YFSF

There's A New Boss In Town (When The Old One Decides To Leave)

A small Daily News article gives us an early look at the owner-in-waiting, and Spidey should be euphoric. Steve Swindal, George's son-in-law and lucky heir, is a Tar Heels fan; and he can't stand those bastards from Durham. I wonder if A-Rod's time with the Bombers is winding down. Also, this makes the reality of Steinbrenner's departure that more real. And I'm not sure about you, but I've got some mixed feelings about that.

Closer Down

Here's the first bit of really good news to emanate from Spring Training.  Hopefully the extra rest will allow Foulkie to really blow guys away once he returns, and we're thrilled that the Sox have not allowed Foulke to pitch for like 7 months now.  So friggin' smart, that Theo.

They Get Paid to Do This? (Idiot Edition)

Mueller's a Dodger. Millar's an Oriole. Damon, as we all know, is a Yankee. There will be no Fab Five makeovers in Ft. Myers this year. Yes, says Jayson Stark, it's the "end of the idiocy."

And to think it wasn't even a slow news day. Negro League HOfers! Schmidt on Amphetamines!

Kobycide

Kobycide -  (kob--sd) -

n. 1. The killing of one's son, usually by "high, hard one"

YFSF on Sports Bloggers Live

YFSF Nation is most cordially invited to join in with SF and myself as we discuss the day's doings on Sports Bloggers Live, tonight at 7:20.

Look out John Sterling.

Mo(s?) Don't Fail Me Now

Just wanted to nip this one in the bud before certain Sox fans or Yanks doom-and-gloom types felt the need to bring it up: Mariano Rivera is again going to be dominant in 2006. In fact, count on him being the Yankees' closer for the next 60 years. He's related to Nosferatu (if you were interested in the biological reason). The technical word for what he's done in his career is Wowza! Enjoy him while your grandchildren are applying to graduate programs.

Seven Starters = Trade Rumors

The Herald is running a story about the Nationals rumored interest in one of the Sox gazillion starters. Brian Lawrence is out for a few months and they want to make up for his loss. Rumor is they have their eyes on the troubador Arroyo or hairy-chinned Clement. The Sox could be asking for Soriano in return for Clement, as they’re equally expensive, or Nick Johnson or Ryan Church for Arroyo. Of course, this is just a rumor, and one that doesn’t spell out whether the Sox are willing to talk. In any case, Boston fans should be encouraged; if Jim Bowden wants to deal with you (and your name is Theo Epstein), that’s very good news. I say the Sox hold out until Bowden sends them Nick Johnson, John Patterson, Chad Cordero, part ownership of the Nationals, and an all expense-paid trip to the Bahamas for all Fenway staff for the injured and disgruntled David Wells. It’s not out of the realm of possibility.

They Get Paid to Do This? (NY Edition)

Lament of the sports editor: "I spent airfare and hotel money to send my columnist to Tampa, and all I got was this lousy column." Yes, Newsday's John Heyman wants to swap Sheff for Manny: "Perhaps there's one crazy way that baseball's bitterest rivals can help themselves, and if they absolutely have to, help each other. Here's my fanciful idea: Trade one mixed-up malcontent straight-up for the other." Spare us.

Word of the Day: Begrimed

I demand a moratorium on describing pitchers' stuff as "filthy".  It's catchy and it sounds kind of cool, but it is, like Dick Cheney's liver, overused. I therefore put the kibosh on baseball writers using this term (that means you, Horrigan.  And you too, Gammons), and propose that hurlers' hard-diving sliders and tailing cut fastballs from now on be described as "begrimed".   As in "Schilling utterly confused the spastic Giambi with a begrimed splitter".  That or any other word that is onomatopoeiac.

(p)UH(van)OH

So Carl might begin the season on the DL, according to reports this morning.  I guess this is just more good news for YF, seeing as the rest might do Pavano some long-term good.  On the other hand, being HEALTHY would probably be better news, but who am I to nitpick. I imagine I would have been slaughtered by commenters on this website if I claimed that "we're excited that Manny and Schill aren't healthy, as they'll be excellent May additions to the club".   And at what point does the Yankees' (and some of their fans') nonchalance with regards to Pavano's health problems turn into genuine concern?  This is a $40M pitcher we are talking about, not a mid-price, mid-rotation kind of guy.  Lastly, I wonder if Pavano is suffering from the Dizzy Dean effect, where one injury leads to another compromised body part, a cascade nearly impossible to reverse without serious changes to one's pitching style and/or abilities.  Can the Yankees can ever really count on a return to 2003 form?