But when are the Belth nuptials? And where will the romantic honeymoon be? Antwerp?

Buono fortuna, and have a great luna di miele!

Looking forward to your Yankees 2006 ALCS posts.

January - football playoffs are starting, Giants are making a run to the Super Bowl, Knicks are starting to heat up (wishful thinking, I know), hot stove, hmm...maybe not this month.

February - NCAA conference championships are starting, Super Bowl has now been moved to this month and Jints are playing the Colts, Knicks are about to show their superiority over the Atlantic division, pitchers and catchers report, hmmm...maybe not this month.

March - Jints won the Super Bowl last month, spring training, prepping for fantasy baseball draft, March Madness, hmmm...maybe not this month either.

April - Start of the baseball season, NCAA championship game, pro football draft, Knicks are locking up the division and the best record in East. Not this month either...

May - Knicks are in full swing, they are playing crisp basketball and look poised to win a championship, Yankees are looking good and there's a 6 game series against Boston. Not this month either.

June - Knicks are playing the Lakers in the championship, nuff said...not a good month to think about a wedding.

July - Knicks have already won it all, but the Yanks have a series against the Mets, Angels, A's and Red Sox before the trading deadline. I don't know if I can be preoccupied with wedding plans....so not a good month either.

August - The Yanks are really taking off, Eli is looking good for the Jints. Not a good month either.

September - The Yanks are battling for the AL East crown against the Blue Jays and Red Sox and there are 6 games remaining against each team. The Giants open up against Philly, Dallas and the Patriots...the wedding will just have to wait.

October - The Yanks are in the Serious. Nuff said....no wedding plans this month.

November - Yanks won the serious. Giants play the Cowboys and Skins at home and if they win those two then they win the NFC East. The Knicks are back on the tube and ready to defend their NBA Championship. My mom won't let me disappear away from the family for Thanksgiving, so the wedding will just have to wait.

December - The Giants lost last month against the Cowboys, they are in a two way tie for the NFC East and they have four tough games in December. The Knicks were 12 - 4 in November and we don't want to disrupt the karma, so wedding plans will just have to wait.....

....wait a second I have no more month's left. I guess I ain't getting married.

Nevertheless, good luck to you Cliff and I wish you all the happiness in the world. How ever did he find time to get married? And still keep us abreast of each upcoming Yankee opponent. Sorry Alex, Cliff is the MVP this year.... :-). Just kidding...you both have done wonderful work.

May or June it is...

Cliff and Becky, congrats!
Enjoy Italy and your life together!

You know, I just remembered that Thomas is their coach this year. Anyhow, those are my excuses and I'm sticking with the script or else I'm afraid as to what I might miss.

He eventually was driven off the field with what appeared to be a leg injury."

Poor Nick. Injuries just seem to find him.

It looked horrible. Does anyone have word or news on his condition? I always liked Nick and thought he was going to be our guy for a long time. Hope he can get over this one.

Randy Johnson P

I've always liked Nick, too. Kinda like "Once an Ag, always an Ag" at Texas A&M; once a Yankee, always a Yankee, at least in my mind. I even keep an eye on the ones who weren't very good, like Tony Womack.

The highest praise he's received since the '01 World Series.

Experience

He may be game 2 because they want Mussina in a possible elimination Game 3, but Johnson will not be the Game 1 starter.

I can see Bernie as the main backup CFer. But what about a LIDR for him? Joe trusted Bubba, but doesn't seem to trust anyone else. Given how fragile Damon is (prone to unexpected weird injuries, just before or during a game), it's something that should be addressed. Now is the time to see if Guiel or Thompson can handle it.

Last year he did start Crosby in centerfield because he needed defense (though that backfired...if Bernie were in center, no one is anywhere near Sheff to collide with him).

He has benched players such as Tino in post season games when he knows someone else is performing better.

And, all season long he has been praising the efforts of Wang. I would be absolutely shocked if Johnson is the Game 1 starter. I would prefer him to be the Game 3 starter, but wouldn't be surprised to see him start Game 2. (Though, I think having him start Game 2 is a defensive move, instead of an offensive move...it says he trusts Mussina over Johnson in an elimination game...which isn't unfounded, but is still defensive as if he is almost EXPECTING an elimination game).

However, given Wang's home/road splits, I think it'd make sense, if we somehow don't get home field in the first rd, to think about starting Rj in game 1, since his record is significantly better on the road this year, and his era is a notch better as well. With Moose in Game 2, where he could come up with a big hold if we lose game 1, and Wang ready to go in game 3 at the Stadium.

And he pinch-hit Sierra for Bubba in that last game. Even though Bubba was 2 for 3 with an RBI and a stolen base that night. And Sierra was batting something like .150 for the past month, while Bubba was batting .320.

Mussina, meanwhile, has pitched 24.2 innings in the Metrodome over the last four seasons (including this one), giving up 15 earned runs, compared to 38 innings and 18 earned runs overall versus the Twins.

If you want to consider that a trend, I'd start Mussina in game 1 at YS, and avoid Wang on the turf for game 2. That leaves RJ in Minnesota for Game 3, but if its 2-0 Twins, the Yanks have worse problems than who starts the game...

But none of that matters as Mr. Creaky Back has handed TB a 3-0 lead.

He's not in post season form yet, he's only given up 3 runs man, not 6, yet!

Buerhle, Silva, and Beckett are at the top. 36, 36, 34 respectively.

my sarcasm is dripping like Niagra Falls tonight...

So, yeah, being down 2-0 in a 3 game series is pretty tough, even if Silva and Radke are the next 2 pitchers. Luckily we won't have to deal with that scenario this season.

Echoing Jim Kaat, it's the Twins and Tigers who have more of a right to worry about who won't have to face the Yankees, rather than vice versa. Regardless of who the opponent is, if the Yankees don't perform to an elite level on offense, defense, and pitching... they're not going to win any playoff series. And if we are to believe that this team can with the whole thing, then we should believe that they are capable of taking out any postseason opponent... and they are capable of that.

Santana's a great pitcher, but he is not the whole team. The Twins' weak hitting lineup will decide more than one starting pitcher.

catfishstew.baseballtoaster.com/archives/515295.html

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=260529106

or perhaps this game:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=260831110

where he took a no hitter into the seventh...

I think you'll actually see him start to whip the ball around in about a week, for the record.

70 Poor Nick. He has the worse luck. At least it happened at the end of the season.

But it looks like Joe's given up on this game. He's got the Clippers in.

C'mon Veras, hold this and let's get the lumber going, Yanks!

Ugh.

They did the CAT scan as a precaution. It was clear. Joe originally had him out of the lineup tonight, but Jorgie griped so much Joe put him in.

87 You mean Sunday of course. I wish it was Sunday right now myself.

;)

Gotta agree with mehmattski's comments, though. But I'm sure Joe will keep RJ on a very short leash, and it's nice to have Darrell (Just Call Me Mendoza) Rasner on the roster in case Randy (or anyone else) melts down in the second or third innning.

Here's to a Moosterpiece and a 16 run assault on Tampa pitching tomorrow!

97 Good cherce on the soccer game, wsp. You didn't miss a thing. Trust me.

Halarious article about how Manny "quit" on his team and should be traded etc. And how real "dirt dogs" like, um, Trot Nixon always play hurt etc. Except that Nixon is ALWAYS on the DL. Its amazing, I mean, Manny is so underapreciated in Boston, I know hes a flake, hes kind of crazy, and he watches his home runs more than most, but hes also the greatest hitter of this generation and without him the Red Sox lineup takes a hit that is pretty impossible to match by any other player.

The way I see it, I really hope that they run him out of town, nothing would be better for the Yankees and worse for Ortiz, aka Big Floppy...

Best quote from the article: "Losing Ramírez leaves an enormous hole in the lineup behind Ortiz, but one that can be filled. Maybe not with a future Hall of Famer, but with a winner."

Funny, the Sox wouldn't do $12-$13 mill for Damon, but suddenly seem eager to go deep for Sheff.

If the Sox are smart, they're feigning interest in Sheff just to complicate matters for the Yanks. But I don't think the Sox are smart (see Damon to Yanks) (see Abreu to Yanks for minimal prospects).

Heh. Ded Sox will be drawing from the bank this winter, that's for sure.

What's next? Bonds to Boston?

Yanks-A's would/will be a fun series.

Now, would your A's please eliminate/obliterate the damn Angels, so I can rest more peacefully before the playoffs?

102 I think Sheff would hit very well in Boston, so I hope he doesn't go there. As you suggest Sliced, I also don't think the Sox would pony up for more than a year of Sheff, and that won't do it for Gary. I expect the Yanks to pick up his option.

And while I'm sure on some level the Sox's braintrust covets Bonds' skills - imagine if he could DH full time - given the racial history of the place I don't see Bonds ever going there. I think Bonds goes to Detroit.

The Yankees might as well come up with the pocket change and keep Sheff maybe on 1B or maybe mad on the bench...

As for Manny, as long as he is in the AL, all the AL teams that face him are in trouble. However, the Yankees are better off with Manny in Anheim than staying with Ortiz in Boston.

106 After this year Frank Thomas isn't going to go anywhere for a "reasonable price". He's looking at Shef. money in Boston, Detroit, Anaheim, Texas, Toronto or even Balto etc.

Given that Giambi appears to be melting before our eyes I think re-signing Shef makes more sense every day. If they can negotiate a reasonable two year figure great; if not, they should hold their noses and exercise the option.

It'll mean less playing time for Melky but you don't get anything free in this life. Well except maybe Game Day ;-)

Damon CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
A-Rod 3B
Sheff 1B
Cano 2B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Guiel LF

108 I like that lineup.

Unlike Thomas, Sheff can still run and play OF (and 1st base?) if required.

With Melky as an OFer, and Sheff around, we can now rest our older vets on a regular basis without compromising our line-up, and also have a strong bench and some injury insurance.

Sheff needs 2 years to get 500 HRs. After his one year option, he might sign for 2008 for cheap, to stay with the Yankees and hit #500 in NY.

There are those that don't like Shef, but he has earned his stripes. I do believe the Sox would give him a 2 yr contract to hit tasers off the Green Monster.

Since Boston lost the Babe, might they like to have Barry bcome the all time HR leader in a Sox uniform? Where ever Barry goes, he's gonna sell a lot of tickets. And if there is one LF Bonds can still cover, it's in Boston.

And those bleepin' Rays obviously have a telepath on staff. They always know when to pitch out. :-P

Wigginton does it to us again.

Though today, it's not all bad defense. The speedy Rays are also making their own luck.

2 Things -

Congrats to Cliff and his bride; enjoy the new life and we'll keep the light on for you.

That strange picture of Melky and Bobby dancing on the back page of the Daily News will be up this evening. I'll let you know.

Moyer gets bombed for 4 in the first.. but the Phllies come right back and bomb 4 in the 3rd... Rollins and Utley both go yard...

Sheesh, I really should start previewing my posts...

And then banged his helmet on the ground. Twice. ("Note to self: Joe said to get angry.")

I Don't expect perfection- just a better freakin' effort

151 You're probably right but I hate to take anything for granted.

It's nice to see Villone come in and get out of the inning without giving up runs.

Yeah, Robbie! They're chiseling their way back into it.

173 If Sheff continues like this (both hitting and fielding), I don't see him making the roster. At least not until the ALCS...Of course it all depends on Giambi's wrist...

Cano is a monsta though. he's EQA is now higher than Chase Utely... just think about that for a sec....

::weeps::

Mo
Farns
Proctor
Myers
Bruney
------- pick 2 more
Lidle??
Karstens??
Villion??
Dotel??
Veras??
Rasner??
------ Joe picks Lidle (long relief) and Villion?

However, the performances of Moose and Eunuch, and the impotence of our bats against some seriously weak-ass pitching, is leaving me depressed about our post-season chances, especialy as both Detroit and Minny are cruising going into the playoffs.

Indeed if we play like this for the last week of the season, we could very well finish with the worst record among the playoff teams. Detroit will pass us today,Minny will only be a game back if they hold off the O's, and if Oakland wins today too, they'll be only 2 back.

The only silver lining is that Torre might finally realize that Villone is cooked. I wouldnt bet on it tho.

Mo
Farns
Proctor
Myers
Bruney
Villone
Rasner

What I would do:

Mo
Farns
Proctor
Bruney
Rasner
Karstens
Veras

Villone is not just fried. He was playing over himself for a brief time. And we won't be facing Big Papi, so we don't need Myers.

Now, if only the Yanks can rally for 8 runs in the next 6 outs...

And the offense isn't putting fear in the hearts of most of these unknown pitchers.

At least Cliff picked a good weekend to get married, if he didn't want to have think about the Yankees. I'd ignore a team that lost two games by 8-0 and 11-4 to the Devil Rays.

Jeter also admitted it was kind of hard to keep their focus but said they need to get it back so they don't go in playing poorly.

Kim Jones: (regarding Moose's bruised thumb) So do you feel lucky?

Moose: Why?

(Checks box score)

Manning has completed 5 passes - 3 to the Giants, and 2 to Ken Hamlin - ARGH!

This was a good weekend to be stuck working each day, as I have been.

But I don't know if he was disappointed because it wasn't an offer, or because the whole exchange was so incredibly stupid.

Giants game now completely unreal.

A team peformance that poor in all aspects has to be laid at the feet of the coach. The signs were there in Philly. I mean, can they friggin snap the ball without moving beforehand? They need to use electroshock therapy on the O-line in practice or something.

At least the Giants' debacle has made me forget the Yanks' weekend!

I can't wait for the playoffs, this slow death to the season gets aggravating.

Nonetheless, another come from behind victory on the road would be nice . . .

No offense to Villone, but I don't want to see him on the postseason roster. Why can't we duct tape Carl Pavano to Villone? He's bound to become unavailable that way! ;)