My Spidey-Sense says to stay away from Teixeira..but I'm converted on CC. Give him 6 for 120!

Rays blowing it against the BoSox tonight..sigh...

1 Teixeira's a lesser hitter on the road, but seems to mash at home no matter which ballpark he calls home. His trip through Atlanta and LA has proven he's not just an Arlington phenomenon.

I still think of all the mistakes the Yankees have made this decade, not ponying up the cash for Carlos Beltran has been the most harmful (yes, more harmful than signing Pavano). The Yankees have pitching up and down their system, but they need to populate their line-up with free agents, and Teixeira is one of the best they'll get a chance to sign.

2 I got ya on Beltran, but as much as Tex can mash, the Yanks look awfully weak up the middle..unless you think Tex and A-Rod can make up for putting all-glove/no-hit Melky back in Center...

3 No worries, Damon should be manning CF next year.

0 i don't remember Inigo Montoya being so damn buff in Princess Bride ... must have been before he hit the bottle again

5 You mean Andre the Giant? : )

But will Jobber pitch the 8th!!!!?

Paps Ks Rocco with two on in the bottom 8th..rally over...Sox soon to be 1/2 out

nice write-up cliff - and thanks for the continued strong series previews even though this season is caput.

but man do i dislike wrestling - i remember having to watch a lot of it when my brother and i were little kids and we had to take turns choosing the show for the night and he always found a way to make us watch wrestling - and i just never got it. though i can see the yanks as the "jobber" role, which isn't much fun.

the first (or at least the first that i have seen) girardi is safe for next season stories are out.
http://tinyurl.com/5fmpvv

Leaping Lanny Poffo is like Tommy Aaron, Vince Dimaggio, and all the other Zeppos of the world.

Good metaphor, but the Yanks are a bit more like Paul Orndorff or the Junkyard Dog of the late '80's; great name, still potentially dangerous, but clearly playing out the string. The real jobbers are teams like the Royals and Athletics. Barry O and Iron Mike Sharpe approve this message.

Too....many....wrestling references. For some reason I just told myself that Papelbon looks (and acts) like Rowdy Roddy Piper. Now I like him even less.

2 How has it been harmful. The Yankees achilles heel since they decided to pass on Beltran has been pitching. I don't think Beltran would have really made the difference in any season before this one because the Yankees offense was always very strong. Also, except for 2006, Beltran has been pretty good but not great (OPS+ of 96, 126 and 124). Furthermore, this season when the Yankees were in the most need of offense, Damon has pretty much matched Beltran. When you consider Melky's RZR was even higher than Beltran's, the Yankees might not have even been that much worse off there either.

Finally, one post script, in 2006, Damon had a higher RZR and OOZ than Beltran.

Speaking of jobbers, I'll be watching Raw tonight, stopping only to see Jeter's AB.

13 Ultimate Warrior, really.

As if there weren't enough reasons to be unhappy with this season, I offer the following:

Jose Tabata with AA Altona:

97 PAs/.348/.402/.562 with 8 SBs in 8 attempts.

Is jeter's walk rate over te last two months way up?

17 His only really bad walk month was April, which obviously made a bad and lasting impression. He has been pretty normal until this month when he has walked 8 times in 34 PAs. He had walked 7 times in all of August.

I think Beltran would have made a difference because he can hit as well as play solid defense.

Bernie's decline on defense was clearly visible for years before they actually did anything about it. And then they did things like run Tony Womack out there.

Bernie's defense killed us the last couple of years. And Torre couldn't resist putting him out there when the alternative was Bubba Crosby or Aaron Guiel.

Remember that time when Torre pulled Abreu out of CF and put in Bernie as a LIDR? Arrrghhh.

Gary Sheffield hit the 250,000th HR of off Gio Gonzalez tonight. He also hit the 249,999th HR of Gonzalez.

19 He can play solid defense, but in 2006 Damon had better defensive metrics. Also, Melky has outrated Beltran as well.

You also have to consider that in Bernies last year as a CF'er, Beltran struggled on offense and defense in his adjustment year. Maybe he would have transitioned better to the Yankees, but that is conjecture.

Finally, I don't think Abreu ever played CF for the Yankees, so I think your memory of Torre pulling him for Bernie is mistaken.

Figgins career vs. Yanks: .326/.381/.409, 13 SB in 19 tries.

A sac fly? Sign that man up!!

Well, they made scoring 1 run look mighty easy. How many times again have the Yanks scored 3 or less? sigh

24 I think roughly 1000000 times or something. I might need scientific notation to describe it.

21 Melky is fine on defense. And Bernie was fine on offense. But it's not as good as one complete player.

And if we'd gotten Beltran, it would have been a year earlier than we got Damon. That was a year when we were really struggling with the outfield. Remember Matt Lawton, Tony Womack, Bubba Crosby, Ruben Sierra. That season was so close, too. Beltran would have made a world of difference, IMO.

And I am not misremembering the Abreu in CF thing. You think I could make up something like that?

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/dt/abreubo01.php

14 You can't isolate Beltran's defense and say "Melky was better." Runs on both sides of the ball count. Even in his adjustment year, Beltran was better than Bernie in both sides of the ball. In 2006 he was a near MVP with a 150 OPS+ to Damon's 115. You can't really compare Melky to him due to Melky's struggles at the plate. This year CF has been a black hole offensively and the offense had indeed been the problem for the team. Yes, the Yankees have lost in the postseason because of pitching, but they still would have been a better team each of the last four years (including this one) with Beltran, and he might have made the difference this year. Going forward the lack of Beltran will be magnified due to Melky's lack of development.

Above all, my point was not that Beltran would have necessarily put the Yankees in the World Series, but that not signing him was the biggest mistake they've made. I don't recall a comparable free agent pitcher slipping past them.

26 Matt Lawton..Tony Womack...Bubba....sigh.....

26 http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA200608090.shtml

Wood should get an error on that.

Props to YES for digging up some footage of Mattingly's first game.

26 The only problem with your premise is that if the Yankees had gotten Beltran, they wouldn't have gotten Johnson. The Big Unit was very good that year, and won 5 games against Boston. If any player made a difference in 2005, it was the Big Unit. I don't see how you could make the case that the 2005 Yankees would have been better with Beltran than RJ, especially when you consider the offense had an OPS+ of 115 and an ERA+ of 93.

You are right about Torre putting Bernie in CF for Abreu, but it wasn't really a LIDR. Abreu started the game in RF, moved to CF after Damon came out, and then back to RF later in the game. Those were the only innings Abreu played CF, so I don't think it's fair to say that the lack of Beltran resulted in Bernie being used extensively as a CF'er.

28 Yeah, 2005 was brutal. Tony Womack was the worst player in baseball that year. Matt Lawton was juicing and still batting .100. And still, we came so close.

29 Thanks!

27 I am not isolating anyone's performance. My point about this season is that instead of Melky in CF and Damon in LF, the Yankees could have played this season with Melky in LF and Beltran in CF. Melky is the common denominator, so you have to compare Beltran and Damon on offensive. This season, they have been pretty close. Meanwhile, the Yankees would have actually had weaker defense with Beltran in CF instead of Melky.

I just don't think missing out on Beltran has set them back much. In fact, I think not getting Johnson would have seriously set the team back in 2005. Now, going forward, it would be better to have Beltran, but it's already 4 years into the deal.

The Beltran v. RJ argument is a tough one. We will never know. But man, it would have been consistant and great to run the same CF'er out there, a guy who is well above average for the position with a bat, a glove and on the bases. I think Beltran was overhyped, but he is still a very valuable player at a key position.

33 I don't think the offense in 2005 was brutal at all...the team had an OPS+ of 115. All of the guys you mentioned were bit players. It was the pitching that proved to be an anchor.

That's why the Angels are willing to tolerate Wood's play at shortstop.

Who the hell is Brandon Wood?

36 2005 was such a weird year. Pitching staff imploded with Wright, Pavano & Brown spending significant time on the shelf.

Lot of belt high pitches Pavano's throwing

34 I argued then, and still say, that the two players should not have been mutually exclusive. That said, Javy Vazquez would have held Johnson's spot in the rotation. I think the Yankees would still have made the playoffs with Beltran and Vazquez (with Bernie coming off the bench) vs. Bernie and Randy (and Womack coming off the bench).

Right now the Yankees have the 13th best record in the majors, but are a healthy 6.5 games ahead of the Indians and Rangers, the two teams currently tied for 13th. The Yankees final schedule is really brutal (13 games against playoff teams), but I can't see them losing enough games to get that protected pick. In other words, this season will be as bad as you can get without it being good.

38 A top SS/3B prospect who hit .296/.375/.595 in triple-A this year at age 23. He's been working on cutting down on his strikeouts the last two seasons and it's working. Playing for the injured Maicer Izturis he's auditioning for a major league job next year.

Big Mac hit the HR off ol Carl. That's an easy one.

Is it me, or does Chone look a bit like Willie Randolph?

43 Those are some very serious numbers for an INFer.

45 He looks alot like Willie.

Cano's OBP down to .299....blechhhh!

41 That's a fair point, but I disagree with it. Randy Johnson was 5-0 against Boston and Vazquez was only league average in the NL, so I don't think the Yankees would have been better off with the latter and Beltran, especially if you consider that Beltran may have struggled in his first with the Yankees as he did with the Mets.

You can really cut it both ways. The best argument is that the Yankees should have spent the money for both, but that implies that money isn't an object.

Quite frankly, I think a much bigger mistake was going for Sheffield instead of Vlad. Not only would the Yankees have gotten a better player for longer, but they would have denied one of their nemesis from getting him.

Damnit. They got me too.

My Pavano hate blinded me.

Remember Game 5 in 2005? Our pal Joe West called Cano out for running outside the line. Man, that game was aggravating.

49 While we're at it, not claiming Manny off waivers was a bigger mistake, as was not listening to the Boss and getting Ortiz.

51 It was a bad call too.

Is it fair to say Big Tex just pranced to first base?

Damnit, Vlad. Always killin' rallies. Oops. Forget it.

52 Now you're talking. Though notice that we're still not talking about pitching.

52 Given that Ortiz was blocked and injury prone to that point, I can understand the Yanks passing on him. Don't really understand passing on Manny.

DVR says Hunter was safe. Still a great effort by Alex.

56 Well, I would've gone after Pedro and Clement. Or retained one of Lieber or Loaiza.

54 we need some British soccer-style fan action (see Newcastle) to get the "Say NO to Tex" movement up and running...

57 The Manny thing was about the money, which was Theo Epstein's point in putting him on waivers in the first place. He was saying "I can't trade you because of your contract. Look, no one will even take your contract off waivers." And no one did.

59 Yeah, I was arguing for Clement over Pavano at the time, but all four pitchers you mention fell apart quickly.

56 True, but I think that underscores why Beltran really wasn't a necessity. There were so many offensive moves the Yankees could have made, that they really only needed a glove to man CF.

60 If you say No, what is your alternative?

63 Again, I disagree because runs on both sides of the ball matter.* If you can get a glove man who is also one of the league's most productive hitters (both Beltran and Teixeira qualify) you do your best to get him.

*That statement's derived from Pythagorean record, which tells us that it's run differential that counts. During the regular season, at least, it doesn't matter if you win all your games 10-8 or 3-1, as long as you're outscoring your opponents.

John Flaherty is such a rare voice of common sense. I really wish YES would dump Kay.

64 They mentioned Matsui @ 1b during the broadcast

64 I'm not up on the minor-leaugue prospects, so no idea who is coming up the ladder. I just wish the team would move away from long-term, bloated contracts..Tex is younger than Giambi whe he signed, but long-term deals for 1Bmen don't have a good track record..

65 The only problem with your point is Beltran does not rate as a great offensive or defensive player. There is no way to argue that Beltran is close to being one of the league's most productive hitters. Furthermore, scoring and preventing runs is a team wide concept. A David Ortiz as your DH and Melky in CF could do a better job preventing runs than Beltran in CF and a lesser hitter at DH. Assuming that you can't always have the best players at every position, there are tradeoffs that you have to make.

68 At first base? Nobody, except maybe Jesus Montero (he's unlikely to remain a catcher), but he's minimum three years away and might be a David Ortiz-type "first baseman" at that.

68 The Yankees have no 1B prospects who are close. Montero will probably move over to 1B, but he is at least 2-3 years away.

Texeira is only 28. He has never had a bad season in his career. He is a good defender. There are so many positives about Texeira, that you can't be afraid to sign him to a long-term deal.

I also don't get the notion about not wanting to give 1B a long-term deal. If anything, the position is the least demanding, so those who play it should age better.

Get Tex and get Burrell. I'm adamant.

71 Giambi? Mo Vaughn? Big Papi? Boog Powell? Steve Bye-Bye Balboni?

And resign Pavano to something middle of the road like a 4/$40 deal.

72 Pat the Bat? No thanks. I'd much rather have Manny.

75 As shaky as Pat is on D, I think he'd be better than Manny.

Wow... that was over Vlad's head by the time he took 3 steps.

74 Don't forget an option year!

76 The difference between there bats is very significant. Manny's bat heals all wounds.

review that!

Has anyone seen an analysis of hit clustering? It seems like the Yanks have clustered their hits far less frequently than one might expect.

Is that captured by looking at hitting with runners on base? I guess it is. Yeah. And they are pretty woeful in that department if memory serves.

Am I talking out loud?

If the Yanks move Mats to 1B (which is only a 1 yr move), that means they're getting ready to DH Posada.

80 never mind.

79 wouldn't 3 years for Manny just be a repeat of the Sheff deal? awesome hitters with no other value, possible clubhouse cancer, injury risk as they age...

I was joking about resigning Pavano, but I'm kinda digging him right now, which might say a lot about the state of the Yankees rotation.

82 Nah, Posada would probably be a better 1B than Matsui. Rather, they Yanks are talking about using Matsui in the OF (it's Matsui that's talking 1B), so that suggests they're opening up 1B for Posada.

84 If Sheff hand't hurt his wrist the Sheff deal would have been a great one. I loved having him, even if Vlad was the smarter choice.

Ha ha! Remember what I said about Pavano? Jeeez.

69 Beltran's MLB VORP rankings:

2005: 125
2006: 9
2007: 26
2008: 27

Let's play Olympics and throw out the high and low scores and say he's top 30 to top 25 in the game, which means he's good enough to be the best hitter on a team.

Here are the Yankees who outrank Beltran in VORP this year: Alex Rodriguez. That's it.

The whole idea of the "production up the middle" thing is that it's much easier to get production from positions such as DH, so if you can find a CF/SS/2B/C who can produce at that level you're waaay ahead of the game. In other words, an inexpensive DH will be more productive than your all-glove CF.

87 oh, i agree. i loved watching Sheff hit..I just think Manny will not sustain that production, espcially at that price...and really would just ilke to watch some young, exciting players again!

84 First, I think you can get him for two years. That aside, the Sheffield deal didn't work because he got injured in year three. It worked well for the first two seasons. I also don't recall Sheffield hurting the team in the clubhouse. Because there is no Vlad out there, Manny makes perfect sense.

Here's my prediction: if Cashman is still the GM, they don't go anywhere near Manny. He's the archetype that I think Cash has built his blueprint on staying away from.

Not saying it's right, but that's my prediction.

84 From most accounts, Manny's a good guy; at worst a goofy manchild. Would I go into business with him? Not in a heartbeat. Would I give him a lot of money to protect my biggest (contract) star for 2-3 years (especially when he's got a chip on his shoulder against your biggest rivals)? Hmm...

Vlad crushilated that one.

The Yanks need to score some runs if K-Rod's gonna get his 56th save.

92 Your probably right. Which calls into question what Cash considers the most when looking for production. Outside of Alex falling from the sky, it seems like he's more interested in patching holes. That would be okay if there were more bonafide prospects coming shortly...

Isn't the problem with Teixeira that, for the salary he's likely to get, he's not a crazy-talented "special" player like an A-Rod or Pujols or Guerrero back in the day? While he's a good-to-great player, he's basically a slightly better Kevin Youkilis. Would people say Youk is worth $20 mil/year for the next six years? I think not.

Yeah, Tex has better career numbers. Still, Tex has never had that "holy shit" season that would command that kind of salary. (And holy crap, what's Pujols worth if Tex pulls down that kind of money?)

Also, his name is WAY too hard to spell. Who wants to have to type that out all the time?

95 Agreed. Sometimes I worry that Cash has bet the farm....on the.....farm. Given that there are not a ton of near MLB ready bats on the farm, I think he can not afford to stand on ceremony, he's gonna need to pick up some FA firepower if this team wants to contend next year.

89 VORP is dicey. Even if you accept the baseline replacement level, it still is relative to position. So, while it is useful to compare two players at one position, it really isn't a good way to evaluate players in the context of a team.

Even so, it is worth noting that Damon's VORP is not far from Beltran's. So, again, it comes down to context. When you have a team that already has a good offensive SS, catcher, 2B, etc., you don't have to also have a one in CF, especially when your need is pitching. In a vacuum, would it better to have Beltran? Sure. But taken in the context of the past 4 years, I don't think he would have made much of a difference once you starting moving the other pieces around.

Torii Hunter is a fucking pussbag.

Wow...that was very weak by Hunter.

Pavano hurt yet?

Is Giese's BA against really .202? Is he someone we can expect to see in the mix next season?

My wife wanted to see Shelley Duncan get involved in that and was disappointed to learn he's not on the team.

I'd like to see the Singleton/Hunter brawl.

Looks like Hunter almost tripped over the bat, held to IRod for balance, Pudge pushed off him inadvertently, Hunter took exception.

101 His feelings tore their ACL.

102 Sure. He's been very good in general, showed that he could be a swing man/long man this year. No reason not to keep him around.

I was just about to panic about Molina potentially getting struck by lightning or hit with a meteor, but I remembered we had Chad.

96 Texeira is a much better player than Youkilis. While not "holy $%^&", three seasons with an OPS+ of 144 or better (including the last two) is pretty darn good.

Not for nothing, but Michael Kay is such a winer. Yeah, pushing a guy in the back is a cheap move, but "that was a violent, violent push"? Please. Get over it.

110 er "whiner"

107 I liked having a long man that could go like four innings and give up one run. For too long I've watched the likes of Jeff Karstens turn a third inning, 5 run game into a fourth inning, eight run game.

Giese was able to go long and keep the game close.

I'd like to see someone on the Yankees drill Hunter in the back next time up.

What the hell happened to Eiland?

105 I'd say Pudge was a bit miffed at Hunter and put a little extra into that elbow, but Hunter should have expressed his displeasure verbally rather than by shoving him in the back.

Dave Eiland collapsed?

114 Yack, no idea, but here's hoping he's okay.

113 It'll have to wait until tomorrow's game

116 Looks like it. But they got him back on his feet and he walked into the clubhouse mostly on his own with some players holding him up.

Maybe the Yankees can trade for Farnsworth back?

Reading Girardi's lips on the mound he just said "I don't know what happened."

If the Yankees must lose again, at least Pavano takes the loss and his ERA balloons over 5.

Moral victories.

96 The main problem is (from a GM standpoint) that Boras is his agent, and will be going for blood. In a reasonable market, Tex would not get Poo-holes money; maybe a little more than Abreu (current contract) at best. But the Yanks will be over a barrel when you consider their needs and the lack of viable alternatives. Either they pony up or they platoon old and inferiors for the next three years.

97 I still want to believe that Cash is trying to rebuild on the sly while appeasing the Yanks' business partners, but the moves he's made don't give me a lot of confidence. I don't know if he's handcuffed by fiduciary obligations, or if he's just not as savvy a judge of talent as he's made out to be...

hmmmmmmm... how many fights/suspensions can we get and still put 9 men on the field? Might make these games worth watching.

Molina doesn't like getting anywhere near the plate when a guy is coming in.

Talking to Alex, Girardi said "just . . ." and flipped his hand over to symbolize Eiland passing out.

122 And we don't have to see Krod perform an excorcism on the mound tonight.

William, considering both O, D, and baserunning, and looking at 2005-2008, which CFers have been better then Beltran?

123 I really don't get the rebuilding theme. It's one thing to make the farm a priority, but rebuilding takes several years. You can't simply turn your ball club over to 24-year olds and expect to compete. Besides, how does signing a Manny next year hinder the use of youngsters? If anything adding a bat like his might make it easier for you to let an Austin Jackson start the year in CF.

128 Austin Jackson needs to spend most if not all of next year in triple-A.

Meanwhile, YES showed a replay with Eiland in the middle of the scrum. He doesn't look too good in the clip, but he doesn't get hit or anything.

Well... that fight really has fired up our offense! Another game scoring under 3 runs? The team needs group therapy.

123 any chance of strong-arming the Cardinals into trading Pujols for Melky, IPK and Molina? would solve the 1B problem...

but seriously, 109 is Tex THAT much better than Youkilis to jusify 200mil? having two contracts like that really scares me...

128 That makes sense to me. Honestly, I don't know what the Yankee's cap is, but I don't see why they can't pursue CC and Tex if they let go an Abreu, Giambi, et al. Considering the corner they've backed themselves into (no ready position prospects and mostly aged and past-prime starters, if they want to at least keep things interesting they have get those guys and work in the youngsters regardless of contract status.

Is the worry that if you get Manny, for example, then start easing him out with Austin, then he's gonna become disruptive? Aren't there other ways to make a veteran feel important and encourage them to reach out to rookies? Speculation, but I don't think it would be an issue with Manny anymore than it would have been with Giambi if there was anyone there to replace him (or better example, Abreu).

127 Probably only Sizemore has been better, but Johnny Damon actually trails Beltran in RC 418 to 391. When you consider that Damon ranked better defensively than Beltran in 2005 and 2006, perhaps the Yankees would have been better off simply leaving Damon there?

Over the past two seasons, you could argue that Sizemore, Granderson, Ichiro, Rowand and Upton have been better.

The issue isn't whether Beltran is one of the better CF'ers, but whether he is a good enough player to have made a difference for the Yankees, all things considered.

129 He'll be 22 before Spring Training. I don't think he has to spend a full season in the minors. If the Yankees think he is ready, it would be a lot easier to make that decision if you had other pieces in place.

I think the bloom may be coming off the rose with Edwar.

131 I don't think Texeira is going to get $200mn, mostly because I don't think any team but the Yankees would be able to go that high.

The Giants are winning 6-0 in the 9th and Tim Lincecum is nearing 130 pitches. Why?

130 This group needs a timeout...

131 Unlike the manner in which Alex was acquired, Cardinal fans would likely burn the stadium and most of the waterfront down (again?) if Pujols was traded, especially to us.

Now if Pujols' production were to slip a little after off-season surgery, Cash might say hmm... >;)

so Ramirez, Veras, Robertson, Marte--all just fungible relievers? wtf is it with our pen? remember when people were writing blog entries about our deep dominant bullpen?

137 Because when your team's a perennial loser, that's just what you do?

138 Pujols is a career mediocrity coming off one good year?

139 In the beginning of the year, I was upset with the bullpen because there were so many iffy pitchers in it. I was NEVER a fan of Jose Veras, for example.

When they all exceeded my expectations, I let myself think we might actually have a decent core.

Then they all collapsed.

ugh...just heard David Cone say (on podcast) that the Yanks need to seriously conider leaving Joba in the pen next year...WTF?!?! hasn't that absurd debate been settled? Or is there something they aren't telling us about his "tendenitis"..??

139 fungible >;) Maybe they have athlete's foot? Athlete's feet?

137 For the good of my fantasy team?

139 It seems like the bullpen has been in every game early. I don't think you can let a few bad weeks distract you from how well they pitched for a good portion of the season. In other words, when LaTroy Hawkins becomes available next season, don't sign him!

145 I have him too...I'd like him to make his last four starts!!

134 I don't think they think he's ready. I certainly don't think he's ready. I know Trenton's a tough park to hit in, but he didn't really light up double-A.

141 You lost me somewhere...

147 Good point. I'm fighting for a money spot. Still, I get lots of points for complete games and shutouts.

Umps want this game over. Guy was safe at first.

148 I am not suggesting he is ready, but if the Yankees did think he was, having a beefed up offense would make it easier to run him out there.

The Yankees are playing like a SNL parody of themselves. This is embarrassing.

Good news...the Phillies won and the Brewers lost. Normally, I'd be rooting for a team like the Brew Crew, but I can't imagine what they would do to C.C.'s arm if they made the playoffs.

153 I am actually going to stay up to watch Joe Girardi explain how the team still has a chance.

williamnyy23, you mentioned earlier (yesterday?) that you would choose Boston over LA if they played in the WS...never got the chance to ask...Why?? Torre, Donnie, Bowa, Manny...would be great to see them kick the Sox

149 Sorry. I hear Cashman could be interested in someone and I just assume.

Save for the true elites, relievers are fungible as a rule. The Yankees approach this year has been perfect. With Farnsworth and Hawkins gone and Joba in the rotation they had a pen full of guys who could be sent down at any moment and a minor league system full of talented arms ready to come up and take their place. The bullpen remains in the plus column for this year, and I think Girardi and Eiland have had a lot to do with that.

156 I said that in jest, but ...

I've grown used to hearing about the glory of RSN, but I don't think I could stand an offseason hearing about how Torre won his WS without the Yankees, and the Yankees finished 4th without him. Also, I am so dissappointed with Girardi, that I'd rather avoid the reality that the Yankees actually hired a manager with all of Torre's faults and none of his strengths.

I hate way the adjective form of "representative" is used in sports coverage.

160 that came out of nowhere...i still hate people who put "a" in front of names.. "if the Yankees go and sign a CC or a Burnett.." Buster Olney, that means you!

159 "I don't think I could stand an offseason hearing about how Torre won his WS without the Yankees"

I wouldn't worry about that.

Also, as said above, Girardi's bullpen management is superior to Torre's. Of course that was Torre's big weakness.

161 Agreed.

The tragic number is down to 10...the season could be over for even Girardi as soon as this weekend.

157 It's funny because it's not ironic >;)

164 The sooner the better so the charade can end and we can see Gardner and Melky get some playing time.

166 Gardner? In that case, they better start winning some games!!

167 hey, taking pitches is a good thing, didn7t you read Moneyball?? :)

159 Hey, I thought you were a realist! >;)

it was nice to see joey joe joe jr make an effort to get his bench players a little playing time once this game became a blowout ... oh, wait, that's right, he didn't ... oh well, i'm sure he's got a good reason that he won't share with us.

168 Jinx!

159 Exactly...that's why I'd like to avoid dealing with that reality! If it never happens, I am in the clear.

170 This team is still battling for a playoff spot. All they need to do is game 4 games a week over the next two weeks to make that Fenway series meaningful.

170 Hopefully it won't relate to 140 , but his record is beginning to work against him >;)

172 Banter will take up a collection for an industrial cleansuit for you if that happens >;)

166 Dude, didn't we see Melky get playing time for like 80% of the season? He's no damn good.

175 Can I get it in royal blue?

Why is this press conference focusing on the inane event in the 6th inning!

178 you watch the press conferences??? damn...Yes, Sir! May I have another!!

177 Sure, we were gonna steal one from the nearest IBM plant anyway...

179 I keep hoping I'll come away with a reason to feel better about Girardi, but he never disappoints.

Pavano's on now, so time for bed.

Apparently the media was phoning it in tonight as well.

183 the media's been phoning it in far longer than just this season ...

181 wouldn't that be the definition of insanity, then?

Just ran across this, and as a fan wanted to post it.
Who is the best pure hitter in the game? Albert Pujols? He is having perhaps his best year so far, with an amazing OPS+ on 191.

Mickey Mantle had FIVE years with an OPS+ of 195 or better, including back to back years with OPS+'s of 210 and 233. 233!

And Barry Bonds?
SIX years with an OPS+ OVER 200!, including 268 and 263.

Babe's 2 best years were 256 and 239.

Awesome numbers.

hey cult - it was barely 13 months ago you and i watched joba's debut against the blow jays and were super excited. edwar "phantom warrior" came soon thereafter.

now the entire jocks n jills chain was shut down due to a sexual harassment case against the owner and our yanks have been shut down due to too many issues to list.

let's hope we're celebrating all kinds of good stuff a year from now! : )