Why The Rocket Will Re-Launch in NY

Yankee fans were floating on cloud nine for 6 1/3 innings last night. The future of the franchise looked the role by no-hitting a dangerous Texas lineup, the bats awoke to the tune of 9 runs, and the Bombers were en route to a crucial victory. Then Phil Hughes clutched his hamstring after an 0-2 delivery and all the good feelings washed away. In a 9-0 game, with the mounting injuries, it was a no-brainer to pull the kid. Later on we learned the injury will cost him 4-6 weeks. Another devastating blow in a rough early season.

The natural question on everyone's minds is will this latest injury expedite the Roger Clemens process? One would have to think so, but his agent Randy Hendricks remains tight lipped on the situation. There are really a multitude of reasons I believe he'll be back, but I'll get in to a few major ones with one caveat...we must remain at least on the heels of the Sox. He's not coming back to watch the playoffs on TV.

1) The Yankee organization remains largely in tact from his last trip here (Steinbrenner, Cash, Torre, Jeter, Posada, Mo) and he loves those guys. He'd welcome the chance to suit up for the execs and despite Rivera's early season troubles, would love handing the ball to him late in games.

2) He would love to be reunited with his best-friend Andy Pettitte. Pretty much the same as above, but deserves special mention due to their special relationship.

3) Boston embarrassed him last time he was there by saying he was in "the twilight of his career". Granted the man largely responsible for the decision, as well as the quote, is gone, Roger has too much pride for that not to hurt. I think there's more of a grudge there than people embrace.

4) He wants to wear a Yankees cap in to the HOF. What better way to justify that than to punctuate his career with another ring in NY, and another season (well, half) to put on his resume as a Pinstriper.

5) Not that he's the mentoring type, but if he could be considered "instrumental" in the progress of Mini-Rocket Phil Hughes, his legacy grows even greater. A man who names his kids all K's to recognize his strikeout wizardry clearly has the ego to take that in to account.

FOX will broadcast a Saturday Subway Series tilt in the Bronx on Saturday June 16th. The man making his season debut on the mound for the Bombers will be wearing #22.

Wang To Miss A Month

The Yankees will be without number one starter Chien Ming-Wang for about a month according to statements made by GM Brian Cashman. Their Taiwanese ace tweaked his hamstring while running during a spring training workout a couple days ago. Young pitchers Jeff Karstens and Darrell Rasner are expected to fill the "short-term" void. Karstens has had a terrific spring and was believed to be in serious competition with Kei Igawa for the final spot in the rotation. It's likely that he's the front-runner. The injury also opens the door for Andy Pettitte to take the mound on opening day. He's been sidelined with back spasms, but both he and Cash seem optimistic the veteran lefty will be ready by April 2.

Igawa Shaky in Debut

Japanese import Kei Igawa, slated to be the Yankees fourth or fifth starter, had mixed results in his first action of the spring against the Tigers. In a little over an inning, Igawa walked three batters and gave up a couple of runs. On the bright side, he countered his lack of control with three strikeouts. The former Japanese strikeout leader struggled to spot his fastball, but demonstrated that his 0ff-speed stuff will certainly be dangerous to major league hitters. It can't be stressed enough that spring training is not a true indicator of success. Many pitchers will struggle with control, as we've seen with Igawa and Hughes. Also, it's important to take in to account that Igawa has had very little time to work with catcher Jorge Posada. As they gain familiarity, Posada will be able to put his pitcher in to better situations. There were a few pitches today where they didn't seem to be on the right page. That should fade with time. The Yankees will also benefit by having Hideki Matsui to consult on the field if problems arise. Posada has already suggested that he will bring Matsui in for mound meetings if he feels the situation calls for it.

Both teams played many of their starters, but the real fireworks came from a couple of young guys. Down a run with two outs in the ninth inning, Josh Phelps roped a single in to left field to set up Bronson Sardinha's walk-off homerun. Phelps will battle Andy Phillips all spring to be the right handed batter in the first base platoon with Doug Mientkiewicz. Sardinha has been limited to September call-up work and will almost certainly be headed to Triple A Scranton. Since wins and losses are basically irrelevant in spring training, the nicest part of the walk-off homerun was the celebration afterwards. The Yankees are known as an uptight, business-first group. Centerfielder Johnny Damon has infused some energy, but for the most part, displays of emotion are rare. Sardinha was greeted at home plate by the usual array of exuberant teammates you would expect from a mid-season walk-off victory. This may seem to be an insignificant observation, but the youthful Tigers taught the Yankees an important lesson in last season's playoffs. They came out and stole the series by playing with intense passion. If the Yankees can not find ways to get up for big games, they'll continue their World Series drought. Hopefully today's display is a sign of things to come.

Damon Jump Starts Spring Training

Johnny Damon didn't waste any time bringing excitement to Legends Field this spring. On the first pitch Twins starter Carlos Silva threw, Damon homered to right field to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead. Coming off a career high 24 homeruns a season ago, the Yankees lead off man showed the long ball will continue to be in his repertoire. The following inning Jason Giambi took a Silva pitch over the right centerfield wall as the Yankees piled on five runs in the first two innings. Cather Jorge Posada and second baseman Robinson Cano also notched RBI in the early innings.

The Yankees also have to be encouraged by the outing of Chien Ming-Wang. He worked two efficient innings and five of the six batters he faced grounded out. For the next inning and a third, the future of the Yankee rotation Phil Hughes showed shaky control. There's no doubt this kid will be special, but his first outing of the spring featured more walks than strikeouts (two to one). Out of his 34 pitches, only 18 were thrown in the strike zone. Hughes hung a curve to Michael Cuddyer that he ripped in to the left centerfield gap for a double. On a positive note, he ended his day by striking out reigning AL MVP Justin Morneau. The players have had rave reviews about the young righthander during team workouts, so there's no reason for concern. During Spring Training games pitchers will often be victimized because they're not throwing their full arsenal. It's more like a glorified bullpen session, so their performances are basically rendered irrelevant. YES network commentators raved about Hughes' compact delivery and it did look eerily reminiscent of Roger Clemens motion. Everyone should hold off on the "Baby Rocket" monikers, but it's exciting to have a player of his caliber waiting in the wings.

Right now the Yankees are holding to a 5-1 lead, the lone run charged to Hughes as Cuddyer came around to score later in the inning. Newly acquired Ross Ohlendorf (in the Randy Johnson deal) is on the mound and features a hard sinking fastball a la Chien Ming Wang. The Yanks have received some tremendous defense, including a sliding catch by Hideki Matsui. It's nice to see that the devastating wrist injury he suffered last season has not intimidated him.

Bernie to Play The Waiting Game

Lost in the A-Rod-Jeter "love-lost" fest has been the story of longtime Yankee Bernie Williams. As the two infielders indulge the reporters with sound bites on their relationship, Williams continues to sit sans-media attention and wait for a little more respect. Many players are standing up for the loyal centerfielder. The Yankees are walking a fine line with regards to how their treating a long time veteran and signs of a rift between the organization and closer Mariano Rivera are evident. It's obvious that pinstripe lifers Jorge Posada and Rivera, as well as their leader Joe Torre, are doing all they can to ensure Williams spot on the roster.

On the surface this issue seems complex. Do the Yankees owe him better treatment? There's a lot of grey area. Yes, he's had an amazing career. Yes, he's still capable of producing. Does that necessarily mean they have to guarantee him a coveted roster spot? Unfortunately, no they do not. It's actually surprisingly simple. Brian Cashman's decision to platoon at first and shift Giambi to DH keeps the team from holding on to a fifth outfielder. Anyone capable of rational thought knows that Melky Cabrera is better suited for the primary backup slot, so it leaves no room for Williams. The bigger problem I have is that, with the re-signing of Miguel Cairo, they're planning to keep four players on the roster capable of playing first base yet only four capable of playing the outfield. Considering two corner outfielders got injured last year, this does not seem to make a whole lot of sense. Forget his years of loyalty. Forget what the organization owes to him. Even put aside what it could mean to the future of Rivera in pinstripes. The Yankees need Williams in camp because a fifth outfielder is more important than carrying three first basemen.

Hopefully the team re-considers their roster plans and makes sure Bernie is in camp. According to Jon Heyman of SI, the waiting game may indicate he's more willing to take the Yankees offer.

Jeter: "There is no rift"

A day after reporters enjoyed personal revelations from Alex Rodriguez, they were unable to pry similar information from Derek Jeter. As always, Jeter steered clear of his personal life as the media looked for a response to Rodriguez' remarks about their friendship. From Jeter's reply today, a few things remain very clear. No matter how much the New York media would love to expose Jeter's personal life, he will keep it hidden. Whether it's a fling with a celebrity, or personal relationships with teammates, they'll never get the full story. He alluded to that fear of "opening the flood-gates" with this:

"I understand my job is public, but your personal life is your personal life. Once you open that door, it doesn't stop," he said. "Away from the field, people want to keep tabs on how many times we go out to eat, things like that. That has no bearing on what we're trying to do."

Jeter has, and always will be, all about winning. He understands that teammates don't need to hold hands. They just need to be willing to fight for a common goal. The big knock on Jeter during the A-Rod era has been his reluctance to embrace the embattled star. I've said this before in a column about Mike and the Mad Dog, but I think it's ridiculous to suggest that Jeter needs to be more vocal of his defense of their third basemen. The captain acknowledged this today, continuing his emphasis that he will not tell the fans how to treat any of his teammates.

Many media types are quick to point out that Jeter seemed more supportive when Giambi endured his hardships. In a recent radio interview, Joe Torre gave a great explanation. He made a distinction between the two issues. Giambi's problems stemmed from off-field incidents, A-Rod's were a direct result of his poor on-field performance. They needed to be handled as seperate problems, and the captain acted accordingly. I really do not believe that Jeter has failed to back his teammate due to a perceived rift. Hopefully now that both players have weighed in on this issue, reporters can begin to look for a new story.

A-Rod Confirms Strained Relations with Jeter

Does anyone remember the Yankees brawl with Seattle in which Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez playfully chatted as their teammates fought? Jeter's actions, and Chad Curtis' resulting harsh criticism, sent Curtis packing and proved to players league wide that the two shortstops were the best of pals. In an interview with reporters this morning, Rodriguez confirmed what everyone knew for years. Those days are long gone. He really picked an interesting day for this revelation. Today marked the first day of Spring Training for position players, a day already being hyped at Legends field due to the absence of long-time Yankee Bernie Williams.

Given a few hours to reflect on Rodriguez's comments, I've come to the following conclusions. First of all, it's almost refreshing to see A-Rod go against the grain. Since arriving in New York he's been so careful with his words, but anyone with a pulse could tell things were clearly strained from his published criticism of the Yankee captain. He figured he'd have to field questions about his and Jeter's relationship, so it was good to see him take the offensive. However, it will open the flood gates on the speculation that he'll opt out of his contract after this season. People will blow these comments out of proportion and it could be a lingering issue in the press. Any signs of tension between the two will be front page news and could serve as an unnecessary distraction. Will it actually be a problem? I think not. Athletes are too competitive to let petty differences affect their performance on the field. They both realize they need each other to play well in order to achieve their common goal of winning the World Series. Hopefully this disclosure, albeit not a surprising one, will start to put this issue to bed.

For more on this, check out this article available at MLB.com.

RSVP Pending, but Bernie gets Invite

Yankee fans have spent several yearing preparing for LAB (Life after Bernie). His surprise return in 2006 pleased most Bomber fans, especially after he proved he can still contribute. However, with the emergence of young outfielder Melky Cabrera, Williams appears to be the odd man out in 2007. He has spent the offseason fielding questions about his baseball future and appears set to make one of two decisions. Either accept the Yanees invite or concentrate on his music. To many, the Yankees offer is being pereceived as a slap in the face. That insulting offer basically offers Williams a non-guaranteed, non-roster invite to the Yankees' spring training in Tampa. It does not come as much of a surprise, but the future of Bernie Williams is a polarizing issue for Yankee fans.

The Bernie Williams offseason saga tugs at the hearts of Yankee fans. Centerfield has always been a larger than life position in the Bronx and Williams has established himself as one of the finest players to put on the pinstripes. While he has certainly slowed down, he proved last season that he can still hit big league pitching. Unfortunately, the fact remains that he no longer specializes in any facet of the game. To be an important bench player, you must do something extremely well. As hard as it is to say for life-long Williams fans, most Bomber loyalists would prefer the young Cabrera.

With Jason Giambi to assume DH duties, a righty/lefty platoon at first, and Cabrera slotted for the fourth outfielder spot, it has long been speculated that Williams would be squeezed out. While that seems to be the likely scenario, it is not necessarily the case. Assuming he accepts the invite, it's not inconceiveable that he could make the roster. The Yankees could opt to take less pitching or lighten their load at first base. If Carl Pavano comes out this spring healthy, their need for pitching depth will diminish. They re-signed backup infielder Miguel Cairo,who could share time at first with the light hitting Mientkiewicz as opposed to keeping inconsistent Andy Phillips on the roster. No matter how this all plays out, Yankee fans certainly appreciate all Williams contributed to their organization. He's been a class act since day one and a tremendous embassador of the game. If Williams decides to end his career, number 51's next stop will be Monument Park.

Rocket Returning?

The Yankees seem to think they're the likely landing spot for the Rocket. Today they announced that second baseman Robinson Cano will be switching his number from 22 to 24 if Clemens were to agree to sign. To refresh everyone's memory, 22 is the number Clemens wore during his last tenure in the Bronx. No one is trying to hide the motives behind the switch, not even Cano. According to the New York Post, Cano had the following to say:

"I was happy to give up the number to a future Hall of Famer if Roger comes aboard. Hopefully, he will be one of my teammates, I'll have the pleasure of playing with him."

Despite the switch, Clemens' camp remains mum on his intentions. In fact, agent Randy Hendricks went so far as to suggest a decision will not be made for quite some time. Just as it was a year ago, many speculate Clemens decision will come down to the Yankees, Red Sox, and hometown Astros. The Red Sox offseason spending splurge included $103 million (including the posting fee) to pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. It is believed they are happy with their projected rotation, but they'd probably feel comfortable adding Clemens to send Jonathan Papelbon back to his closer's role. They spent an excessive amount of money bringing Matsuzaka, as well as J.D Drew and Julio Lugo, to Fenway that their offer may not be able to reach the Yankees. Clemens' hometown Astros seems to be the best fit for personal reasons. He enjoyed being close to family and being able to spend off days at home. This offseason the Astros acquired Carlos Lee, the big bat they've been missing throughout Clemens tenure. However, they may have spend too much on him to make a competitive offer.

The Yankees were not willing to be flexible on Clemens schedule demands a year ago, but reportedly would be more open now that veteran Randy Johnson has been traded. It has also been reported that Clemens and Johnson were not on good terms, so the Unit's departure also paved the way. Not only that, the money they freed up by trading Johnson, Sheffield, and Jaret Wright gives them flexibility. The announcement of the number switch should not be perceived as Clemens' imminent arrival in the Bronx. However, it does not seem rational the Yankees would make this kind of announcement if talks were not under way. There's no way they can feel comfortable with their current starting rotation and Clemens could be the final piece. While Cashman has looked to cut costs and get younger this offseason, there's no doubt he'd break the bank to bring back Clemens.

Out With the Old, In With the New

Brian Cashman's mantra this offseason has been cutting costs and getting younger. If the tentative agreement between the Yankees and Diamondbacks holds up, he'll have accomplished both of those goals with his most recent transaction. Last night it was reported the Yankees have agreed to send Randy Johnson to the Diamondbacks in exchange for Luis Vizcaino and three minor league prospects. It is believed the Yankees will pay roughly $1.5-$2 million of Johnson's salary for next season. Yankee fans should be enamored with this deal for several reasons. Whether it's his back or his age, Johnson never quite fit in as a Yankee. While he did win 17 games in each of his two seasons, his ERA ballooned to new heights. On top of that, the supposed ace pitched to a sparkling 6.92 ERA with zero wins in his three pinstriped postseason appearances.

The two sides have until Sunday to iron out the deal. Arizona wants back the guy who won 4 Cy Youngs and lead to them to a World Championship. That's not who they're getting, but his name alone should put more butts in the seats. He could fit in nicely to their rotation with reigning NL Cy Young winner Brandon Webb and Livan Hernandez. For the Yankees, they freed up money which is likely earmarked for Roger Clemens. There had been speculation that the disdain between the Rocket and the Unit would get in the way of bringing Clemens to the Bronx. Now that Johnson is headed for the desert, many feel the only ace left on the market could return to 161st Street. They also get a couple of young pitchers, Russ Ohlendorf and Steven Jackson, along with middle relief help (Vizcaino) and a 23 year old shortstop prospect. Even if the Yankees head in to the season as the roster is currently set, they have to feel pretty good. They've unloaded three older, overpaid players (Johnson, Sheffield, Jaret Wright) and started to restock their farm system. The rotation has question marks, but answers could come from stud pitching prospects Humberto Sanchez and Phillip Hughes. It would be nice if they could allow Hughes to mature for another year before throwing him in to the fire, but the young lefty is a nice insurance policy.

Lost in the Johnson madness yesterday was the signing of veteran 1B Doug Mientkiewicz. With Giambi slated for DH duties, the Yankees needed a sure handed first baseman. Mientkiewicz is about as nifty with the glove as they come and could benefit from being reunited with high school teammate Alex Rodriguez. The lefty, with limited offensive ability, could also benefit from the short porch in right. Although he's not young, his contract certainly didn't break the bank. With Andy Phillips second half slide, it was crucial for the Yankees to upgrade at first base. As spring training approaches, Yankee fans will just have to play the waiting game to see if Clemens will sign on to be the final piece of the puzzle.

Cashman Not Done With His Christmas Shopping

During the "hot stove" months, Yankee fans are always speculating which new faces will be in the Bronx by the holiday season. Brian Cashman's biggest gift this Christmas has been bringing back Andy Pettitte, but reports are surfacing that he may have an even bigger surprise. To the delight of many Yankees fans, it could involve getting rid of a past his prime star who never quite fit in his pinstripes. According to various baseball officials, the Diamondbacks are among several teams interested in acquiring Randy Johnson. Yankees brass have confirmed that Johnson approached the team about being moved closer to his home in Arizona. Johnson's representation has emphasized that he has not demanded a trade and would be happy to pitch for the Yankees in the upcoming season.

In the wake of the Johnson trade rumors, the Yankees now appear to be in the Barry Zito sweepstakes. Up to this point, the leading contenders to land the talented lefty have been the Texas Rangers and New York Mets. It is believed the Rangers could offer a more substantial financial package, but the Mets have been pitching their chances as one of the top contenders in the National League as their main selling point. Mets officials have already traveled to California to talk to the prized free agent, but with agent Scott Boras a decision is not expected soon. If nothing else, expect the price tag for Zito to rise. With the Yankees as potential bidders, Boras has incredible leverage.

The marriage between the Yankees and Johnson has been a rocky one. In 2006 he posted an ERA of 5.00 and has still not won a postseason game for the Bombers. Nagging injuries have been a concern and the Yankees would love to free themselves of the $16 million they owe the 43 year old this season. The Yankees would love to get younger in their rotation and reaching a deal with Zito would satisfy that. There's still only a remote chance the Oakland lefty will wind up in the Bronx, but if the Yankees can deal Johnson its likelihood will increase. Even if the Yankees don't land Zito, expect a lot of New Yorkers to rejoice if they can unload the Big Unit.

Daisuke Who? Yanks Make Kei Signing

While bitter rival Boston spent over $100 million to bring Japanese ace Daisuke Matsuzaka to Fenway, the Yankees made a splash of their own in the Far East by agreeing to terms with left handed pitcher Kei Igawa. It is a deal reported to be worth $20 million over five years, but that cost jumps to $46 million if you include the posting fee. Igawa is expected to compete for the fifth spot in the rotation with Carl Pavano, but his signing could be more of a demonstration that the Yankees view Pavano as an expendable commodity. It has not yet been made official, but there are no foreseen circumstances that would disrupt the agreement. With the addition of Andy Pettite, Igawa could potentially give the Yankees three left handed starters to stifle Yankee killer David Ortiz and newly acquired Red Sox JD Drew.

Although Igawa does not have the upside of Matsuzaka, he performed admirably throughout his career in Japan. Last season with the Hanshin Tigers he pitched to a 14-9 record with a sub-3.00 ERA and 194 strikeouts. He's only twenty seven years old, and in a worst case scenario, could be a huge upgrade in the bullpen. While the Yankees are certainly not spending $9 million per yer on a glorified set up man, it could be a path they explore if a healthy Carl Pavano shows up in the spring. He also gives the Yankees some youth in an aging starting rotation. With back of the rotation left handed starters such as Ted Lilly getting $10 million a year in the crazy market that has been established this offseason, this could be a very smart investment for the Yankees.

Sheff Cooking Up Trouble

Only in sports can you find a man so unhappy with making $13 million dollars in one year that he vows to make life difficult on any owner with the audacity to sign his paychecks. Welcome to the sick and twisted world of the Yankees soon to be departed star Gary Sheffield. After the Boss wined and dined the slugger personally, the Yankees signed Sheffield to a 3 year deal with an option year tacked on. After 2 successful years and one injury plagued campaign, the rocket-armed rightfielder is furious the team exercised the option. He has captured the media's attention with his recent rant that targeted Bobby Abreu and presumably Brian Cashman.

Much has been made about Sheffield's unhappiness in the offseason. First he complained about being moved to first base; a move that just a few weeks earlier he claimed to embrace. Once people began to speculate about his future with the team, he announced the team shouldn't pick up his option. When it became evident the Yankees would exercise the option, he made it clear that any team that wished to trade for him would be getting a disgruntled player. Up to that point, it was just Gary being Gary. This is not an unusual charade for him, he's always been perceived as selfish. He tried to erase that image by playing through pain his first two years to win the hearts of many Yankees fans, but his last tirade should close the door on his stay in New York. The fact is, he may be right that he's a better right fielder than Bobby Abreu and that certain Yankees executives are blocking him from speaking to George Steinbrenner. However, it does not change the fact that he is not the best option in the position he wants to play. Abreu has proven to be a terrific fit in the lineup, he can not be moved with the same ease Sheff can, and can give more good years to the organization. Whether or not "middle men" such as Brian Cashman are not allowing communication between Sheffield and Steinbrenner is relatively unimportant. Steinbrenner has been giving more power to his baseball people such as Cash and really shouldn't play a role in this drama.

In response to Sheffield's comments Brian Cashman took the high road with no comments, but team President Randy Levine took the bait. He addressed Sheffield's issues with the team and adamantly emphasized a very important piece of information: Gary Sheffield has no leverage. He does not have a no-trade clause, so anything the organization wishes to do with him they may. His ploy to try and dissuade teams from pursuing him with claims that he'll be unhappy should have very little effect on the market. He even went so far as to name destinations he would be happy with as if to draw interest from those teams, but the Yankees will only be looking for the best ways to improve the ball club. Yankee fans will have to respect the hard work he put in, but it will be hard to overlook how bitter the break-up is going. There is absolutely no way the Yankees can hold on to this guy after his disparaging remarks. A Yankee fan can only hope that his bitter feelings towards Yankees brass and his ferocious swing are shipped to a NL team.

Why A-Rod Will Stay in NY

After another disappointing October there has been rampant speculation about the future of Alex Rodriguez in New York. For weeks Brian Cashman has insisted he wouldn't move his star third basemen. Today brought reports of A-Rod's agent Scott Boras affirming Cashman's claims. It has been suggested that Cashman's insistence was purely to drive up Rodriguez' trade value. Whether you believe them or not, believe this: A major reason Alex Rodriguez will be back in New York is Japanese ace Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Just a couple of days ago the Japanese ace and widely coveted free agent pitcher selected none other than baseball super agent Boras to handle his negotiations. One might suggest that it is impossible to believe that keeping an agent happy is of such priority to a major league team, but evaluate Boras' impact on the sport. Since his rise to prominence, he has almost single-handedly changed the face of the MLB Amateur draft. By continually urging his players to sit out a year or driving his clients demands through the roof, the draft is no longer done strictly on talent and potential. Signability has become a serious issue, brought on most notably by Boras clients such as Jered Weaver. By maintaining a good relationship with Boras and his high profile client Rodriguez, the Yankees would have an inside track on winning the rights to negotiate with Matsuzaka. As the Yankees learned, simply outslugging your opponents doesn't work in October and their pitching staff is in need of a boost.

As with other international stars Matsuzaka's Japanese team the Seibu Lions will basically hold a bidding war. All 30 MLB teams are to post bids and the highest will be allowed to attempt to sign him. This is common practice for prized international stars such as fellow countrymen Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui. The Yankees and Mariners are among several teams considered to be high rollers in the Matsuzaka sweepstakes. After he impressed many scouts on his run to most valuable player honors at the World Baseball Classic the 26 year old righty collected seventeen wins for the Lions. With the Yankees in such dire need of starting pitching they will be sure to break the bank in efforts to throw pinstripes on the young ace. Although he is a detestable figure in the landscape of MLB, as a "keep Alex in NY" guy I'm thanking my lucky stars Scott Boras represents these two potential key pieces to the Yankees championship hopes in 2007.

Got Melky? Rookie inserted as part of Game 4 shake up

With the season on the line, manager Joe Torre is pulling out all the stops to awaken a dormant offense. Dubbed by many as one of the best lineups in history, the Yankee offense has produced a meager three runs in their two losses. They looked especially meek in last night's 6-0 loss, a product of 7 2/3 innings of strong starting pitching by Detroit's Kenny Rogers and an inability to hit with runners on base. In all but the ninth inning the Yankees managed baserunners, but were woefully ineffective at moving them around. The Tigers, Kenny Rogers in particular, were playing at a much greater intensity level and really seemed to thrive off the home crowd. Losing pitcher Randy Johnson showed great velocity early, but really ran out of gas late. However, as pointed out on the broadcast, he could have pitched a shutout and still would not have won. Although the big knock on this year's Yankees has been their pitching deficienices, the vaunted offense has failed to pick their pitching staff up. Discounting the 5 run burst in the bottom of the third inning in game one, the Yankee offense has scored just 6 runs in the other twenty six innings.

With the glaring problems the Yankees have had offensively, game four will feature a different lineup which hopefully will produce more runs. The A-Rod saga continues as the slumping slugger has been demoted to the eighth spot in the lineup. Rookie Melky Cabrera has been inserted in left field to hopefully prevent Tigers runners from taking extra bases that have sparked their offense in their two wins. Also, Torre is expecting his energy to boost the team the way it did when the offense was without Sheffield and Matsui. Missing from today's lineup is Jason Giambi, who is being benched for low career numbers against Bonderman. However, one has to wonder whether his wrist injury may be the real reason for his absense. Whatever the case may be, Torre's new lineup must produce or the Yankees will suffer their 6th consecutive disappointing playoffs.

Yanks-Tigers

After a long day of baseball, the last leg of the triple header is the game New Yorkers have been waiting for. I'll be making observations throughout the game, from programming to the action itself. It should be a good one with Chien Ming-Wang facing Nate Robertson.

It's 8:10, TV tuned in to FOX HD for the Yanks and Tigers. In a shocking programming move, FOX has decided to run a segment on A-Rod. They're really going out on a limb here, suggesting A-Rod needs to bring home number 27 for the Bronx. Of course this segment is loaded with Mrs. October and November Reggie Jackson and Derek Jeter, but also with Mr. May Dave Winfield. In closing, they quote General Patton on how to judge a man who's hit rock bottom. I'm sorry, but if you slugged 35 homeruns with 121 runs batted in, you have not hit rock bottom professionally no matter how poorly you are received. They've so ridiculously overhyped this issue it's pathetic.

8:15- My favorite announcer in sports is on tap for this one, Joe Buck is calling the action alongside his partner Tim McCarver. Does he possibly take the FOX angle and discuss A-Rod? I'll have to check back.

In a curveball they discuss the Tigers. Leyland dubs the Yankees "Murderer's Row and Cano". Buck decides to emphasize how ironic that the Yankees and their massive payroll have handed the ball to young, cheap Chien Ming-Wang.

8:20-Still no baseball, but FOX's first obligatory shot of Times Square. If the game gets boring, I'm guessing we could get up to ten of these beauties.
Wang's first pitch hits 95 MPH and is fouled back behind the plate. Tim McCarver makes first of what should be many "he gets a lot of groundball outs" comments.

8:22- Matsui records the first out on a lazy fly ball. Still interested to see how Matsui attacks shallow bloopers and whether he's willing to dive yet.

8:24- Polanco and Casey hit groundball outs to end the inning. It's an easy 1-2-3, four minute half inning for Wang. He's consistently throwing mid 90's on his fastball and his sinker is clearly working early. Couldn't ask for a better start if your a Yankees fan.

8:27- Coming back from commercial we're treated to another shot of Times Square. Joe Buck takes a cheap shot at New York sports writers and their infatuation with the A-Rod chronicles.

8:29- Jeter lines a single to left field extending his already career lead in postseason hits.

8:37- First shot of Rudy Giuliani in his ridiculous seats. Sharing his seats with Mayor Bloomberg who seems highly disinterested. No signs of Joe Buck supporting Rudy in '08, maybe that will come later.
Wang's first pitch to Ordonez drilled off the left center field wall for a double. Not a good sign, pitch was up and in a perfect spot to drive.
After falling behind 3-0, Wang battles back to 3-2 before walking Guillen.
Runners going on a 1-0 pitch, Pudge misses for strike one and Posada guns down Ordonez at third. On that note, Posada has been lethal behind the plate this year. He's throwing out runners at an incredibly high rate this year.
Pudge flails at a 2-2 pitch for a rare Wang strikeout. What looked to be a daunting 2 on, 0 out has now turned in to one out away from escaping. Grounder to Jeter ends the jam and Wang really seemed to regain control.

8:47- Giambi drilled in the middle of the back with Robertson's first pitch. The fans boo, but no way thats intentional. A-Rod steps up to the plate to a huge ovation.

8:50- Great shot of Patrick Ewing towering over everyone in his vicinity.

8:51- Shot of The Donald followed by some underratedly funny banter between Buck and McCarver. McCarver is amazed Buck knows the proper pronunciation of Trump's wife, followed by Buck's typical sarcastic "I read the Life section". I always wondered if McCarver is smart enough to realize how many times a game Buck belittles him, but I doubt it.
A-Rod robbed of a line drive base hit by a leaping Polanco.

8:54- Best number nine hitter ever steps to the plate with two on. I'm feeling a big hit here...
And my first real prediction of the night is horribly wrong as Cano weakly grounds out to Inge. Great pitch by Robertson, really jammed up Cano.

8:58- Marcus Thames sneaks a ball inside the line in left field. Matsui eases up on the ball thinking there was fan interference allowing Thames to advance to second.
A-Rod handles his first ball of the night. He looks like he's playing with a real swagger as he flings the ball over to Sheffield. Looking real locked in, could have gained a lot of confidence after a good first at bat.

9:04- Unbelieveable 6-4-3 to get out of a first and third jam with one out. Great play all around including a very flexible stretch from Sheff. Gotta love that Wang sinker.

9:12- Damon off on the pitch and Jeter rips another ball in to left. Granderson cuts it off in left center, but Jeter still motors in to second. First big threat for the Yanks with second and third with no out.
Abreu doubles to right center bringing in the first two runs of the game. Close up of Abreu, tough to tell if he's screaming in English or Spanish. Either way he's pumped.
Sheff follows up with a single of his own to right center bringing in Abreu. McCarver loving the Chef hats as he giggles "the chefs are out". I'm thinking I could be a producer for one of these games. On commercials show shots of NYC, during bland spots show one of the many celebrities in attendance, find the groupies for each player (they all have them), and pan around the crowd for any other eccentrics.
Gotta hand it to McCarver for a brilliant play on Yogi's Aflac commerical. Referring to Yogi's recent ailments he recites the "if you're hurt and miss work" line. Great plug. Maybe the most intelligent comment he's ever made.
Another one to right center, but this time it finds the bleachers. Giambi takes Robertson deep to expand to a 5-0 lead and the crowd is going crazy.
A-Rod follows up with a single of his own, this time taking it to left for some variety. Although I'm thoroughly enjoying this romp, I hope Leyland yanks Robertson. This is getting out of control.
Matsui makes the first out in the bottom of the third, but not before the ball travels about 350 feet to left center.
Cano ends the bleeding for the Tigers with a lazy fly ball to left. In fifteen minutes the Yanks have ceized absolute control of this game with five hits and five runs.

9:32- The video of Leyland's "we stunk" rant from April is played. Although early in the season, have to agree that it really rallied the Tigers. Down 5-0 it may be time for another one.

9:36- Pudge strikes out again to bring Wang's K total to 2. After 3 1/2 innings Yanks up to a 5-0 lead with the top of the order rolling around again. Not expecting to see Robertson this inning which could really tax the Tigers bullpen early in the series.

9:39-And I'm wrong again, as Robertson trots out and retires Damon. Jeter continues to rip up Robertson, taking the pitch in to right for another single. Too late for the batting title, but it looks like Jeter is still trying to make an impression on MVP voters.

9:42-Rare base-running error by Jeter as he's caught in a run down. Abreu flies out to left to end the inning. Although he's in a hole, have to hand it to Robertson for bouncing back after the one thru five hitters belted him around in the bottom of the third. There has not been a runner past first base over the last 6 outs.

9:46-Craig Monroe takes a ball over the centerfield wall to get the Tigers on the board. Wang has given up a few hard hit balls tonight on balls he's left too far up in the zone.

9:52- Polanco doubles in to the right field corner bringing in Brandon Inge all the way from first. With two outs Inge was moving on contact so he scored uncontested. Guidry visits the mound to calm down Wang with Sean Casey coming up in a big spot.

9:54- The visit didn't help as Casey rips a ball in to the left centerfield gap, scoring Polanco and advancing to second. The lead is cut to 5-3 and Wang has looked horribly ineffective. He has not looked spectacular at any point tonight and the Yankees are already warming up Bryan Bruney.

9:56- Big strikeout for Wang as he gets Ordonez swinging. Wang has been prone to middle inning slip ups this year and hopefully the top of the fifth got it out of his system.

10:01- Giambi is hit again by Robertson. Doubt that's on purpose, but a lot more suspicious considering he homered in his last at bat. McCarver refutes that was intentional, but Buck does point out Giambi seems displeased.
A-Rod strikes out looking. home plate umpire Tim McClellan's late call seems to really bother A-Rod. As has been pointed out on several occassions, that is McClellan's trademark but you know it bugs the players.

10:05- Matsui steps in and Buck informs the audience of Matsui's gaudy .500 postseason batting average against lefties. As any Yankee fan could tell him, every Yankee radio broadcast makes fun of opposing teams who bring in lefties out of the pen to face Matsui late in games. He crushes lefty pitching. Right on cue, Matsui weakly grounds back to the mound. I'm really on my game tonight.

10:14-Wang retires the side on three groundouts. Luckily McCarver is too busy talking about Craig Monroe's mother Marilyn to discuss the ground ball outs. On the other side of that, how much do you think Monroe has heard about that in his life?

10:19- I'm glad Ken Rosenthal reads my blog. Reciting information previously posted on this site he's now going on about how 27 of Rivera's 34 postseason saves have come from more than one inning of work and how Torre plans to limit him to just one inning. His sideline report is overall pretty useless, no information that the normal fan couldn't have gathered online. Ideally a sideline reporter is supposed to give you some current, game time information that is not readily available. Not only that, he seems very uncomfortable when Buck tries to engage him in some friendly banter about the star studded crowd. The unscripted stuff really throws Rosenthal off his game.

10:23-Following Damon's single, Jeter rips his fourth hit of the night and second double. Second and third for Abreu. Abreu trickles a grounder under the glove of the diving Polanco to score Jeter and Damon for the second time tonight. The Yanks stretch the lead to 7-3 and finally chase Robertson from the game.

10:26- FOX frantically cuts back in to the game as Abreu races to second. On replay we see that new reliever Jason Grilli throws a pick off attempt over Casey's head allowing Abreu to advance. Grilli gets Sheffield to ground out to short to end the sixth. It's never a good thing if you come back to your broadcast after something has happened.

10:30- Wang records strike out number four, above his average of about 3 per start.

10:33- Torre comes to pull Wang out after 6 2/3 and only 93 pitches. Very curious about this decision as Wang has really settled down after a rough fifth. Really glad that FOX cut to commercials quickly because Mike Myers trotting in to the "Halloween" theme is one of the freakier happenings in baseball. Myers will come in to face Curtis Granderson, an early postseason test for the Yankees lefty specialist.

10:38-Test failed. Granderson tattoos an off-speed pitch in to the right field bleachers.

10:39-Myers gets yanked and greeted by boos. How quickly in to Torre's post game interview will he hear "why'd you pull Wang when you did?"

10:41-Proctor's turn to end the seventh. Buck doesn't even wait until the end of the game, he
immediately asks about Torre's decision. Finally I beat them to the punch, it was only a matter of time. Polanco rips a pitch to right center, thus making Torre's decision look even worse.

10:45-The tying run steps to the plate in the person of Magglio Ordonez after Casey singles to right. Crisis diverted as Magglio just misses it, sending a fly ball to centerfield.

10:47- We have a Ronan Tynan sighting. You know it's Yankees postseason baseball when we see him. Rudy can't contain his smile, neither can I. Best version of God Bless America you can ever hear. He also taught us that there's a verse of God Bless America that no one ever realized existed. I only hope it annoys Jim Leyland the way it drove the Twins crazy.

10:50-Ronan finally wraps it up to a rousing ovation. Even though my friend points out he looks
eerily similar to Sloth from the Goonies, my rooting interest in him is undeterred. Aside from Whitney Houston's national anthem at Super Bowl XXV, no one gives a more stirring rendition of a patriotic song than our beloved Irish Tenor.

10:53-New pitcher for the Tigers is lefty Jamie Walker. Giambi gets on base again, this time walking as opposed to being hit. Great night for Giambi, especially considering his recent struggles.

10:56- A-Rod hits another ball on the nose, this one right at Ordonez. Although he's only one for four, he's had a solid night. He's swinging the bat well and he's going to get his fair share of hits this postseason. The Tigers insist on having a lefty face him, I really hope he gets a hit here to redeem my earlier comments...
Luckily he grounds weakly to avoid the double play, but the force is made at second on Giambi. Really glad I've been going out on a limb for Matsui.

11:01- Runners on first and third for Cano. He's way overdue, 0 for 3 so far. He's been an RBI
machine since getting off the DL. Again, I'm feeling it. FOX shows the post-DL numbers, just a hair behind my comments. Now if Robbie can just back me up I'll be 2 for 2 on this one...and he flies out to right. I'm glad my first experimentation with live updates has shown my tremendous prognosticating abilities.

11:05- A few changes for the Yanks with Farnsworth taking over on the mound and Andy Phillips replacing Sheff at first.

11:07- Farnsworth misses with his first four pitches. I wonder if Kyle read ESPN.com's 100 reasons to watch the MLB Playoffs. Reason number 21: Kyle Farnsworth is guaranteed to cost the Yankees a game.

11:09- Retires Pudge on a lazy fly to left, but still concerned that Farnsworth is shying away
from the heat. He gets himself in to trouble when he doesn't trust his fastball, looks shaky right now.

11:11-FOX just scanned past Vito from the Sopranos with not even a mention of his name. Of course they point out Denzel, Trump, Ewing, Spike Lee, Regis, Rudy, Bloomberg, but no love for Vito? That hurts. On a brighter note, Farnsworth strikes out Monroe for a big second out.

11:16-Jeter hauls in Thames' pop up. Despite being erratic, Farnsworth does his job by getting
out of the eighth unscathed.

11:22-Jeter drives a ball deep to left center for a homerun and his fifth hit of the night. The MVP chants are booming and Jeter will definitely need to make a curtain call. What a performance by the captain.

11:25- Inning ends on a fly to center by Andy Phillips, but what an unreal night for Jeter. Even with an 8-4 lead heading in to the ninth, the ball will probably be handed over to Rivera.

11:29- Enter Sandman.

11:34- Cano to Jeter to Phillips, game over. Rivera nails it down with a 1-2-3 in the ninth to preserve the 8-4 victory. Yankee fans have to be concerned with how the bullpen performed.

11:35- Jeter gives Rosenthal about 30 seconds for a postgame interview. He again answers "none of us are concerned with personal accolades" when asked about his MVP chances. I know he's obligated to ask the question, but really Rosenthal has served no purpose to the broadcast. Jeter's answered this question the same way for weeks, how is that going to change now?

Overall a big win for the Yankees as the lineup showed how lethal it should be throughout the playoffs. Yankee fans should be concerned about the performances of Mike Myers and Scott Proctor out of the bullpen, as well as the solid showing by the Tigers bullpen. Aside from Jeter's home-run they kept the Tigers in the game and Detroit's offense proved to be relentless. They kept fighting and produced 12 hits. It'll be interesting to see how Detroit rebounds from a game one loss. Rookie Justin Verlander takes the hill against Mike Mussina in what should be a very exciting game two.

ALDS Preview- Detroit vs. New York

In the third game of tonight's tripleheader, the Tigers and Yankees open up at Yankee Stadium. The Tigers were in control of the AL Central for a bulk of the season before allowing the Twins to take the division title on the last day of the season. Their downfall has been widely documented, but will it inspire them to perform in the postseason or is it a product of a lack of talent. Everyone is hopping on board the Yankees bandwagon with a lineup that boasts an All-Star at each position and this year's AL Batting Title second runner up as their ninth place hitter.

Why The Yankees Will Win... With all due respect to their cross-town rivals, the Yankees have the deepest lineup in the playoffs. They can hurt you from top to bottom, and still bring the all-time leader in postseason homeruns off the bench. On paper, this lineup looks unbeatable, but it certainly is. They are susceptible to pitchers who can pound them inside, and the Tigers have the arms to do so. Jason Giambi is battling a wrist injury that limited his production down the stretch, Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui are recovering from significant injuries, and the tough times of Alex Rodriguez have been well chronicled. However, if this offense is hitting on even half of its cylinders, they'll score runs in bunches. The biggest question marks are with the pitching staff. Will Randy Johnson's back hold up for his game 3 start? How is Mariano Rivera's forearm? Will the overused arms of Scott Proctor and Ron Villone be able to get the important outs? Which Kyle Farnsworth will show up? The good news for Yankee fans is that the pitching staff does not need to throw shutout ball. The Sandman is the most reliable closer in postseason history and all signs indicate Wang and Mussina should keep other teams off the board.

Why The Tigers Will Win...Good young pitching. Justin Verlander has a good shot of being AL Rookie of The Year and has electric stuff. He struggled down the stretch, but if he's on the Yankees will have a tough time scoring runs. Kenny Rogers was virtually unhittable the last couple of months of the season and kept the Tigers from missing the postseason. The bullpen is stocked with live arms, especially flamethrowing Joel Zumaya. While certainly not as potent as the Yankees lineup, the Tigers have good versatility. They have good speed at the top with Curtis Granderson, some power in the middle with Ivan Rodriguez and Magglio Ordonez, and depth at the bottom with Marcus Thames and Craig Monroe. The addition of Sean Casey before the deadline adds some stability to the top with a veteran who consistently gets on base. If the young starters can accept the challenge of pitching at Yankee Stadium in October, this could be a good series.

Prediction: While the Tigers were the feel good story of the first half of the season, their troubling inability to win games over the last fifty games is a red flag for Motown fans. They won a mere 19 of their last 50, the worst of any of this year's postseason teams. They squandered the division title they had virtually wrapped up in July which forced them to go on the road for the first two games of the division series. Meanwhile, the Yankees have issues of their own. The Randy Johnson back situation could play out a la David Wells in the '03 World Series, causing big problems for the back end of the rotation and bullpen. Manager Joe Torre has already stated that Mariano will not be used for more than an inning, but it'll be interesting to see if he sticks with that. Many of his biggest postseason performances have required more than an inning and Torre may not have the horses in the bullpen to keep Rivera on a one inning schedule. However, with home field advantage against an inexperienced and struggling team, this should be all Yankees. Expect the Yankees to win in four.

The Unsung Hero

With order restored in the AL East, aka the Yankees holding a nine game advantage over the Red Sox, Yankee fans can breathe a collective sigh of relief and begin to reflect on the dramatic turnaround in the standings. While many people point to the acquisition of Bobby Abreu as a major catalyst, and with good reason, the return of All-Star Second basemen Robinson Cano is often overlooked. At just 23 years old Cano has emerged as one of the premiere hitters in baseball and a rangy, strong-armed second baseman. After hurting his hamstring in late June, Cano spent over a month on the DL and in Tampa rehabbing his bum leg. Since returning, Cano has put up tremendous numbers.

Starting on August 8th when Cano returned to the lineup against the White Sox his average is over .368 with fourteen doubles, five homeruns, and 29 RBI in 28 games. To put that in perspective, if he kept that up over the course of a season he would swat 29 homeruns, drive in 168 runs, collect 81 doubles, while hitting at an amazing .368 clip. Now obviously it can not be expected to keep up such numbers, it is perfectly reasonable to believe that Cano could hit at an average of .330 with 25 homeruns and 85 runs batted in over the course of a season. Even with the collection of stars around him in the lineup, few can outshine that kind of production.

Return of the Big Unit?

At 6'10'' Randy Johnson has been an intimidating presence on the mound during his tours in Montreal, Seattle, Houston, and Arizona. Prior to the 2005 season the Yankees wanted the dominating lefty to impose his stature and incredible fastball on AL opponents as their ace. While he still has not fulfilled that role, he took important steps in last night's victory towards gaining more respect from AL Opponents and Yankee enthusiasts everywhere. Johnson pitched effectively through 6 1/3 innings before being ejected for throwing high and tight to Indians outfielder Eduardo Perez. He looked sharp throughout, and more importantly, showed confidence in his pitches. At times this season he has shown his frustration and demonstrated lapses in his focus. Right up until his last pitch it was apparent that he had complete command.

In the bottom of the sixth both teams were issued warnings when Indians starter Jason Johnson hit Jorge Posada on the elbow, infuriating the Yankee catcher and leading to verbal jousting between the two. While it certainly did not seem intentional, Posada escalated the situation with his displeasure. Once the Yankees opened up a 6-1 lead, it became obvious that retaliation was coming. With one out in the top of the seventh, Randy Johnson brought a high fastball in on Perez that made its way to the backstop. As expected, the Unit was tossed but greeted by the Yankee fans with a standing ovation and roaring "Ran-dy" chants. For several reasons, last night could have been his most important start as a Yankee. First of all, he began to erase doubts that his head may not be in the game. He did not moan over every call that he disagreed with and remained focused on every pitch. There has also been concern that he does not feel comfortable having Posada as his battery mate. Not only did he pitch effectively, he stood up for his catcher after Posada got hit by a pitch. The statement Johnson made as an intimidator would have been satisfactory for any of his teammates, but backing up a player he has been at odds with spoke volumes.

Baby Bombers Revitalizing the Yankees

The staple of recent Yankee teams have been high priced, veteran superstars. With eleven straight postseason appearances including four world championships, this has been a recipe for success. However, after the string of championships that ended in 2000, the Boss and fans everywhere have been disappointed by the inability of these stars to produce another title. As successful as they've been, something has been lost in recent years. Many of the stars the Yankees have brought in have been past their prime or simply tough to root for because they made a name for themselves elsewhere. The homegrown talent that had become the backbone of their championship teams (guys like Jeter, Rivera, Williams, Posada), were diluted with aging stars who have yet to produce in October. The Yankee philosophy has evolved in to relying solely on high price free agents or trading for stars with contracts their former employers wished to unload. The past offseason followed the same trend as the Yankees refused to allow an unknown player assume centerfield duties. Although the team had high expectations, the Yankees potent offense struggled to find its groove in many early season games. With injuries to slugging outfielders Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui, a dark cloud hung over the Bronx.

However, the injuries have served as a blessing in disguise. With lineup positions made available, young stars Andy Phillips and Melky Cabrera have been given a chance to shine. Behind a make-shift lineup, the Yankees have gone on an incredible tear producing runs at higher rates than the vaunted early season lineup. As Michael Kay appropriately dubbed them in Tuesday night's broadcast, the Baby Bombers have infused the normally "business as usual" team with much needed energy. They've become more fun to watch than any Yankee team in the last several years, playing hard defensively and producing clutch hits. While they may not be the Bronx Bombers of the past few years, their lack of reliance on the longball has helped them win more tight games. It was evident in Tuesday night's thrilling 2-1 decision over the Red Sox when slugger Jason Giambi drew a game winning walk in the bottom of the seventh. To preserve the lead in the top of the eighth, Cabrera robbed Manny Ramirez of the game-tying homerun with the catch of the year. In postgame remarks, Bernie Williams went so far as to say it was one of the greatest catches he has ever seen given the situation and importance of the game. In other words, if it was a September game against the Royals with the postseason clinched in the top of the first, it would have merely been a web gem. But no, this was Boston in a one-run game at the Stadium. The top of the eighth with a reliever in desperate need of more confidence boosting against a hated opponent. For a Yankee fan, the pleasure of seeing someone rob Manny of a home run is akin to the pleasure of a proud parent hearing their son/daughter's first words. To see a twenty-one year old Yankee farm system product make an acrobatic catch to rob Manny? Multiply that by ten. A year ago, after watching Melky struggle, I pleaded with people to give the kid a chance. Although at that point I really only liked him for his name, but I figured the kid deserved a chance. Now he's developing a legion of believers, and you better believe I'm on board. He's pushing Sheffield right out of his 2007 option and I couldn't be happier. The excitement he has brought, along with emerging first basemen Andy Phillips, has been refreshing. They've broken up the monotony of watching Yankee games and given fans a reason to believe in the farm system again. If Cashman can resist the temptation of dealing one of the many young stars (current Yankees Cano, Wang, and Cabrera, along with prospects Eric Duncan and Phillip Hughes), Yankee fans have reason to be excited for years to come. The "Baby Bombers" are capturing the hearts of Yankee fans, and more importantly, triumphing over the Red Sox.