On the Yankees beat

Just got an email from Rick Keyes with an update on our fantasy league:

"Jim, We have our 12. They are yourself, me, Roy Storing, Jim A, Bronx Bomber, AJ, Alvaro, Steve from Raleigh, NC, doug, marc resnick, Benjamin Kabak, and Chip. Now, as soon as I can get on the 2007 website, I will get us signed up. Rick"

If we have another 12 people who want to take part, we'll set up another league and then we'll figure out a way to have the two champions face off. If you're interested, leave a comment here and we'll see how many we can get for a second league...

Thanks, Rick Keyes, for organizing what will most definitely be a fun thing.

Sounds as if Mike Mussina had no problem discussing his thoughts on Carl Pavano and Randy Johnson last night at the Munson dinner in the city. I was interested to see how Mussina would handle questions about Pavano considering a funny little tidbit showed up on the Internet recently. Apparently at Mussina's fan club dinner the other night he was asked what the Yankees rotation would be. When someone threw Pavano's name out there, Mussina apparently laughed and blurted out, "Pavano?!?!?" Translation: You've got to be kidding. There's more here. I guess he was a little more politically correct last night, but he made it clear it's time for Pavano to get past his injuries and start pitching.

An update on the Baumbach's Beat Boys fantasy league -- remember, you named the league, not me -- so far I have received emails from Jim A., Roy Storing, Rick Keyes and Steve from Raleigh, N.C. I think we're shooting for 12 participants. Check the comments section under "Hibernation Ends Soon" for more details (from Rick Keyes).

Only one more week of lounging on the couch watching MSNBC and then I'm back on the clock. It's been a great vacation, no doubt, but I'm ready to do more in my day than surf the net and await the mailman. That's what retirement will be for.

Spring training for the Yankees is going to be very interesting, filled with questions. Is Bernie Williams going to show up without a contract? What will Alex Rodriguez say about the opt-out clause in his contract? When will Carl Pavano get injured, and what body part will it be this time? Might this be the final go-around for Joe Torre?

We realize the Blue Jays are pretty darn good, too. But let's leave them for another day. I want to know how you think the Yankees and Red Sox rosters stack up against each other. Who gets the edge in each spot? With about three weeks left until pitchers and catchers report for spring training, let's begin what will undoubtedly be a season-long debate right now, right here.

YANKEES                     RED SOX
     	       Rotation
Chien-Ming Wang		Curt Schilling
Andy Pettitte		Daisuke Matsuzaka
Mike Mussina 		Josh Beckett
Kei Igawa			Jonathan Papelbon
Pavano/Karstens/Rasner    	Tim Wakefield
                Bullpen
Mariano Rivera		Mike Timlin
Kyle Farnsworth		Craig Hansen
Scott Proctor		Brendan Donnelly
Mike Myers		Hideki Okajima
Luis Vizcaino		JC Romero
Brian Bruney		Joel Pineiro
Chris Britton		Julian Tavarez
               Lineup
C-Jorge Posada		Jason Varitek
1b-Phillips/Mientkiewicz	Kevin Youkilis
2b-Robinson Cano		Dustin Pedroia
3b-Alex Rodriguez		Mike Lowell
ss-Derek Jeter		Julio Lugo
rf-Bobby Abreu		JD Drew
cf-Johnny Damon		Coco Crisp
lf-Hideki Matsui		Manny Ramirez
dh-Jason Giambi		David Ortiz
               Bench
Nieves/Pratt/Chavez	Doug Mirabelli
Miguel Cairo		Alex Cora
Melky Cabrera		Wily Mo Pena
Phillips/Mientkiewicz	Eric Hinske

Just returned from a great week in Ireland in which my wife and I spent our waking hours exploring the country. We did everything from tour the Guiness factory to kiss the Blarney stone. (Well, my wife kissed it. I chickened out. But let's not go there.) Anyway, we stayed in a castle in the very suburban town of Knocktopher, about 90 miles south of Dublin, and we had a blast. Check out our photos here.

So the Yankees, as expected, were pretty quiet while I was away. It really seems as if they are all set for the start of spring training, with the only remaining question being Bernie Williams' status. So with three weeks left before pitchers and catchers, I ask you this about the Yankees' roster: What do you like about it and what scares you?

If you're looking for something to fill your Yankees craving during this slow period, consider stopping by Last Licks in Massapequa Park next Sunday, January 28. Yankees executive Ray Negron will be there signing copies of his acclaimed children's book, The Boy of Steel, at noon. Reggie Jackson also will be present signing autographs.

It's vacation time for me again, but more importantly for the Yankees fans, Brian Cashman is off the clock next week as well. He'll be in the Caribbean, so don't expect much Yankees news. The roster seemingly is all set (aside from a spot saved for Roger Clemens, of course). So if you're wondering how this Bernie Williams situation is going to be resolved, it sure seems to me that the Yankees are waiting for him to decide to retire. And at that point they'd bring him in to the stadium and give him his own news conference and plan a Bernie Williams day for August. Just my hunch.

See you guys soon...

Will best friend Roger Clemens be the next on board?

"Would that be great?" Pettitte said. "Does he know I would love that? Of course."

So I'm sitting here at home tonight watching the Knicks game -- I know, that's my first mistake -- and MSG's halftime show includes an interview of someone sitting courtside who I don't know. But in between the interviewer and interviewee you can see a few people in the background, including, yes, Dave Winfield. I recall someone in the A-Rod thread below comparing A-Rod to Winfield, so seeing Mr. May reminded me to check his stats. Interestingly, they were both around the same age when they became Yankees, but it's clear who was better:

Winfield
1981 .294 BA, .360 OBP, 25 2B, 13 HR, 68 RBI
1982 .280 BA, .331 OBP, 24 2B, 37 HR, 106 RBI
1983 .283 BA, .345 OBP, 26 2B, 32 HR, 116 RBI

A-Rod
2004 .286 BA, .375 OBP, 24 2B, 36 HR, 106 RBI
2005 .321 BA, .421 OBP, 29 2B, 48 HR, 130 RBI
2006 .290 BA, .392 OBP, 26 2B, 35 HR, 121 RBI

Obviously we're not taking into account their numbers in the clutch... but still...

The Yankees just sent out this from Bobby Murcer: "As we begin a new year, I find myself facing a new challenge—the biggest of my life so far. Pathology reports have revealed that the brain tumor removed was malignant. I’m not having to battle this alone, but am fortified with the most loving family, an abundance of wonderful friends and fans and the very best class of physicians. I’m gaining confidence that with God and my faith leading the way, we will as a team put up an incredible fight. Please continue to send up prayers. That’s all I can really ask of you at this time."

Oh, and Mark McGwire got 23.5 percent.

Complete voting results.

One topic that has not been discussed much on the blog lately is Alex Rodriguez and his contract status, which may become an ongoing story all season long. Rodriguez can opt out of the remaining three years of his contract after this season, though right now I'm not exactly sure how much money he would be leaving on the table if he chose to do so. He makes $27 million a year in 2008, 2009 and 2010, however, he restructured the deal once with the Rangers to defer some money and the contract was altered when he was traded to the Yankees to include which teams owes him what. But, still, the fact of the matter is, he can leave on his own after this season, and even if he is owed $81 million he could probably make that up with a new contract in an incredibly booming free-agent market.

So what do you think? Is this the final year of A-Rod in pinstripes?

NOTE: I just looked up some info on his contract; he will be owed $81 million over the final three years of his contract (the Yankees are on the hook for $48 million.) So if he opted out, he would be leaving $81 million on the table. A lot of money...

I'm back, but not for long. I'm on the clock for this week, and it should be a busy one with the Hall of Fame balloting to be announced tomorrow and the Yankees planning to hold news conferences for Kei Igawa today and Andy Pettitte later this week. But don't start feeling bad for me, no, no no. I've still got three weeks of hibernation time coming to me, and I've already planned a nice, long vacation to Ireland. It will be my first trip overseas and third country, if you're counting at home.

Before we get to the Yankees, some housekeeping: If you catch any spelling errors in my blog this week, I have an excuse. I did my best Bobby Ojeda impersonation yesterday, snipping off some of my left ring finger. I was building shelves in my basement, got my finger a little too close to the action and the next thing you know my wife and I are spending our Sunday afternoon in the emergency room. Don't worry. Alas, everything is still in place, and full recovery is expected. My wife wanted to take a picture of me getting a tetanus shot. I objected.

With Randy Johnson gone, and the Roger Clemens decision seemingly months away, it seems as if the most pressing Yankees story is the fate of Bernie Williams. Unless something changes, there's no room at the inn for Old Man Bernie, so he has to decide between retirement or play elsewhere. Any predictions? I say he retires.