Yes, I caught that, but it isn't just Boston Fans that are saying it. It is fans of all the other teams. You just hear the Boston fans the most as they are your hated rivals.

Yes, but it means less coming from Boston than it does from say, Kansas City.

Want to piss off the Red Sox, and find a better set-up man than Kyle Farnsworth?

Sign Eric Gagne. Yes, I realize he's the Mark Prior/Kerry Wood version of a closer because of his injuries, but let's see if they couldn't haggle a deal that is incentive-laden and based upon games played in...the Red Sox desperately need a closer after letting Foulke go and moving Papelbon to the starting rotation, and signing Gagne with the Yankees takes away the only decent closer on the market for the Red Sox, hurting their bullpen, while providing a solid set-up man (ala Tom Gordon) for Mariano Rivera.

Thoughts?

I'm game. Sure I wouldn't expect him to pitch much but I don't think they Yankees would go after him

Noooooooo!

How retarded can you be? This guy is a cancer in the lockeroom. Andy Phillips is a damn good fielding first baseman. Why are they trying to fuck this up?

Jeter didn't win the MVP

I'm a Giants fan and Shea Hillenbrand came to my team midway through last season after all the problems in Toronto. I wouldn't be so quick to call the guy a cancer given the situation in which he left the Blue Jays. I think the fact that the team gave him a hard time for taking time off in order to finalize an adoption of a child, which in the eyes of Hillenbrand and his wife is the same as having a child of their own, was pretty screwed up on Toronto's part.

I wouldn't mind seeing him come back to the Giants, so honestly I'm rooting against your yankees getting him

According to Ben Maller, premiere free-agent lefty Barry Zito wants to play in New York, which should put the Yankees and Mets in a bidding war for his services. If this is true, the Yankees had BETTER sign him. The work is practically done for them. However, they are sure to be in the sweepstakes for Ted Lilly, who is seeking a three-to-four-year deal at an average of $8 to $9 million a year. F*ck Ted Lilly! GET ZITO!

Lucchino brushed aside suggestions that the bid was made just to block the New York Yankees from signing Matsuzaka.

"I assure you that the notion that this is a primarily defensive maneuver is preposterous," Lucchino said, adding that 51.1 million is "obviously a historical number but we are talking about a national living treasure and an exceptional baseball player."

F*cking hypocrite

This will be the hardest thread to stay away from...

Then don't. Besides, I don't wanna gloat only over Irishman when the Sox kick the Yanks' butt next year.

Keep telling yourself that SC. Where did boston finish the year? 3rd place, behind the Yankees AND Blue Jays I'd be more worried about the Jays at this point than the Yankees Good to see you back in this thread, DJ!

Boston trying to reduce their Matsuzaka bid?

BOSTON (AP) - The Boston Red Sox cannot reduce their $51.1 million bid for Daisuke Matsuzaka in order to sign him, even if his Japanese team agrees to take less, baseball officials said Tuesday.

"There are no side deals in the situation," said Jimmie Lee Solomon, executive vice president of baseball operations in the commissioner's office. "Everybody's been assured that's not allowed, and everybody's been made aware of the rules."
A Red Sox official said the team is not trying to reduce the bid, called a posting fee, which was by far the highest in baseball history. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team is not commenting publicly on the negotiations.

Solomon said the posting process was clear to all teams before it started. There has been no complaint about Boston's handling of the matter, and no reason to believe the Red Sox are not following the rules, he said.

"There were some reports that we heard, but those reports proved to be not true," he said.

Boston bid $51.1 million for the right to negotiate with Matsuzaka, the MVP of the World Baseball Classic in March. The team has until the end of Dec. 14 to sign him or he would return to the Seibu Lions for another season before he could be posted again.

If so, the Red Sox would keep their money. Reports from Japan, where Red Sox president Larry Lucchino went to negotiate a long-term "working relationship" with Seibu, centered on the possibility that the Lions would pitch in for Matsuzaka's contract to make the deal happen.

"That would not be allowed," Solomon said. "The deal is that the Red Sox are to pay the Lions the posting fee. They are to negotiate (Matsuzaka's contract) free from any other negotiations that might be going on."

Lucchino said in Japan that the Red Sox have sent a fair and comprehensive offer to Matsuzaka's agent, Scott Boras, as a follow-up to the record-setting bid.

"(It's) obviously a historical number but we are talking about a national living treasure and an exceptional baseball player," Lucchino said. "We know it's been his dream to play in the major leagues and we are proud that he will live out his dream in Boston with the Boston Red Sox."

Source: FOX Sports

Boston doesn't have a f*cking leg to stand on now! $51.1 just to BID for Matsuzaka, and today they signed Julio Lugo to a 4-year $36 million deal PLUS they signed J.D. Drew to a 5-year $70 million deal. NOW who's the evil empire!?

Sexson Might Be 1st Option

While the Yankees met with Shea Hillenbrand's agent yesterday, another option at first base surfaced. And while Richie Sexson is an expensive alternative, it could be one for the Yankees.

The Mariners have let teams know they are looking to move Sexson and third baseman Adrian Beltre in order to reduce payroll. It's believed the Mariners are clearing money in order to go after free agent Barry Zito.

Casey Close, Sexson's agent, had a meeting last night with Mariners brass to gauge its desire to move the right-handed slugger who batted .264 with 34 homes and 107 RBIs last season. He has two years and $28 million left on a four-year, $50 million contract he signed prior to the 2005 season.

While the Yankees aren't going to give up Chien-Ming Wang or Phil Hughes for Sexson, a package headed by Melky Cabrera could entice the Mariners if they are willing to eat some of Sexson's money. If they don't pay part of the money, they can't expect much back.

So what do you guys think? Think Sexson can hang in New York? Should the Yanks trade away Melky Cabrera to get him? DJ, if you're still out there, thoughts?

Gee Irish, Yanks bring in another slow corner-man that either hits dingers or hits air....its just what the franchise needs!

BTW, Boston will be a laughing stock if they fail to sign that Japanese pitcher.

I'm hoping so! I hear the 2 are very far apart on a contract. HOO RAY Scott Boras

The Yanks sign Pettitte today to a one-year contract worth $16 million. Gee, ANOTHER player past his prime (nothing new here). The only positive I see out of this is if he can convince Roger to come back as well. But I'm still pissed that they haven't even attempted to sign Zito!

Do they even need Barry Zito? Ask yourself that Irish.

Actually, I like that Andy P. is coming back for the Yanks. It brings back a reliable veteran that was in the midst of those 4 titles in 5 years run.

Also, its just such a boast for the fanbase.

Thing is, will Papa George, believing that its a divine privlige to play for the Yankees, give the absolute schedueling benefits that the Astros have given to Clemens?

That question is why Clemens could, or could not, re-join the Yanks.

Hell, is he even coming back?

Wait a minute, he is coming back. I need to quit assuming that Clemens will ever retire, like with Favre.

ABSOLUTELY! They need another left-hander (or needed before they signed Pettitte). Zito is the best lefty on the market and a proven Cy Young/front of the rotation kind of guy. He's not "dominate" as Clemens, Pedro and others were in their early years but the man is a proven winner. I cannot understand why they'd take the health risk with Andy Pettitte instead of Zito. Sure Zito will cost more but he'll be more durable and they can sign him for longer. Again, they need another big lefty. If they signed Zito, they could have a rotation like:

1) Wang
2) Zito
3) Moose
4) Unit
5) Pavano/Igasawa

I'd feel much more confident in that rotation than with Pettitte (as much as I'm happy to see him in pinstripes again, he's gonna be another Jaret Wright)

DJ! Where you at? COME BACK!

Don't worry about Pettites health. Steroids make you bounce backfrom injuries more quickly.

And what is that supposed to mean?

Just a light-hearted reference to remarks made by Jason Grimsley that Pettite and Clemens had used steroids.

Oh yeah I forgot about that guy

Perhaps Zito is only allowed to talk to NL teams.

As for Pettite, he and Clemens took off when the Yankees really needed them. I, for one, am not thrilled to have him back.

I love how some Yankee fans have this sense of entitlement to them. Pettite left New York, after reliable good seasons and a Yankees organization that took him WAY TOO granted as being a member of the organization.

Besides, like Clemens, he wanted to go back home to Texas. But hey, Astros impotence in runs-production would drive anyone away from home.

Hell, New York Times article about the Pettite signing, had a thing about his kids crying when they heard the news, because they really thought Pettite was going to force them to move back to New York.

Really, these Yankees fans that, perhaps, had just cause in attacking A-Rod's failure in the playoffs, but didn't criticize Jeter and Sheffield for their impotence in the same playoffs. Though, some NYC Paper editorials did trash Jeter, so I can't be too rough honestly.

Really Babe, this is typical. He's reliable, he's of the old guard, and most of all, he's much more of a spiriting boast for the fanbase than any Barry Zito signing can.

Now Irish, you never seem to understand why Zito hasn't been seriously approached by the Yankees. When you hammer a nail, you don't do it sideways or under it, you SLAM IT on the head of the nail.

Fact is, Brian Cashman and the GM Office is just not excited in spending big bucks/long-years worth guaranteed contracts, after they got burned with Pavano. Randy Johnson and earlier debacles like Kevin Brown and Jones don't help either.

If anything, I like what Cashman is doing. The office is investing much more into the farm system. Get that once-plentiful garden sprouting country fair-winning giant pumpkins again! Also, that negotiation with that Japanese pitcher which hasn't gotten serious press coverage. $20+ million negotiation rights bid(though compared to $52 million, 20 isn't anything to write about) is basically, like the re-investment in the farm system, alternative methods of dealing with the pitching situation for the Yankees besides the status quo of big bucks/lengthy contracts on the Free Agent market.

Fact is, if Pettite and Clemens push the Yankees through the Division Round, and who knows, a World Series title after 7 years, I can't wait for you and Irish to go off about it, and I'll bring up this, and laugh my ass off.

Of course, he could tank.

Everyone is ignoring Kei Igawa (as evident by the fact that nobody is spelling his name correctly ). However, I am very excited about this Japanese left-hander. "Iron Nerves" as he's called doesn't have to be a barn-burning left-hander strikeout king for the Yankees - Chien Ming-Wang proved that last year - he has to simply be reliable and consistent. Igawa has been consistently in the top of the Japanese league in strikeouts, and won the Sawamura.

Strange thing is, I think its been a bit of poo-poo on Igawa after the monster Daisuke Matsuzaka (phantom) deal in Boston. When the Yankees were supposedly in the running for Matusaka as the lead bidder, Matsuzaka was either a.) not going to translate well to the MLB game b.) had pitched too many innings in Japan and was going to break down and/or c.) will not be able to adapt to the New York environment.

Yet, now that Boston won the bidding race, he's the best free agent available, instantly will save the franchise, and should be their #1 starter to dominate the ranks of the AL.

What horseshit.

I'm not denying Matsuzaka as a pitcher, because I too think he will be great (as my older posts have indicated). But please, let's get all of these closet Boston fans to put their hypocritical tongues back in.

When the Yankees won the bids for Igawa, all I hear is how he's a mediocre pitcher who will fail in the American baseball system (much like Matsuzaka's characterizations when the Yankees were in the lead), and "anonymous" league coaches and scouts decry Igawa as an overrated has-been.

How about a cup of shut-the-fuck-up?

Both of these guys have done well in their native country, but they are BOTH still question marks. If Boston fails to sign Matsuzaka, not only will they be the laughingstock of major league baseball, but they will also potentially lose Matsuzaka to another team (the Yankees?). It appears that their purse strings might not have been as open as they indicated. Cry me a river.

Plus, Igawa got the seal of approval from Hideki Matsui. That's good enough for me.

---

Don't sign Zito. Thank God they didn't sign Lilly, talking about getting robbed. The Cubs paid rape money to Lilly for a starter who is barely over .500 lifetime (59-58 record isn't exactly worthy of $40 million...no?). Zito is going to get even more than that for whomever signs him.

And I haven't liked Zito since his early-season bashing against the Yankees last year. He gets by with his location rather than his speed, and it can hurt if he isn't spot-on (ala Randy Johnson in 2005/6). If they could sign him for a reasonable amount ($20 million over 4 years?) I could see that. But not with the monster cash someone is going to shell out.

---
The Yankees pitching staff got exactly what it needed in Andy Pettitte. Sure, he's on the decline, and didn't have a good 2006 in comparison to previous years. But Pettitte is consistent, knows how to pitch in New York, is a superb playoff pitcher, and will provide the locker-room with a boost as well. A bit of the old guard. He's not going to be the same Andy Pettitte from the World Series years; I'm not expecting him to be, and no one else should be either. However, he should fill the end of the rotation in the Jon Lieber-reliable-starter-who-gets-outs type 4th man. That's what they need.

The Yankees rotation should shape up fine. Chien Ming-Wang will be the ace. Moose will be a solid #2 man. Johnson and Pettitte can duke it out for the middle of the rotation, but Johnson's ego may force him into the #3 slot. Pavano? He's a non-factor as far as I'm concerned. I'd dump him for prospects if I could. But I think he can battle Igawa for the #5 spot.

This is great for the farm system, because it keeps Jeff Karstens and, more significantly, Phil Hughes from being brought up to full-time MLB action before they are ready. Karstens did a great job as the emergency starter last time, but he needs more development time. Hughes needs action at the AAA-level. The Yankees now have a number of *decent* pitchers who can hopefully hold their own. And if (more appropriately, when?) the dinosaurs like Johnson go down, we've got a couple of options.

And watch Hughes during Spring Training this year - he was great last year. He will be great in a couple of years.

---

For the first-base situation, I'd love to see Richie Sexson come to the Yankees, but the Mariners aren't that stupid (at least, I don't think they are...). I remember when Sexson was punting monster shots out of my local Dunn Tire Park/Pilot Field AAA stadium when he played for the Indians farm club, the Buffalo Bisons. He's a good-fielding first baseman. And if Cashman can do the dirty deed and shop Pavano and cash for Sexson, I'd strike while the iron is hot.

Josh Phelps is like a free token. The Rule 5 draft gives the Yankees someone to compete with Andy Phillips during spring training, and he costs virtually nothing. But it should be noted that Phelps blows at fielding, and they could probably get a cardboard stand-up of Don Mattingly that would field better at 1B than either Giambi or Phelps. Phillips has shown proficiency at fielding (as he was originally a middle infielder) so he can play either first-base or the hot corner. If he could work with Donnie Baseball and improve his hitting consistency, then the job should be his.

Or, here's a radical thought.

Bernie Williams should be brought back again. Why not move him to first base? Sure, he doesn't have a strong arm, but its plenty for the infield. And he's a Gold Glove outfielder. This is the time when they could start getting him ready, unlike the trial-by-fire they gave Sheffield (although I come from the utility school of baseball, where I feel any player should be able to come in a play at an acceptable level at ANY position except for pitching). Bernie wants to come back. Let him complete his career in pinstripes at first-base. It isn't a knock on Williams - he knows he can't compete with guys like Damon, Abreu, and Cabrera with their fresh legs. Move him to first, and we've got at least a solid glove there until we can find a way to snare Pujols away from the Cardinals ( ).

Hooray! I'm back for five minutes.

Regards,
Double-J

Right.

Because J.D. Drew does have me quivering in my cleats.

THANK YOU DJ. Finally, someone that agrees with me about the Yanks with Zito.

Is it me, or are teams spending a ridiculous amount of money on average pitchers this year?

Yeah but Jeter did go 5-for-5 in Game 1 (that's 4 more hits than A-Rod had ALL series)



Yes, but remember, those were broken down Randy Johnson and Kevin Brown's (not in their prime like Barry Zito still is). Pavano sure has been a complete bust, but you can't fault ANYONE for the amount of injuries this guy has substained the past year and a half.




If Pettitte (and if Clemens comes back to New York) then yes I will cheer and be happy for the team. Winning a World Series title is much more important to me than a little personal beef with these 2 texans

What did Matsui say? I haven't heard him say anything about either Japanese pitcher thus far.





But didn't Boston think they had in-house resolution to their pitching problems last year too and look how badly they got burned.



I'm sorry but that was too good