I hope the censors don't catch this one because ESPN has become the worst four-letter word in sports.  If Wayne Gretzky called the Disney owned company a "mickey mouse" organization, you'd never know about it because let's face it they never cover hockey.  What was once the great "Big Show" with the likes of Keith Olbermann and Dan Patrick has turned into a "Big Soap Opera," so much so that Vince McMahon should sue for copyright infringement. 

Here is a bevy of reasons why I cannot stand ESPN:

1.) Brett Favre, Brett Favre, Brett Favre.  Oh sure they've done this before with Michael Jordan and Roger Clemens, but I don't need to hear  from everyone from Chris Mortensen to Joe Beercan from Madison, Wisconsin on every single angle possible.  Here's something that takes ten seconds boys and girls, if he's not playing he's retired, if he's playing, he's playing, just let me know that and I'm fine ok.

2.) Gimmicks.  What do I mean by gimmicks?  Does "Title Town" come to mind?  How about "Who's Now?"  Remember what a doozie that one was?

3.) The so-called "experts."  You know the self-aggrandizing ex-jocks and or execs. who think that since they played the game that they know everything and that you're too stupid to know anything because you never played the game.  Steve Phillips has to be the worst, John Kruk is pretty awful and Sean Salisbury a scrub quarterback and self-proclaimed know-it-all, Mel Kiper Jr. and I can keep going on and on and on. 

4.) The Rush Limbaugh wannabees.  In fact ESPN even went so far as to hire Rush awhile back, while I don't agree ideologically with Mr. Limbaugh, he at least is an expert at his craft.  However a lot of these personalities on ESPN are trying to be edgy and opinionated and in your face just for the sake doing it.  Names that come to mind are Stephen A. "everything I have to say is important," Jemele "racist" Hill, Skip "clueless" Bayless, etc.

5.) Virtually no hockey highlights.  I understand you don't cover the sport ESPN, but show me some highlights.

6.) Same old story, same old song and dance.  Favre, T.O., Barry Bonds, A-Rod, Manny, Spygate, Steroids.  Can a man get some sports highlights please?

7.) Poker all the time, even on ESPN Classic.  Remember when ESPN Classic (formerly classic sports) used to actually show classic games and events?

8.) They even managed to ruin ESPN News!  I used to flip over there to get away from the garbage, apparently someone found out because I can't escape it there either.

9.) Kobe and Shaq soap opera.  Fine so the Shaq rapping video was funny, but I don't need 20 minutes of analysis on it.  Heck as a Celtics fan it almost cost me a championship, because Paul Pierce almost blew out his knee slipping on all of that drool they were foistering on Kobe.

10.) ESPN2 has become irrelevant.

11.) ESPN original entertainment.  Memo to ESPN, you are not HBO and you never will be.

12.) Showing 20 minutes of NFL Live in June instead of an hour of Baseball Tonight.

13.) My wish segments.  Great captivating stories, very well done packages, but does it belong on an "all sports network?"

14.) Firing Harold Reynolds over nothing.  He must've been too good and too knowledgeable for that network. 

15.) The Outdoor Games.  Stop trying to force people to like stuff and stop pretending that they actually do or care.

16.) Fake news conferences, especially using that fake baseball GM Steve Phillips.

17.) ESPN deportes on SportsCenter.  If ESPN deportes was so great, I'd be watching it right now.  But oh yeah funny thing is, I never do!

18.) The fact that they still cover the WNBA as if someone other than lesbians are still watching.

19.) Their eye candy isn't hot enough to be that stupid.  If you're going to have attractive people on that don't know what they're talking about that's fine, just make sure that they can at least hack it in the SI Swimsuit Issue ok? 

20.) Disney owns them and Disney is evil, need I say more?

Over 9,000 fans showed up for the last exhibition game never to be played in Cooperstown, New York between the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres.  Amid protests there won't be a Hall of Fame Game next year for Major League Baseball.  Which begs the question if they're done playing in front of crowds numbering around 9,000 or so, does this mean no more Major League Baseball will be played in South Florida next year too?  The shame of this is overall greed and this garbage excuse of having "scheduling conflicts."

Yet somehow MLB is able to schedule games (exhibition or otherwise) in Japan, China, Puerto Rico, Mexico City, heck even Cuba and yet they can't find a way to fit in Cooperstown, New York!?!?!  Once again another sign of big business giving the snub to small town America.  Granted the players looked none too thrilled to be there as much as the give or take 9,000 who showed up just to be in their presence, but I guarantee you if one had to take a poll and ask players where they'd rather be, Cooperstown, New York for a day or Beijing, China for two weeks, the choice would be unanimous.

I mean seriously anything for a buck right you guys?  By the way that move out of Montreal to Washington made that team really competitive right?  What a joke.

If being in favor of instant replay in baseball means being for getting the calls on the field right, then count me in as someone who wants instant replay in the game.  Because ultimately getting the call correct is what it's all about right? 

Now obviously umpires make mistakes just like players and managers and coaches and on down the line.  However I don't really understand this whole emphasis on "baseball tradition" as to why instant replay can't come to fruition in baseball.

Heck the only reason its been that way for over 100 years is because over 100 years ago games weren't even on radio let alone broadcast in crystal clear HDTV.  They had no concept of instant replay as a tool back then, but who is to say they wouldn't have utilized it if they'd had the opportunity?  MLB isn't fooling anyone anymore by sheepishly sweeping these calls under the rug.

Some umpires may take offense to this whole notion of actually being held accountable and overruled just like players, managers and coaches, but I say tough, it's not about you guys it's about getting the calls right!  Don't worry about opening some pandora's box, the technology is there so use it.

As far as the pacing of the game, would having an extra umpire up in the booth monitoring the game on a big-screen HDTV instantly relaying a disputed HR call down to the field be any slower than the umpires on the field huddling up and deliberating or arguing with both managers and players over such a call? 

Perhaps the worry is that the technology has become too blatantly good that the umpires will cease to be relevant.  Because with the advent of HDTV and slow motion zoom and K-Zone and Questec, there's no hiding anymore and no excuse for being able to overturn obvious calls.

Honestly the only reason umpires are there is because they were there first as the only means to make calls and resolve disputes.  Its sort of like bikes and cars, sure bikes came first but if you had the option of having a car to get around wouldn't you take the car?  Upon further review, rising oil prices and botched calls make me crave for a change.

Bill Buckner was a nice (though somewhat akward) touch to Opening Day at Fenway, but something tells me these guys would like to throw out a first pitch of their own:

 "Whew, they mistook me for the W.B. Mason guy."

 "I'm the reason why Billy had to move to Idaho!"

 "So this is what I get for giving God all the credit huh?"

 "You'd rather see me than Wood on the mound anyhow!"

 "At least my first pitch to Joe Carter was good too!"

 "I'm good at punching walls too!"

Is this insane or what, the United States Congress wasting our time and tax dollars on steroids in baseball?  You know it wasn't too long ago, ten years to be exact that Congress actually investigated worthwhile things of importance, you know like whether a sitting President was screwing around with an intern.  But seriously folks, baseball gets destroyed on this while in the AFC Championship game this Sunday Rodney Harrison and Shawne Merriman, both suspended for steroids previously, will be playing without so much as a peep.

I really don't want to veer off into politics on this blog, but seriously there are much more important issues facing this country and Congress is worried about steroids in baseball, could they possibly be anymore out of touch?  There is a load of other important issues facing this country and yet there is this fixation and fascination on this why?  Seriously, when you go back to your constituents and congressional districts and they ask what legislation you've introduced and passed concerning the price of oh I don't know, EVERYTHING, like goods, food, gas, oil and energy prices, the economy possibly heading towards recession, healthcare, immigration, people losing their jobs and you'll tell them what exactly?  Did you see me, I really grilled that Rocket Roger Clemens, boy oh boy!  Guuuh.

I am not implicating him, but do you think that now would be as good a time as any to put President George W. Bush under oath to see if he could help in getting to the bottom of this as he stated in his State of the Union Address a few years back?  I mean he was owner Texas Rangers when Jose Canseco and Rafael Palmeiro played there, you think the man might be able to offer some insight into what was going on during this era?  Plus Democrats could actually claim they finally got him to testify under oath, as they have been so cowardly been unable to thus far, but that's for another blog at another time.

Honestly though this is the biggest joke and the most astonishing amount of grandstanding ever, really what are they going to get out of this?  They clearly aren't sending these guys to jail just on the basis of steroids, I mean Raffy Palmeiro blatantly lied right in their faces and nothing happened to him.  As far as Barry Bonds and Marion Jones go, they're being investigated by the feds for things far greater than this whole steroid thing.

If nothing is going to come of this then why should we as baseball fans be dragged through it?  Nobody is going to be kicked out of the game, nobody's records are going to be erased.  Most of these sports writers, columnists, talking heads and vultures who are eating this stuff up at the end of the day have said they'll still vote for Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens when they come up for the Hall of Fame, so sanctimony is abound am I right? 

Bud Selig and Donald Fehr, both of whom I haven't been able to stand since the baseball strike of 1994 are just as if not more responsible for this mess than any of the players.  Clearly baseball fans who are coming out in the millions and making MLB billions are somewhat annoyed but for the most part couldn't care less.  So ESPN can get Roger Cossack off my #### TV and show some damn highlights already!

Maybe this baseball era goes down like the music era of the 60's which also had a drug culture to it, lots of great music, lots of great baseball.  There's a lot of worse things going on in other sports than steroids, like say the NFL's great example to kids, Michael Vick, Pacman Jones and oh I don't know the entire Cincinnati Bengals roster!  I'm not condoning steroid use and I'd like to know that what I'm watching is legit, but in the end it really is all he-said-he-said and we are all left to judge for ourselves if we trust what we are seeing is true greatness or inflated garbage.

After another disappointing first round post-season exit if I were New York Yankees Owner George M. Steinbrenner III, I would make some serious changes to this ballclub.  In fact I would make a lot of changes to this roster and get back to square one.  Though it seems odd a 94 win playoff team with a payroll in excess of around $200 million would need a drastic overhaul, but alas here we are and here are the changes that must be made:

  (Moves to be made by The Boss)

First the General Manager Brian Cashman.  While I continue to applaud Cashman's willingness and philosophy to develop young talent in the farm system and holding onto prized prospects instead of dumping them for the Eric Gagne's of the world, I wouldn't bring him back.  Whether since 2001 you want to blame him or the Tampa contingent for moves like Jason Giambi, Kevin Brown, Steve Karsay, letting Andy Pettitte go etc. is your call.  However since supposedly took back the reigns in 2005, he's responsible for Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright, Kei Igawa, Tony Womack, Kyle Farnsworth, re-signing Mike Mussina and letting Bernie Williams go.

  (OUT)

My new General Manager(s): Gene "Stick" Michael and Buck Showalter.  These guys layed down the foundation for the turnaround of the Yankees and this most recent dynasty in changing the culture of the way things are done in the Bronx.  Both are excellent talent evaluators, know how to run an organization, how to bring in quality people and hard nosed ballplayers and especially how to cultivate, scout and develop a farm system.

 (IN)

What to do about the manager Joe Torre?  There's two ways to look at this.  1.) Torre always wins and gets the Yankees to the playoffs, despite starting the year with two-fifths of the starting rotation comprised of Carl Pavano and Kei Igawa and followed by the many rookies that would come.  Not to mention in the post-season they essentially had about two automatic reliable relievers in Mariano Rivera and Joba Chamberlain.  In addition to having 45 year old Roger Clemens not able to pitch more than two innings and Mike Mussina pitching so poorly down the stretch he has to be relegated to long-man status, while Chien-Ming Wang had to get run out there on three days rest.  That and Jason Giambi was a total $20 million waste just sitting there on the bench because he's all roided out.  2.) The Yankees have a lot of All-Stars, Hall of Fame guys and have spent hundreds upon millions of dollars to at least do something more than get bumped in the first round for the 3rd straight year.

  (OUT)

My new Manager: Joe Girardi.  Girardi is just a flat out winner everywhere he goes.  As a player Girardi made the playoffs as a catcher with the Cubs, Rockies and Yankees.  As a manager Girardi won with the Florida Marlins, with a payroll of $15 millon and a bunch of Double and Triple-A players not named Dontrelle Willis or Miguel Cabrera.  Some have compared Girardi's managerial style and makeup to former Yankees skipper Buck Showalter.  Girardi knows talent and how to motivate and get the best out of youner players and is a no nonsense type of guy.  Which is a positive because he won't be attached to this roster, will be given a clean slate and there are a lot more youngsters on the way.  Girardi also knows how to succeed in New York which is very imporant, he learned strategy from Don Zimmer and how to handle a clubhouse from Joe Torre and there are enough of his old teammates still around to back him up and support him, namely Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte.  Girardi would be the logical fit to replace Torre, much in the way Ralph Houk replaced Casey Stengel. 

  (IN)

The Thirdbaseman: Did A-Rod light it up in the playoffs this year?  No.  Was A-Rod the absolute reason the Yankees lost in the playoffs this year?  Hell no!  Honestly here's my take, if A-Rod wants to stay and sign an extension and end his career with the Yankees then bring him back.  However if A-Rod wants to opt-out, get paid $40 million a year and ultimately take up one-third of the payroll they might just want to spend and use their resources elsewhere.  A-Rod is very marketable for YES, the new Stadium, the All-Time HR chase and on and on.  He's a good guy who seems more relaxed and more comfortable with the city embracing him and he seems to have taken on more of a leadership role in the clubhouse.  Either way I don't think the Yankees can lose.  If A-Rod is back, they have one of the All-Time greats in the lineup.  If he's not, they probably have a solid guy like Mike Lowell holding down the hot corner, who has a great glove, came up with the Yankees, is mostly a doubles hitter and can hit for average and power and the Yankees have won with players like him at 3rd before, like the guy who stood in his way back in 1998, Scott Brosius.  That and the Yankees can allocate more money towards pitching and or outfield help.

Speaking of the outfield, nobody is safe.  It will be quite interesting to see if the Yankees try to perhaps package Melky Cabrera in a deal for Johan Santana.  Or whether they keep Melky in center or move him to one of the corner spots given his arm and bring in a Torii Hunter or Aaron Rowand who are excellent defensively and provide much more pop at the plate.  Will Bobby Abreu's 2nd half resurgence and steady post-season be enough to retain his services or will the Yankees do a Gary Sheffield, pick up his option and trade him for some pitching help?  Hideki Matsui rebounded well this season, but has been injury plagued the last couple of seasons.  Though Matsui has been pretty solid as a Yankee and the organization likes the whole Japan marketing thing, the next GM or skipper might want to consider a different path and deal him for some pitching help before he potentially breaks down.  Lastly Johnny Damon may have saved himself with his October heroics, that or he possibly showcased himself for another team should the Yankees look to deal him for some pitching.  I say the Yankees have to at least bend off one of those guys for some pitching help and need some serious pop either for the outfield or DH spot. 

Catcher: Obviously bringing back Jorge Posada is a no-brainer and retaining Jose Molina would be a wise decision as well.

1st base: Working out something between a platoon of Doug Mientkiewicz, Andy Phillips, Shelley Duncan and Wilson Betemit should be just fine at the moment for the Yankees.

Up the middle the Yankees are more than set with Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano.

Finally the most important, the starting rotation.  Assuming everyone comes back and they don't pull off a blockbuster for a Johan Santana type, here's what my starting rotation would be in no particular order.  Andy Pettitte, Chien Ming Wang, Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy.  That's right, no more Roger Clemens, Mike Mussina, Kei Igawa or Carl Pavano.  Go with youth here and you heard me right, Joba starts! 

In the bullpen Mariano Rivera must be brought back, even at his age, when it counts he's still better at 80% than most closers in this league at 100%.  Plus who else are you going to sign Eric Gagne?  Please.  Kyle Farnsworth must be shown the door.  They have to make some deals as I mentioned earlier to bring in some workhorses.  They should probably bring back Luis Vizciano.  And there should be a healthy competition between more young guys (if they're not traded) like Ross Ohlendorf, Humberto Sanchez, T.J. Beam, Darrell Rasner, Jose Veras and Chase Wright.  Perhaps Mussina is retained as a long-man or a spot starter in the pen or if Girardi is hired as manager they bring in Jon Lieber for help as an innings eater.  Another option might be to try and swing a deal for Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan. 

Finally the deadweight must be cut.  Some how some way the Yankees have to shed the bad karma and equally bad contracts of Carl Pavano, Kei Igawa, Jason Giambi, Mike Mussina and Kyle Farnsworth.  A big reason the Yankees can't afford to give A-Rod the moon if he opts out is that these guys are taking up a huge chunk of the payroll without actually living up to those salaries or in some cases not contributing at all. 

In summary the Yankees have an array of directions they can go.  Continue to get younger and more fiscally responsible.  Trade some of that youth or those big contracts for some "sure things," i.e. Johan Santana or Joe Nathan.  Spread out their resources to create more depth on the roster.  Or they could just go all out and spend $300 million. 

I'm not expecting them nor do I want them to revert back to the 1980's style of doing things or even what happened after the 2001 season.  With potentially more payroll flexibility and more leverage for the owner, this will be the biggest turnover since 1995 and 1997, both year's the Yankees made the playoffs as a Wild Card and got bumped in the ALDS.  Oddly enough it may all turn out to be very cyclical for Joe Torre, who like Buck Showalter before him was a successful well like skipper by the fans who brought the team back from extinction to the playoffs only to lose and be let go.  Hopefully these changes like those made in '95 and '97 bring about a new dynasty for these Yankees and hopefully they'll remember what those changes made at that time that were, when they're thinking about making them this time around.

Exactly 50 years after the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants left New York brokenhearted, the New York Mets left their fans in stunned disbelief not seen by New York National League fans since Bobby Thomson hit the shot heard 'round the world off Ralph Branca in 1951, sealing what was both a monumental collapse and comeback in one felt swoop.  How fitting they played the Florida Marlins on fan appreciation day at Shea, especially given that now fans of both teams know what it is to have something of great potential taken away from them.

For the first time ever a team leading by seven games this late has blown it.  Obviously a good, hot Philadelphia Phillies team did what they had to do and took care of business.  However to lose eight home games in a row (Citi Field can't come fast enough) including games to the likes of the cellar dwelling Marlins and Washington Nationals is clearly unacceptable.  And from the owner on down there wasn't one voice being publicly adamant about this team whipping itself back into shape.  Clearly someone must take the fall.

To their credit, since Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph arrived the Mets have done nothing but win.  However if I'm the Mets Rick Peterson and Rickey Henderson have to go and Willie must be allowed to bring in his own coaches.  The Mets did hit well with HoJo as hitting coach, but at first base the Mets would do well to bring back fan favorite and former fellow coach with the New York Yankees Lee Mazzilli as the first base coach and as for pitching coach how about another guy Willie and Mets fans know all too fondly, Mel Stottlemyre.

In the off-season Minaya did nothing significant to upgrade the roster.  He went from the clutch but oft-injured Cliff Floyd to the clutch but oft-injured Moises Alou in leftfield.  Kept Julio Franco who served no purpose because they were tight in their Texas Rangers days.  Then instead of retaining Chad Bradford and Darren Oliver who'd pitched brilliantly out of the pen and Heath Bell, he brings back Mr. Steroid Guillermo Mota whom he knew full well would be suspended for 50 games right off the bat and he trades Brian Bannister to the Kansas City Royals where he won 12 games this season for the second coming of Mel Rojas in Ambiorix Burgos. 

This all the while knowing he had two 40 something's prone to break down at any second in Tom Glavine and Orlando Hernandez.  Couple that with the fact he had to know Pedro Martinez and Duaner Sanchez would be out until at least August if not later.  In addition this might be more the ownership than Omar, but knowing this about the rotation and their troubles at leftfield and second base, they could've gone after a Gil Meche type or the most logical fit for versatility Alfonso Soriano.  Finally at the trade deadline they need pitching (and who doesn't these days), especially bullpen help and what do they get?  A nice player in Luis Castillo, but certainly not anybody who's going to put you over the top.

Mets fans were left fuming, perhaps it was from frustration of the former New York Yankee managing in their dugout or the former Atlanta Brave pitching on the mound. Perhaps they should've have known better than to have been teased once again.  Perhaps they should've just listened to Jimmy Rollins all along, that in fact they were just doomed from the start. 

Do you hear what they're saying across town about Willie Randolph?  It wasn't too long ago those same things were said about Joe Torre around here.  While I too was clamoring for Gene "Stick" Michael and Buck Showalter to come back and replace Brian Cashman and Joe Torre, after what has transpired this season I'd have to say keep Joe.

Now you'll ask of me, "but Mike, what if Yanks fall apart in the ALDS or get stung by Boston in the ALCS or the Mets in the World Series?"  First of all let's see the Mets hang on for a playoff spot.  But all kidding aside, what Joe Torre has done this season warrants at least another year and a World Series Championship, well you can practically name the new stadium after him for all I care.

Put aside the fact the Yankees have reached the playoffs 13 years in a row, including all 12 of Torre's.  Ignore the fact that they are the Yankees, have a huge payroll and a slew of All-Stars.  By no means am I calling them underdogs, but it seems all Torre does ever since he got here in 1996 is overcome adversity.

Obviously there's some dynasties like the Yankees of the 1960's and Boston Celtics of the 1980's who kept everything together just a little too long.  However, ask fans of two other dynasties in the 1990's like the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bulls if they would have wanted ownership to bring back Jimmy Johnson and Phil Jackson?

You don't know what you've got until it's gone, hopefully Joe stays.

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.

Spring Training has barely started and one has to wonder is all the hype surrounding Yankees camp really valid or is it a case of a press corps yearning for or wishing they were covering the old 'Bronx Zoo' of the 1970's just hoping to gin up any kind of controversy possible?  Oddly enough the ring leader of that circus George Steinbrenner, has been the most quiet and out of sight figure of them all. 

Excuse me but wasn't there supposed to be more stability with this ballclub after GM Brian Cashman wrestled away the reigns from the Tampa contingent?  Anyhow here's the Spring Training breakdown and no this breakdown doesn't  involve shavers or tattoos.

Brian Cashman: From sympathetic figure to cold-hearted and calculating?  Not necessarily a bad thing when one considers how he's managed to trim the payroll, re-stock the farm system and acquire more young pitching prospects for the future or as trading chips.  Cashman has also rid the team of percieved malcontents in Randy Johnson, Gary Sheffield and Jaret Wright, while bringing in character guys like Bobby Abreu and Andy Pettitte.  Cashman does have a lot to explain for and do as well, such as why Bernie Williams has yet to be re-signed, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada have yet to be given contract extensions, Kei Igawa was given a pantload of money for never having touched a MLB baseball until last fall, Carl Pavano is still on this team, they plan to carry a platoon of no-hit firstbasemen, Phil Hughes isn't in the rotation and why wasn't Mel Stottlemyre invited to Spring Training to be a special pitching instructor?

Joe Torre: He's still the manager until Don Mattingly, Joe Girardi or Buck Showalter is.  Nobody questions Torre's ability to win and handle the pressure of New York and one assumes he still comands respect in the clubhouse, especially when backed up by the leaders from the dynasty teams in Derek Jeter, Rivera, Posada and Pettitte.  There's no question that given the Yankees poor pitching in 2005 and slew of injuries in 2006 that Torre was the one who was able to keep the team together, to handle and massage the egos while acting as a buffer between the media and Tampa.  However since after the 2003 season when Don Zimmer left, it's fair to question in the post-season if Torre has lost a little off the strategical fastball.  Though aside from Showalter, Torre's ability to give the Yankees organization stability has been un-matched since the days of Casey Stengel.

Bernie Williams: Except for the fact that he has created no leverage for himself and as much as I'd love to see him in camp and on the team, I really can't blame Bernie for telling the Yankees to shove it.  At least Don Mattingly was pushed out by Tino Martinez, but are you gonna tell me that the Yankees are seriously pushing out Williams for Doug Mientkiewicz and either Andy Phillips or Josh Phelps?  Why that would be like replacing Paul O'Neill in rightfield with a platoon of Shane Spencer and John Vanderwal and trading for a moody overpriced Raul Mondesi to replace them... oh wait they already did do that, whoops.

A-Rod and Jeet: Oh heavens there's no more sleepovers?  Who did all of you guys in the media think they were exactly Bert and Ernie?  They aren't openly trashing eachother and as long as they both produce, just leave it alone.

Mariano Rivera: Still no contract extension.  Kind of like the Boston Red Sox still have no closer.  It's incredible how Mo never says a peep, pitches through injury, gets worn out by Torre when the Yankees have a taxed bullpen and the Yankees won't budge on giving him an extension.  Tell me how it is that Mo was the tenth highest paid Yankee last season and now that he's asking for an extension the Yankees won't guarantee loyalty back?  Mo isn't worth more than Mike Mussina and Jason Giambi?  Not worth more than an un-proven Igawa?  Don't tell me he's too old or has a tender elbow because that didn't stop you from paying gobs of money to Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson, Jaret Wright, Carl Pavano, Kyle Farnsworth and Steve Karsay.  Ask yourself if Mo is worth $50 million over the next two years as you reach into your endless pockets to pay 45 year old Roger Clemens to pitch three months of five inning baseball for half of that this season. 

Carl Pavano and Mike Mussina: So already Pavano says he has heavy legs after running sprints huh?  Well perhaps if Pavano put down the gun and ski mask he wears everytime he picks up a paycheck from the Yankees, it would significantly help his cause.  Who could blame Mussina or anyone for blasting this guy? 

Phil Hughes: I've said it before and will say it again, Phil Hughes should be the Yankees 4th or 5th starter this season.  Tell me right now as of this moment who is better suited than Hughes to slide into one of those two rotation spots?  It seems to me that the Yankees never want to give "their guys" a shot, though recent history would prove them wrong on Hughes.  In 1996 rookie Derek Jeter took over for the injured and horrible signing of Tony Fernandez.  In 2005 Robinson Cano took over for another terrible signing in Tony Womack and in that same season Chien Ming Wang stepped in for injured and putrid signings Pavano and Wright.  And in 2006 Melky Cabrera stepped in and probably made the Yankees wish they hadn't overspent on Hideki Matsui or Johnny Damon.  Thus when one looks to the 2007 season, Phil Hughes could be the star and saviour of this team far before anyone thinks.