My feeling here is that Kennedy might be the most likely to be traded, but if he is, I hope it's for a Teixera and not Octavio Dotel or Wilson Betemit.

These things need to happen. Much of this team needs to be scrapped. We need a cleansing.

1)Abreu gone. We can surely find a RF who will venture towards the wall and make a catch. One who also can break 20 HR. Abreu is not worth picking up a $16 million option.

2) Mussina's arm is shot. He needs to retire.His fastball barely reached 90 and his location is gone. This is a pipe dream, I know.

3.)The bullpen with the exception of Mo need to be scrapped.Hopefully internal options like J.B Cox (remember him?) and Humberto Sanchez can fill the void. We need yound nasty power arms, not relievers with bad deliveries and flat fastballs.

4.) Sign Tori Hunter, but only if it is no more than a 4- year deal.

5.) Resign Mo and Posada. Resign A Rod, but don't get caught up in a bidding frenzy and set the market at $30 mil a year.

6.) Find a first baseman with power.

7.) Hire Joe Girardi as manager. Someone who will light a fire under this team, especially under Cadillac Cano and cultivate the younger players. Torre must go. How can this be argued?

Just say no. A career mediocre player with a flaky good season at age 31? This the exact kind of player has tricked the Yankees in the past. Avoid.

Just got back from the game. That is honestly the worst game I have ever been witness too.

Impressions:

Duncan, I missed his basehit (left already). His first K was bad. His second, he missed a HR by a few feet on the second strike. He crushed that ball. He's going to K a lot (long swing), but he could mash. Good potential power threat.

Edwar, yikes. I think that was the first time in my life I've actually felt bad for a major league baseball player. I mean, really, really bad. I found myself scrunching down in my seat as the crowd turned on him (and man, did they turn on him). From where I was sitting it was hard to tell how much he was missing by, but he was clearly very, very rusty. I blame most of this on Joe, but I think he threw about 2 or 3 strikes, and one of them was hit about 400 ft. Its too bad, but I think we won't see him again, at least not until the 40 man gets called up. Its sort of the pitching equivalent of Andy Phillips 5K night against Kazmir (stupid D-Rays).

That entire game from the second inning on, was sheer torture. Jackson was made to look like Pedro Martinez, and awful, awful fundamentals from our side. I'm actually depressed from being there right now.

*a bad ride in this case being 300 ABs of woeful first basemen, awful bullpen usage, a silly roster composition for 60% of the season, and a ton of injuries to the back-end SP

Right.

1) Who? Andruw is going to be much, much more expensive. Same deal with Dye and Hunter. Indeed (your #4 - Hunter at 4 years) is going to cost 50+ million. Why spend that when they can have Abreu for 16 million and see if Melky, Tabata, or even Jackson (who's smoking hot in Tampa) will show enough power next year to take over RF in 2009. If not, they could go for Manny or Vlad as RF/DH - both are free agents after next year. Point is: They can overpay Abreu for one year, or they can overpay another turd for four or five years. I'd rather the former to wait and see what they have in the system.

2) Acknowledged pipe dream - move on.

3) Sanchez won't be ready next year. But between Edwar, Britton, Beam, Henn, Kozlowski, Robertson, even Patterson - they could fill in the bullpen fine. Probably another pipe dream though.

4) Um, no - see #2.

5) They will. A-Rod won't opt out either, but he will get that 30 million/year (or very close to it) in an extension.

6) Good luck there. It's the same dregs as last year (still better than Mghkjf) or someone like a Teixeira or Sexson in a trade. I'd be fine with a one-year rental of Sexson then see if Juan Miranda is ready for 2009 or Eric Duncan finds his potential.

7) It can't. I'm not convinced on Girardi but he's fine as the guy that follows Joe. Then in three years they can get the guy that follows the guy that follows Joe.

But if the game is close, I can't see it happening - not by Joe.

Not picking up Abreu's option is another reason why talk of moving Matui to 1B (was that OldYanksFan?) is impractical. I agree that there is little chance they pick up the option. That leaves a starting OF of Matsui, Damon, and Cabrera; I'm not sure they want to move one of the OF to 1B, assuming that MAtsui can make the transition.

Damon, I feel for. It's kinda like rooting for a lost Cub Scout to find his way out of the deep, dark woods. "Use your compass, Johnny! It's in your backpack!"

Sourpuss Moose, on the other hand, makes me want to change the channel. I'm almost hoping he punches a clubhouse wall Kevin Brown stylee, so we don't have to suffer another of his miserable games.

As for today, I'm waterskiing and beaching with the wife and kids. I'll have the Lumpy & Chuckles Radio Show on in the background, but refuse to let Game 1 ruin my day if it gets ugly.

You think our old friend Bernie Williams is watching the games these days? No, nor do I.

12 Edwar will not be on the roster today and, hence, won't have the opportunity. I've read that he'll be optioned this morning to make room for the immortal Matt DeSalvo.

Then for Game 2 they'll option Edwar or perhaps Igawa.

It is possible to renegotiate the option to $11-13m. At this price, one year is a solid decision. Bobby may be happy (ala Garciapara) to have one 'low paid' year, to re-establish his reputation.

Matsui is described as 'solid' in LF, but he's solidly below average. Melky has shown us the importance of good D in the OF. My idea of moving Mats to 1B is ONLY if we don't get Tex or another impact 1Bman, and our 2008 choices are JD, Andy, DougOut, Miggy, etc. Even with a worse arm, I think JD is a substancially better OFer then Mats. At least the guy is not afraid of the wall or of diving for the ball.

I agree with Jim 10 (get me my meds!) that long contracts on 'marginally good' players is a mistake. I don't know if the FA market is now permanently overpriced as more teams are locking up young players, but I think you have to pick and choose very carefully.

Moose will be a fine #4 or $5 guy next year. Andy, Moose, Wang, Hughes and the best of the rest (of kids) gives us a good and deep rotation. And there should be plenty of leftovers for the BP. For the first time in many years, we don't have to shop pitching. If we can get one impact arm for the BP, great... but at least we won't be 'blackmailed' with a desperate need to get pitching.

I assume the 2008 starting players will be similar to what we have now. Giambi, unless he proves to be unhealthy, is our DH. Andy should hopefully be our BUIF guy, and maybe platoon against lefties at 1B. JD/Mats at LF/1B.

We need a BUC and another OFer if Abreu leaves. If JD and Giambi can walk, I don't see the team benching either.

As is, our SP next year should be as good or better then Bostons, and if ARod stays, our offense is better. After 2008, Pettitte, Giambi and Moose are gone. Abreu is either gone, or back to being a premiere hitter. JD is in his last year, and it may be 'acceptable' for him to be a 4th OFer, BU1B, and Bench guy. Our farm will be one year older. At that point, I can see some major changes, but (based on current contracts) I can't see that many changes for 2008. I can see one impact arm for the BP and one impact bat.

Matsui at 1B I have no problem with, but they should use it as a chance to move Jeter to LF (pipe dreams). [More pipe dreams - move A-Rod back to SS and get Lowell for 3B - better IF and OF defense, better lineup balance, and solves 1B].

As it is, that saves some of the prospects to trade for Santana (or even Peavy) next summer (as they approach free agency) rather than using them to get a Teixeira or Sexson.

That said, I had a couple questions I've been meaning to put out there that I hope could be answered.
1) Excluding the obvious candidates (Girardi and Mattingly), who would make you guys happy as the manager to take over for Torre? Since this is hypothetical, feel free to include anyone under contract by another team, major or minor leagues. I held on as a Torre supporter for a long time, but I now agree he needs to go. I'm just not sure I can name anyone else who wouldn't annoy us all any less.
2) Has there been any inkling that Matsui would even accommodate a move to 1st base? I know he's willing to do anything for the team, but is he even physically able to do it? I agree his struggles this year are getting hard to watch, but he did suffer a serious wrist injury that will take time to heal and rebuild strength.

19 If Jeter were to ever move from SS, I think he'd have to be put in CF because he would still be in a "quarterbacking" position. His offensive profile also fits better as a CF than a corner (not enough power). I would be okay with Melky in RF with his arm as an Abreu-like player, batting 7-9, but I don't see benefits to playing Melky in left - it limits the benefits of his defensive abilities.

Plus, I don't think he has the arm or speed to play CF anymore.

Again, pipe dream...

AS to your questions, I just don't know on the manager or Matsui. I don't think a manager is all that important in baseball if the GM gives him a great team. The idea of Buck returning intrigues me, but it won't happen. The latter, I can't imagine he'd refuse if they asked him to - he's the guy that apologized for his injury last year.

I don't really expect it, but it would be a shame to have the speedy and 'courageous' JD at 1st, while Mats still mans LF.

Can't argue too much with that. Hopefully Jorge DH's the second game.

And Pete has good notes on Edwar getting a pep talk and the Proctor-for-Wigginton rumor.

Everything hinges on A-Rod, who will have to decide within 10 days of the end of the season. If he opts out, he's gone, but at least the team needs become clarified: they will have to pick up a major stud bat, whether at corner IF or corner OF. The position won't matter as much as the offense, and then the team will have to shuffle around that.

Whatever the case, they shouldn't make the mistake they did this year (and the last few), which is identify needs to narrowly ("we need a RH defensive 1B"), so that they go for a mediocre at best "fit" instead of a better, more creative solution. With Torre gone (hopefully), the impetus for "fit" players will be lessened.

And Guillien would be cheap, and could probably be talked into a 2 year deal. He's hitting cleanup for the Mariners, last I heard.

The problem with the Yanks this year is that management has tried "Let's throw it against the wall and see if it sticks" philosophy.

Shelly Duncan and Andy Phillips are just a couple of examples. Two career minor leaguers that they hope they catch lightning in a bottle with.
Because Phillips has scraped together couple of key hits, everyone is in love with him,whereas two weeks ago they were to ready to send him back down. How quickly we forget.

Let's hope it's still a ballgame by then, eh?

Maybe I'll try to catch Duncan's first ab; the team's play of late has me feeling strangely masochistic.

;)

This year, his ZR is .832, 12 out of 19 qualified MLB LF according to ESPN, or below average no doubt. In 2005 (the year before his injury) his ZR was .821, good for only 17 out of 18 qualified LF. 2004: .829 ZR, 13/16. In chronological table form:

Zone Rating;
2004: .829 ZR, 13/16
2005: .829 ZR, 17/18
2007: .832 ZR, 12/19

For range factor:
2004, 2.02 RF, 6/16
2005, 2.08 RF, 8/18
2007, 2.07 RF, 5/19

So, looking at the numbers, he has been remarkably consistent over the last few years defensively, and if anything has improved this year. Depending on which stat you choose, he has been consistently below average relative to the league (ZR) or consistently above average (RF). I'll opt for ZR and agree that Matsui is not a good LF. But there is no evidence that his play in LF is declining.

Guillien is a decent cheap option, but I suspect he's too combustible for the Yankee liking.

Mike Lamb could also work at 1B.

And the problem with Phillips and Duncan isn't that the Yankees tried them. It's that they waited so long to do so. For Duncan that's this year, for Phillips it's much worse. He should have been given a legit shot in 2004 or 2005 when he was close to his peak.

2004: 8 assists (8/16)
2005: 7 assists (7/18, tied with three other players)
2007: 5 assists (5/19, but tied with six other players!)

Now maybe teams run on him and challenge him more because of his weak arm, so he picks up a few extra assists. But the numbers again suggest middle of the pack consistency.

Excellent point about missing Phllips'/Duncan's peak years.

2003: 90 RATE
2004: 95 RATE
2005: 101 RATE
2007: 103 RATE

Amazing how three defensive metrics probably give an accurate assessment! Looks like he is just a a bit below average (98 career RATE).

It sure seems like there's some improvement, but it's hard to know if that's just a small sample size effect (given that the raw ZR and RF numbers haven't changed much). We'll know more in November.

Good point about Lamb. I know nothing about hid defense, but he's a pretty fair hitter. Lamb was set to be out third baseman before the A-Rod trade. I can't remember what happened to him though. Did we trade him for a bag of hammers?

Nothing in Lamb's record to suggest he was ever a Yankee. But he'd provide an average glove and bat.

Pregame chatter: Joe Torre and Ron Guidry met with Edwar Ramirez this morning to tell him to dismiss last night's outing..."We told him not to doubt his ability," Torre said. Torre said that Ramirez's inactivity was the product of the starters generally doing deep into games, the All-Star break and a lack of opportunity. "We really wanted to get him into a game. There just wasn't one where he could come into," Torre said.

No opportunity? So, he can't pitch in any close games, but you trust his ability, but there were no chances for you to demonstrate that trust.

When asked about the trade deadline, Torre said he was comfortable with Andy Phillips at first base but said the team needed a player they could use in different spots who could give them something offensively.

Let me see, Andy Phillips can play 1B, 2B, and 3B. Wiggington (mentioned in the article) plays 1B, 2B, and 3B, and a whopping 14 games in the OF in 6 years. Is Torre even capable of thinking about about starters as flexible players?

In that vein, I do believe that moving Matsui to 1B should be an option left on the back-burner for as long as possible while the other needs (RF, BP, SP) are addressed conventionally.

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/L/Mike-Lamb.shtml

Meanwhile, BJ is good.

Mar 25, 2004: New York Yankees traded Mike Lamb to the Houston Astros for Juan De Leon.
Feb 4, 2004: Texas Rangers traded Mike Lamb to the New York Yankees for Jose Garcia.

Now let's see, in 2004 he hit .288/.356/.511 in 112 games. The Yankees started Tony Clark and John Olerud 111 games at 1B.

If Igawa is so bad, how does he K a decent number (40 in 51 IP)?

Then he gives up a shot but K's two guys.

Just a weird arm.

I guess I can only say I'm THRILLED that Damon is sitting for this game...

*February 5, 2004: Traded by the Texas Rangers to the New York Yankees for Jose Garcia.