YFSF

Feeling Groovy

Pineda is ready to go. I'm ready to watch.

What A Hot, Wet Mess

Please start the season, because personal lives of past and non-athletes leading the sports pages is so often tragic. The Boyd story is nothing compared to Cashman's twist. Oh Brian, what did you get yourself into? Bob Lorenz is in trouble.

At least people hate ARod less. Best of all, Derek Jeter, Dave Robertson, Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ivan Nova have started working out.

Okay, Just One More Touchy-Feely Posada Post

This time, it is the Boston Herald (?!) with a very nice send-off for Jorge.

Jorge, By People Who Played With Him

LoHud put together a compilation of quotes about Jorge Posada.

Yanks Trade Jesus for Pitching

And pitching wins championships. It is being reported that the Yanks have dealt Jesus Montero and Hector Noesi for young stud Michael Pineda and Jorge Campos. It's the second time Brian Cashman has agreed to send Montero to Seattle.

You always are more worried about young pitchers getting injured than position players, but then again maybe calling Montero a position player is a misnomer. Not to toot my own horn, but I've never developed an attachment to the young slugger because I always thought this day was coming. It was clear that the Yanks didn't buy their own hype about his catching prospects. He was essentially stuck as a DH since he never would have the chance to take over first base with Teixeira around.

Both clubs do well here. The Mariners get the best hitting prospect in the game. The Yanks get the #2 they've desperately wanted for a while. Heck, Pineda has the stuff to be a number one. Campos and Noesi both rate as B prospects according to John Sickels, with Campos having more upside and Noesi ready to contribute now. Seems like a fair trade to me.

Update: Word is the Yanks also got Kuroda on a one-year deal. Suddenly the pitching staff is a strength!

Thank Goodness

Now we won't have to try and type Hiroyuki Nakajima anymore.

Okajima & Jones in Pinstripes

The Yanks signed Andruw Jones to a one-year contract for $2mill with another $1.4 mill in incentives.  Still a power threat against lefties, Jones is likely to see more playtime in the outfield in 2012 to make room for Montero to get a fair amount of right-handed DH duties.  Though Jones looked a bit portly in the pinstripes last year, I did enjoy the ridiculous moonshots he launched on occassion.  And a greatly-diminished-late-in-career Jones is every bit as good defensively as Swisher, though I'd rather see Gardner's time in left maximized.

In other news, the Yanks signed former Sox Hideki Okajima to compete in Spring training for the LOOGY role.

Happy New Year everyone.

Good News

Alex Rodriguez' knee-mending in Dusseldorf did not involve any banned substances. What ticks me off is that the Germans knew this three years ago but he's only now getting it fixed, even though the only downside is that his trick knee won't tell him if there's a rain a-comin' anymore. That and the concern that every time he has to leg out a single he might run straight into Poland.

Game Changer

This off-season, the Yankees brass have yet to sign any Once-In-A-Generation sluggers to Rodriguean money, and no Yankee batsman has been implemented in a Rodriguean PED scandal. No Yankee player has ended up exposed in a spread in the society pages. Since Freddy, no pitcher of significance have been signed by the Bombers, foreign or domestic. The Yankees aren't mentioned anywhere on the front page of mlbtraderumors.com. No trades have been offered to only be rejected by a power-mad commissioner. Okay, wrong sport, but what a sham of a racket the NBA has become.

Joe Girardi, a man who looks like he could bring some serious Sergeant Hulka rage to the party, has yet to say he hates anyone. Rather, he occupies his time by joining Robi Cano in helping with a food drive and when asked about the topic of expanded instant replay — which practically every sentient being in the universe supports — took the controversial position of, "I'm with you fellas."

What passes for serious noise in the Yankees Universe is YES considering putting Lou in the broadcast booth. Count me as content for the peace and quiet. For now.

To be clear, I love this idea. I seriously can't wait for someone to make a bone-headed suggestion and for his Sweetness to completely ridicule the notion.

What kind of baseball do you play?

Hot Stove Heating Up

There are lots of rumors surrounding both of our teams right now.  The Yankees are being linked to Hiroki Kuroda, Gio Gonzalez and John Danks.  The Sox are making a push for a Wagner College's own Andrew Bailey.  Most importantly it's being reported that the Yankees are willing to listen to offers for A.J. Burnett.  Who do you want?  Who don't you want?  Here's your place to discuss it all.