The New York Yankees are going to make a ridiculous offer to CC Sabathia in a matter of hours that they hope he can't refuse. For my sake, I hope he does. Not because I dislike CC, and not because I dislike the Yankees, I actually like both. But when push comes to shove, I like baseball even more. Sabathia is in a position right now to make a statement, a statement bigger than just about anyone has in a long time in sports. He has the opportunity to tell his agent, the Player's Association, and the fans that he doesn't care about the money, but instead wants to go to a team that he actually wants to play for, not the team that everyone else wants him to play for. Alex Rodriguez had this same opportunity back in 2000 when it was known he wanted to play for the Mets, but instead took $252 million from the Texas Rangers. While A-Rod has won three MVP's and put up great numbers, I for one believe his career would have turned out much differently had he gone to the Mets. Not so much statistically, but more in how he's viewed by the media, fans, and his peers. I'm not saying what Sabathia has the chance to do is not difficult. Let's say, hypothetically speaking, that the Yankees offer $25 million more than the next closest bidder. That's a lot of money to leave on the table, especially in today's economy where who knows what's going to happen. But let's look at the other side. If the Yankees are offering $150 million, and the next team offers $125 million, is Sabathia going to starve? Heck, are three generations of Sabathias going to starve? The point is that whether you're making $125 or $150 million, either way you're going to be ok. So if that's the case, do what makes you happy. If you want to live in Southern California and like to hit, sign with the Dodgers. If you just want to live in Southern California, then sign with the Angels. Or if you truly enjoyed your time in Milwaukee, then re-up with them. Whatever the case may be, you have to remember that this is your life, not theirs. And for once, wouldn't it be nice to hear someone say in their press conference that it wasn't about the money, and it actually wasn't about the money???

Back on October 26, 1996 I received a phone call from a family friend asking me if I wanted to join him for Game 6 of the World Series that night. After a bit of stuttering, I answered yes, and immediately jumped in the shower, and prepared myself for what I was hoping to be an incredible experience.

We arrived at the ballpark around 4:00pm on a crystal clear sunny day, with temperatures in the low 70s; I couldn't ask for better weather. By the time the day was over it was certainly a memorable experience, as a matter of fact, it was the best day of my life.

Fast forward nearly 12 years, and I got another phone call, this time to attend the final game ever at Yankee Stadium with those same people. As I sit here to write this entry, there are a bevy of emotions running through my mind: joy, sadness, excitement, and depression.

The joy stems from being able to attend the final game ever at this incredible palace with three very special people, and watch the Yankees win and celebrate as if they had won the World Series.  It brought back memories to that glorious day in October of `96 when the Yanks won their first championship in my lifetime. So much of the two days were similar: the weather, the packed house, hours of anticipation, and then the team staying on the field to celebrate with the fans. The big difference though was back in `96 the players took a victory lap, here on September 21st the players took a thank-you lap.  

This lap brings about the sadness. The sadness of knowing that I will never get to see a game at the Stadium again. The sadness of knowing that I will never walk through a tunnel to the upper deck and look out to see the beautiful white fa

The Olympics are not what they used to be. With the advent of the Internet, no more Cold War (which is obviously a good thing), and athletes switching countries as if they're free agents, it's much more difficult to get excited about the Games. You don't feel that same passion, or even desire to beat/destroy the other countries. That is until last night, when French 100m freestyle record-holder, Alain Bernard, ran his mouth off about the U.S. men's freestyle team saying, "The Americans? We're going to smash them. That's what we came here for."

As the saying goes, you can talk the talk as long as you can walk the walk. Well, Bernard had every chance to back up his words since his teammates got him the lead going into the final leg of the race. And since he was the world-record holder, many thought he would back up his words. But all of a sudden, Jason Lezak made things interesting, and brought that American spirit back to life.

With history on the line (Michael Phelps' quest for 8 gold medals), but more importantly, American pride on the line, you couldn't help but cheer and get caught up in the moment. When Lezak touched the wall .08 seconds ahead of Bernard, I, like a bunch of other Americans, cheered in excitement.

One of those other Americans was Phelps himself. While he has several world records to his name in individual events, I would venture to say that the emotions he showed while cheering on Lezak and celebrating with his teammates were greater than any he has felt while swimming an individual race.

In a sport that is known more for individual achievements than team achievements, this moment could be the lasting impression of Michael Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Games. If he does in fact go on to achieve that once unthinkable goal of 8 golds, he will have his 4x100m freestyle relay teammates to thank, especially Lezak, and we will have Alain Bernard to thank, for helping us rekindle that Olympic spirit.

I have long been an advocate of New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman (as is evident by past posts), and I believe Cashman has done an outstanding job leading up to the trade deadline for the third straight year. While many people prefer the big splash, Cashman makes moves that enhance his team as opposed to radically changing it, and the trades for Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte, as well as today's move for Pudge Rodriguez are further examples of that.

Without mortgaging the future, as the Yankees have been known to do in the past, Cashman instead strengthened his club for the stretch run and beyond. In Nady he acquired a right-handed hitting corner outfielder that he controls through 2009. In other words, not only did he address a weakness this year (right-handed hitting), but he secured a replacement for Bobby Abreu next year. In Marte he got arguably the top left-handed reliever on the market, and a guy who is the closest thing the Yankees have had to Mike Stanton since, well...Mike Stanton. A hard-throwing lefty who can get out righties as well as lefties. And then with Pudge, he not only secured a top catcher, but also improved his bench. Instead of having the tandem of Jose Molina and Chad Moeller, the Yankees now have possibly the best catching tandem in baseball with Rodriguez and Molina, something they were supposed to have with a healthy Jorge Posada.

For all of these players, who did he give up? Jose Tabata? Ross Ohlendorf? Kyle Farnsworth? While Farnsworth has certainly been pitching better, and seemed to have turned the corner working with Dave Eiland and Joe Girardi, he was never one that instilled confidence in you. Fair or not fair, despite his recent success, you were always waiting for him to implode. So instead of waiting for that, the Yankees not only get a top-flight catcher, but also the two compensatory draft picks next year when Pudge signs with another team.

Another move that Cashman made but wasn't through a trade, was picking up Richie Sexson. For the minimum amount of money, how do you not take a flyer on this guy? He's a right-handed bat that can provide pop off the bench, and he can fill in as a defensive replacement for Jason Giambi at first base. Much like Cashman's moves last year when he acquired Molina, Wilson Betemit, and promoted the likes of Shelley Duncan, Edwar Ramirez, and Jose Veras, this was one that added tremendous depth to the roster. Also, the Yankees decided to keep Justin Christian with the big-league club as opposed to Brett Gardner, which is far and away the right move. Christian can steal a base just like Gardner could do, but he's a superior defensive outfielder, has a stronger arm, and can hit better. In other words, he's just what the team needed as a bench player.

So with an eye towards the future, and an eye on the present, Cashman has done exactly what he set out to do. He put together a team that has the chance to win now, and also one that can win next year, and the year after. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, the best move the Yankees may make is seeing the Red Sox trade Manny Ramirez. If Boston does in fact deal Ramirez to Florida, or whomever else, that will be the best thing to happen to the Yankees since...well, I'll let you figure that out. All I will say is maybe it will be known as the Curse of the Hair...

Let me preface this by saying that I am a big fan of Jorge Posada, was an advocate of the Yankees signing him in the offseason (and still am), and believe he still has some very good years left. Now, with that said, Posada going on the DL, and possibly having season-ending shoulder surgery could be the best thing for the New York Yankees at this time.

Posada has been a shell of his former self all season long due to this injury, and it seems to have affected him not only physically, but mentally as well. While his percentage of throwing out baserunners was expected to drop because of the in jury, his calling of games was not, yet that's exactly what has happened. In recent starts behind the plate, he has mishandled games pitched by Joba Chamberlain, Andy Pettitte, and Mike Mussina, and you can see the frustration beginning to mount. When those pitchers throw to Jose Molina, there is a huge difference in a positive direction, and I believe that has really taken a toll on Posada mentally. It seems as if he's pressing, and not playing with the ease of which he has in the past.

Furthermore, because of his injury, the Yankees have had to carry three catchers which has severely limited their options off the bench. With Posada on the DL, they can carry an extra outfielder or an extra infielder, depending on what they desire.

If I were the Yankees, I'd hope Posada has the surgery now. The last thing they need is another slow-footed first baseman/DH. Not to take anything away from Posada, but if he can't catch, that's what he is. So if Posada were to have the surgery now, he would have plenty of time to rehab the shoulder, get himself ready for the beginning of spring training, and come back as the player we all know he is. And frankly that's the most important thing for both parties at this time. If the Yankees make the playoffs this year, it's icing on the cake, but next year, and the year after are what they have to plan for. When they signed Posada to a four year deal, they envisioned him being their catcher for 2-3 years, not one before moving to first base.

Jorge Posada is a man with great pride, and he feels an obligation to the organization to try to play since he signed that big contract. But sometimes pride can get in the way. He has to take a step outside of the situation, and realize that both he and the team would be better off having him 100% healthy for three years of the contract, than for portions of all four. Posada has always been a great Yankee, and now is the perfect time to show just how great of one he truly is.