This is from Ken Davidoff today under the heading of free advice: "The Yankees should seriously look into signing Bengie Molina, which would allow them to shift Jorge Posada to designated hitter and relieve them from the 2007 option (for $12 million) that vests if Posada plays 63 games behind the plate this year." Any thoughts? Is anyone glad Ken's not running the Human Resource office where they work?

Sporter, I think the Yanks should sign Piazza to play DH and take 40-50 games behind the plate. There's a reason that Molina hasn't signed yet. Coming off a big year he won't repeat, he won't settle for what he's being offered and he won't be offered what he will settle for. Piazza, meanwhile, might be willing to take a Bernie-type deal to stay in New York and try to prove he can still hit as a DH.

Plus, ESPN once said that if Tejada had been in Jeter's place in 1996, the result would have been the same, and I've disliked him since because I refuse to believe that.

Also.... in blowouts (either way), is there any reason Bubba can't play LF or RF to rest Matsui and Sheff a little?

Off topic, anyone know when the Giants first round playoff game has been rescheduled for? I know the Carolina Panthers showed up at The Meadowlands this afternoon, but no Giants... maybe their team bus broke down or something. Anyone hear anything?

Yeeesh... don't get me started.

Also, did anyone else realize that Tiki Barber had the second most yards from scrimmage ever this year? How is it he finish, what was it, fourth in the MVP vote? Is there a more underrated player in any sport? Is it just that the Giants use Tiki to go the length of the field then give someone else the ball in the endzone? Or is it that he's so darn low-key and humble? Maybe if Tiki did freaking snow angels after he broke a big run he'd get the hype.

(deep breath)

Singledd, Thomas has always been able to hit and probably always will be able to hit, but he's missed significant time to injury in three of his last five seasons and will be 38 in May. The fact that he's not been signed by Oakland yet suggests to me that he is asking for more than a make-good contract. Perhaps he's looking for a deal that will set him up for the rest of his career, assuming he can stay healthy enough to have a rest of his career. I'd love for the Yankees to give him an incentive-laden make-good deal given the potential upside there, but that's up to Thomas.

No Big Hurt in pinstripes. I know what he used to be when he was a first baseman and part time DH. He is no longer that. He's an injury prone aged star that isn't getting any better.

If I wanted to put a guy like that in the DH hole, I'd agree with Cliff on the Piazza call. With Piazza at least there's the hope that he can still mash without the grind of catching. Thomas has been a DH the last several years and hasn't done the job.

Frankly, I'd prefer to open the season with Andy Phillips competing witg Bernie for time at the DH. A young guy would be far more interesting to me than yet another old geezer.

http://www.giants.com/news/eisen/story.asp?story_id=13309

I love the opening:

Before Jason Giambi's first home game as a member of the New York Yankees in 2002, he was visited on the field by a thin, elderly man with a distinctive voice. The man asked Giambi what the correct pronunciation of his last name was. After the distinguished man walked away, Giambi approached Derek Jeter and asked, "Who was that?"

"That," Jeter said, "was the voice of God."

Here's an interesting breakdown of The Big Hurt's stats via NYPost:

http://www.nypost.com/sports/61203.htm

I agree with mikeplugh. I'd much rather see Piazza in stripes spelling Jorge behind the plate occassionally. We don't need another 1B/DH combo who doesn't add any spectacular defense prowess. Give that one to Phillips.

The disparity between the two lists is striking, with Hughes (BA #1) and Duncan (BA #2) being the only players appearing on both. In fact, Duncan is the only player on BA's list who played Double-A (or Triple-A) last year.

Most disturbing was the absence of J.B. Cox (#2 draft pick, touted as the next Huston Street) from Baseball America's Top 10. Cox's numbers from Tampa look pretty solid: 27 IP, 27 K, 3 BB, 1 HR. Has anyone heard any negatives on Cox that could be affecting his rating?

While Thomas' numbers still look good, there is a small problem -- namely, he's played a total of 108 games over the last two seasons. Didn't we learn anything from "Broken-Down Brown"? Guys 37+ who have been spending significant time on the DL are likely to spend even more time on the DL in the future.

As to Piazza, he's clearly lost significant bat speed and turned into a guess hitter. That's why you see him swinging at bad pitches more often. His whopping .778 OPS in '05 hardly makes him a quality DH, and his inability as a C is only exceeded by his complete lack of a clue at 1B. We're talking about a guy who makes Giambi look like a Gold Glover at the position. Why would we possibly want a DH with a .778 OPS, a C who can't throw out Benjie Molina on the bases, or a 1B who can't field a ground ball?

I agree that Bernie as a DH doesn't exactly make feel all warm and fuzzy, but those two geezers aren't exactly upgrades.

I heard an interview on 'FAN between Sheppard and Steve Somers, hours before his last game as Giants' announcer - the man is pure class.

Interesting take on why he announces the way he does - he claims he's simply passing along information, and in no way should a stadium announcer have any inflection that could be perceived as 'rooting' for the player or team in question. He said he bristles when he hears other parks' announcers 'shouting' for 9 innings.

He's funny, charming, and repeated any line (in his famous delivery) that Somers wanted him too. A national treasure (if I may be so bold) and cannot be replaced. Going to a Yankees game will never be the same once Mr. Sheppard departs from his position.

Whatever happened to Melky Cabrera? He's not even on the list.

As for Melky, in terms of OFers in the Yankee system, based on production and ceiling right now, he's probably where he should be - behind Austin Jackson, Brett Gardner, Tim Battle and Tabata. He's also kind of a tweener right now which I think is hurting his status as a prospect. He's not fast enough/good enough defensively for center (or so some say) and he doesn't have enough pop for the corners (it could come in time though). Nevertheless, Melky is only 20 yrs old and with a good showing in the dominican this winter, he will play at AA and AAA this year - there aren't that many other minor leaguers who can say that to this point.

"Ladies and gentlemen . . . may I have your attention please. Please rise . . . and direct your attention to the area behind home plate as Robert Merrill sings . . . our national . . . anthem."

Sorry, had to do that one.