Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving and tree-lighting week. This guy over here is, of course, Vince Gill, whom I selected for my wake-up call this morning at the winter meetings hotel.
This is the hotel where, five years ago, I purchased some ice cream at a Ben & Jerry's, and then the place told me they were out of spoons.
"How does an ice-cream place run out of spoons?!" I asked, loudly and angrily.
But so far, at least, it seems like the hotel has upgraded its conditions, so I can spend less time complaining and more time focusing on baseball.
And today should be very interesting, thanks to Hank Steinbrenner's public ultimatum, issued last night.
We know, already, that Hank doesn't necessarily stick to every word he says. After all, he said "Goodbye" to Alex Rodriguez after A-Rod opted out, and yet A-Rod will be a Yankee again. So this seems like a pretty harmless maneuver - try to expedite the process in making Johan Santana a Yankee. It doesn't mean it's now or never.
It's all high-stakes for the Yankees. Trading Melky Cabrera and Phil Hughes for Santana will hurt the team's payroll flexibility and defense, and there's always the chance that Hughes becomes an ace and Santana is already on the decline. That said, if you're a Yankees fan, how much better would you feel with Santana as your Game 1 starter next October?
If they don't get Santana, they'll be in on conversations for Erik Bedard, Joe Blanton, Dan Haren and any and all other available pitchers. But there's only one Santana. Only one two-time Cy Young Award winner who wants to be The Man in The Bronx. And while his 2007 was slightly worse than his previous seasons, he'll be just 29 on Opening Day. It's a little different than acquiring Randy Johnson at age 41. Really, if the Santana trade doesn't work out, the Yankees' next-best scenario would probably be pocketing all of their youngsters and praying that Andy Pettitte decides to come back.
In any case, I don't see the Red Sox making the extra push to get Santana. Boston seems more interested in upping the ante for the Yankees than actually acquiring him, and you can understand why, given how strong the Sox's starting rotation already is.
Other thoughts, compiled over the last 10 days:
UPDATE: The Yankees' prayers have been answered regarding Pettitte, who now seems to be following his good buddy Roger Clemens' annual tradition of retiring and unretiring.
Comments (5)
I still cannot figure out the Millege trade, Omar has himself square behind the 8 ball.
Ken-From the looks of it, Hank Steinbrenner might like some of that Ben and Jerry's ice cream(spoon or no spoon). You might use this as a networking vehicle to score some points with the new Boss.
Ken--
Besides a big plane bringing him there, what made Joe Nathan settle in Nashville?
Knoxville, Chris, and beats the heck out of me. Maybe he likes Tennessee football?
Ken, anything nice to say about the Mets?