Barry Zito to the Pen

Barry Zito goes to the bullpen, and I know it sounds bad, but I love it. It's not because I have anything against Zito, as a matter of fact, I've heard nothing but good things about him. What I love is that it further proves that just because you shell out a TON of money, it doesn't mean a pitcher/player is going to perform to those standards.

All off-season I heard numbers thrown around for Johan Santana that I thought were nuts. People saying $200 million, or $150 million, thinking that if Zito got 7/126, then Santana certainly deserved more. As it turned out Santana got $147 million, so he did get more. But my feeling when hearing all of this talk is why did Zito's contract have to be the benchmark? If a contract like this cripples a team, why should other teams want to, or even have to award similar contracts? Furthermore, and more importantly, why does the player have all the leverage in these negotiations? Just because someone else was able to take advantage of one's stupidity (in this case the Giants), doesn't mean every other team has to be dumb.

I know the players union will start complaining about collusion, but let's be serious, good contracts should be the benchmarks, not stupid ones.

More Trouble for Roger Clemens

I'm not going to discuss Roger Clemens' affair with Mindy McCready as we all know right from wrong. The only thing I will say about this is that it doesn't bode well for Clemens, and not because of the hit his image will take. Rather, the fact that McCready told the New York Daily News, "I cannot refute anything in the story," once again shows how evidence against Clemens seems to be legitimate.

Clemens and his joke of a lawyer, Rusty Hardin, continue to say that Roger is telling the truth. Yet if that's the case, we're then supposed to believe that Brian McNamee, Andy Pettitte, and McCready have all "misremembered?" Come on guys, you can't be serious! The more you continue to stick to your story, the more dirt is going to come out, and the worse off you're going to be. But, if that's really how you want to play, ENJOY...

To the mailbag...

I would like to take this time to thank all of you readers for your extremely well thought out comments. I have an incredible amount of respect for both the amount of time you spent constructing your arguments, and for your overall knowledge of the game. With the said, here are some thoughts.

Tommyeagle - This is Dave Winfield era II...the same cronology that occurred in Dave Winfield era I. To say that the Yankees don't have too many lefties in their lineup is obsurd! You keep referring to the last dynasty as a road map to success but you refuse to look at the current team with a critical eye.

This current team in no way shape or form is even 20% close to the team that was designed in the 90's. The biggest mistake the Yankees made was taking on AROD...it distroyed the chemistry of this team. When one person becomes the constant focal point of the team you are in big trouble and those were the same conditions that existed when Dave Winfield played in New York. The desperate moves to create an instant winner existed then as they do now.

The rebuilding of this team is not a quick fix. The outfield is an aging mess. Matsui has no range...Damon has one of the worst arms in baseball and he plays centerfield, a weak bat with another DL stint weeks away...Abreu can't cover his patio let alone right field. First base is a joke!

The pitching is much farther away then you suggest. Hughes is not a proven ace and even if he achieves this level it will take a while. He has less than half a pitching season in the majors under his belt. Ian Kennedy is no wow pitcher and he has less than 40 innings in the majors. Pettitte will be gone next year if not the following year. Mussina is an absolute joke and Wang is a very good number #2 pitcher. The Chamberlain discussion is the same discussion that took place during Winfield era I when Dave Righetti became a closer.

If Cashman got fired or if he chose to leave the Yankees it would present a great opportunity to bring a real baseball mind on board with a proven track record. The move would refresh Yankee blood! Change is not always a bad thing.

Tommyeagle, thanks again for your thoughts. I have never had so much fun reading someone's comments. It is quite apparent that you are a huge Yankee fan that is able to look at the team without blinders on. With that said, I couldn't agree more with the comments I have pasted here. The rebuilding of the Yankees is not a quick fix at all, and that's the reason I want to keep Cashman.

For the first time in nearly a decade the Yankees have a plan. No longer are they looking for a quick fix that will cost them several prospects, but instead they're trying to stockpile those prospects in order to build a nucleus that will last for several years. If Cashman were to leave, I'm afraid Hank Steinbrenner will respond the way his father did, by signing every big-name free agent that is on the decline, and then lead us into that dreadful period we remember as the 80s (and yes, I do remember the 80s, they were my formative years).

I agree that change is not always a bad thing, and that it could very well be a good thing. That's one of the main reasons I was in favor of brining in Joe Girardi as opposed to Don Mattingly, but in regards to Cashman, I think we're just going to have to agree to disagree, because everywhere else we're in total agreement.

Oh yeah, one more thing, and this further backs up what you said about A-Rod. If the Yankees stumble over the next two weeks it won't be because they miss him. Instead it will be because they miss Posada. No one expected A-Rod to duplicate the year he had last year, however many people were hoping he would continue to hit in the clutch. Well, it's an even numbered year, and he's reverted back to his old ways. You don't have to look any further than Sunday's game against the Indians.

In the top of the 6th with the Yankees up 1-0, a runner on third, one out and first base open, the Indians and C.C. Sabathia decided to go after Rodriguez as opposed to intentionally walk him. What did he do? Struck out. If A-Rod is as good in the clutch as people believe he is, then there's no way you go after him, not with Shelley Duncan on deck, sorry.

zdeane343 - saying chien-ming wang is a good #2 pitcher is a joke. back to back 19 game winner, only took him 85 starts to get 50wins, i think thats the 3rd quickest.

its an absolute joke that people say hes not an ace. people look at strikeouts and fantasy stats, the only thing that matter is wins, and chien-ming does that.

Zdeane343, thank you for your well thought out comments the last two posts. I think you are correct in that many people do look at fantasy stats to determine who an "ace" is, however I do not believe I'm one of them (especially since I don't even play fantasy). One of my big criteria for judging whether or not someone is an "ace" is by asking yourself the questions, "Do you have the utmost confidence that he's going to win each and every time he takes the mound, big game or small?" and "As a fan of the opposing team, does the thought of facing that pitcher scare you?"

In my opinion Wang is right on the cusp of becoming an "ace." He definitely wins, as I believe he has more the last two seasons than anyone else in baseball, but I also believe his post-season last year is holding him back as did his game last September against Josh Beckett. Many people thought the CY Young would be decided in that game, and unfortunately Wang bombed there just like he did in the playoffs. Please don't get me wrong, I love Wang. I think he is one of the best pitchers in the game, and that the Yankees are lucky to have him. But as of right now, he is still a borderline "ace."

I apologize for not getting to everyone's comments, but I really do appreciate all of them. Thanks again.