MLB Hot Stove Season Begins

Ahh yes boys and girls... tis the season where all the failures of the previous year are forgotten. All the pain seems to vanish when the new star, the "savior" is introduced to their new team. O, how I love the MLB off-season.

Where do we start. Last week we talked about the monstrosity that was Scott Boras and Alex Rodriguez. He's still not signed by anyone and I reall don't have anything else left to say as far as A-Rod is concerned. I expect to see him playing for some west coast team next season. Anything else would be unexpected. So what is Mr. Rodriguez' team going to do about the significant hole left by his departure from the Bronx? Lets take a look and see who's available...not much. When the talent pool consists of the likes of Russell Branyan and Chris Woodward, there are some pretty slim pickin's for the pinstripes to choose from. The only notable name is Mike Lowell. Yes, that's World Series MVP, Mike Lowell, Mr-I-had-a-career -rebirth-playing-in-Boston, Mike Lowell. Smart money says he's not going anywhere.

But the Yankees did do something right. Jorge Posada was just resigned by the boys in the Bronx. Now they just have to re-sign Mariano Rivera and Yankee nation will not be crying foul.
As a whole, the free agent pool this year is one of the slim-est in a long time. Pitching is sparse, outfield position players are suspect. This means that trades are always a possibility.

The biggest names on the trade front are third baseman Miguel Cabrera and pitching god Johan Santana. Both of these deals would require multiple farm hands being exchanged along with cash and other considerations. Everyone would like both of these studs, its just a matter of where they end up at the end of the winter, if they even move at all.

This is just barely scratching the surface. Deadline deals are abound and ridiculous trade scenarios are almost inevitably going to be discussed. Anything can happen from now until the end of December, that's what really makes this "The most wonderful time of the year."

Matt Armstrong

Would be a Mistake to Fire Torre

The Joe Torre Watch has entered Day 3, but it still appears unlikely he'll be back for Year#13 of his Yankee tenure. Torre, who has had this team in the playoffs every year under his watch is currently being twisted in the wind as Big Stein and his posse take their sweet time deciding his fate. If they truly want him gone, as it appears to be, they should have the decency to make it quick. Torre has been nothing but a class-act since joining the New York Yankees after the 1995 season.

But the act of firing the man who has had so much success here makes no sense. Who will the Yankees find that is better? Don Mattingly? Joe Girardi? Tony LaRussa (gags)? Torre is about as perfect for the Yankees job as it gets. Yeah, you can quiver over his bullpen decisions and being ultra-loyal to veterans that he loves (i.e. Mike Mussina, Hideki Matsui, etc), but he handles the pressure of New York and a crazy owner better than anyone. Torre handles the largest, toughest media in the world with ease. Furthermore, his calming influence has allowed a group of stars just to play ball. Had Mattingly taken over after the '06 loss to Detroit, would he, as a rookie manager, been able to get this team out of the hole they were stuck in around midseason. It's a little naive to say anyone can manage the Yankees just because they have a $200 million payroll. Yes, anyone with a pulse could win with the resources this team has, but would the egos be able to mesh like they have under Torre's watch? Tony LaRussa would micromanage this team to death, and thus turn off a bunch of egos. You think they'd want to play for that? You wouldn't see players giving the same kind of effort for him as they do for Torre.

Those fans who think Joe should go are just spoiled fans. He won 4 World Series in his first 5 years as manager. Had he spread those out we wouldn't even be having this discussion. Yes, he has had some bitter postseason defeats, but is it his fault his offense goes 6 for 28 with RISP in the playoffs? Is it his fault his ace, Chien-Ming Wang, stinks up the joint in Games 1 & 4? Is it his fault his young phenom, Joba Chamberlain, was eaten alive by a bunch of bugs who ended up causing him to throw the tying wild pitch in Game 2? Fans are taking for granted this man has led their team to the playoffs every year. Yes, the goal is to win it all, but who out there is going to be better in leading this team, in the immediate future, to a World Championship? Don Mattingly or Joe Torre? Not even an issue. Bring Joe back! How sweet would it be to see Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, and/or Alex Rodriguez hold out on coming back to the Yankees by saying they walk if ownership doesn't bring Torre back. Guess that won't happen with the amount of money they can pay those three to keep quiet.

Pat Morgan
-The Sports Gerbil

Yankee Glog: End of 1st, 5-0 NYY

This Yankee-Blue Jay Glog brought to you by Procede' hair restoration.
"Hey! I'm Giusseppe Franco. I'm not putting my name on the line for something that doesn't work."

Two rookie pitchers enter, one escapes the first.

Jesse Litsch was unimpressive at best in career start number four. Two-thirds of an inning, five runs on four hits and two walks. Ken Singleton kept raving about this kid's performance in his debut against the O's. He fell an out short of going the distance and allowed only one run.

Tonight the Yankee lineup made him labor:

1. Damon took him deep on a full count to get things started.
2. Jeter gets caught looking on four pitches.
3. Matsui goes to two and two before lacing a single up the middle
4. A-Rod walks in five pitches.
5. Posada draws a full-count walk.
6. Giambi cranks the fourth pitch to RF for a sac.
A-Rod advances to third on the throw home
Posada steals second (seriously) during next AB
7. Phelps, getting rare start vs. RHP, singles in two runs
8. Cano doubles to LF, goes to third on throw home. (Pitching change)
9. Cabrera grounds out, strands runner at third (You bastard!)

So for some unknown reason the Yankees have decided to return to the formula that brought them four World Series titles in five years. We'll see how this works out.

Meanwhile, Tyler Clippard gets a first-pitch strike on every batter he faces in the first and goes 1-2-3.