On the Yankees beat

More than a miracle needed.
Why even bother to bring Joba back -- except to give him more innings, so he can add 30 to the total next year.
Too bad we couldn't dump some high-paid talent on the real contenders, giving us more to build on (or with) next year.
Time to bring up the kids and see what the future holds. No longer any need to watch Giambi, Abreu, Matsui.

Well, the party is over ... nice run ... many teams never get to experience that. How to fix this mess????

1) rotation next year has Wang, Joba as bonafied stars ... Hughes gets a chance to pick himself off the mat and see what he's made of (he's young so he's due that chance) ... so, 2 more pitchers needed. Yanks will throw $$$ at CC but my guess is that he signs on the West Coast (that's okay, guy could go into a diabetic coma at any minute) ... say NO to Burnett ... he kills Yanks but hardly anyone else. How about giving Ben Sheets a whirl for 3 or 4 years? He's absolutely dominating when he stays healthy. Also, NO Moose ... yes he had a great year but if you expect him to duplicate that you're really begging. Take Andy back for 1 year ... he didn't pitch up to snuff this year and the guy is still 13-11 w/ a 4.50 ERA. I think he'd be juiced (oops, wrong choice of words) to play in the new Stadium and I certainly see a 16-9 season for him next year. also, and this may sound CRAZY, but what about Pavano on a 1 year, $7 mill deal? The guy can pitch and maybe he would feel like he owes Yanks something ... plus if he has a good year he could parlay that into a nice contract.

2) after we miss out on CC then Yanks just need to go BALLS OUT for Tex ... he solves so many problems ... great bat, switch hitter, super glove ... what's not to like? Tex, Cano (bounce back year), Jeter, Arod (better in the clutch year) and that's a great infield. Posada/Molina behind plate (we can live w/ Molina even if Posada is not back at the start of the year) ... OF is sticky. Nady is a lock (LF or RF though?) ... as much as Abreu runs hot and cold (and fears walls) he still works the pitcher well in front of Arod and he's better than alot of other options. Would Yanks bring him back for 3 years and $30 mill and would he accept that? That still leaves a problem in CF but I guess we could deal w/ Damon + Gardner out there (deal Melky for something) and see what happens. Austin Jackson could take over in 2010

This team needs and influx of energy for 2009 season. This can be accomplished by seeking through trade and FA signings those players who are committed to this level of play. Its obvious that the Yankees have nothing in the farm system worth calling attention to and the business as usual has caused much harm with the 2008 season which was expected but 2009 must be different. Cashman must do his job over the winter. Kennedy/Hughes must pick it up and quick.

Another big disappointment for me was Joe Girardi. I commented about him for the manager because I expected a guy with energy who played the game with energy and intelligence but I observed a team with no energy and little intelligence in the way the game was approached, day in and Day out.

Cano was an obvious in Girardi's inability to correct and change the course of this lack of energy and intelligence. Cano should have been benched a few times during the season for obvious reasons, lackadasical play (smoothness????), can't bunt (instruct????) Saturday's throwing error. I have watched Cano throughout the season bring attention to himself for his smooth play and great ability to hit. I'd say trade and get someone with energy. Cano would be a great start. Also, I'd ask Strick Michaels if he's interested in the job then and only then rehire Cashman. Stick knows players and energy.

Why do so many people keep coming back to Stick Michael?

This ain't the mid 90s anymore.

He's already a senior adviser in the front office and let's not forget that he's 70 years old.

He'd probably rather spend more time on the golf course and with his grand kids than being the Yankee GM everyday with all the headaches that comes with the territory.

Stick is just a phone call away if they want to ask for his opinion.

Viper: Being an advisor means thank you for your opinion. I'll (Cashman) move on. Their is no authority with the advisor position. I understand Cashman's hands were tied for most part two years ago with contracts and George Sr. but he has to see the error of his ways with his beliefs about prospects and the value to the team with people such as Kennedy, Hughes, Cano and his buddy Melky.

The team needs a quick influx of energy on a daily basis from positional players. The athleticism of the team is practically non existent. This team cannot compete with Tampa Bay (as I choke). We must get younger ASAP.

I haven't seen the September call ups but this will be a big indicator of our gross worth in the AA and AAA levels. To waste September chasing Boston and the Twins would be a waste of valuable time for asssessing any possible prospects for next year.

Getting back to Cashman, I like him as the GM but he has fought hard to win control of player moves but he has not played the game and should move toward a more open mind on future trades from a reliable source as Gene Michael. I don't know how old Gene is but he appears to still have his marbles.

Larry,

I don't disagree with you on getting younger. I've preached that all season and some others want to sign Manny Ramirez and bring back Abreu - which I think makes zero sense.

But Stick Michael is 70 years old. Believe it because I looked it up.

I don't think he is going to want to take on such a demanding job at this stage in his life.

I think the whole "playing the game" argument is very weak. No, Cashman never played the game - but neither did Theo Epstein, John Schuerholz (Braves), Billy Beane, Mark Shapiro (Indians), or Kevin Towers and these guys are among the top GMs in the game.

I'm ambivalent on Cashman and whether he should come back or not. But it appears that it's all going to be a moot point because he's probably coming back next season unless he decides he's had enough and leaves town.

This Pedro Alvarez saga is really amazing. For those who haven't been paying attention, here's the skinny:

Pedro Alvarez was selected by the Pirates with the 3rd pick in the draft this year. His agent is Scott Boras. Boras wanted the Pirates to fork over $8.5 mil, the Pirates countered with $6 mil which Alvarez verbally accepted without consulting Boras. A player drafted later represented by a rival agent got 6.2 million. Boras, not willing to be upstaged by Casey Close (the other agent) has asserted that Alvarez signed after the deadline had passed - which is true because MLB granted an extension in the negotiations to get the i's dotted and t's crossed. So Boras wants Alvarez declared a free agent.

Now here's where things get even MORE interesting. Another Boras client, Eric Hosmer, signed with the Royals but his contract was processed AFTER the Alvarez one was. So the Pirates are contending that if Alvarez's contract is void then so too is Hosmer's. But Boras is contending that Hosmer's contract was done first but that the league just didn't get around to it because of the Alvarez contract taking so long.

So bottom line is that now Alvarez and Hosmer are both sitting out waiting for an arbitration hearing to determine what's going on. The arbitor will have to find either both contracts valid or void both contracts. If so this could be a boon for the Yankees, two top of the draft talents (both capable of playing 1st base and OF) all of a sudden available to the highest bidder. It could smooth out the rough feelings about having lost out on Gerrit Cole.

Overall though it shows me three things:

1. Boras is a snake
2. Alvarez is willing to go back on his word for 200k, a pittance for a ML player so I would stay away from him.
3. MLB is run by fools who can't even read a clock.