Results tagged ‘ Hideki Matsui ’
We get it Obama, youre a White Sox fan…or are you?
Jesus f’n Christ. Its like he still trying to prove to the world that he was born in America or something. The Yankees went to visit the white house the other day, a tradition of every championship team to have the required presidential visit. For some it was an unforgetable expierience…
…for Obama? Hes a little disappointed that they werent the Chicago White Sox.
For those who are uninformed, the President has gone out of his way sometimes to show how hes a fan of the White Sox. He wore their cap during his opening day 1st pitch in DC in which no Chicago team was present…more recently, he mentioned the White Sox as often as the Yankees during his speech about the 2009 Yankee championship. Hell, he even brought up 2005 as the last White Sox win as if he needed to remind himself that the Chisox werent always bad…
There were some Yankees he pointed out: Jeter, Posada, Girardi, Rivera and Tex
And there were some high profile snubs: ARod, Sabathia, Pettitte, Burnett, Cano, Damon and Matsui (They werent there, but STILL)
Obama’s got about 2 or 3 more chances to meet baseball champions, and there are some loooooooong odds that he “beloved” White Sox will do it.
Although I doubt hes serious…
LETS PLAY A GAME!
Put 30 seconds on the clock and grab a piece of paper.
Name as many White Sox players past/current as you can.
Ready? GO!
………..
…
……..
……………..
……..
TIME!
How’d you do?
Could you name at least 1? Cuz Obama can’t.
Seriously, Obama couldnt name a single White Sox player…not one…zero.
For a self proclaimed White Sox fan, Obama sure dropped the ball on that….wonder what else hes lying about.
Week 2 in review: Volquez and Ramirez are starting a family
Reds pitcher Edinson Volquez has been slapped with a 50 game suspension for violating MLBs drug policy…most of which will be swallowed up by his time on the DL, which goes to show just how much trouble he really isnt in.
What did him in?
(You’re gonna love this)
Apparently he wants to start a family with his wife so a doctor from the Dominican Republic put him on drugs that are a big no-no here in the States.
I think hes lying…not about the drugs, but about the intent.
Keen minded baseball fans will recall the Manny Ramirez suspension from last year over female fertility drugs. This whole Volquez thing is waaaaaaaaaaaay too big a coincidence.
I think Volquez really does want to start a family…but not with his wife. He wants a baby with Manny Ramirez…..That will be one ugly baby, but one hell of a ball player.
MEANWHILE!
Someone apparently forgot to send the Yankees the memo that theyre suppose to suck in the months of April and May before juggernaut mode kicks in. They opened up the stadium this year with a 5-1 homestand including an opening day win and a sweep of Texas. The whole “Welcome back Matsui” thing was awesome, especially when he went yard, and it really all reminded me of Tino Martinez when he eventually returned to the Bronx with the Cardinals (and also went deep on his return game)
The Red Sox, meanwhile, have been a nice suprise. Theyve been having a rough April which included a sweep at home by the Death Rays…a 4 game sweep…
Though this might all be part of their “If you cant beat ‘em, copy what they do” plan…It looks something like this:
Boston Red Sox plan for a 2010 World Championship (aka what the 2009 Yankees did)
Offseason: Sign big name pitcher. CHECK.
April: Suck like youve never sucked before. CHECK
May: Remember how to win.
June-August: Continue doing well.
September: Overtake 1st place in division.
October: ???
November: Profit!
So yeah…only time will tell if that’ll work out for em…especially since their whole “Pitching and defense 1st” thing has backfired massively…especially the defense part.
Biggest Yankee Game
4/13/10 Yankees-7, Angels-5
Opening day, baby! Yankees get their rings, Matsui gets welcomes back, flag gets raised, and did I mention the Yankees won?
Yanks got off to a nice big lead…so big that even after former-Yankee Bobby Abreu hit a grand slam, the Yankees were still winning. Hell, all that did was give them an excuse to bring in Rivera (which made it the most counter productive grand slam in history)
Favorite Picture
Seriously? It was the only non Yankee/All Star game on FOX that I was actually compelled to keep watching…though Tim McCarver made it tempting to mute.
This was actually a game the Cardinals shouldve won. Most of those 9 Mets hits came when position players started pitching….and no, neither Met error was caused by Castillo dropping a pop fly…
Fantasy
Whatever happened in week 1, the opposite happened in week 2. Seriously.
The Roid Sox won big in week 1…they lost big in week 2.
The F*cking Lozers lost 3-9 in week 1….they won 9-3 in week 2.
The Pretenders had a slightly above average run in week 1…slightly below average in week 2.
The other 2 teams are also now sporting .500 records as a result of opposite week.
Trying to find the best players to plug in to each team. Im happy to see Brett Gardner getting off to a decent start this year, so Im plugging him into any lineup that needs a burst of speed cuz Gardner picked up where he left off last year in stealing whenever and wherever he wants.
This Week
The Yankees begin a road trip that now apparently includes a detour to the White House….why hes finally getting around to meeting them is beyond me, though Im willing to bet that if the White Sox won a championship in any of the next 3 years, Obama would be meeting them the next day…just sayin…
Yankees are in Oakland this week as well as Los Angeles. It’ll be the first of 2 trips to each city, though it’ll be the only time the Yankees play the Angels on the road.
Yankee-Hater-Hater addresses the Yankee-Hating, Former-Yankee-Hating, and Returning-Former-Yankee-Hating
There are two different outcomes that can occur when you blow it big time at the worst possible time
1) You can take your lumps from your own fans and hope that one day you’ll have an opprotunity to redeem yourself…or…
2) You get chased out of town, where people will always look to your meltdown as the root cause of your departure for the end of time.
Javier Vazquez, unfortunatly, gets to do both. His 1st run in pinstripes ended in 2004 during the imfamous game 7. He may not have single handedly lost us the game, but he ensured we would go down flailing for good. Afterwards, we sent him packing in a trade.
His between Yankee years featured success in the NL, which is the ALs AAA as far as pitchers are concerned, gaining noteriety as a K man and an innings eater. Great for a #4 starter.
He returned this year, bringing with him a couple starts of extra-strength suck, that while still can be chalked up to spring rust, cant be ignored-and apparently isnt being ignored by Yankees fans.
The booing and hating has commenced for Vazquez, and it isnt good, considering Yankees fans have had 5 years to brood over his crappy 2nd half, culminated by game 7.
Is it justified? Yes.
While CC being near-no-no, Hughes apparently justifying his spring reality show win, Pettitte once again in clutch form and even Burnett getting positive results…it all leaves Vazquez as the only starter who makes the fans cringe so far.
He would have to be an idiot not to expect pressure. Kevin Brown got the loss in 04, but Vazquez was the one who gave up the slam that made a 2-0 game a 6-0 game, and thus, must shoulder the weight of the failure. I think the only good thing to his return is that Damon left, so potential akward silence was avoided.
The booing will be justified, until further notice.
I’ve composed a list of things Vazquez can do to officially stop the booing:
1-Win a World Championship with the Yankees
2-Pitch a perfect game against the Red Sox
3-Strike out Damon and/or bean him the next time you face him
4-Make the All Star team AND actually do well in the 2nd half
5-Finish in top 5 in Cy Young voting
…….
Cubs fans HATE Alfonso Soriano. The reason is simple, but apparently forgien to them. Theyre currently massively overpaying for a “superstar” whos playing like crap.
…or the reason might be that he has 2 world championships and the Cubs have 0 in the last 100 years…either or, right?
Soriano is a terrible outfielder. Hell, he was a terrible second baseman with us. The Nationals didnt want any part of his glove at second, so, like Smalls from the Sandlot, they stuck him in left where his glove could hurt them less. Sorianos getting up there in age, and his potent bat seems to be getting cold, plus theres no DH in the NL, so his already poor D exacerbates the situation.
That and the 100+ years of frustration is starting to take its toll on the north side of Chicago. Soriano needs to get out of there, but he cant, cuz his salery is too high for just anyone to take on, or for the Cubs to just eat.
The Yankees wont take him again, not now. If we didnt hold onto Damon OR Matsui, then the ship has long sailed for Soriano…
…and speaking of Matsui…
There are people, who honest to God think Matsui should not have been cheered for during his return to NY. It blows my mind.
Click here if you dont believe me.
Thats just one.
C’mon. Its Matsui. He did the polar opposite of Vazquez. I still think he shouldve stayed. Nick Johnson and Marcus Thames be damned, Matsui shoulve stayed.
…Oh, and the Yankees won again tonight…
and the Blue Jays won again tonight. In an earlier post I said that theyre this years “hot start-crappy finish” team. This may not be interesting to look forward too…unless we make a game out of it.
How many wins will the Toronto Blue Jays get before they fall below .500 for good? or will they stay above water this year?
Bling Bling
Its official. Time to forget about the 27th Championship and start focusing on #28. The party officially ended yesterday when the Yankees recieved their world championship rings.
Lets get the petty formalities of the game out of the way before I start appraising rings…yes, I said rings…
Heres the sexiness that is the 2009 World Championship ring:
If you need a minute alone in the bathroom, Ill understand.
Heres another angle:
Alright…along with the current Yankees to recieve their bling were 2 former members of that championship team. You may remember one of them…
The Padres had an off day, so Jerry Hairston Jr also took the opprotunity to fly over to NYC and recieve his ring in person. But his brief return to the Stadium was easily overshadowed by the Bronx return of Matsui. You can see Hairston 2 pictures down (hes the one not wearing a uniform)
The second he recieved his ring, the team broke ranks and embraced the MVP
…Then they went on to beat up the Angels. Former Yankee Bobby Abreu made it interesting with a 9th inning Gram Slam, but the Yankees had too big of a lead to worry.
Pettitte got the win, Mo got the save, nothing we werent expecting…
Anyway, I took the time to check out every world series ring, ever. You should check it out too. Every ring, watch, pin, or whatever used to brag about a world championship is on that site, as well as league championship rings and program covers and other fun stuff.
Fun fact: apparently, there were no rings awarded before 1922, so technically the Red Sox organization only have 2 rings.
My favorite ring is still the 96 ring, but the 09 one is growing on me.
The 1993 Blue Jays ring was funny to look at, like the blue jay’s eye poped open in shock when Carter hit his homer.
The 1976 Reds ring is interesting, what with the actual trophey on the front, the only of its kind.
My favorite non-Yankee ring is the 74 As ring.
and the 1st Yankee ring of its kind was the 1927 ring (1923 didnt get a ring, it got a watch)
So yeah….lot of pics. I feel lazy….
Anyway, check out World Series Rings and see all the other rings. Lemme know your favorites….
Week 1 in review: I’m a psychic
Snap! First 2 series of the year, on the road in Boston and Tampa Bay? No problem! We spotted them both a 1-0 series lead before taking the next 2 games both times. So the Yankees have a nice 4-2 record in this young season while both the Rays and Red sox have to settle for 3-3 each. So if this were a preview to the season against these two “rivals” then we’re lookin good so far.
….as for the rest of our division, the Orioles are stumpling out of the gate, and its still early, but it might be Torontos turn this year to storm off to a hot start (5-1) before their eventual collapse. So we have that to look forward to.
The central has picked up right where it left off, where the Twins and Tigers are bickering over 1st place like bitter siblings. The west, meanwhile, is on its projected head with the Angels and Ms in last place.
In the NL, I am right now standing on a rock and proclaiming myself to be the next baseball psychic.
Why?
Heres a recap of a conversation I had with a friend last night…
Friend: Heyward went deep again.
Yankee Hater Hater: But they still lost.
F: Yeah, but hes off to a killer start.
YHH: That it? No more games tonight?
F: Just Cards n Brewers. Games all but over though.
YHH: My connections crap right now. whats goin on?
F: 7-4. Hoffmans pitching. Game over.
YHH: Pujols due up?
F: 4th. Someone needs to reach.
YHH: They will. He’ll go deep.
F: Yeah, sure.
YHH: The Holliday will tie it up with his own blast.
F: Wooooooow. Whatever you say.
YHH: Whats happening. Yahoo isnt reloading fast enough.
F: Pujols is up with a runner on.
YHH: Homer.
F:….wow. he did.
YHH: Now watch Holliday.
F: Son of a bitch!
YHH: Ha! I’m awesome.
F: 7-7 now. Inning over.
YHH: I forgive you for doubting my greatness.
F: Ok, mr prophet. How is this ending?
YHH: Walk off. this inning.
F: Fielder hitting it?
YHH: I want to say yes, but I wont. But someone will hit one out.
F: Fielder didnt do it.
YHH: I still got 2 outs…
F: I dont believe it. Somehow youre cheating.
YHH: How could I know that far in advance? Stop doubting my greatness!
The walk off was by McGehee, and the Brewers won a wild one. The best part was Hoffman blew another save shot. I have nothing against the guy, but Id prefer it if Rivera one day had the most saves all time, so the sooner Hoffman stops, the sooner Mo can be crowned king.
Anyway, I can further solidify my psychic status if the Giants can keep up their hot start (5-1).
Biggest Yankee Game
4/7/10 Yankees-3, Red Sox-1, 10 innings
Huge rubber game of the series. The winner would get some added momentum to the whole season. Curtis Granderson proved that offense > defense when it comes to home runs. Pettitte and Lackey went toe to toe in this one, proving that their ALCS performances last year were no flukes. Papelbon also proved last years ALDS was no fluke either and that he CANT go more than 1 inning.
The biggest story in this game was no doubt Curtis Granderson where he immediatly took his place in this rivalry when he launched a 10th inning home run that proved to be the game winner.
Yankees won the game, won the opening series (in Boston) and proved that there will be no repeat of last years season series.
Favorite Picture
Milton Bradley proved hes still the biggest assh0le in baseball with a 4th inning finger. How fun!
Fantasy
So, I had mostly a lackluster performance from my fantasy teams, but my Roid Sox team blew away the competition for an easy 237-200 victory. It was a blowout most of the week, even with Napoli doing almost nothing to contribute. I fixed that by grabbing Snyder from Arizona whos filling in for the injured Montero.
Speaking of Montero, his injury hurts a bunch of my teams that picked him up. He was catching for cpDOOM 2.0 during the 195-130 win. With him DLed, I picked up Olivo meaning along with Ianetta, I now have both Colorado catchers on roster. Im taking a chance with Olivos hot start that he could win the full time job. But nomatter who wins the regular starting job, Ill have whoever wins it.
My group-owned Showdown team took a hit on a 235-183 loss. It didnt help that I started the Angels pitching or Felipe Lopez at 2nd that week. Thats been rectified by starting the Yankees pitching this week and shifting Barmes to 2nd and starting my recent pick up Cabrera at SS. Im banking on a breakout performance from Everth Cabrera not only on this team, but on both my Yahoo fantasy teams.
The F*cking Lozers took a 9-3 spanking last week. It didnt help that Frank Francisco was a bum and Josh Johnson finally had to lose to the Mets. Good thing I dropped Francisco right before he lost his closers role in Texas. Replacing him on roster will be Phillys temp closer Madson. He’ll serve as a short term fix until a more permanent replacment emerges…I wish I won the race to Jon Rauch even more now…
The Pretenders did decent and Im still a little fuzzy on the points system in that league, but theyve got 71.5 ppoints and the leaders got 99.5…Along with Cabrera, Im also banking that Renterias hot start in San Francisco will hold up the rest of the year.
This week
The Defending World Champion New York Yankees open up the Stadium, raise their banners, get their rings and host the Angels and Rangers for 3 game sets. What will also be cool is that Hideki Matsui will be there in person to recieve his championship ring alongside the current Yankees.
‘Twas the Hot Stove Before Christmas…
Since my little free agentgasm post, the Angels indeed did close the deal on Rodney. As for any last minute X-mas gifts, it looks like there wont be any Tex-caliber presents for anyone this year. The A’s do however find themselves with a gift for them under the christmas tree in Duchscherer, and the fact that the tag technically reads “To: Oakland Athletics…From: Oakland Athletics”
Anyway…I’m bored, tired, and figured why not make a christmas-y poem for baseball?
‘Twas the Hot Stove Before Christmas
‘Twas the hot stove before christmas
and all over the news
the Angels get Rodney
and Justin D stopped singing the blues.
But do the other teams
simply find coal in their stockings?
Good thing the Yankee Hater Haters here
to keep everyones fans from mocking.
Jason Bay to the Mets
to much Boston jeer
since the Mets traded their future
just to be here.
Angels might want Vlad
but thanks to Matsui
Guerreros hopes in Anaheim
just went kablooie.
Yankees would already have Damon
if not for the grinch
Scott Boras’ dealing
put us all in a pinch.
Speaking of Boras
that guy is sure greedy
and may have ended the Twin days
of Mr. Joe Crede
The Rangers were short
of having pretention
But adding Dye this year
would give them contention.
While Smoltz and LaRoche
wait for a suitor
Branyan might end up back
playing with Junior
I know that last rhyme
was a bit iffy
and just to be clear
“Junior” meant “Griffey”
I’d rather not be cliche
with a Holliday holiday rhyme
while on everyone wishlist
DeRosas behind him in line.
In the NL Myers might take
Valverdes spot out in Texas
While up north the Mets want
Bengie Molina for christmas.
While Pedro’s November failures
made him get fired
Ankiel and Delgados DL stints
wont make them get hired
And while Tejada might make plans
to be an Astro again
Merry Christmas to all
see you in 2010.
Remaining free agents
Last year had Bobby Abreu and Manny Ramirez homeless until the last possible moments…what about this year? Could the Yankees use any of them to fill a couple holes, mainly Left field?
…Lets rifle through the list of free agents to see what weve got left…
Justin Duchscherer
Oakland denied him abritration and let him go as a free agent, neither of which could possibly help his depression. Too injury prone for the Yankees to want and Oakland really wants to youth the team up.
Jason Bay
The man wanted out of Boston and it looks like New York wants him…not the Yankees though, too much money. The Mets are the only non-Boston team interested in him to fill their void in left.
Vladimir Guerrero
We wouldve killed for this mo fo the last time he was a free agent, not this time though. With Matsui in LA and the Angels not needing 2 DHs, Vlad-the-impailer is a man without a country. Yankees dont want him now seeing how if we wanted a full time DH we wouldve kept Godzilla.
Johnny Damon
If I were in charge of the Yankees, Id make it policy to have at most 1 Scott Boras client on roster at a time. With Cabrera gone the Yankees have a hole in left field that Damon used to fill. We want him, at OUR price. This has turned into the same stand off BS that we did in 07 with ARod, another Boras client. We’ll get him, as soon as Damon smacks Boras and tells him to “Shut up and go stand in the corner while I talk with the Yankees”
Erik Bedard
The reason the Mariners let him go is because of back-to-back injury filled seasons. Also a reason no team with thoughts of contention would wanna sign him either.
Jermaine Dye
Giants want him. Rangers want him bad. Whispers say the Yankees could plug him in left field. Dye is good. For some reason he always manages to quietly put together a good season. Had he been on the Giants or Rangers LAST season, they mightve made the playoffs.
Adrian Beltre
Heres the dilemma in Boston. They want Lowell out real bad, Ortiz cant play the field to save his life, if Victor Matrinez could play a decent 1st base he wouldnt need to also be a catcher (and vice versa) and Adrian Gonzalez is a pipe dream at best…so they need SOMEBODY besides Youkilis to play the corner infield. Beltre may be their best chance, which isnt a good think offensively.
Russell Branyan
Why not him for Boston? If not Beltre than why not sign Branyan? Decent bench 1st baseman. Seattle might actually want to keep this one.
Hank Blalock
…Never a defensive choice and his average has been lacking. Plus theres the thing where hes always a lock to get hurt every year…
Fernando Rodney
Angels are apparently all over this though. Should the Yankees grab him, he would complete an unstoppabel bullpen. Hey, if the Red Sox are dreaming for Adrian Gonzalez, I can dream for Rodney…
Marlon Byrd
Heres a guy who could but up decent numbers and/or split time with Gardner in left. None of his numbers scream out at you but he could quietly produce…which for the Yankees is better than nothing…
Joe Crede
Wants to play for the Twins again in 2010…but his agent is Scott Boras…
Melvin Mora
Aging…crappy stats…already a surplus of free agent 3rd basemen…PASS…even the Orioles dont wanna bother…
Miguel Olivo
Pretty good power numbers for a catcher, but low stats everywhere else, plus the fact that the Royals dont want you….as long as any “Molina” remains on the market, Ovilo wont have a home…
Matt Holliday
Cardinals want him, and for a long time. Boston wants him because Bay ran away. Yankees could sign him just to be as*holes. probably wont since hes too much money. If I were him, unless the Yankees come calling, stay in St Louis.
Mark DeRosa
Officially known in St Louis as “Plan B” in case Holliday gets away. Yankees might grab him to put in left.
Jose Valverde
For some reason no one wants him. I’m not sure why. I’d take him over Rodney, but thats just me…
Brett Myers
Houston wants him in their bullpen to help fill holes left by a couple people leaving, including the aformentioned Valverde. Myers could do worse than the Astros.
Miguel Tejada
Houston wants him back, which sounds smart on thier part.
Bengie Molina
Mets want him. Then again the Mets want everyone.
Pedro Martinez
The man didnt pitch last year until the 2nd half and he still had nothing left when the world series came. Now he wants to pitch for an entire season? Since the 03 ALCS he just hasnt been as dominating as advertised and last November proved he STILL cant beat the Yankees. Philles should pass, and any team that wants to win should pass too…then again, sign him, let him pitch decent for you until July, then trade him before he craps out. GMs can thank me later.
Joel Pineiro
Good, not great. Too many decent pitchers on the market in front of him. Not many, but he wont go until the better ones go.
Carlos Delgado
HA! Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
John Smoltz
If he proved anything last year, its that the Red Sox cant judge pitching worth a damn. He can start, relieve or possible close. A do anything pitcher like him will definatly find a home…probably in the NL.
Adam LaRoche
Braves might want him for 1 more year. Might be his best option.
Rick Ankiel
He’d be a decent pickup…if he werent so injured all the time. If anyone picks him up, itll prolly be to just fill out the roster or a 5th outfielder.
Orlando Hudson
Last year he was one of those last minute signings and the Dodgers looked like geniuses as a result. This year might feature another last minute signing for Hudson, and he’ll once again make whatever GM look smart…might end up being the Dodgers again…
…My God this took longer than I thought…
09 Winter Meetings
A lots been goin on after 1 day in the winter meetings…
The Mets seem desprate
That other New York team seems have a hand in any player available. Nick Johnson? Sounds like a sound idea, lest they gamble on old man Delgado…Josh Willingham and Juan Rivera? Why not….Adam Kennedy? Better than what theyve already got at 2nd…Bengie Molina? How could that go wrong?…Corey Hart? Couldnt hurt…
……….but Milton Bradley? The Mets have enough loudmouth idiots on staff. They dont need this one. Hes like Manny Ramirez except he has none of the talent…
Nats get busy.
They just got Brian Bruney from us, now theyve got Pudge Rodriguez. This sint pennent clinching stuff…not even playoff clinching…but DC might make a run for 4th place in the NL east, maybe 3rd if the Mets all get injured again.
Make a Ray out of Halladay
I can rhyme too baby!………Not happening. Halladay wants to be traded to a team with a great shot at the world series. Yankees are defending champs and the Red Sox aint exactly falling over in the east. So TBs playoff window is as slim as ever, so Roy prolly wont bite.
Andy Pettitte isnt going anywhere
Pettitte hinted he mightve hung up his cleats for good after this season, but he now plans on pitching at least one more season….and as always, only for the Yankees…and as always, the only problem is figuring out the contract…
Blockbuster deal?
Yankees, D-backs and Tigers are all trying to figure out a deal that would bring Granderson and a couple prospects to NY in exchange for us giving up Ian Kennedy, Austin Jackson and Phil Coke…and some other lefty.
the problem I have is: if we’re committed to making both Hughes AND Joba starters next year, have already dealt Bruney away AND plan on trying of Halladay, what sense is there in dealing away yet another one of our relievers (and Coke is actually useful to us) as well as a couple of our potential trading chips for Halladay?
This would also mark the end to Damon and/or Matsui and/or Nady. Are we prepared to live with that?
If Halladay is the biggest chip, then lets get that done BEFORE we attempt to get an outfielder (especially when both Damon and Matsui wanna resign)
Free Agents
27 time World Champions!
Winning never gets old.
But its almost time to prepare for the future. Defending that championship in 2010, and to become the 1st team since the 2000 Yankees to win back-to-back (or in their case, back-to-back-to-back)
Theres no denying the Yankees have their weaknesses, mainly in the back end of our rotation. A 3 man squad may be enough to win the most important 11 games of the year, but you’ll need at least 2 more guys for the long season. With that comes the concern over where to put Joba, since hes clearly more dependable and dominant out of the pen, as is Hughes apparently. If those 2 stay in the pen, its a huge advantage, but getting to that advantage will be the question.
Whether or not we need to search the market for starters all depends on Pettitte and if C-M-Wang is willing to show up next year.
Theres also the outfield. I’m talking about some stability, which I believe the Yankees lack with the Damon/Matsui issue and Nady comming around.
Anyway, here a look at the Yankees who might be looking for new homes this winter…
Andy Pettitte (P)
Ok, not so much “look for a new home” as “retire” for him. Pettitte has made it crystal clear he wouldnt dream of pitching for any other team. So its either the Yankees, or retirement.
Pettitte should sign on with the Yankees again, because people who go 4-0 in the postseason clearly have something more to give. The Yankees staff could always use someone as dependable as he is, especially when CC has a rough start in April and Burnett pulls his good pitcher/bad pitcher routine…
Replacing Pettitte is near impossible, so I hope he sticks around.
José Molina (C)
Lets face it, AJ Burnett is probably the only person who would strongly fight for Molina to stay. Posada isnt going anywhere and Cervelli cant be ignored. AJ might have to start working with Cervelli instead now.
For the Yankees to bring Molina back, 1 of 2 things need to occur:
1: The Yankees go with 3 catchers, which would be a stretch
2: Posada becomes a full time DH and Molina becomes Cervelli’s back-up, which would also be a stretch…
Xavier Nady (OF)
Sucks to be him right now. The good news for the X-man is while the Yankees make a push to remove some old guys from their outfield, Nady might just stick around. But hes comming off surgery and no one really knows if he’ll be ready to contribute the same way he used to. The same goes for Nady’s hope to get signed by ANYONE. If Damon and Matsui both leave, that might leave room for Nady in the outfield picture. If one of those 2 stay, perhaps we’ve seen the last of him.
Hideki Matsui (OF)
He wouldnt want to play for any other AL team and yet he was a full time DH last year.
On the other hand, hes the World Series MVP.
I say in the war between Godzilla and Damon, I’d keep Godzilla, but since theres that push for Posada to take over the DH duties, Matsui might be forced to either play the outfield or die. I think he can handle it. He doesnt have to play everyday. He can always rotate between DH and the field. Yankees would be fools for letting him go.
Johnny Damon (OF)
Well isnt this akward.
If I want Matsui to stay so bad, I guess Damon would have to go. Lets not forget that he did steal 2 bases in game 4 and helped us win. Yankees definatly lose speed with Damon gone, but that would only make room for Gardner, which makes it easier to release Damon…
Jerry Hairston Jr. (2B/3B/SS/OF)
Something about trading with the Reds that always helps us win a pennant…
Lets face it, having a utility man like Hairston can be invaluble, but we’re not exactly losing a potent bat or a gold glove here. I’d say only let go of Hairston if we can replace him with another utility man who is better…like Felipe Lopez…
Fine, lemme put it this way: resign Jerry Hairston only if theres no way we can get Lopez…
or get both in case out outfield really needs it…and it might…
Eric Hinske (1B/OF)
I’m convinced he came up as a 3B…when did that stop?
Anyway, Hinske is a veteran bat on our bench thats tough to match with rookies. That alone should be enough to resign him. I doubt he can become a valuble starting outfielder like Swisher turned out to be, so his role should remain bench.
Losing him wouldnt be that harsh if Swisher returns to regular bench duty in light of more regular outfielders…
…The season may be over, but the hot stove is just heating up…
What now, Jimmy?
Phillies in 5, maybe 6? Thats what Jimmy Rollins said. What now, bi*ch?
So Mo proved to be as automatic as ever tonight, while Brad Lidge reminded everyone of his ability to blow it at the worst possible time.
A Rod sucked moderatly tonight before getting the biggest hit of the series in the 9th to put us up for good. Melky had to leave earlier, hope it isnt bad, though Gardners always ready just in case, or this could be the lineup opprotunity Matsuis been waiting for (at least until we get the DH back) Joba gave me flashbacks to 2007 when he gave up that game tying blast, Im just glad the offense picked him up this time around. Meanwhile, Jorge argued all night about the strike zone, then capped our 9th inning rally by driving in 2 more runs…just in case Mo needed the extra support (he didnt)
But is there doubt in anyones mind over who tonights hero is?
2 outs in the 9th? No prob! Damon works a full count, fouling pitch after pitch off Brad Lidge before he gets his single. Then on the very next pitch, steals 2 bases at once…not one, but TWO! Clllllllllllllllutch baserunning! Way to turn that shift againt the defense!
Then he waltzes home on A Rods double!
I’m just glad he remembered hes a base stealer…
Yankees lead the World Series 3-1 over the Phillies. One more win! Thats all we need people, 1 more!!!
My fellow Yankee fans, we are almost there! Lets go all out! Do whatever routine or superstition you need to do in order to help the Yankees win! Think happy thoughts, eat the same food in the same robe, continue to not shave, or do as I do and wear the same shirt for tomorrow (and the same Yankee jersey for games 6/7 if need be)
Lets wrap this up tomorrow!
Yankee Hater Hater
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