I'd just prefer the media would shed this image of David v. Goliath in these Red Sox/Yankees battles, where the Red Sox are constantly the hard-luck club that doesn't have money or great players at every position but their camaraderie and fan base drive them forward, while the Evil Empire Yankees use their deep pocketbooks and selfish greed to buy championships, ruining the game of baseball and driving smaller market teams out of business.

Because that's crap, and I think we all recognize it.

Like:

"We can't operate like the Yankees." - Theo Epstein, after the Yankees traded three low-level prospects for Cory Lidle and Bobby Abreu.

Right, because they didn't just spend $51 million for a phone call and another $8-$10 million per year plus incentives on a pitcher who has never started a Major League game.

Cry me a river!

I'd just prefer the media would shed this image of David v. Goliath in these Red Sox/Yankees battles, where the Red Sox are constantly the hard-luck club that doesn't have money or great players at every position but their camaraderie and fan base drive them forward, while the Evil Empire Yankees use their deep pocketbooks and selfish greed to buy championships, ruining the game of baseball and driving smaller market teams out of business.

Because that's crap, and I think we all recognize it.

Like:

"We can't operate like the Yankees." - Theo Epstein, after the Yankees traded three low-level prospects for Cory Lidle and Bobby Abreu.

Right, because they didn't just spend $51 million for a phone call and another $8-$10 million per year plus incentives on a pitcher who has never started a Major League game.

Cry me a river!

I agree the Red Sox can't presently complain about money, but the rest of us can criticize the uneven playing field.

We just have to wait each year until October when smaller salaried teams with smaller paychecks and egos, but bigger hearts go to NY and and smoke Yanee ass while A-Rod, Giambi, Sheffield and the Unit sit silently in the dugout with a deer in the headlights look.

Rank Team Total Payroll

1 New York Yankees $194,663,079 (Playoffs)
2 Boston Red Sox $120,099,824
3 Los Angeles Angels $103,472,000
4 Chicago White Sox $102,750,667
5 New York Mets $101,084,963 (Playoffs)
6 Los Angeles Dodgers $98,447,187 (Playoffs)
7 Chicago Cubs $94,424,499
8 Houston Astros $92,551,503
9 Atlanta Braves $90,156,876
10 San Francisco Giants $90,056,419
11 St. Louis Cardinals $88,891,371 (Playoffs, WSC)
12 Philadelphia Phillies $88,273,333
13 Seattle Mariners $87,959,833
14 Detroit Tigers $82,612,866 (Playoffs)
15 Baltimore Orioles $72,585,582
16 Toronto Blue Jays $71,915,000
17 San Diego Padres $69,896,141 (Playoffs)
18 Texas Rangers $68,228,662
19 Minnesota Twins $63,396,006 (Playoffs)
20 Washington Nationals $63,143,000
21 Oakland Athletics $62,243,079 (Playoffs)
22 Cincinnati Reds $60,909,519
23 Arizona Diamondbacks $59,684,226
24 Milwaukee Brewers $57,568,333
25 Cleveland Indians $56,031,500
26 Kansas City Royals $47,294,000
27 Pittsburgh Pirates $46,717,750
28 Colorado Rockies $41,233,000
29 Tampa Bay Devil Rays $35,417,967
30 Florida Marlins $14,998,500[/code]

The last 10 World Series winners have been: the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals (#11), the 2005 Chicago White Sox (#13), the 2004 Boston Red Sox (#2), the 2003 Florida Marlins (#25), the 2002 Los Angeles Angels (#15), the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks (#8), the 2000 New York Yankees (#1), the 1999 New York Yankees (#1), the 1998 New York Yankees (#2), and the 1997 Florida Marlins (#7).

With the exception of 2003, all the World Series winners were within the top 15 teams in salaries.

The 2004 Red Sox team is still the most expensive world champion team to be fielded in history.

Sure, you can fool yourself and look at ranks, but look at the gap among payrolls. There is a wider gap between the Yankees and #2 Boston in payroll than there is between Boston and #27 Pittsburgh!
And that gap continues to grow.

Luxury tax? It's a bucket of water against an inferno.

Shame on you D-J, you are sounding more and more like Irishman, and that my friend is NOT GOOD.
Please, don't whine like he does, PLEASE?

and just to twist those words back around.
Yes, and the Yankees are the most expensive team fielded to NOT win the World Championship.

Wow, you people really let those Boston fans get to you, don't you.

The whining is way to much for us avg. posters to stand.
The greatest thing about last years season was watching the Yankees lose and go home, broken down by what had been the worst team in baseball the year before.

Now please don't take this as a shot against the Yankees, it is not. The sweet smile that crossed my face that night was for good old Irishman. Nothing shuts him up like when the Yankees take a good old ass kicking.

He then has to come back with "what about" this or that. Whinning all the way.

Oh, and if this is knocking another BB poster, I will take my banning like a man!

Yes, and the Yankees are the most expensive team fielded to NOT win the World Championship.

And fathersson, as you so "conviently" forgot to mention, the Yankees weren't the only team to lose to Detroit, the A's did too my friend. You know, prior to last year, every team the Yankees lost to in the playoffs went on to win the World Series (Arizona, Anaheim, Florida, Boston)

And I don't see how the Yankees "took an ass kicking" last night. Hell, they weren't even the #2 bidders in the Matsuzaka race. The OTHER NY team was. And I guess if not overspending on an unproven free agent is losing, then the Yankees got crushed.

FS - BANNED!

Well since you're so afraid to flaunt your favorite team fathersson, how many championships have they won in, oh, let's say, the past DECADE!? Hmm...worry about your own house before you worry about the Yankees and their "spending spree" (since that's all they've done since this offseason's begun)

No, I mean the last night of the season. Watching that last game, and so many in the place where we were watching were saying the same thing. GOOD BYE YANKEES!


at least you banned me while I am still on the boards. I came back to find out that I was banned last time.


Good to see you around!

Bombers mull pitch
for Pineiro

BY PETER BOTTE
and BILL MADDEN
The Yankees already have Andy Pettitte in the fold, they likely have Kei Igawa on the way and they still have Roger Clemens in their sights whenever he decides about next year.

But a person familiar with the Yankees' thinking said the team also has renewed interest in righthanded pitcher Joel Pineiro, who hit the free-agent market yesterday following a subpar season with Seattle. He was one of several players granted free agency because he was not tendered a contract by his 2006 club by Tuesday's midnight deadline.

Pineiro, 28, earned $6.8 million last season when he went 8-13 with a career-worst 6.36 ERA over 40 appearances - including 25 starts before he was shifted to the bullpen in August. The Yanks also had expressed interest in Pineiro before the July 31 trade deadline before acquiring Cory Lidle in the Bobby Abreu trade.

Of course, there are a few danger signs to consider in an exploding market for mediocre pitchers. Pineiro's 58-55 lifetime record is not that different from that of former teammate Gil Meche, who recently earned a five-year commitment worth $55 million from Kansas City despite a 55-44 career mark. And Jason Marquis, who sported a 6.02 ERA last season, signed a three-year contract in excess of $20 million last week with the Cubs.

Pineiro went 30-18 combined over 2002-03, but has gone just 21-35 over the past three seasons, including stints on the disabled list with shoulder and elbow injuries.

Still, Pineiro also went 1-0 with a 3.63 ERA and one save in 15 relief appearances last season for the Mariners. He could provide the Yankees with some flexibility in case Igawa and/or Clemens is not signed - especially because injured starters Randy Johnson and Carl Pavano are not certain to be ready to start the season.

The Yanks have until Dec.28 to come to terms with Arn Tellem, the agent for Igawa, whose rights were obtained from the Hanshin Tigers for $26 million via the posting process last month.

Agent Randy Hendricks also reiterated in an E-mail yesterday that Clemens "will not make a decision until 2007." Hendricks said he's "not yet certain" which day next week Pettitte will be in New York to take a physical. The Yanks expect their doctors to examine the veteran lefty early next week to complete their one-year $16 million deal (with a matching $16 million player option for 2008).

"Andy's still on his hunting trip, but it should be next week," Hendricks said.

N.Y. Yankees talking to first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz

2006/12/15
By Ken Davidoff NEW YORK, Newsday


In their search for a first baseman, the Yankees are contemplating a platoon, a solution that would further increase the already significant possibility that Bernie Williams won't have a place on next year's roster.

The Yankees are speaking to free agent Doug Mientkiewicz, a Met in 2005 and the man who caught the last out of the 2004 Red Sox's World Series victory (and proceeded to keep the ball). Mientkiewicz, a left-handed hitter, would share the job with Andy Phillips or Rule 5 selection Josh Phelps.

The Yankees also have considered a trade for Seattle's Richie Sexson, but in their quest to cut payroll, they have so far been willing to take Sexson, who is owed US$28 million through 2008, only if there is some financial relief. The Mariners reportedly weren't amenable to the idea of taking Carl Pavano in return for Sexson. Mientkiewicz, 32, figures to come relatively cheap, as he played in only 91 games for the Royals last season. A back injury, which eventually required season-ending surgery, prevented him from playing after July 25.

He is well known for his defense, and the Yankees, who have suffered from Jason Giambi's subpar first-base glove for much of the past five seasons, like the idea of deploying a steady defensive presence at first. Mientkiewicz would be especially valuable in light of the throwing problems that Alex Rodriguez experienced last season and Derek Jeter's occasional short-hop throws from shortstop. In that regard, Mientkiewicz could be viewed as more useful than free agent Shea Hillenbrand, who is a better hitter and a worse fielder.

If the Yankees used a first-base platoon, they could carry seven infielders (including Giambi at designated hitter and a re-signed Miguel Cairo), two catchers, four outfielders and 12 pitchers. If they decided to go without Cairo, they might go with 13 pitchers, a nod to manager Joe Torre's liberal use of relievers.

There are multiple roster permutations that don't feature the ultra-popular Williams, who would like to return to the Yankees for a 17th season but has been left dangling so far.

Outside of settling first base, the Yankees' work is largely done this winter. They need to sign Kei Igawa, the Japanese left-hander whose rights they won through the posting process, by midnight Dec. 29, and they want to sign a left-handed reliever.

I'm thinking about trying out for an amateur draft and getting Scott Boras as my agent...look at my stats:

-Fastball 82 mph
-Cut fastball 80mph
-Sinking curveball in the 65mph
-Knuckleball 50mph
-Out of shape
-Out of practice
-Decent fielding skills
-Poor runner
-Hits for power (has to, because he can't run)

Yep, I figure I could command about $3 million per year plus a $10 million dollar signing bonus in today's market.

I'm thinking about trying out for an amateur draft and getting Scott Boras as my agent...look at my stats:

-Fastball 82 mph
-Cut fastball 80mph
-Sinking curveball in the 65mph
-Knuckleball 50mph
-Out of shape
-Out of practice
-Decent fielding skills
-Poor runner
-Hits for power (has to, because he can't run)

Yep, I figure I could command about $3 million per year plus a $10 million dollar signing bonus in today's market.

Did you also see where NASCAR'S Jeff Gordon's bride since this pass Nov. is pregnant and due in July.

I guess she walked down the aisle with a bun in the oven!
Who do you think the real father of the kid is?

AS rumors have it, Jeff doen't really like girls that much.

Chavez tearing it up in Venezuela
Veteran hoping to make Yankees as reserve catcher in 2007
By Kristen Zimmerman / Special to MLB.com



Raul Chavez has been labeled a "journeyman" for much of his career. He's a 33-year-old reserve catcher, who has spent 16 years in professional baseball, bouncing around from organization to organization and never spending a full season in the Majors.

After the Yankees signed him to a Minor League contract on Dec. 6, his next move will either be in the Bronx or Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the team's Triple-A affiliate. The Yankees signed Chavez with the intent of having him compete with Wil Nieves for the backup catcher position, and Chavez is trying to prove his worth with the bat in his native Venezuela this offseason.

A career .212 hitter in over 405 Major League at-bats, Chavez has turned up the offense against Venezuela Winter League pitchers. In 26 games for the Navegantes del Magallanes, all of which he started behind the plate, Chavez is batting .325 and is in the midst of a 12-game hitting streak. He's also hitting .350 with runners in scoring position.

Chavez and 12 other prospects in the Yankees organization are currently playing in Venezuela, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

Venezuela Winter League

2B Carlos Mendoza -- After tearing through Venezuelan pitching during the Thanksgiving week, Mendoza has just one hit in his last 13 at-bats to lower his batting average to .287. The shortstop hasn't played since Nov. 30.

3B Marcos Vechionacci -- After being absent from the Navegantes del Magallanes lineup for almost two months, Vechionacci returned on Dec. 6, striking out in a pinch-hit at-bat. He started at third base two days later and went 0-for-3.

RHP Francisco Butto -- Butto picked up his 12th save of the season on Dec. 8 and hasn't allowed a run in his last two outings. Overall, he's 2-3 with a 4.58 ERA.

RHP Gerardo Casadiego -- Casadiego's been one of the Yankees' most consistent relievers in Venezuela this offseason. Since Nov. 15, he hasn't surrendered a run and has recorded three wins over 11 1/3 scoreless innings. For the year, he's 4-2 with a 2.12 ERA.

LHP Edgar Omana -- Omana has appeared in just one game as of late, coming on in relief on Dec. 6. He faced two batters and walked both before being lifted. His ERA still stands at 9.00.

RHP Scott Patterson -- Patterson hasn't pitched since Nov. 16, and he's 1-0 with a 4.30 ERA.

Dominican Winter League

RHP Erick Abreu -- Abreu still carries a hefty opposing batting average (.321), but he also managed to lower his ERA from 1.00 to 0.83 in the past two weeks. He has 13 strikeouts while walking just two in 21 2/3 total innings.

RHP Juan De Leon -- The 26-year-old had another poor outing to raise his ERA to 14.71. De Leon gave up two earned runs in one inning, which gives him six earned runs in 3 2/3 total innings.

RHP Jorge De Paula -- De Paula hasn't had much success this offseason, but he did manage to lower his ERA slightly to 6.04 after throwing a few scoreless innings.

RHP Bryan Villalona -- Villalona is another Yankees prospect who's struggled in the Dominican Republic. He's 0-2 with an ERA of 7.24 and has struck out eight while walking seven in 13 2/3 innings.

RHP Edwar Ramirez -- Ramirez continued to be Licey's most dependable strikeout performer this season, setting down 31 batters and walking just seven in 21 innings. But when batters are making contact against the reliever, they're getting hits. Ramirez has a 5.14 ERA thus far.

Mexican Winter League

SS Ramiro Pena -- Pena joined the Tomateros de Culiacan in late October, but he hasn't made much of an impact. The shortstop was in the starting lineup for the first couple of weeks in Mexico, but he batted just .149 and, lately, has served more as a pinch-hitter and late-inning defensive replacement.

The Yanks are interested in free-agent catcher Toby Hall (who was non-tendered by the Dodgers) as Jorge Posada's backup, but a person familiar with Hall's thinking said he'll first pursue a job with a club promising the opportunity for more playing time. Philadelphia, which recently lost Mike Lieberthal to L.A., is considered a strong possibility....The Phillies might sign him and have him share time with Carlos Ruiz behind the plate. Though they say they're content with Wil Nieves and Raul Chavez battling for a job, the Yankees could also have some interest in Rod Barajas.

Source: Rotoworld.com, NY Daily News

Yanks pitching prospect Hector Noesi, 19, was suspended 50 games to start next season for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. He made five appearances in the Gulf Coast League last season....Pitchers and catchers are slated to report on Feb. 13, the Yanks announced.

Source: NY Daily News

If the Pittsburgh Pirates wind up trading closer Mike Gonzalez, it appears the most likely destination for the left-hander is the New York Yankees.

Baseball sources indicated Friday that Yankees are willing to part with left-handed hitting outfielder Melky Cabrera straight-up in a trade for Gonzalez. But the Pirates reportedly want a second player included, though the Yankees are highly unlikely to put right-hander Scott Proctor into the deal.

Cabrera, 22, hit .280 with seven homers, 50 RBIs and 12 steals in 130 games as a rookie last season after batting .385 with four homers and 24 RBIs in 31 games with Class AAA Columbus.

The Boston Red Sox also have interest in Gonzalez. The Red Sox reportedly want more than just Gonzalez in any trade for outfielder Coco Crisp and their need for relief help lessened Friday when they signed left-hander J.C. Romero as a free agent and traded with the Los Angeles Angels for right-hander Brendan Donnelly.

Source: Times Online

Rodriguez Talks Retirement, but No One Hears

By MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT
Published: December 16, 2006

Toward the end of his most challenging season in baseball, Alex Rodriguez told Bob Costas in a nationally syndicated radio interview that he might not play once his current 10-year contract expired after the 2010 season.

“I don’t really see myself playing past this contract,” Rodriguez said on “Costas on the Radio,” a weekly program that is heard on 120 stations, but not in New York. The interview was conducted toward the middle of September and began airing Sept. 16.

In the interview, Rodriguez is less specific at other moments, saying he might play beyond his current contract “but not way past it.”

Professional athletes often speak of retirement, only to keep playing for as long as they are physically capable of standing up. Nevertheless, Rodriguez’s remarks, coming toward the conclusion of a season in which he struggled in the field and at the plate and was often booed by Yankees fans, seemed to take Costas by surprise.

“I thought the phone would be ringing off the hook the next day,” Costas said of an anticipated news media reaction that never came, perhaps because many reporters remained unaware of what was said.

“I believe he was speaking honestly from the frame of mind that he was in at the time,” Costas said in a telephone interview yesterday. “He was very matter of fact and there was no anger in his voice. It was a tone of resignation. He said a lot of the joy of the game was gone, and even if had a reasonable shot at breaking records, he would walk away from the game.”

Attempts to reach Rodriguez’s agent, Scott Boras, to comment on the interview were unsuccessful.

Rodriguez will be 35 when his record-breaking $252 million contract expires. He has 464 career home runs, and if he keeps playing until he is 40, or older, he would appear to have a good chance to set the career home run mark, regardless of what number Barry Bonds finally reaches. Still, Rodriguez told Costas that records would not affect his decision.

“To me, I have never been a guy that worries about numbers or has concerned himself with where I stand in the history books,” Rodriguez said. “I care about one thing, and that is winning, and that is it.”

The Yankees have not won a World Series in Rodriguez’s three seasons in the Bronx, and he has increasingly struggled in postseason play, to the point where he batted eighth in the Yankees’ final game in October, when they were eliminated in the first round by Detroit.

In the weeks that followed, there was speculation that the Yankees might even look to trade Rodriguez. That speculation has now died, but the issue of Rodriguez’s comfort level in New York has not. He seemed to acknowledge that issue in the interview, telling Costas: “I think the demand that is put on a player like me is so much more then the generic everyday guy.”

Source: NY Times

Yankees May Trade Cabrera; Igawa Contract Is Almost Done

By MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT
The New York Times
Published: December 17, 2006

The Yankees are in discussions with the Braves and the Pirates about a three-way deal that would send outfielder Melky Cabrera from the Yankees to the Braves, reliever Mike Gonzalez from the Pirates to the Yankees, and first baseman Adam LaRoche from the Braves to the Pirates, according to a baseball official.

The official, who was granted anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss trade possibilities publicly, also said that the Yankees were close to completing a five- year, $20 million contract with the Japanese pitcher Kei Igawa. The deal is likely to be completed tomorrow and is pending a physical.

The Yankees won the bid to negotiate with Igawa, who has pitched in Japan for eight seasons, on Nov. 28 and have 30 days to negotiate a contract with him. If no deal is struck within 30 days, then Igawa will return to pitch in Japan and the Yankees will get back the money they posted.

One hitch in the three-way deal between the Yankees, Pirates and Braves is the Yankees’ concern about Gonzalez’s elbow. Last season Gonzalez, a hard-throwing left hander, had tendinitis in his elbow and was placed on the 15-day disabled list in August.

The Yankees are in need of a left-handed pitcher out of their bullpen. They can part with Cabrera because their outfield for next season is set with Hideki Matsui in left, Johnny Damon in center and Bobby Abreu in right.

With Igawa’s signing, the Yankees would have six starting pitchers under contract for next season. Along with Chien-Ming Wang, Randy Johnson, Carl Pavano, the Yankees resigned Mike Mussina this off-season and signed Andy Pettitte.

Well, breathe easy, Boston; the Red Sox finally have Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Only took them a month of negotiating, a fast-approaching deadline and $103.1 million to sign the 26-year-old pitcher, who over eight seasons in those tiny Japanese League ballparks was 108-60 with a 2.95 earned-run average.

The Red Sox spent $52 million on a six-year contract for the right-hander.

They sent the other $51.1 million to the Seibu Lions, who owned the rights to the MVP of March's inaugural World Baseball Classic.

And everyone thought only the Yankees printed money.

So what does $103.1 million buy the Red Sox?

Perhaps a lot compared to what other teams have paid this offseason for free-agent pitchers.

That $103.1 million -- hey, it's only money -- looks like a bargain compared to the:

- $55 million for five years Kansas City threw at Gil Meche, who apparently was rewarded $1 million for each of his career victories in six years with Seattle.

- $40 million for four years the Chicago Cubs tossed at Ted Lilly, who had 49 victories over his last four years as a starter but averaged only 52/3 innings in those 120 starts.

- $40 million for four years the Chicago Cubs tossed at Ted Lilly, who had 49 victories over his last four years as a starter but averaged only 52/3 innings in those 120 starts.

- $34 million for three years Texas spent to keep Vincente Padilla and his 4.50 ERA.

- $24 million for three years the Phillies gave as a welcome-home bouquet to Adam Eaton, who they originally selected with the 11th overall pick of the 1996 amateur draft only to trade to San Diego in 1999.

Then again, maybe Matsuzaka turns out like so many of the 18 other Japanese pitchers who were expected to be the next whomever after Masanori Murakam became the first with San Francisco in 1964.

Remember Hideki Irabu? How about Kaz Ishii?

Take away Hideo Nomo with his 123-109 record and Matsuzaka's predecessors have a combined career record of 260-297.

Source: The Patriot News