21 years. Well, I made it this far, which is a minor shock. I shall be gone all day reveling in my legalness, so you can use this space to heap praise on me in absentia.

I would only add:

"It's just a question of who that is [and when]".

Melky might have things locked down this year or Brett could push him out by the end of the season, especially if Melky has an OBP of .340 while Brett is around .380 in AAA. So then Brett could keep CF warm for a 2009 and even 2010 while or if AJax comes along.

I got to say I love that player development strategy. Have a few good bets and at worst you have a replacement level player for a few years each but if one of the bets comes in you have a very good player for many years. It seems to be the same thing they're doing at catcher and shortstop, besides of course the pitching staff. If only they had some power OF prospects. Hopefully Tabata shows something in that direction this year.

2 Happy Birthday. Unfortunately, both LaTroy Hawkins and Kyle Farnsworth are pitching today. Maybe they'll both throw only strikes for you.

4 The good news is, among all positions, power-hitting corner OFs do grow on trees, and so that's the kind of position the Yankees can afford to splurge on, while the rest of the team is made of home-grown, cheaper players.

Wow, 21.

A babe in the woods.

Enjoy!

Next year, for instance, with RF wide open, here's who could be available:

Bobby Abreu NYY
Moises Alou NYM
Pat Burrell PHI
Adam Dunn CIN
Brian Giles * SD
Ken Griffey Jr. * CIN
Vladimir Guerrero * LAA
Manny Ramirez * BOS

* = team option

Besides Dunn, is there anyone you'd want to sign for three or four years? Even then, Dunn is a below average OF at 27. If only Cash had had his way and gotten Vlad. Then they'd be holding that option.

By the way, how exciting is this year looking? I can't say I've been this excited since before the 1996 season. But then I would have been devastated had they not reached the post-season. Now I feel like this team could go any which way. If everything breaks right they could be the best team in baseball, as Baseball Prospectus predicts. But even if there are growing pains, and worst case they don't make the playoffs, there's still so much to be excited about. It should be a really fun season.

I see him as kind of a Steve Balboni type. Bat him seventh or eighth and he'll probably give you a good 20-25 HR, but with lots and lots of Ks in between.

For a bottom of the order guy, though, I guess I could live with that.

Not that he's the only question mark, of course, but he's probably the most notable among regulars (position players).

(Have I mentioned how excited I am that there's to be baseball?)

As to that other guy who's name I dare not speak--bah.

Damn, there's no way the Angels don't pick up that option on Vlad - 15 million. Crazy that the Yankee offense could have had him the last four years hitting behind A-Rod. I hope Cash keeps hammering the Steinbrothers on what he could have done had there been no interference.

I also think the Sox pick up Manny's 20M option since there's very little out there.

I hate when I do that.

There's a lot of ways they could do this this offseason. but it's a bit early for that, I must say that at least right now, the top priorities (in order) is probably

CC Sabathia -> Mark Teixeira -> and then a huge gap with a ton of possibilities.

it really depends a lot on how Abreu and the first baseman situation pan out. lets say if Shelley / Betemit plays very well they could theorically move the tendom to right next year and sign Teix. those two won't be great out there . but it's probably passable.

And it looks like the Yanks picked up right where they left off. granted that the Phillies didn't throw any real pitchers out there ..... but you gotta love that Betemit HR off Gordon

Man, Jason!

He got all of that one.

Right off the bat.

Nice fucking shot.

I worry about RF because if Abreu bounces back to .900 OPS, I can see him getting a three or four year deal elsewhere. And if he doesn't, why bother?

Or maybe it's my imagination.

He didn't have as much time there, but might have tried to set a little more.

Nice to see.

Nice play Melky, going backwards.

Didn't look too sure, but he made the play.

Alex.

He was jammed and still nearly hit the warning track.

God, he's good.

Bad hop ate him up.

Doesn't he, though?

Line drive to left-center, baby!

Ha!

Check out that 'do!

Gone!

Ha ha ah hah aha a ha!!!!

Nice straight fastball, middle in.

I mean, its pretty obvious you would use your closer at the appropriate time but what about the middle guys and set up guys.

Thanks ahead for the explanation.

Ha ha haa ha ha!!!

Good luck, buddy!

I love Joe and I'll miss him, but God I'm glad this is your problem now!

It's hitters, too.

The most egregious case I can recall was back in 2002 postseason when he insisted on trotting out David Justice when it was abundantly clear to anyone with eyes to see that he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a paddle.

Meanwhile, Shane Spencer road the pine when he was a perfectly reasonable Plan B.

In short, he really really likes to use "his guys" and is loth to improvise and adjust when things aren't going well.

Sorry, bhsportsguy. Really. Kind of, anyway.

They're talking about how players resent being made to do running drills.

?

Is it me, or is it bizarre to hear about athletes whining because they're required to be physically fit?

What a catch by the centerfielder!

That was sooo pretty.

God, it's nice to be watching baseball again.

Sprinted toward the gap in leftcenter, dived with outstretched glove, ball landed in webbing.

Looked effortless. Really balletic.

And 42 don't worry, its not like you have any of Torre's favorites, like Proctor and Sturtze on your team or anything ;).

Although look at the bright side, Jeff Weaver isn't on your team (yet).

I think as a public service, we here at BB should have a memorial EDSP innings count, all year. What do others think?