Lol! Why'd you have to bring that up?! Actually the new field-turf in the SKYDOME is pretty good and the players say they like it better than the old astro turf. And yeah, it's the SKYDOME, SkyDome. SkyDome, SkyDome, SkyDome! none of this Roger's Centre bullshit! Sorry bro, this is a really touchy issue for me..

Where did you hear this from? Also, when's his contract up? I know this will be his 3rd year in hell...I mean houston. I also can't believe it took Molina so long to sign with a team. Personally, I think the Yankees should have picked up either him or Piazza, just for a year as a backup or another hitter off the bench

I read it from a link off of the Yankees homepage, it was like the hotstove/rumor type thing...

Friday, the Yankees claimed the Nationals' RHP Darrell Rasner off waivers, and ship Jason Anderson back down to Columbus.

What will the lineup be like???

ds

Like that of any other old, over-the-hill, full of guys who are no longer on the upside of their career will look:

Like any other third or fourth place team. :p

You might be right P.L. but I still think The Yankees are good enough to capture their 1 billionth American League East Crown and go to the Playoffs. I'm almost sure that my Blue Jays will win the A.L. Wildcard and the Boston Redsox will miss the Playoffs alltogether. In any case, I can't wait till April!!

I think your team is a bit short in the offense department, Don J.

Actually, I think the entire AL East looks pretty weak this year, so I can't see the wild card coming out of there.

P.L., Going by last season's statistics (2005 totals) The Blue Jays on our 40-man roster as of this moment had a combined 181 Home Runs and 851 Runs Batted In (give or take a few as I could have miscalculated). Now I know that this is not as much as The Yankees or The Redsox and that we did (do?) not have a legitimate 40+/100+ guy in our lineup but I think that because our pitching will be strong this year with a fully healthy Roy Halladay and with A.J. Burnett, Gustavo Chacin (the guy is only 25 years old and has loads of potential!), Ted Lilly, B.J. Ryan and Josh Towers that we are the number one Wild Card threat in the A.L.

I agree with plaw that Toronto won't make the playoffs. Sorry Don Jasani, but I just don't think they have all the tools yet. I congratulate them on their off seasons acquisitions but I just don't see them beating out boston for the Wild Card. boston still has Schilling, Beckett, Clement, Foulke, Ortiz, Ramirez, Nixon, etc.

I don't know about T.O. not making the playoffs but I do know that ESPN and the other big American sports media outlets will do everything in their power (coveragewise) to make sure that both The Yankees and The Redsox make the postseason. While I disagree with you guys on whether we have the stuff to make it to the big dance, I think that a Blue Jays vs. any other team playoff series would be very good for the game for several reasons.

The main reason I want to see the Jays in the playoffs should be self-evident to anyone who has spent five minutes on the sports boards over here so I won't go over it again. The secondary reason would be that having The Jays in the playoffs would strengthen an already very strong media market (Toronto - 6 million+ people and by extension Canada - 35 million+ people) and bring a bit of an international flavour to the postseason. The beauty of this whole thing is that come April every team is technically in first place and theoretically at the very least, has an equal shot at making it to the World Series...except the AAA Kansas City Royals of course. Let's Go Blue Jays...Let's Go!

I'll say this much Don Jasani, I'll be pulling for them as well this season. I'd MUCH rather see Toronto in the playoffs than that "World Series buying" team, the boston red socks

How about this? Fuck the Red Sox and especially the Yankees. Thankfully, less-spending clubs have won the major title part of the last few years, like Florida, Chicago, Anaheim, you name it.

Ah Chicago and Anaheim I don't mind, but f*ck Florida. I'm so glad they're gonna suck this year and that they let everyone go

Irish, although (naturally) we mainly root for different and opposing teams we do share much common ground on wanting to see The Blue Jays make the postseason. You, for your reasons and me, for mine. I think that it can nay will happen, you are more skeptical. That's all kool and the gang as they say, and that's the beauty of Baseball and competitive sports in general. However, I must disagree with your views on The Florida Marlins. I mean this team won two World Series Titles in the span of about ten years or so right? And they're an expansion team to boot! Granted, this isn't better than what The Blue Jays did in 1992 and 1993 and those Jay teams were two of the best twenty-five teams ever to play a season in my admittedly heavily biased opinion, but that's another discussion altogether. But even with all their success and the two World Championships The Marlins get no respect, no regard either. What, is the city of Miami so nuts that they can't or more likely won't respect a Major League Baseball team that represents their city and its residents? Are Miamians (Miamites?) so wrapped up in their love of The Heat (a very good team no doubt) and so wrapped up in nostalgia about The Dolphins that they refuse to respect The Marlins and show up at their games? Although I love Hockey and am a huge NHL fan and just plain and simple a pure hockey fan, I don't think that Floridians are paying too much attention to the mediocre Florida Panthers although the whole State did appreciate and celebrate The Tampa Bay Lightning win of The Stanley Cup last season. Although The Calgary Flames could or should have won The Finals (a goal by Jarome Iginla I believe, was disallowed in the sixth game and The Lightning went on to win the series in seven...you don't want to get me started on that, believe me bro. ) Anyways, the point is, it really beats the hell out of me why The Marlins are held in such low regard by everyone in FLA. I'm quite sure they're not rooting for The Tampa Bay Devil Rays or The Atlanta Braves or a Texas team or something so why don't Floridians support their Baseball teams. Maybe it could be that many citizens of The Sunshine State have been spoiled by having Spring Training there every season and so since they can see so many teams up close and personal they don't really care all that much about The Marlins or The Devil Rays. Whatever, either way, although I hope and pray that The Blue Jays will go all the way this year (yeah I know hoping against hope and praying against common sense :rolleyes: ) I will also be rooting for The Marlins, The D-Rays and all the other teams across MLB that don't get the credit they should. I know The Marlins, The Devil Rays and other teams like The Arizona Diamondbacks and The Colorado Rockies are gonna get spanked this year, I secretly hope that they finish the season with respectable records. What would really be good is if The Montreal Expos er...I mean Washington Nationals go back to Montreal and the city of Washington D.C. gets its own new (expansion) team. It'll most likely never happen, but I hope it does.

Ah Chicago and Anaheim I don't mind, but f*ck Florida. I'm so glad they're gonna suck this year and that they let everyone go [/b][/quote]Awww, is someone still sad the Yankees got their asses beat down like a bunch of rich fagg*ts in the '03 World Series?

Here little baby, here's some tissue to dry your tears.



Since his Yankees don't advance in the playoffs, he's gotta root against other teams for whatever gay little reason!

Oh, Roger Clemens decided to come back to his hometown and pitch out his career with the Astros? OH THEY SUCK, I HATE THEM.

He might come back? Let's be hypocrites and welcome him back! Same with Andy!

Let's root against the teams who don't have as much money as we do, because we get whoever we want and STILL don't do shit! Hooray!

And let's be major assholes to other team's fans during the World Series because our team wasn't good enough to get there! w00t!

Yankees sign former Dodger/Met Scott Erickson to a minor-league deal today.

ESPN.com

Wow! Scott Erickson I remember when he just came up with the Minnesota Twins and he was supposed to be like the next Tom Seaver or whatever and he really kinda fizzled out. I have absolutely no idea what Mr. Steinbrenner is thinking! This guy (Erickson) is a career 142 - 136, has a career 4.57 Earned Run Average, and 1 250 Ks. Although he did have one amazing season with The Twins and a few really good seasons with The Baltimore Orioles, Erickson's best days are behind him. Even if you got him for a nickel there is no point to adding him to any team and unless Joe Torre plans on using him in middle relief as a setup man for Mariano Rivera or to eat up innings when one of his starters has a rough night I can't see any use for Erickson whatsoever.

Well, they signed him to a minor-league deal, which means he is simply insurance should one of the current rotation goes down.

Also, the Padres claimed Jason Anderson from the Yankees waivers. I didn't think he was terrible, but certainly we've got better options.

From what I'm reading, this is what the Yanks will look like from the mound in 2006:

Starters

• Randy Johnson
• Mike Mussina
• Carl Pavano
• Chien-Ming Wang
• Shawn Chacon
• Jason Wright/Aaron Small

Bullpen

• Octavio Dotel
• Ron Villone
• Kyle Farnsworth
• Mike Myers
• Scott Procter
• Darrell Rasner
• Tanyon Sturtze
• Mariano Rivera

Ah Chicago and Anaheim I don't mind, but f*ck Florida. I'm so glad they're gonna suck this year and that they let everyone go [/b][/quote]Awww, is someone still sad the Yankees got their asses beat down like a bunch of rich fagg*ts in the '03 World Series?

Here little baby, here's some tissue to dry your tears.



Since his Yankees don't advance in the playoffs, he's gotta root against other teams for whatever gay little reason!

Oh, Roger Clemens decided to come back to his hometown and pitch out his career with the Astros? OH THEY SUCK, I HATE THEM.

He might come back? Let's be hypocrites and welcome him back! Same with Andy!

Let's root against the teams who don't have as much money as we do, because we get whoever we want and STILL don't do shit! Hooray!

And let's be major assholes to other team's fans during the World Series because our team wasn't good enough to get there! w00t! [/b][/quote]Man, I'm just gonna throw in the towel because you have me COMPLETELY figured out

First of all, I'm not still sad over the 03 Series. I just hate the Marlins. I always have and probably always will.

Thanks for the tissues, I needed them

Damn straight I hate Roger Clemens. If he or Andy came back and actually WON a World Series, I'd welcome them back. But it wouldn't be like I'd be their biggest fans. In fact, I probably wouldn't even cheer for them until they proved themselves again. See, this is what a lot of other people don't understand about Clemens and the Yankees. It wasn't YOUR team. It'd be like Willis retiring and then joining a team that you loath (like the Yankees). Now really, can you honestly sit their at your computer and say "wow, he's pitching for his favorite team growing up. How can I argue with that? I hope he does swell up there with New York and wins MANY MANY championships & Cy Young awards?" No f'n way. You'd be as pissed as I am about Clemens.

And yes I rooted for the White Sox because I hate Houston. Call me childish or whatever but is that gonna take away the World Series title from Chicago? Not to mention I live in this hell hole state and have to listen & see it everywhere I turn ("Astro-mania")

Don Jasani, I'll agree with you that the Marlins don't get a lot of respect and/or coverage. Why the state of Florida doesn't support them is beyond me. But as I said, I'll be rooting against them again this year.

DJ, nice pitching lineups but do you feel comfortable with the bullpen? Other than Sturtze & Mo, I think all these other guys are new. They gonna be able to "cut it" as they say in the Big Apple? I really wish they would have resigned Tom Gordon and that he could accept his role as a setup man. No offense Tom, but the Phillies aren't going anywhere this year and then we'll have another Tejada one our hands. A guy who goes to a bad team for the money and than b*tches about "well how come we never win?"

If one is to lie Irishman, at least make a competent attempt at it.

Me, and I bet DA as well, are pissed still as Marlins fans over the infamous FireSale of 1997, as well the recent firesale, and fucking nightmares I have of them moving to friggin Las Vegas. Hopefully the Fish get that damn new stadium quite soon.

Fact is, that is me being annoyed with some franchise event that didn't involve friggin competition.

Really Irish, you still don't resent being humiliated at home....in Game 6...to the Marlins....to a pitcher that I believe only had 3/4 days of rest? Better yet, losing to a franchise that spent at least $100 million less than your Yanks did?

Fuck, I would still be angry over that if I was a fan. Sure I would get over it over time, but dammit it would still eat away at me. That is why I don't believe you either that the Yanks being beaten in four straight games....after winning the first three...to the archnemesis Boston RedSox...doesn't bother you.

As for Roger Clemens, what the fuck does he have to prove to you? He's a fucking freak of nature that we'll be telling our grandchildren, possibly the greatest pitcher of the last 50 years who even last year was a finalist for yet another Cy Young trophy, despite being an old man.

So you got pissy that he left the Yankees. Big deal. How about you get over it?

Dammit Irishman, this proves again what I always knew about you. I may have problems with JJ many times(just check out that recent "Retirement" thread in the main room), but at least he is logical and rational in the sports department.

However, you are just a damn punk kid in the body of a college graduate.

Respect due is respect earned, no matter where, when, or who. Even Alex Rodriguez's pretty great MVP season last year or Rivera being worthy of the Hall of Fame. Team partisanship clouds judgment.

ronnie, as I told you (and I'm not lying) that the 03 Series doesn't bother me anymore. It did until the 2004 playoffs and as you pointed out the whole boston "winning" thing. That's fueled my anger now this past year+ or so. The whole Marlines episode of 03 and the Angels episode of 02 I'm over. However, that still doesn't mean that I have warm, fuzzy feeling for Josh Beckett. I still hate him and even more so now that he's with boston

And I don't remember where I said that boston beating us doesn't bother me. In fact, it still haunts me to this day. But not the Marlins. I got some satisfaction when they haven't made the playoffs I believe the past 2 years.

As for Clemens, as I said, it didn't happen to you and I didn't figure you could relate. However, you still never answered my question. Would you or DA do backflips if the D-Train "retired" and than a couple of weeks later come out and played for the Yanks, a team that you really loathe? As for your other comments, there's no need for name calling. We have enough of that in the General Discussion area and thought you were more mature to argue in a more civilized manner.

How many games did Tanyon Sturtze give away for us last year? I think he is over rated.

DS

I always liked Sturtze and thought, for the most part, he was reliable. But again, there's gonna be a lot of new faces in the pen this year which makes me a little uneasy.

I think Sturtze is a great pitcher, but he has some kind of mental issue (which I suspect could be helped immensely with Ron Guidry as the new pitching coach) where it takes him a few batters to settle in, and then, he seems to lock in the strike zone and have his way.

DJ, you never answered my question from a few posts ago amigo

I don't know if Gordon would bitch, after all, he played for the mediocre White Sox for all those years. If anything, he could bitch about leaving them for the Yanks and then they win the World Series 3 years later...

As far as the bullpen, there is no way I can truthfully say that I am comfortable with the 'pen because I haven't seen most of these new guys in action. Even the guys we've had for a couple of years (Proctor, Henn) aren't players I'd have on my roster, let alone as "reliable" (though Proctor has shown promise with that fastball).

However, like I said with Sturtze, Ron "Gator" Guidry is going to make a huge difference in this team, imho. He brings a fresh approach that has been lacking with Mel, who I miss for sentimental reasons but I think might have lost his touch. It is a good thing to see someone new take over the duties to see if we can bring this unit together.

Actually, what I'm most surprised (and a bit perturbed) about is that Aaron Small isn't listed as one of the starting pitchers. Sorry, but fuck Jason Wright. He should have to earn his spot in the rotation. Small did a spectacular job last year, defying ANY expectations (who actually had heard of Aaron Small unless you played with the Clippers or the Thunder in MVP Baseball :p ).

From what it sounds like, Johnson has finally figured out what he was missing - he said he wasn't getting enough proper rotation/alignment with is throwing arm...its on Yankees.com.

If I were managing the Yanks, this is what my rotation would look like:

Johnson
Mussina
Wang
Chacon
Small

Pavano and Wright, until they prove themselves, would be spot starters. In reserve starting duties would be Sturtze, Leiter, and yes, Hideo Nomo (if we've still got him :p ).

I couldn't agree with you more than here. Most of these guys I haven't seen in action either. Not to mention it sometimes takes a guy a season for "settle" down in New York (a la Alex Rodriguez).

Do you think the Gator will have an immediate impact? As I stated above, I'm willing to give him this season with almost no expectations. Even though he has played for the Yanks, this is a totally new and different job and I'm willing to bet he'll do better next year with a year of experience under his belt than he may do in 2006

I agree, I'd have Small up there on the rotation too and Pavano and Wright (Jared that is, not Jason ) should have to prove themselves. However, the Yankees shot themselves in the foot with Wright for signing him to that ridiculous contract. And for that, unfortunatley, Small has to pay for there sins. BTW, any possible way to grab one of the last "Asian Connection T-Shirt"?

Irishman -

Thank you for not responding to ronnierocket's attack on you in the same manner.

ronnierocket -

You were out of line when you made that personal comment to Irishman earlier today and you owe him an apology. There's no place for attacks like that on a fellow member here. You wanna disagree? Fine. Just stop the name calling.