On the Yankees beat

You know, he's been pretty effective lately, but is it terrible that I hope I don't see Farny tonight?

Hoppe Viz has two innings in him

Beckett 13 hits?

What is that?

And why if Farnsworth in the game?

Is JT on crack?

Enter Sandman

Why is Farnsworth in the game ...

Sorry for the typo I don't know what's wrong with me ... who types 85 WPM.

Why are you referencing your typing speed?

Biggest inning of the season coming up for Mo....

one down...two left

one more baby..man gets on and big popi gets up...get the mother funker out

Yes, clearly we should replace Mo with JOBA. RIGHT AWAY.

Nice job tonight Mo!

set uo for up and in -

Weeeeeeeeee!!!!! Go Yankees!

For those that may not realize, it's sarcasm in my last post.

Farns got his 13th hold ...

Why?

vintage mo...three hits...;and how many pitchers make that play - he is back

Clemens was great

Mussina is out of the rotation

an they won even with frasworth pitching

too bad for the 2 extra inning losses on the road trip or this AL EAST race would be exciting, but the wild card is looking good - The M's are finally coming back down to earth as they are finally playing real teams.

Once the Yanks take the wild card lead -- they won't relinquish it.

So what now?

The Angels losses ...

The Tigers losses ...

Gone ...

As Jim A. says ...

2 wins over the Sox ...

So how do we view things?

Bigelow tea wins again! Go Yanks!

Clemens was AWESOME!!!! He even drilled a guy for some payback. The key to plucking guys is to be the first one to do it in a game! It's always the guy that retaliates that gets ejected. Clemens was smart to get him early.

WHY does JT bring Phuckworth into any meaningful game????? I can't take it anymore!!!!!

And, Giambi is looking alot better since he slimmed down some. There's no reason this guy can't play 1B and have Andy come in for him late with the lead.

Yanks have won the series from the Sox and are tied for the WC spot. Not bad!

where is that dude Casual who had comments about my dude Clemens? I want not a peep out of that dudes mouth. Clemens is proving his worth. Haaha

Seriously ...

We won tonight but If I was boston I would slap the crap out of manny with his back crap.

To quote Bill Murray in Scrooged

"Boy did THAT suck!"

Ny Times - For Yankees, Squirrel’s Visit May Be Omen (a Bad One)

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/30/sports/baseball/30squirrel.html?ex=1346126400&en=15d4c528da5aacc8&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Ingo

By TEDDY KIDER
Published: August 30, 2007

If a scholar of Norse mythology had been in the stands of Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night, he or she probably would have advised Yankees fans to not make too much out of the 5-3 victory against the Red Sox.
Skip to next paragraph
Ingo Fast

The result, after all, still left the Yankees trailing Boston by an imposing seven games in the American League East. But more significant, perhaps, was the pesky and distracting squirrel that scampered up and down the right-field foul pole during the game and that, according to Norse mythology, just might have foretold that the Yankees will not prevail over the Red Sox this season.

Believe it or not, the squirrel’s actions closely resembled those of Ratatosk, or “gnawing tooth,” a squirrel in Norse mythology that climbed up and down a tree that represented the world. Snorri Sturluson, an Icelandic scholar and poet, recorded the story in his 13th-century work “Prose Edda.”

As the story goes, Ratatosk carried insults as it traveled to opposite ends of the tree, fueling a rivalry between the evil dragon residing at the bottom of the tree and the eagle perched at the top.

“Oh, that’s perfect,” said Roberta Frank, a professor of Old Norse and Old English at Yale University, when told of the squirrel’s antics at the stadium.

Frank was born in the Bronx and is a Yankees fan. She said in a telephone interview yesterday that in the Bronx version of this myth, the Yankees would probably represent the eagle and the rival Red Sox would represent the dragon. The Yankees, after all, are the home team this week, more or less making them the good guys. And if there were a sports team identified with an eagle, it has to be the Yankees, who have begun any number of postseason games with a visit from Challenger, the bald eagle who swoops in from center field.

But being the eagle is not such a good thing, Frank noted.

“The dragon will destroy the world in Norse mythology,” she said, adding that the eagle would be on the losing end of a battle that was only made worse by the malicious squirrel.

So Yankees fans are now left to wonder if the dragon wins by capturing the American League East, which the Red Sox have not done since 1995. Or are the Red Sox destined to beat the Yankees in the American League Championship Series, as they did in 2004? Is that what the squirrel was trying to tell everybody?

Who knows? Right Field Ratatosk was not available for interviews last evening. The Yankees said the squirrel came down about 20 minutes after Tuesday’s game and was allowed to go on its way. It joins a cast of baseball creatures that includes the black cat that crossed in front of the Chicago Cubs’ dugout during their ill-fated pennant-race battle with the Mets in 1969 and the bird that Dave Winfield killed with a throw in Toronto in 1983.

It should be noted that Right Field Ratatosk was doing its thing Tuesday when Johnny Damon hit a game-winning home run for the Yankees in the bottom of the seventh that landed near the right-field foul pole. That would seem to suggest that Ratatosk was doing its best to help the Yankees. But maybe the squirrel was just confused, since Damon was a member of the Red Sox until last season.

For now, we are left with a swing and a myth. September and October will provide more answers.

Career ERA vs Yanks:
DICE-HR almost 7.00
BLISTERS BECKETT almost 8.00

And the Yanks beat on Blowhard Schilling and Wakefield like they were rented mules.

Speaking of asses not much from the deranged duo of Slugly/Casual Obsesser.

I said that sucked.
It sucked.

Beckett sucked tonight
Dice K didn't suck but wasn't good enough the other night

Oh well.
We'll try again tomorrow

I don't hear a lot of Rivera critics anymore!

He's still the best in the business

Sully, great appearance by Mo. But he's probably unavailable today.

And, don't forget - Mo has a handful of blown saves this year (including one against Boston) that have helped put the Yankees in a six game hole.

Not to take away from what he's done in this series, but as long as the Yankees are a second place team it helps to keep it in perspective.

Sully,

Don't get hysterical ...

It's only two games.

There are two Yankee teams.

A. Home

B. Road

When they get to the Angels park and then Detroit, you see the flaws ... Boston will be ok ... I hope they meet the Yankees for the AL championship.

Boston can be beaten and they have flaws.

They need a lead by the 7th. The Dodgers and Cardinals as well. With Okajima in the pen and Papelborn ... the game is over.

The problem is the Sox have not had the lead by the seventh ... in these games vs. the Yanks.

Poor Sully ...

Why was Farnsworth in the game?

Why did I say how fast I can type? Cause I hate typos ...

Nice win. It would be nice to win again today but I will take 2 of 3. After the way Farnsworth has been pitching lately I knew he was going to give up some runs last night. How about A-Rod coming through again with a very important HR against the hated Red Sox. Also how about Melky's hitting. This guy has way more plate discipline then Cano. I think it is possible that with his speed and eventual better plate discipline that he can be one of the top lead off hitters in the league.

Mo: 3 pitches in 8th , quick 9th - would be available for a night game the next day - does day game make a difference?

NEW YORK -- Manny Ramirez was not in Boston's starting lineup Wednesday night because of a strained muscle on his left side, and the Red Sox slugger likely will be sidelined for several days.
Ramirez came out of Tuesday night's game against the New York Yankees in the seventh inning after aggravating the injury. He was examined by two doctors Wednesday and wasn't sure how long he might be out.

"I don't know. Maybe a week?" Ramirez said.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona acknowledged Ramirez almost certainly would miss the final two games of the Yankees series and probably won't be available until at least Friday night against Baltimore.

"I hate to say he's not going to play before we need to, but that's realistic," Francona said. "He showed up early today -- pretty sore. It's not worse than he was yesterday, which is good."

Eric Hinske started in left field for the Red Sox and batted ninth. Mike Lowell moved up to the cleanup spot. Boston began the night with a seven-game lead in the AL East over the Yankees.

Ramirez hit his 20th homer of the season in the series opener Tuesday. He is batting .292 with 86 RBIs and 32 doubles.

Ramirez, who grew up near Yankee Stadium, has always been a nemesis for New York. He is hitting .479 with 11 home runs and 30 RBIs in 27 games against the Yankees since the start of 2006.

He also has 52 career homers against New York, tied with Red Sox Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski for fourth-most by a Yankees opponent.

New York manager Joe Torre said facing the Red Sox without Ramirez makes "a huge difference."

"There's two reasons: First of all, you don't have Manny. And then you don't have Manny sitting behind [David] Ortiz," Torre said.

Ramirez was replaced in left field Tuesday night by Bobby Kielty, who was then removed in the eighth inning due to a sore lower back.

Kielty had X-rays on Wednesday, which were negative. His back has been bothering him since he crashed into the low fence at Fenway Park to make a terrific catch against the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 19.

"If he needed to play tonight he could, but we'd rather not," Francona said. "There are days like today when you are glad to have Hinske."

Why was Farnsworth in the game. Its a simple answer. With a roster of 24 today because Joba cannot pitch. There are 3 innings to pitch. Mo and Viscaino are tabled for 1 each. Who is left? I can see Farnsworth because the Yankees still want him to fine himself. If he were to come around and be the pitcher of his ability. How awesome would this be but his talent supercedes his mental ability to pitch in tight games.

Joe made the right choice but his faith in Farnsworth was not rewarded. His previous 7 outings were just make believe.

Will Joba be the closer today with Edwar, Britton and Viscaino the supporting crew.

You wonder if the outcome of the came last night could've been different if played in Fenway. Many balls hit deep in to left and left center.

I like Damon in LC. Would Tori Hunter in CF, Cabreere in RF with Damon in LF be a possibility?

I hate those yanks , they kick my butt everytime since I got lucky in the WS against them! I hope noone knows I rub dirt on my face so it makes my 16 year old face look older with the dirt soulpatch! Geez , school starts soon and I was schooled last night , AGAIN!

larry,

going after hunter would be a huge mistake, falls under the pattern of signing players for big bucks when they're about to start their decline.

i don't like any of the CF FA's this winter (hunter, a. jones...). we should stick to what we have.

I am Casual Observer's alter ego , I claim to have a business but I really suck up welfare from your taxes. I am a Sux fan but spend ALL day on a yank's blog , with my alter egos. Aint i cool , or is it kewl? I get confused sometimes...wait its the mailman with my check....yippeee!!!!!!!!

The Sox have the luxury of letting Manny rest, the division is there's to lose and I just don't think they will with the schedule they have coming up.

I never feel good about the Yanks the day after a night game, I hate when they sit Jorge and not sure if Mo will be available, I just hope they need to make that decision.

I'm not getting too excited about this yet, sure I'd love a sweep but as Meatloaf says, "two out of three ain't bad".
Today, in my opinion was the most unpredictable game of the three. Schilling could be lights out or he could be sh*t; same w/ Wang, who doesn't really pitch well against the Sox and has only one good start in his past 5 or 6, luckily it was his last one so that's comforting.

This game actually means something so I hope the Yanks put the best team on the field and don't start resting people.

Can someone describe the play by Giambi at 1B that Clemens was talking about after the game? I was out and missed the first two innings. I didn't see any replays of it either. Thanks in advance.

One negative from last night was the Farnsworth"less" performance. It is a shame as he has looked good the past three weeks. Torre gave him a shot in a big spot last night and he once again melted under ressure - this is obviuosly a career trend for him. Last night virtually assured that unless there is no other alternative he won't see the ball past the sixth inning in a close game. Can't call him a mop-up guy, he may be called upon to try for an important K in the 5th or 6th inning where a game can sometimes be one or lost, but thats about it.

I do have to give Cashman credit for not puling off the rumored Wickman fr Farnsworth trade at the deadline as Wick is clearly finished and Farnswrth does still have value - more so for other teans than for the Yanks.

If the Yankees agree to pick up most of his salary in the offseason they may be able to get some value for him in a trade. I think he'd pitch great in a low/no pressure environent for a team like the Royals - possbly even the Padres (not because of the lack of pressure, but that huge park would keep in a lot of would be home runs and they have a history of turning mediocre relievers into quality pitchers - See Scott Linebrink.

Mussina is another guy who may be able to get a decent rospect return on the trade fornt if only because of the fact that there is no quality free agents available this side of Schilling. Sully, any talk in Beantown about the Sox resigning Schilling? Wherever he goes I hope it is in a big market so when he runs his mouth, it will get heard. I love the guys honesty and straight forward non-sugar coated comments.

Clemens back in the Bronx next year? I think another June return would work out well for the team. Realistically, its hard to imagine that a rotation with young guys like Hughes, Joba, and Kennedy can keep them in the race. At least one is bound to struggle and injuries ALWAYS hapen.

As for the Red Sox - I see some weaknesses, offensive mostly, but they are built for the post-season. Great starting pitching and a lights out bullpen (I still think Gagne will be great down the stretch and into the postseson). If Manny or Ortiz or God forbid both get hot come October it is going to hard to beat this team.

They remind me an aweful lot of the 1996 Yankees.

Its a shame that the AL East lead balooned to 8 games before this series - Mike Lupica who I normally hate had a great article on the excitement there would have been had these teams entered this series with a 4 or 5 game lead.

Dog - I am not going to go off on one of my Melky tirades, but "one of the best lead-off guys in the game"????? Please. He is not a true lead-off guy. I don't see the plate discipline that you are seeing (although anyones plate discipline looks great when compared to Cano) and he certainly isnt a speedstar (11 SBs). Still see him as a very good fourth outfielder for a winning team and that is saying a lot. I know he is having a very good year, but I just don't see the potential for him to grow into either a 30 homer or 30 steal guy. The biggest priorities for the Yanks in the next couple of years (besides keeping AROD, Posada, and MO) is to get a true centrfielder and lead-off hitter - what Damon was last year.

Finally, Mark Prior will most likely not be offered arbitration next season making him a free agent who would not require draft pick compensation. How about bringing him in, taking a chance on what was not too long ago one of the best arms in baseball, and begin grooming him as Mariano's 2010 successor. Many pitchers through the years have resurrected their careers, gaining 4-5 MPH on their fastballs pitching out of the pen. Can't help but to dream up comparisons to Issringhausen and Gagne.

Gil L; yes, it would be throwing big bucks at an aging player but if money and a short contract could do it such as 2 years and 16 million. He might bite.

I must say, " I do like the youth movement".

Chris,
Nice comment on Prior, he could be nasty out of the bullpen.
I also agree about Melky, I honestly think he's an average MLB player, which isn't bad at all. If he were on any other team we'd never even know his name. I like his enthusiasm and I think whatever he gives the Yanks offensively should be considered a bonus, but his biggest value to me is his OF defense as it gives the team at least one good throwing arm in the OF. I mean, Matsui has a rag arm and Abreu doesn't seem to have much out there either and don't even get me started on Damon's so called arm.

Damon has said his legs finally feel healthy and to be honest, he's played a nice LF so I am not in a big rush to see the Yanks get rid of him just yet. Besides the fact that he is not exactly tradeable, I mean who wants an OF who can't play OF? so they could use him as they have been and if he swings the bat the way he has been lately, we have our leadoff hitter.
I don't like any of the free agent CF's. The only one I liked was Ichiro and he's locked up now. I'd stick with Melky as long as A-Rod and Posada stay and we don't need to count on a lot of offense from CF.
I do like Aaron Rowand a bit though, but I think he might be headed back to the White Sox.

Larry,
Hunter knows this is pretty much his last big contract, no way he accepts two years. Why would he want to be a FA again as a 34 yr old CF? I think the players union would urge him to go for all the cash he can get so it helps the other players.
Remember when the players union was so pissed at Andy Pettitte for taking less money to sign w/ the Astros? They felt he screwed the other pitchers on the market that year so they made a big fuss about how it didn't count since Andy was going home to be with his family.
It's all about the greed my friend.
Damn, I'm long winded today. Sorry folks.

Chris, Jim,

I stand corrected. I think I am just caught up in the Melymania. I just looked at his OBP and it is currently at .348. Last year it was .352 so he is not showing signs of improvement. Obviously that is way to low for a lead off hitter. I have to admit that he does come through with some clutch hits and is a better OF then anybody give him credit though.

You do not take a chance with an outsider to be Mo's replacement when you ahve the answer already in existance. Until he PROOVES to be lights out as a starter JOBA is the man for the job.

If Hunter wants to come here and can settle for waht we offer him you do the deal, remember this teams 2007 START! let not forget the nightmare!!!

We need a consistant OF. until melky prooves other wise he is a super sub unless Damon is awful next season. Signing a hunter who is graceful out there and placing a melky in the corner will shore up the OF defense

Let's go Yanks. Two wins over the Sox in a row, going for one more tonight!

yankeefan

A tip of the cap to the Bombers....they got that 'never say die" attitude going for them...handed the Sox their hats two games in a row...impressive.

To be honest, I'm not very confident about Schilling today...but I sure do hope the Sox manage one of the three.

Casual,

As I was watching the game last night I was thinking, what do the Sox fans think of Drew. He never looks happy playing the game. If he was on the Yanks that would piss me off. I was just curious.

Dog,

I hate him , I hate him , I hate him...darnit!

That's what I thought. I know Yankee fans would hate him too.

Cas, we're confident in Schilling too. We've ripped him the last 2 times. He isn't the same guy anymore.

BB, as discussed by many on this board, there is no way Joba will be Mo's replacement. He's needed in the rotation with the expected departure of Moose and Clemens, then a year later, Pettite. Hughes at this point is a huge question mark as his velocity and command are off.

Dog, .350 OBP is respectable for any major leaguer. He isn't a leadoff hitter in my mind because he can't take pitches so the other guys can see what the pitcher has or to draw a walk to get a rally started. I suspect Damon will be in that spot next year because that contract will make him hard to move..

We'll see about Schilling, I wouldn't count him out in any game. He pitched well against the White Sox last time out so he may be getting stronger (yeah, I know the White Sox suck).
I guess I'm just trying not to get too confident.

Where are Lucy, Diane, Ruse, CA, Eric (you should be back and crowing about your boy Andy Phillips)?
Hope to see you folks back soon.

Atticas, where the heck are you?

Drew has been an utter failure this year...but I think, as well as most fans...that he is just too good to play this way forever...at least we hope....the Sox has got him another 4 years.

Why is Farnsworth still on the roster?

Mussina?

They are the two last Igawas ...

We can't win with them.

Period.

It's like Iraq.

Victory is no longer an option.

It takes courage to accept the truth. And the reasons for that truth.

The truth is we were lucky last night. Imagine if Farnsworth was allowed to ruin that game?

Another thing ...

How does Lilly look now?

Igawa, Pavano, now Mussina all doing horrendous ... we could have used Lilly ...

Not having Lilly has practially ruined the season ... if we miss the playoffs by a few games and Seattle has two games in hand, Igawa (acquired in a panic move ovewr Okajima and the Red Sox, globalization, marketing, social engineering via sports) vs. Lilly will have cost us in the worst fashion.

Lilly has 13 wins, a ton of K's and cut his walks in half.

If you ever played or pitched you can see how his ball moves and how hitters never are comfortable against him.

Remember that game with the Yanks he pitched vs. the Mets? So semi-wild they couldn't hit him ... and he got out after out.

It was very strange to watch.

Nothing kills this blog worse than stupid ramblings from Ant colony. Dude- get over Lilly, Igawa, Iraq and Ankiel. You don't need to spew your brand of nonsense over and over again in each post. Go back to the "jungles of montezuma" or wherever the hell else you claim to have been you moron.

Hey that wasn't very nice.

Ant Colony

You are the MAN!!!! Finally, someone with an IQ higher than their shoe size who realizes the huge mistake that BC made in blowing off Lilly and going after Igawa and counting on Pavano. Stevie Wonder could see it, I saw it, but most on here ripped me for it all winter long. Like the Bud commercial says, "I love you man".

He tried to get Lilly you fool !!
Lilly wanted like 3 years I'm not giving Lilly 3 years when he's already 34?

I understand people feel the need of a SP in Joba but under stand the URGENT need to have a increased pen. plus it is not easy to convert back into a starters mentality. what if he gets rocked as a starter because all of his handicaps come to light, weight stamina etc? you think you can just bring him back to the pen if he fails? no it is not that easy. the Pen has been our flaw in recent years right now it is solid.

Seeing Joba brings you back to 95 when MO was in the same predicament. from his imposing presense to electric stuff he is the man. you move him to the rotation then you stuck with farns and is praying Viz can fill in the void left by joba.

The kid is a reliever a diamond in the ruff. should they try him in ST ? yes but if he is not lites out like he is as a RELIEVER then it is not worth it.

This man has the BUZZ of baseball.

you cannot rely on going out there and SIGNING Mo's set up guy and eventual replacement.

You think when MO was lights out in 95 that showalter was thinking of converting him back to a STARTER??????? nope.

BB

I agree. I drool over Joba being a starter next year but I don't think we can afford to not have him in the bullpen he's too damned valuable to be availible once every 5 days you don't get a guy who looks like a vintage MO everyday I think he stays in the pen and we go shopping for starters in the offseason.

BB

I agree 100% on Joba. He is the new Mo. Don't mess with it.

PTRS (you fool)

He did not even make Lilly an offer of any kind! And, I believe Lilly is 32.

Rick

YES HE DID

...I'm almost positive he offered him a 1 year deal and he wanted no part of of that. I think it's funny that neither of us know his age.

Rick and PTRS,

I am sorry but I disagree totally with you. Even if Joba turns out to be a number 3 starter he is still more important to the Yanks then a reliever. You can always get a quality relievers (Probably not as good as Joba though) in the off-season. I don't know who is available but there has to be someone out there. Starting pitching is the hottest commodity in baseball. You never let it go. Now of course if his starting role does not work out then you throw him in the pen again and I doubt failing as a starter will kill the psyche of this kid. He looks like a kid that can persevere through anything.

Squirrel Totem - Symbol of Trust, Preparedness

The Squirrel is the sentinel of the home. He will watch each member of the family and warn them if there is a problem within the family. The squirrel is energetic in its work and play, and always ensures the future is well prepared for. The squirrel is a symbol of trust and is one of the few animals that will eat out of a person's hand. Learn from the squirrel to establish trust where you find it lacking.

I eat squirrels!...sorry that was my inner dog talking.

Are we really back on Ted Lilly again? Really? Why do some people (and here I mean Rick and Roy) state one opinion, then continue to harp on it ad nauseum? Rick and others, Ted Lilly is a decent #3 starter. He is benefiting this year from pitching in a new league in the worst division in baseball. He was okay for Toronto, nothing more. The market for mediocre pitchers was ridiculous, so Lilly wasn't worth what he was asking. Cash shouldn't have gotten Igawa either, he's terrible. Can we move on now?

For those who think Joba should stay in the pen, what does our rotation look like next year? Who do you think is available when 3/5 of our rotation is gone?

I agree. Enough with the Lilly stuff. Rick weren't you one of the guy's who wanted Cashman to trade Joba for Gagne? How did he do on that one? My point is not all decisions are going to work out. Ok so which Wang are we going to see today?

Rick -

The problem with anointing Joba the new Rivera and closing the door on him as a starter is that the original Rivera is still here and not going anywhere for the next couple of years.

Do you want to see another Carl Pavano signing? Another Jaret Wright?

Give Joba the starter a chance to impress you as much as Joba the reliever has.

Rick,PTRS

When I think of disasters with heavy pitchers, I think of Bartolo Colon

Imagine if the angels placed him in the pen with his stuff their pen would be extra awsome.

Fonz need to be traded to an NL west squad or Clev. he is just not cut for the Yanks.

Dog,

WE BEEN TRYING FOR 8 F**KIN YEARS TO GET A QUALITY RELIEVER!!!!!!!!

we have one now. just like the way it was with MO we was trying to get a reliever after continuous failures , Lee smith , steve howe , jeff reardon, return of the goose , just to name a few then we signed Wettland he was cool then we was presented with lights out remodeled mo who like joba was a starter. buck brought him up as a RP he was lights out he saw the NEED and stayed with it. as a starter your best pitch is eventually studied within innings as a RP you have three outs to figure.

Michaelz,

I agree completely - I would rather give Joba a shot in the rotation than spend $15 mil a season on a mediocre starter to replace Mussina or Clemens. Look at who is available:

Jon Lieber
Freddy Garcia
Livian Hernandez
Curt Schilling
Matt Clement
Steve Traschel
and those are the BETTER options.

Give me a 21 year old who is reported to be as dominant as Verlander over those guys any day - I'll take my chances with some of the other minor leaguers to fill out the pen.

BB,

I agree but we have been trying to find good consistent starting pitching for 3-4 years. The reason we have not won the WS for 7 years is because of our starting pitching not our bullpen. Do you at least agree that he should be given a chance to start? If yes, what happens if he is very good? What do you do then?

Chip,

Do you know of any good relief pitchers that will be available this off season?

Chip,

To be Mariano's setup until Mo leaves is a solid honor.

What if Joba the starter is not as good you think you can just throw him back to the Pen ?????

Like I said you can see how he does as a SP in spring training and if he is soso then you know his destination.

Let explain the mental of having a good PEN

1. Your starters can last six innings then turn it over (remember the yankee SP of the 90's was good but not koufax, gibson)

2. Fear factor .
Opposing teams knowing well that they have to deal with Joba and MO feels they would have to play 6 inning ball, Jose V would be the important piece if Mo and Joba is in place.

3. Age factor

Mo will be older Chip, he may have bad stretches that would leave a Joba in to fill.

4. One run games or run protection.

Right now we suck in that roll of keeping a one run lead due to this years pen in run surrendering.

5. Lightning in a bottle

Joba could be lights out as a SP yes true but unless the score is 5 runs or better the chances of a victory is suspect due to the PEN.

BB,

You make some great points. I agree on all of them. Ok so if Joba is in the pen, what is your roation for next year assuming Pettite returns?

Jim A,

Giambi made a nice play in the top of the 1st on a ball hit by Lugo. He went to his left and came up with sure double. That was the play that Clemens was talking about.

Bomber,

Melky a super sub?

Sorry Bro; I don't agree with that at all. He's proven, for 2 seasons now, that he belongs out there. I don't think that he's a great centerfielder, but he's better out there than Damon is because of his arm. To tell you the truth, I would love Melky in RF next season and for the Yanks to go and get Tori Hunter provided that Hunter doesn't want more than 3 years.

That ball that Youkilis hit for a HR off of Farnsworth was going up and in. I'd give more credit to Youkilis for hitting that pitch than to kill Farnsworth for throwing it. At least that's what it looked like to me.

I think that we have trouble today. I don't like Wang in day games and I don't like the fact that Posada will probably sit today. If that's the case, then I hope that Giambi is starting at 1st and Joe doesn't rest anyone else. he can sit some guys against Tampa over the weekend.

Go for the sweep today. it would really be a confidence booster.

Yanks have evened the season series with Boston at 7 apiece. We have also won the last three series against them.

If the rotation next season is
Pettitte, Wang, Hughes, Kennedy and Moose (he's signed for next season and I don't believe that the Yanks will trade him), then maybe Joba in the pen.

But don't count on it.

DOG,

Even if he is dominant he is only good every 5 days.

our starting pitching was suspect true but our relievers or middle relievers was gross. in the 90's you carry a lead to the 6th you was in good hands and entering bad territory if you was an opposing player.

andy pettite was not exactly lights out in his first years and survived off of run support and the pen.

with a solid pen it take pressure off the OFFENSE and ATTRACTS Better pitchers who feel they can get a better shot at victories with a solid pen.

A koufax would kick Torre if he think he is replacing him in the 7th inning with FONZ and only a one run lead.

My fear of having Joba start is his weight his stamina and the possibility that he will be exposed when pitching many innings.

the way it is now is the Yankees are getting a chance to repeat the Formula of the 90's the issue now is how to structure what you have (manager and GM knowledge)

I'd say if Joba fails as a starter, why not put him back in the 'pen? What's the big deal. I also wouldn't mind seeing some of the youngsters filling up the bullpen until they get their feet wet.

I'd say starting pitching is the biggest need. There are always bullpen guys floating around the market, the problem has been they have been so overvalued that you end up being stuck with a mediocre reliever for say, 3 years (see Farnsworth, Kyle). However, a solid starting core negates the need for 6 strong bullpen guys.

Is anyone alarmed or worried that the Yanks don't have any lefties in the 'pen right now? I'm not. The lefties we had sucked anyway.

BB,

Well I still deisagree but you make some great points.

John,

If Moose is done for his career, who do you replace him with in the rotation. Do you sign Clemens again?

John G

If the yanks don't or cannot trade Damon then Damon/Matsui is in left
Hunter in Center and Melky in RF.

BUT ..... if the yanks feel they can get no value for Bobby Via trade then he too would probally stay.

meaning Melk unless his offensive production IMPROVES would be the odd man out and signing a hunter will show that what good "D" is about. I drool over the possilbilty of the two of them in the OF and with damon in LF (healthy range wise (getting to the ball ) our OF would be dramatically improved.

The bottom line is that we need another solid to great defender in the OF

Doggie,

I don't know why, but I don't think Moose is cooked juusssttt yet.

I feel that he's a smart enough guy to go and reinvent himself over the winter. Another thing that he should STRONGLY consider is learning how to be a workout maniac like Pettitte and Clemens are. Moose isn't exactly in love with exercise. I just feel that when you reach a certain age, you need to do more to take care of yourself (look who's calling the kettle black! I NEED TO WORK OUT MORE!!!). Anyway, if he refuses to even consider either option, then he should just hang'em up and stay in Pennsylvania.

Bomber,

It looks like we agree on the outfield setup for next season. The only thing that i don't agree on is the Yanks trading Damon. He's finally doing the stuff that leadoff hitters do and i don't think that we have anyone who can take that leadoff spot and run with it.
Damon is our best option.

The tough part is the Yanks have so many DH's who are still decent bats: Damon, Giambi and Matsui. I really would not mind it if I never saw Matsui in the OF again, he has been terrible this season.
I'd rather see Damon out there and Matsui at DH, rotating w/ Giambi.