The Yanks were playing Detroit in Detroit, Verlander was pitching and Giambi hit a blast.

I stood up with the few other people in the bar and started clapping.

As Jason was rounding the bags, though, I noticed his jersey was black.

"What's with the black jersey?" I asked no one in particular.

"What do you mean?" replied one, "These are the Mets!"

I was disoriented to think of Jason on the Mets (how could I not know? when did this happen?) and then started to laugh when I remembered there's no DH in the NL and this meant he was their first-baseman.

"You mean he's the Mets' first baseman? Of course he his! That's just like the Mets!" I laughed.

And that was that. It would be just like the Mets to make Jason their full-time first baseman.

Anyway.

I wanted to see more of the house. Shoulda replaced Katie with Robin Leach and given us the full tour.

5 indeed.

Anyone think the moves the Twins have made recently, I especially like picking up Mike Lamb, could make them a contender enough to hold onto Santana?

I also found one on a site I'd never heard of prior to last night. The list is here: http://tinyurl.com/2xcy4q

BP's list also went up a week or so ago. Subscription required.

Related and I'm likely missing something, but is there some reason why Brackman (since he hasn't pitched and has accrued no minor league service time) has to be protected on 40-man?

There's some pieces that can be pushed around and minor leaguers that can be traded still. As soon as Prior was released, I thought Cashman would jump at the opportunity to throw a little money around.

Brackman is on the 40man as part of his deal signed after being drafted.

2 3 how do you know he wasn't their catcher?

11 agree fully - betemit is necessary and would love to see a quantity for quaility move.

are the yanks going to be stuck putting "high end" draftees on the 40 man every year?

the more i look at the roster, the more i hope miranda can come through at 1b some time this season.

Great. That means they have two option years left. After that he has to be in the majors to stay, ready or not.

As Rocket J. Squirrel said: "But that trick NEVER works."

What a jerk.

ARod always seems VERY guarded when on camera, but I can understand that. He's well aware that the slightest 'mistake' on his part becomes the headline for 1,264,256,247 magazines and newspapers. I kind of feel sorry for him. It seems no matter what he says or does, the absolute best outcome is 'no damage'.

However, it seemed like the real ARod came out when taking about his mother when he was a kid. He was quite animated (as animated as ARod can get) when talking about 'counting his mother's waitressing money'. I think it was a very telling statement about ARods need to be 'well paid'.

In terms of Boras, he seems to be done with the guy, but didn't throw him under the bus, which was pretty cool.

In some ways I would like Santana, but I get this HUGE 'upsetting the applecart' feeling when thinking about losing Phil and 2 other kids. I think some here agree that 'staying on plan' and thinking about the future may take presidence over next year.

I also think that Cashman wants to win, but NOT because we spend 50% more then the Sox. Our payroll is based not so much what the Yankees can afford, but how much we are willing to 'buy penants' versus developing our own. I think it's realistic. Cashman and the Yankee's will never get any real credit for winning as long as we spend onscenely.

It's really kind of cool that many people would rather have 'our Phil' then 'somebody else's Santana'.

If he'd take a one-year with incentives and a club option for a second, a la Octavtio Dotel, I'd be okay with taking the flier. But you better not pencil him into the rotation until he actually proves that he's better and more durable that the other pitchers on the roster.

"It is expected to be a major-league deal for four years and about $4.5 million. Some of the money will be paid out over several years, with the present-day value believed to be worth about $3.7 million. The contract has an unusual structure because Brackman may have to undergo Tommy John surgery on his elbow -- the Yankees also will get three club options at the end of the four years. If they exercise all three, Brackman stands to make about $13 million."
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/08/15/yankees.pick/

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/071217&sportCat=mlb

I really think what Andy did is a lot closer to what Maglio did than Bonds/Giambi. But I don't mean to drag that horse from the grave, but to point out some crappy ESPN writing.

Laud him for taking the hit on the WS gaffe, too, if it be the truth. Just cannot believe that a control freak like him didn't go over the game plan with Borat.

Also a little hard to believe that he didn't think the Yankees had any interest in him. He loses cred when he says that he didn't want to be his own lawyer. Supposedly, he negotiated against the house in his first re-up at Seattle.

I'm not saying I would support breaking the bank for him and slotting him into the starting rotation expecting 2003 numbers. However, if he's willing to take a short deal with options, then the Yankees can outbid any other team. Have him return in the spring, compete for a bullpen position/spot starter. If it works out, great, and if not, all the Yankees are out is Chase Wright and some money. Problem is, that I'm sure he's got suitors and he's still going to get a high-end deal from someone.

If they got him for 2 years/$10 mill, I wouldn't be upset.

And if he is tantalizingly ineffective - if he posts a 4.75 ERA and everyone thinks the breakthrough is around the corner - then it's not Chase Wright I'm worried about, it's Alan Horne. Does getting Prior keep Horne in the minors? Or stick him in the bullpen for sub-optimal use? It's not an easy call, and 2 years isn't bad when you consider that Moose is done after this year. Be nice if you could have the second year as a club option, but it's not likely - someone will be willing to give him two years straight-up.

Base pay = major league minimum.
Incentive* of $6k per inning pitched.

If 2008 IP >= 135,
then 2009 = guaranteed $4 million.

*(which the Yankees don't due, but I'd make an exception here)

They have a point.

"Mitchell, 74, was fresh and talkative and even joked about how his six-year old daughter had jumped into bed to wake him up the morning he released the voluminous report of his 20-plus month investigation." (From the Times' Bats blog)

Mitchell, at age 74, has a 6 year old daughter?!

Great line!

I've been reading Gore Vidal to pass the time on this gig (I've read "Lincoln" seven or eight times and I'm still crazy about it) and picked up a couple more from Strand. When I was asked by a few of my amused cohorts what I was reading, my response was, "Something rather weather-appropriate under the circumstances," and then showed them the cover:

"Burr" by Gore Vidal.