I wish I had your head for the big deals.

Irish, you getting owned in this thread too? Too bad.

Meanwhile, 4 consecutive homeruns. I mean DAMN...

NOW you know that everyone is laughing at YOU
And right here in the YANKEE THREAD.

That make syou an allstar!

NOW you know that everyone is laughing at YOU
And right here in the YANKEE THREAD.

That makes you an allstar!

That is until he makes an error or strikes out with runners in scoring position, then the Yankee fans will forget everything that he's done this year, and the boos will start all over again! Jeez, you Yankee fans were ready to write off Jeter last week!

Seriously though, I think that you are right. Arod might even win the MVP this year. How about two New York players winning it : Arod and Beltran! Niiiiiice.

...his praises will be sung, until of course he makes an error or K's, and then Irish will probably be the quickest one to start booing and bad mouthing.

Glad to think you and others know me so well. It's very touching and laughable at the same time

Stop, stop, stop!!! This was a nice thread, where SOME people could post about their love of the sport and the team. It has turned into personal and vicious backbiting, and it's disgusting! You ALL sound like a bunch of jerks who are trying to see who can piss the greatest distance.

I'm a Yankee fan, through thick and thin. That doesn't mean that I don't appreciate another team's achievements, it doesn't mean that I don't despair when the Yankees are down, and it doesn't mean that I don't recognize their weaknesses. But cheer for them I will, and I think that the ridiculous and personal remarks that have been exchanged here take away from what USED to be a fun place to post and pick up gossip about the team, find out who was on the DL, who was being traded and for whom, and just general appreciation of the team and the game.

Stop, stop, stop!! And go sit in the corner is RIGHT.

I agree with you SB. This thread is fine when you, DJ, scarfacetm, myself and other Yankee fans can come in here and talk about the Yankees in a peaceful manner. But when fathersson, ronnie and Andy come in, they hijack the thread and it all goes to hell. I've stayed out of their "precious" Marlins thread and wish they would show us the same respect. Fathersson comes and goes like the wind so we should just pay him no nevermind.

I concur. Please cut the shit. This thread has now twice teetered on the verge of closing (I'd suspect) because of this stuff. Can we all just stop and talk about baseball please? Christ.

---

I really don't like the Hughes call up. On one hand, I'm very excited to finally see them give the kid a chance. On the other, I think this is a move made in haste (maybe by Papa George?) to try and keep the Yankees afloat early on in the season.

Granted, he has looked sharp in AAA, and we all know his dominance in the lower leagues. And, they are bringing him in "gently" by playing him against the Jays rather than the Red Sox (who, coincidentally, lost 7-3 to Toronto tonight).

He's clearly the best pitching prospect in baseball. But they need to make sure he doesn't end up as the biggest bust either. I still think its too early. He's only 20. WTF.

---

Rumour mill, according to Mike and the Mad Dog, is that Dontrelle Willis may be heading to New York before too long. I've never been high on Willis because I don't think he'll transition well to the AL East (given the previous transitions of former Marlins like Beckett, Pavano, etc.). But at this point? I'd ship Rasner and prospects for him.

---

Maybe George has a big birthday present for us. Roger Clemens has been training since late March, and will be ready to play the first week of May.

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The Yankees bullpen is, on paper, much better than it is in reality. 95% of that is due to overusage at this point in the season. I'm really surprised the way Torre burned up relievers tonight. Igawa already was the sacrificial lamb...plug in Colter Bean and just let him go.

---

Wang's return hopefully can right this ship. It really sucks with Kei Igawa as the anchor of the rotation. Now, with Wang and Pettitte, we at least have two pitchers that can pitch more than 5 innings (effectively no less). We need innings eaters. I hope you're hungry, Chien.

---

Surprise! Injury rumour - Carl Pavano is out for the season. No kidding. According to Sweeney Murti on Mike and the Mad Dog, Pavano told him today he has "shooting pains down his arm" and he doubts he'll be able to play again this season.

Can we just shoot this bastard and collect the insurance money? Ugh.

---

Gil Meche doesn't seem so bad right now.

---

Josh Phelps is still on pace to prove my prediction correct - he'll be the everyday first baseman by the end of May. His offense has remained solid, and he's come up with some big hits.

---

Wil Nieves? Ugh. I think I could catch and hit better than he can. You can't tell me that Javy Lopez is worse than this.

---

Thank God A-Rod's going on his tear. I still think Abreu is overrated, and Giambi still has signs of Cecil Fielder syndrome.

---

Let's hope Damon being spelled by Melky happens as infrequently as necessary. Melky as the leadoff hitter...ugh. He's hovering just barely above the Mendoza line.

Seriously...who else regrets not shipping him off for Mike Gonzalez in the offseason?

Hands? I'd expect a chorus.

---

Nobody can make that off-balance throw like D-J. A-Rod came close though.

---

The Good:

- It's still early
- Wang is back tomorrow
- Matsui is back
- A-Rod streak continues

The Bad:

- The bullpen is overworked and tired
- No break until next week
- Mussina still not sure of return date
- Melky and Eye-Chart's nonexistent offense
- Colter Bean is "free" but still isn't MLB quality relief

The Ugly:

- Management is panicking and bringing up Hughes early
- Pavano looks to be done for the season (and his career)
- Chase Wright will probably run the gauntlet again
- Hughes' call-up means we have to throw someone on the waiver wire before sending them down
- Andy Pettitte is our best reliever
- Yankees tied for lowest # of save opportunities in MLB

I agree, Double-J. The biggest problem with the bullpen is the fact that they're called in by the fifth inning too often. Sure, it's not the best bullpen, but they're not going to bbe effective if they're overused.

Also, I think you hit the nail on the head with Willis. He's good, but not the dominant guy many claim he is. In fact, one of the best things about him is his ability to hit, which would be lost in the AL.

As you know, I'm not a Yankee fan, but while they have some problems, this pennant race hasn't started yet.

Well said SB! It seems that there are some who just come on here from time to time with the intention of starting up trouble. They contribute nothing to the topic itself and just try to start trouble one post after another. This is a sports thread with a topic about a sports team. You want to goof around with another fan, that's fine, rag on a player, that's ok too. We all kid around and rib each other about our teams. Nothing wrong with that as long as it's done in fun. But for those who just seem to come in here when they feel like it and make posts intentionally attacking and berating others, perhaps it's time for you to go and find some other mickey mouse website where you can have your pissing contests and make your attacks. So if you can't play nice here, then it's time to take your toys and go elsewhere. There's no room on these boards for the occasional poster who gives absolutely nothing but personal bullshit to a discussion.

BULLSHIT! THe problem is that as soon as someone come in here and makes a comment you have Irishman busting peoples balls like he is GOD and this is a private thread. He challanges you like you have to swear that you are a loyal Yankee fan or something.
Then he acts like a child swearing and bitching at Boston like a kid that has special needs or something.

Then you have him saying shit like I come and go, like I have no rights to post. Like I told you once before:
Sure no one came here to comment when all there was was reposted news reports over and over again, but now the season has started and we all get to post here so Irish grow up. This thread is fine when you, DJ, scarfacetm, myself and other Yankee fans can come in This is not a private thread, You don't get to pick the people who gets to post here, no rules have been broken so....

Oh and the best is him trying to cut deals to stay out of a the thread, if you want your won little club open up your own website and keep it private.

If Irish doesn't like what you post then it is being hijack? What kind of crap is this?

So if you want it peaceful my mick friend leave people alone and act like a true fan and not a punk kid.

Guys, the personal insults and references have to stop.

Rank on the opposing teams (if thats your style), denigrate an opposing player (if thats your style), but be prepared for others to respond negatively. Nobody has the right to tell someone else that he can't post here simply because he doesn't care for the other member's thoughts. If you're willing to dish it out you have to be prepared to take it, too.

Every member CAN, however, expect to be responded to in an adult-like manner (meaning no personal attacks). Stop the name calling!!!

Well said, SC.

How about posting in a respectful manner, guys? The way you guys are acting are sandbox like - at your age, why on earth do we have to tell you to stop picking on other members (not just in this thread but any thread), stop baiting each other, stop getting baited...

I think the general theme is "Grow Up."

Sure, they are chewing up this young pitching staff. What is going to happen is these young kids are going to be shell shocked and will never get up into their grove. They we will trade them off and they will become great pitchers for another club.

We never seem to get a workable balance between having a good healthy line up and a good healthy pitching staff.

It is not hard to see what George will do, as in the past George's ego will have them going out and overpaying for some quick fix. The real problem is that what once got you a great pitcher now only get you some Avg. Joe. The pitching shortage is a league problem. You just can't get some young talent to pop in here and face these kind of lineups. It just isn't that easy any more.

You then go out and overpay for some pitcher who is on his tail end of his game and is not again not a long term fix.

Even with one of the best lineups in baseball, with A-rod hitting them out left and right, we are still losing. The bullpen is toasted and we have a long way to go before a break. Oh, and Boston is once again in our sights starting Friday.

A whole new season with the same old problems.

You hit the nail right on the head, FS. That's exactly the problem. If there was young, talented pitching to be bought, the Yankees would have done it already. Instead, they'll make moves for pitchers like Johnson and Clemens, expecting them to be a fix, when they won't be. There's enough talent in the lineup, even in the face of potential injuries, that if the bullpen could hold onto a lead, there wouldn't BE a problem.

Btw, it was nice to see Mo back in form last night. 8th inning, 3 batters, what did he throw? Maybe 10 pitches?? I know it wasn't a save situation, but seeing him pitch like that certainly made ME feel better.

I don't know. Up until this point, the Yankees have been very careful about protecting and acquiring valuable minor league prospects. Chase Wright was a forced exception because the Yankees had nobody else to chuck in there. Hughes was (until yesterday) off limits until at least after the all-star break, but I think George may have threatened Cashman's job if he didn't bring him up now. Seriously. Maybe a bit Seinfeld-ish, but George doesn't like being embarrassed. And that's what a Boston sweep makes him. Embarrassed.

Truth be told, there will most certainly be two major moves this season in the Yankees pitching staff, and one of them depends on Phil Hughes. 1.) Without question, the Yankees will go full speed ahead for Clemens. The Red Sox have invested too much in Matsuzaka and have a solid rotation at this point for them to go and get Clemens at his exorbitant rate. Similarly, Houston's playoff chances could be slim again, and we know how Clemens desires the ring. I think Cashman (vis a vis George) will pull out the stops to get him now that our rotation is in tatters.

2.) We trade for Johan Santana. That's all there is to it. UNLESS Phil Hughes can come in an be effective, AND Pavano can return, you can wave bye-bye to at least three major prospects in the Yankee system - and I wouldn't doubt it if that included Clippard, Jackson, and *possibly* Tabata. None of which we want to see - Tabata especially, since he is projected to have the bat of Manny Ramirez and the fielding of Ichiro, but it may need to be done to save this season. Meanwhile, the Twins want to unload him before he hits the FA market after next year and get as much as possible. The Yankees are shopping as we speak.

THANK YOU DC! I couldn't agree with you more

I watched this game at work on Sunday night!
As a UK chap who does'nt know too much about baseball i take it 4 home runs in a row does'nt happen very often right?
I was watching as a neutral cos i know there is rivalry between these 2 teams but there was'nt near enough any fighting for my liking

Not since the 1960's...yes, its rare.

And stupid. Holy shit. Wright should've knocked the batter on his ass after the second HR.

Welcome to my world.

See thats why I like you DJ. You back your shit up.

Anyway, wouldn't the TWins demand an arm, leg, fingers, and roller skates, plus the kitchen sink for Santana?

As for Willis, even Marlin fans can tell you that hes not that dominant. Desperation makes people go foolish sometimes.

Fine, then when people such as myself and DC tell you to grow up and stay on topic, don't get all pissy. You do come in here with the sole intention of attacking me. I have no problems with the Yankee fans in here, but whenever you and other outsiders come in, that's when it all goes to hell. Hmmmm.....



No, I shouldn't have to. This website is fine and again, the majority of members who come in here don't start sh*t




I'm not the one starting sh*t. Look in the mirror sir! And again, don't talk to me about being a true fan, we've already had this discussion.

Give it a rest already, Irishman!

whats with the mirror analogies Irish? Are you like Bush Sr., who was a broken record with his thousand points of light back in the day?

I'm not going to ask you again, Irishman!

Stop it now.

Phil of the future

The most important man in the American League East has made himself known. It took just 18 games, 18 ridiculously messy New York Yankees games in which:

• Andy Pettitte, a guy with a checkered history when it comes to his left elbow, pitched twice out of the bullpen.

• Manager Joe Torre broke his spring vow to keep Mariano Rivera out of the eighth inning.

• And Chase Wright turned himself into an infamous trivia answer, if not an outright public hazard because of the carpet bombing of home run balls he engendered on Lansdowne Street.

It took 18 games for Yankees GM Brian Cashman, who tried to sell everyone on a rotation that included Carl (the Tin Man) Pavano and Kei Igawa (Japanese for "Jaret Wright"), to cry uncle.

Cashman is bringing up Phil Hughes, 20, the best pitching prospect in baseball, simply because it made no sense for the top pitcher in the organization to be getting outs for Scranton when nobody on the big league club could do so with even half his efficiency. Hughes, on Thursday, will become the team's ninth starting pitcher in the first 21 games of the season.

Cashman didn't want Hughes this early, perhaps not even at all this year -- not when the organization babied him last year while holding him to 146 total innings. Now he says Hughes may be around only for one start. Right. He is the best arm the Yankees have -- the one Torre wanted last August -- and they'd rather keep giving the ball to Igawa or counting on Pavano? Sure.

There's no way Hughes should be allowed to pitch 175 innings this year, but good luck getting him out of the rotation now. You try telling Torre that Hughes shouldn't pitch in September because his arm isn't ready for a sixth month and 30 more innings than he's ever thrown in a season.

Cashman simply couldn't afford to wait any longer. No matter the bill of goods he was selling this spring about the health of Pavano or the "craftiness" of Igawa -- a professional nibbler who has good reason, with his mediocre stuff in the AL, to be afraid to throw the ball over the plate -- the Yankees' fate this season always has rested with Cashman on two decisions:

1.) When does he bring Hughes to the big leagues?

2.) How badly does he bend team rules and his own "fiscal responsibility" kick (the same philosophy that wrongly cost him any shot at Daisuke Matsuzaka) to empty the piggy bank for Roger Clemens?

It's only been three weeks, but a pecking order has been established in the AL East. "The Red Sox are the best team in the division," one veteran GM says. That is so because the Red Sox's starting pitching has been as good as advertised, and the Yankees' rotation as poor as they could have feared. The Blue Jays? They haven't been the offensive force they expected, and need Frank Thomas to awaken and Troy Glaus to return next week before that status can be properly judged. The Orioles? With their improved bullpen and a big year from Erik Bedard, they might continue to surprise.

The Yankees have been every bit the offensive power that people expected. Through 18 games they led the AL in scoring (116 runs), had scored more runs to that point than all but 11 Yankee teams in history (nine of whom were pennant-winning teams) and featured one player, Alex Rodriguez, having the greatest April the game ever has seen. And even with all that offense, the Yankees somehow were a losing team: 8-10.

No team since the 1994 A's had managed to score as many as 116 runs in its first 18 games and still post a losing record.

Yes, the Yankees' rotation should get some stability with Chien-Ming Wang back on Tuesday and Mike Mussina perhaps next week from the epidemic of muscle strains and pulls around this club (perhaps traceable to Cashman's call to change the club's strength training program and instructors). New York is bound to pitch better sooner rather than later.

But even with those two veterans coming back Cashman needed Hughes now, his version of "Break Glass in Case of Emergency." It wasn't what he wanted, not this early, and it threatens to blow up the conservative growth schedule for Hughes. (See Prior, Mark and Wood, Kerry for how badly such accelerated workloads for pitchers can turn out.) But it's a move Cashman needed to make.

Next up: the call on Clemens. Cashman whiffed on Matsuzaka because he was rightly fixated on removing bloat from the payroll -- but his mistake was not realizing that Matsuzaka was the outlier, the exception who was worth the expenditure, especially at 26, to ride in the rotation with Hughes and Wang for years. Clemens, too, is an outlier. On the face of it he does not fit with Cashman's goal to run a leaner and younger organization, but Cashman must step outside his own chalk lines to swing the power in the division back to his side. It took 18 games for Hughes to get here. We'll know in another 30 games or so if Cashman steps up again.

Source: SI