove.  Well at least Giambi has a glove, unlike that Shreck character up in Boston.

And finally, though Jonathan Papelbon may be in his prime and the premiere closer over the length of the season in the American League, there's no question in my mind that when it comes down to getting one batter out with the game on the line I'm taking Mariano Rivera every time, hands down.

The so-called "Mitchell Report" is about to explode, just like Barry Bonds' head presumably will when he rolls out of bed one day and lets out a big sneeze.  But how will you feel, how will you rationalize everything when it comes out that your favorite player or your favorite team was aided by steroids?  Or on the flipside your team was beaten in an important game and screwed over by a steroid user?  In any event some will care, some will be shocked, some will disappointed, some will rationalize and make excuses and others will say oh wow and oh well and simply move on and keep watching  the sport.

My take, the media cares about this story way more than the fans do and the attendance figures over the last four years which keep rising prove it as such.  Fans were much more upset with baseball after the 1994-95 strike than they have been with this steroid epidemic.  That having been said, fans are still very protective when it comes to the integrity of records ala, Hank Aaron and Roger Maris.

I believe that this stems from the fact that like a poorly officiated game in which your team gets screwed over, you're still resigned to the fact that you can't get it back.  Sure you can put your own black mark on it and the league can apologize and admit it messed up, but what happened, happened and unless there's an immediate correction then why care about it if the league doesn't care to do anything, because really you the fan can't do anything, except not show up and really when has that ever happened except for post-strike circa 1994-95?

Some fans when their favorite player comes up or an important star on their team is listed will simply say they don't care.  Now part of that stems from an attitude that says well yeah it's wrong but everybody is tainted at this point or has been at some point and it's far too ambigious to know for sure how much of an effect or advantage this has given to certain teams and players.  Additionally those same fans must realize that not caring all-together means you're cool with Barry Bonds as the all-time HR king or say for instance of speculation's sake, Roger Clemens as the best pitcher of this generation.

On one side you'll have Yankees fans screaming at Red Sox fans about what was injected by trainers into Curt Schilling's leg that allowed to let him pitch in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS and just how did David Ortiz go from platoon player in Minnesota to overnight Fenway sensation?  Then you'll certainly have Red Sox fans countering back at Yankees fans about Jason Giambi's two HR's in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS and Roger Clemens who shut them down in Game 3 of the ALCS in 2003 as well.  How might another nation besides this one and the one in Boston, Mass. react in Japan if and when Hideki Matsui's name crops up.  You'll have Mets and Giants fans wondering if back in 1998 if they and not Sammy Sosa's Cubs should've made the playoffs as the NL Wild Card, or those agruments become quickly irrelevant when suddenly it surfaces that Barry Bonds and Mike Piazza were also implicated.

If nothing else fans finally know what's going on, even if they don't know all of what's going on.  They know it and it stinks, like a poorly umpired game where their team gets hosed and they're left with nothing but empty apologies like we're sorry you didn't like our calls and the fans gripe but proceed to move on.  Gee it's no wonder baseball doesn't want to implement instant replay, they might get caught with their pants down.  Too late for that! 

You know what bugs me?  Ask Joba Chamberlain.  Even though the Yankee bats were so loud you could hear crickets, there's no way MLB should've allowed the 8th inning to continue as is.  Don't agree with me, well then buzz off!

This was absurd, game 2 of a playoff series and you let the game continue under these conditions under these circumstances?  I have seen MLB delay games for rain and much less than what transpired in the bottom of the 8th at the "Cess Pool by the Lake."  In fact there was one game the Yankees played in Detroit this season that was delayed by storms and MLB started the game at 11:00PM eastern standard time and it got over around 3:30AM.  They could've pulled the players off the field for at least an hour or so if need be and could've called in somebody to do something about it.  Heck where do they have to go, why the rush?  They have an off day (no pun intended) on Satruday and the commute to New York for Sunday's game isn't that long. 

MLB and the umpires should be ashamed to have let this game continue.  Clearly it bothered Joba Chamberlain, who looked like some poor kid from Somalia just engulfed in bugs.  Chamberlain pitched brilliantly in relief of Andy Pettitte, getting two outs in the bottom of the 7th to get out of the inning.  So it wasn't like Joba was erratic from the start.

I mean how should we even the score here fellas, let Yankee fans dump ticker tape on the field at Yankee Stadium in game 3 to mess up the Indians pitchers?  Just awful.

Meanwhile, it may be one more loss before we see Joe Girardi replacing Joe Torre as manager of the New York Yankees.  How he can justify sticking with Hideki Matsui over Jason Giambi is beyond me.  Even his taking out Pettitte after he'd gotten out of so many jams with a decent pitch count was questionable.  He doesn't carry a lefty like Ron Villone on the roster and instead carries mop up rookies like Jose Veras and Ross Ohlendorf.  In addition, why wasn't Jeter bunting in game one?  Why didn't he bunt with Cano in game 2?

He's not the only guy, but A-Rod and Scott Boras, you honestly want $30-40 million a year for this?  Take a hike!  And it would be interesting to see if they could fetch some pitchers for Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon.  Perhaps they'd also want to think about bringing back Jorge Posada as a DH.  Finally, no more messing around can we put together a package for Johan Santana please?

When it comes to situations like this MLB apparently still has some bugs to work out.

September is a time for call-ups in baseball.  Which was further illustrated last night when the Yankees went through a slew of players in their 14 inning afair with the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium last night.  Thus it begs the question, when teams are forced to cut back down to 25 on the roster for the playoffs, who makes the cut for the Yankees?  It will be the first time since 1981 that a Yankee playoff roster will not include Bernie Williams.

Jorge Posada: The starting catcher, batting over .330 with over 20 HR's and 85 RBI, been through the battles and has the rings to show for it. 

Derek Jeter: The starting shortstop, captain clutch, you've heard it all before, he's got the hits, the rings and a nice shiny World Series MVP trophy from 2000, the last time they won it all.

Mariano Rivera: Not to take away from his career in the regular season, but if anyone could get into the hall on playoff numbers alone, Mo would be your guy.  Once again another guy with the rings along with the 1999 World Series MVP and 2003 ALCS MVP to boot. 

Andy Pettitte: Is it any suprise or wonder I went with the dynasty guys first?  Pettitte is back with the Yankees just like David Lee Roth is back with Van Halen, no more imposters with the likes of Randy Johnson and Kevin Brown playing the roles of Sammy Hagar and Gary Cherone.  Oh yeah, Andy also has the rings, 14 playoffs victories and a 2001 ALCS MVP.

Alex Rodriguez: A reminder to come back and read this after the playoffs are over, without A-Rod in 2007 there are playoffs for the Yankees.  A-Rod thus far has 52 HR's and 143 RBI, if he just tries to stay relaxed and not try and duplicate those numbers within a span of three weeks, he should no doubt thrive in October.

Robinson Cano: Has had quite a jolt of power this season, hopes to revert to his playoff form of two years ago.

 

Hideki Matsui: Salvaged his season with a hot July and August, however he's also endured a bit of a September swoon.  Absolutely tore up the playoffs in his first two seasons in 2003 and 2004, the last two not so much.  Will be counted on once again.

Bobby Abreu: Another guy who when on can beat you in so many different ways with the bat.  Nice to have a third hitter who can lay down a bunt in a crucial spot and also have 16 HR's and 98 RBI.  One of the few guys who hit in the playoffs last year for the Yanks.

Melky Cabrera: Has cooled off somewhat of late, but speed and defense don't go into slumps for very long and count big time come playoff time.  It's the little guys like Melky who emerge as the un-sung heroes with big hits in October.

Doug Mientkiewicz: Staying on that theme of defense, with apologies to Tino Martinez, Mientkiewicz has to be the best defender at first since Don Mattingly.  While on occasion Doug can slug, his defense will same at least one to two runs a game and when one scales that down to a playoff series, usually that's all it takes to win a game.  Again has a ring and the playoff experience, he'd be my starter at first and is a sleeper pick for a clutch hit or two.

Johnny Damon: Damon can still be useful, has the ring and has been through the playoff wars before.  Another guy capable of beating you in so many different ways.  He'd be my starting DH and depending on Matsui's health, possibly LF.

Jason Giambi: Don't push it with this guy, he reminds me of Jose Canseco circa 2000.  Can still be useful as a pinch hit bopper off the bench or as DH, but in the field, uh no thanks.

Chien-Ming Wang: Ace of the staff, 18 wins.  Won their only playoff game last year, Yanks just feel confident when he pitches, no matter what.  A cool customer on the mound, important in the pressure of the playoffs.

Roger Clemens: Just get him to October in one piece please.  Given his Hall of Fame ledger, Rocket's playoff stats aren't quite what one would expect them to be.  However his presence and ability at any time to pitch dominantly to the tune of two hits and one run over seven innings, still makes him very dangerous.  Has the rings from the days of the "old guard."

Mike Mussina: Veteran who has rebounded of late and deserves a roster spot, possibly even a start.  Not so sure if I'd pitch him with my season on the line in game four.  It will be interesting to see if pitches like David Cone did in the 1999 playoffs after falling off a bit down the stretch or if he'll be like the Cone of 2000 and see little to no action.

Phil Hughes: Has stepped up of late and might warrant a start in October.  That or he could be a righty specialist out of the pen or relieve Clemens or Mussina in case of injury or if they're getting pounded.

Joba Chamberlain: An absolute witch on the mound.  Chamberlain is clutch, embraces the big moments and soakes in the spotlight.  Don't be shocked if you see Joba coming in during the 6th inning of some playoff games if the situation dictates it.

Jose Molina: If the Yankees need to pinch run for Posada in a late spot, they won't lose much in Molina defensively, very important.  Won a ring with the Angels and has actually hit some in limited post-season action.

  Luis Vizcaino: Meet the new Ramiro Mendoza of the Yankee bullpen.  If kept fresh, Luis is lights out.  Another guy with a ring from the Chicago White Sox.

Wilson Betemit: Has had his action and plate apperances reduced of late.  However he is Mr. Versatility, Betemit can play virtually any infield position, has some pop from the left side off the bench and can switch-hit.  Blasted the ball with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2006 NLDS.

Ron Villone: On the roster if for no other reason than he's a veteran lefty.  If fresh can be effective, best not to push it though.

Shelley Duncan: Gets the team pumped and is a long ball threat off the bench with some righthanded pop.  Also has a rocket arm in the OF. 

Ian Kennedy: Another solid young arm who can get the Yankees innings should one of their starters go down or i####ame goes into extras.  Having guys like Kennedy, Vizcaino, Hughes, Chamberlain, Rivera out of the pen could make most games a 5-6 inning affair.  These guys will be important especially if Clemens and Mussina can't give them length for whatever reason.

Kyle Farnsworth: As much as it pains me to give him the 25th spot, they're paying him way too much and probably won't leave him off.  Though with the depth they have in the pen, I'm not sure what his role is anymore and if it's end of the line aka 14th inning guy, he's not the guy you want in there with the game on the line like Jeff Weaver in the 2003 World Series.  Other candidates would likely be Edwar Ramirez and Ross Ohlendorf.

I'll be the first one to admit back in late May I was calling for Gene "Stick" Michael to take over the GM duties for Brian Cashman.  Looking at what Cashman has done recently is putting those thoughts on hold.  Best of all Cashman and the Yankees seem to be concerned with themselves and not the rival Boston Red Sox.

Gone are Wil Nieves, Josh Phelps, Miguel Cairo, Kevin Thompson, who comprised the majority of the Yanks bench this season.  In are Andy Phillips, Shelley Duncan, Wilson Betemit, Jose Molina and Jason Giambi with Johnny Damon on the bench and Melky Cabrera starting.  Injuries and ineffectiveness to players such as Damon, Giambi, Phelps and Doug Mientkiewicz allowed Melky Cabrera to flourish playing every day in centerfield, while also forcing them to trust their farm system in guys like Phillips and Duncan who've injected quite a spark into this ballclub.

Getting Molina and Betemit also gives them greater versatility and a much greater sense of mind.  Betemit has popped more homers in his brief stint thus far than Cairo did for a year and a half with the ballclub.  Molina is the best Yankee backup catcher to Jorge Posada not named Joe Girardi since he left town.  Could anyone have imagined Nieves catching three straight games in Cleveland, handling that staff and collecting five hits along the way, including a four hit effort on Saturday? 

I'll admit that I thought he might be done and was a little bit leery of what Jason Giambi would do to this lineup and its overall synergy.  But then wouldn't you know it, ####, two homers in back to back games.

While it would've been nice to have Bernie Williams back, the way this bench has been re-constructed, one doesn't even hear those calls coming out anymore at this point in the season.  There are so many more options and matcups that Joe Torre has at his disposal, especially if he needs somebody to come up off the bench and pop one.  In June Phelps was "that guy."  Now Giambi, Duncan, Betemit and to some extent Damon all have the ability to launch one into the stands from off the bench.

Another area I must get back to is where Cashman refused to buckle into what Boston was doing.  Instead of making the move to get the next Jose Contreras or Carl Pavano, aka the guys Boston wanted to get, he simply said no to the Texas Rangers when they asked for Cabrera, Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy and even when the Rangers said they'd be ready to deal Eric Gagne to the Red Sox Cashman still said no.

Cashman deserves a lot of credit on that front in staying true to his convictions of building the farm system.  Because Chamberlain is starting to look like the 1996 version of Mariano Rivera, while Gag-ne is looking like the 1999 version of Rod Beck.  Kudos to Cashman.   

The New York Yankees are engaged in a "Cold War" of sorts.  Well armed with pitching to be sure, it's all a matter of whether the Yankees fire off any of their missles in a trade or if they can get them to fire for themselves down the stretch.  Back in the 1980's the Yankees dealt away the likes of Jose Rijo, Doug Drabek and Bob Tewksbury and ended up with little or nothing to show for it.  However in the 1990's they held onto the right guys in Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Ramiro Mendoza and turned prospects such as Sterling Hitchcock, Eric Milton and Matt Drews into Tino Martinez, Jeff Nelson, Jim Mecir, Chuck Knoblauch and Cecil Fielder.  Now the Yankees must decide on what they'd like to do with a plethora of prospects which include: Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy, Alan Horne, Tyler Clippard, Jeff Karstens, Darrell Rasner and Jeff Marquez.

If I'm the Yankees, I'm not letting any of these guys go at the deadline period.  Not that I'm writing off the division just yet, but if this team as currently constructed with enough talent, can't catch the Cleveland Indians who are just four games ahead of them presently in the Wild Card standings, then they don't deserve to make the playoffs. 

What the Yankees should do is unload Kyle Farnsworth on somebody, call up Phil Hughes to replace the recently demoted Kei Igawa (which will happen assuming all is right, this Saturday), call up Jeff Karstens to be their long-man/spot starter out of the pen and call up Joba Chamberlain to pitch out of the pen.  The worst case scenario is for the Yankees to remain stagnant, the best case is that their moves aid them much like the 2002 Anaheim Angels where Phil Hughes becomes John Lackey and Joba Chamberlain mirrors Francisco Rodriguez. 

Would a guy like Eric Gagne, Chad Qualls or Octavio Dotel be an upgrade over Farnsworth?  Yes.  But worth the prospects?  No. 

What is all comes down to is that the Yankees can't be afraid to trust their own guys, especially their heralded prospects.  Over the last three years (2005-07) the Yankees have called up players that weren't initially on many people's radars nor were they trusted until injuries or poor play necessitated their call-ups.  It was Robinson Cano and Chien-Ming Wang who were called up two years ago to replace failures like Tony Womack, Kevin Brown and Jaret Wright.  Last year it was Melky Cabrera getting called up due to the injuries of Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui.  This season it's Andy Phillips getting the every day nod in place of the off-season disaster situation at 1st.  In summary, Cano, Cabrera and Phillips while pumping life into this club as every day regulars are all hitting around or over .300 on the season and Wang has 12 wins as the ace of the staff after missing almost a month of the season. 

While it would be nice for the Yankees to also further upgrade their bench at the deadline, they'll likely have to hope that Jason Giambi can come back at full strength either as a power bat off the bench or as a DH.  If Giambi can come back at 100% it would do wonders for the type of protection A-Rod needs.  Because A-Rod knows that he has to be the guy to knock in runs consistently given the fact that others usually don't and thus with opposing pitchers knowing that, they aren't giving A-Rod anything to hit, which in turn is frustrating A-Rod and making him impatient at the plate.  A healthy Giambi would curb that.  However what a healthy Giambi should not curb is the playing-time of the surging Melky Cabrera.

Hall of Fame Perspective: Anyone happen to notice about 70,000 fans descended upon Cooperstown this weekend?  This was for two guys in Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. who transcended the game, were class acts and were guys who you could just respect and admire watching as a fan no matter what team you rooted for.  Imagine then given the proximity of New York Yankees and New York Mets fans state and city wide with Cooperstown in their own backyard so to speak, just how jam packed that place will get when players like Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens and Mike Piazza all get inducted one day?  Perhaps we'll get a barometer and a small taste for that next year when Goose Gossage is finally enshrined at Cooperstown. 

Remember back when Roger Clemens was making his proclamation from the owner's box at Yankee Stadium of his return to the New York Yankees?  And how after that Curt Schilling and the Boston Red Sox beamoned that they didn't really "need" the Rocket's services anyway?  Well the Yankees are now 7.5 games back of the Red Sox for first place in the American League East after just two weeks ago trailing by 14.5. 

The Yankees have won 12 of their last 14 games including the last 9 in a row, having taken the last four series in a row which included 2 of 3 at the Red Sox, 3 of 4 at the White Sox, and sweeps of the Pirates and Diamondbacks.  The Yankees are 11-2 so far in June.  In fact it only gets sweeter for the Yankees who start a series this weekend at home against the reeling New York Mets and then travel to play the Colorado Rockies, San Francisco Giants and Baltimore Orioles.  If after that trip you were to tell me with the way the Yankees are playing that they'd arrive in the Bronx for their next homestand against the Oakland A's riding a 21 game winning streak and leading the A.L. East, I might be shocked but in the same token none too suprised.

Everything about this team looks so alive.  Manager Joe Torre ever since getting ejected on that Friday night up in Boston looks rejuvinated standing on the steps of the dugout whenever the Bronx Bombers are up to the plate.  They seem to be a lot more comfortable and relaxed in their roles.  No doubt they are getting sparks from guys like Melky Cabrera and Miguel Cairo playing regularly and contributing to keep the team loose.  It's quite apparent that Cabrera and Cairo are doing for this year's club what Cabrera and Bernie Williams did for last year's team when Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield went down. 

If we're comparing this season to 1978 Cairo who was essentially forgotten for the first two months may be the 2007 version of Brian Doyle.  Doyle was the 2ndbaseman who took over after Willie Randolph got injured and batted .438 in the '78 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Cabrera gives the team another dimension as well, the best centerfielder this team has had since Bernie Williams in his prime, with a cannon for an arm to boot.  Cabrera's presence in center gives him more confidence as the every day guy and allows Johnny Damon to stay fresh and set the tone at the top of the batting order.  It's no suprise that having guys like Jason Giambi and Carl Pavano out of the picture has helped this club to move forward.

Of course these moves allow everything to click in the batting order.  With Damon regularly in there at the top, that allows Bobby Abreu to settle back into the 3rd spot between Derek Jeter who has been consistently solid all year and Alex Rodriguez who is putting up MVP numbers again and he is backed up now by Jorge Posada who is 2nd in the A.L. in batting and that is aided by having some pop at the bottom with Matsui, Robinson Cano looking like a batting champ again and even Cabrera lifting his offensive game.  The only thing this team may be lacking is a bopper off the bench, perhaps that will come in the person of Giambi or they make a deal for Cincinnati Reds slugger Ken Griffey Jr. who has 16 HR's and could be looking for a ring after playing for the reeling Reds could be brought in as a DH and reunited with A-Rod.

A-Rod ignoring and silencing the off the field critics with his impressive play and Abreu looking like he won't turn into the 2001 version of David Justice or the 1997 version of Cecil Fielder are by far the best news of cranking the Yankee machine.

Finally it's the pitching that will always serve as the backbone of this ballclub if they're going anywhere in October.  Bringing Clemens back has been a gigantic boost to this ballclub.  Clemens just brings that something extra to push guys harder and gives them that drive to take their games to the next level along with an added sense of excitement.  Andy Pettitte is getting run support and is still lights-out.  Mike Mussina has picked it up and doesn't look quite ready yet to turn into the 2000 version of David Cone.  Chien-Ming Wang looks like the ace who won 19 games last year and not the shell of a pitcher who was hobble by early injuries thanks to the brilliant signing of Marty Miller as strength and conditioning coach.  Most importantly they're getting length and consistency out of the starters, which keeps the offense in ballgames allowing them not to have to press so often, keeps the bullpen fresh and allows Mariano Rivera to get a normal workload.

News & Notes: Jorge Posada with his 206th homerun puts him past Hall of Fame outfielder Dave Winfield for 9th on the all-time Yankee list.  Posada is just 17 away from pass