Love him or hate him, the guy IS a great owner.

Papa George is a great owner in willing to spend money, fuck the limit, for his team to win every year.

The problem with Papa George is when he does stupid shit that hurts the franchise. From hiring/firing managers on a whim for YEARS(including facing a revolt from Cashman and Jeter when George came THIS close to firing Torre in October) to distracting news of his franchise to himself and his numerous problems/scandals of the past(wire-tapping, prison, tax evading).

You know who is Papa George without the "stupid shit"? Mark Cuban. Sure he racks up almost a million bucks probably in fines for trashing refs and Stern, but hes out in the stands with the fans, very passionate for his team, and like Papa George, willing to spend cash(under the Salary Cap) and coddle his players up in luxury to WIN. Plus, he ate his words when he had to work at DAIRY QUEEN for a day.

Oh, and he funded GOOD NIGHT, & GOOD LUCK.

Elbow surgery could sideline Pavano until '09

NEW YORK -- All that remains between Carl Pavano and reconstructive elbow surgery is permission from the New York Yankees.

The pitcher is awaiting word from the team on whether he can go ahead with an operation that would sideline him for most if not all of what remains on his $39.95 million, four-year contract.

Pavano believes surgery is the only way to repair his elbow, and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has been awaiting written diagnoses from the three specialists who looked at the 31-year-old right-hander's arm.

"We've received all the written reports from all the doctors that examined Carl over the several weeks," Pavano's agent, Gregg Clifton, said Tuesday. "I'll be reaching out to Brian tomorrow in an effort to get all of us moving in the same direction with regard to Carl and the proper steps for his recovery."

Pavano, who hasn't pitched since April 9, has seen Yankees physician Dr. Stuart Hershon, New York Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek, Dr. James Andrews and Los Angeles Angels medical director Dr. Lewis Yocum. Reconstructive surgery to replace his elbow ligament would sideline Pavano for at least a year and possibly until the 2009 season.

Since signing with the Yankees as a free agent before the 2005 season, Pavano is 5-7 in 19 starts, including 1-0 with a 4.76 ERA in two starts this year. He was sidelined from June 27, 2005, through the 2006 season by shoulder, back, buttocks, elbow and rib injuries and then returned this year. He felt forearm soreness during a win at Minnesota on April 9, an injury the Yankees didn't originally think was serious.

Pavano still has not held a formal meeting with the Yankees over his initial failure last year to tell the team about rib injuries sustained in an auto accident.

Source: ESPN

Wow. Pavano has done the impossible.

He's managed to figure out a way to collect money without working for the rest of '07, PLUS the entirety of '08.

If I were the Yankees, I'd try to void his contract based upon the non-disclosure of the auto accident last season. After all, they axed Aaron Boone for playing pickup basketball...

I heard that there is a little bit of a controversy about A-Rod's slide into second base. Normally, everything surrounding a Yankees/Red Sox game gets blown out of proportion, but I didn't see the play although I watched some of the game. Was it anything that stood out from the ordinary?

He'll probably get plunked tonight and it'll be over.

Just what we don't need: off-field distractions!

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Report: Giambi failed amphetamines test

NEW YORK (AP) - Jason Giambi failed an amphetamines test within the last year, the Daily News reported Wednesday.

The newspaper reported that after the failed amphetamines test, Giambi is subjected to six additional tests for one year. The newspaper did not cite any sources in its report.

Giambi declined comment to the newspaper before the New York Yankees' 7-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.

The Yankees slugger recently said in a USA Today interview that he was "probably tested more than anybody else."

On Tuesday, lawyers for the commissioner's office and the players' association held more conversations about a possible meeting with Giambi but it remained uncertain when or if such a gathering would take place.

Lawyers for Major League Baseball would like to talk to Giambi about comments in last Friday's editions of USA Today.

"I was wrong for doing that stuff," the New York Yankees designated hitter was quoted as saying, remarks some have interpreted as an admission of steroids use.

Management lawyers would like to hold the meeting as soon as is practicable. The failed amphetamines test most likely wouldn't be discussed at a meeting since MLB policy is to keep a first positive test secret.

Hall of Famer Frank Robinson took issue with one of Giambi's comments.

"What we should have done a long time ago was stand up — players, ownership, everybody — and said: 'We made a mistake,"' Giambi was quoted as saying. "We should have apologized back then and made sure we had a rule in place and gone forward. ... Steroids and all of that was a part of history. But it was a topic that everybody wanted to avoid. Nobody wanted to talk about it."

Robinson said Giambi should speak for himself.

"If Jason wants to confess, then he should come out and say: 'I'm guilty. I apologize. I apologize to baseball. I apologize to all the fans that have supported me and supported baseball over the years. And I will clean up my act and promise you I will not do anything like this again,"' Robinson said. "He should not drag others into (it), because when he says baseball, that includes everybody in baseball."

Before the Yankees played Boston on Tuesday night, Giambi was asked about a report in the New York Post that said the Los Angeles Angels had an interest in acquiring him. Giambi has a full no-trade clause.

"This is all news to me. I'm a Yankee," he said. "It's kind of fun to read. I never asked for it."

Source: FOX Sports

It was a hard slide, nothing more.

And could the guy stay in the league longer than 2 weeks before he starts criticizing a first ballot Hall Of Famer?

Hughes throws off mound

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- New York Yankees rookie Phil Hughes threw 35 pitches off a mound Wednesday during his first bullpen session since straining his left hamstring earlier this month.

The 20-year-old, considered one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, is expected to have another mound session Friday or Saturday. Hughes was injured on May 1 in the midst of a no-hit bid against the Texas Rangers in his second major league start.

"The leg feels good," said Hughes, who also took part in fielding drills and his running program.

Left-hander Kei Igawa is scheduled to make his second minor league start Thursday for Class A Tampa at the Vero Beach Devil Rays. He allowed two unearned runs over four innings during his first start for Tampa last Saturday.

The former Japanese Central League star was sent to the minors on May 7 to work on pitching mechanics. Igawa, who signed a five-year, $20 million deal with New York in December, is 2-1 with a 7.63 ERA for the Yankees.

Source: SI

Hopefully this will put an end to those pesky "A-Rod's going to Boston" rumors

See how I stuck up for the Yanks, Irish?

I'm just a kinder, gentler Met fan.

Can't we all just get along?

Loffles.

I have no problem with the Mets myself. I don't understand why so many New Yorkers have to be for one team and against the other. When the Yanks lose, I pull for the Mets. However, when they face each other, naturally, I root for the Yanks. But yeah, thanks for the stick up

I caught a glimpse of A-Rod's slide. Not the worst thing in the world, but coming up with the forearm/elbow after the slide was a little bush league.

Notes: A-Rod defends the slide

NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez admitted that the slide he used to take out Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia on Tuesday was a "little awkward," but he offered no regrets on the play.
"I always play hard, and I'm never going to apologize for the way I play," Rodriguez said. "If I had the same play today, I'm going just as hard. That's it. You just try to keep it clean, that's all. It's part of the game."

In the eighth inning of Tuesday's game, Jorge Posada chopped a bases-loaded grounder that Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell whipped to second base. Pedroia received it to force out Rodriguez, who slid in hard and then appeared to throw an elbow into the infielder.

After the game, Pedroia told reporters that he thought the play was "a little cheap." Rodriguez said that his intention was to go in "hard and clean" to break up the double play, which he succeeded in doing, as Posada was ruled safe on a run-scoring fielder's choice.

"I like Pedroia. I have a lot of respect for those guys over there," Rodriguez said. "Every run for us is huge, and I'm not just going to go in there like a little baby doll and try to hug him. I have a lot of respect for him, but I'm trying to play hard. By any means, it was not intentional."

Pedroia told reporters after Boston's 7-3 victory that he would remember the play the next time Rodriguez slid into second base, dropping his arm slot. Asked about Pedroia's comment, Rodriguez deflected.

"That's a good idea," Rodriguez said. "I played short for a long time. In the course of a long year, you're going to have plays where guys touch you, and some guys hit you really hard. I barely touched him."

Manager Joe Torre said that the aggressive slide was unremarkable, and opined that plays of that ilk have long been accepted in baseball.

"The only thing I saw is that he went in hard," Torre said. "I didn't notice anything unusual."

Rodriguez said that the play was indicative of the Yankees' current situation. Tuesday's loss dropped New York to four games under .500, at 20-24, and 10 1/2 games behind the American League East-leading Red Sox.

"We're playing for our lives right now, and trying to do the best we can, and taking every pitch and every inning as if it's the last thing," Rodriguez said.

Pedroia did not believe that the play would carry over into future games between the Yankees and Red Sox.

"We'll go out [on Wednesday] and play," he said. "That's the main thing. I don't think we're going out there thinking about the way he's sliding into second base. We're just going out there and playing, playing to win. That's about it. That's all we can do."

Source: Yankees

Clemens extends himself in Trenton

TRENTON, N.J. -- It wasn't pretty like his first start, but Roger Clemens stretched his arm out even further in his outing on Wednesday night, throwing 102 pitches -- with 64 strikes -- over 5 1/3 innings for the Double-A Trenton Thunder.
While the results may say otherwise, the length of the outing and Clemens feeling pretty good about himself indicate The Rocket could be ready to join the Yankees next week in Toronto -- and not just for a friendly visit.

"I think that will be something that the watchful eyes that were here -- and from what I understand, there was more than a handful of watchful eyes -- that will help decide that," said Clemens. "All I can do is tell them how I felt, tell them how I feel tomorrow and then throw a little more intense bullpen [session] than I normally throw on Friday, and then we'll go from there."

Clemens allowed three runs on six hits -- four for extra bases -- walked four and struck out five, leaving to a standing ovation at Waterfront Park with one out in the sixth and down, 3-2, to Portland.

Clemens threw more than usual in the bullpen before the game with the intention of, according to catcher P.J. Pilittere, "going four or five [innings] and making it feel like seven or eight."

It looked that way early, as The Rocket labored in the first inning, a 30-pitch frame in which Clemens got ahead of hitters only to walk three. Of the three free passes, two came after Clemens started the hitter with a 1-2 count.

But after Andrew Pinckney coaxed the third walk of the inning to load the bases, Clemens got Bryan Pritz to fly out to right field and keep Portland off the scoreboard.

Clemens settled down over the next two innings but allowed a run in the third. Portland's Jed Lowrie smacked Clemens' second offering of the frame into right for a double, advanced to third on Cory Keylor's grounder to first and scored on Jay Johnson's grounder to shortstop.

The fourth and fifth innings went easily for The Rocket, as he needed just 10 and 11 pitches, respectively, in those innings.

That had most of record Waterfront Park crowd of 9,134 -- including Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein -- figuring the fifth would be Clemens' final inning. It also hinted that Clemens could make his Yankees debut during the series in Toronto next week.

So should Clemens be looking for his passport?

"I'll keep that in-house," Clemens said of what he would tell the Yankees should they ask him if he could start for them in five days.

The Yankees seem as if they're ready for The Rocket.

"We never felt there was a question with his arm," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "Throwing 102 pitches, I guess his legs must be under him. That's really what he was waiting for. If he feels he's ready to come with us and start pitching for us, we're ready to have him."

The 44-year-old Clemens came out for the sixth and promptly gave up back-to-back singles to Pinckney and Pritz to open the inning. After Scott Youngbauer sacrificed both runners into scoring position, Clemens plunked John Otness on the shoulder to load the bases.

Clemens then walked Iggy Suarez on seven pitches -- despite getting ahead in the count 1-2 -- plating another run and allowing the Sea Dogs to tie the game at 2.

That pushed Clemens over the 100-pitch mark and resulted in his exiting the game -- to a second standing ovation in as many innings.

"They wanted to shut me down after five, but I felt fine -- I wanted to continue," Clemens said. "I need to get reps, a lot of them."

Clemens was charged with a third run when reliever Michael Gardner walked his first batter with the bases still loaded.

"I did everything I wanted to do with the baseball, pretty much," Clemens said, though he cited some problems with his splitter because of the difference in size between the Major and Minor League baseball. "I threw all my pitches. This was no different than my expectations of what I had going into this last year. I expected this."

In his first start for Class A Tampa on Friday, Clemens threw 58 pitches over four innings, allowing a run on three hits while striking out two.

And just like he did in Tampa, Clemens took time out to talk with the pitchers and catchers before the game, giving them an opportunity to pick the brain of a future Hall of Famer.

Clemens took extra fielding practice with the pitchers about two hours before batting practice and then spent roughly a half hour with them on the field -- just talking about baseball.

"They asked plenty of questions and it was a good day," said Clemens, who signed a prorated $28 million deal with the Yankees earlier this month in a move to bolster the rotation. "I enjoy [talking with younger players] far more than what I'm doing. I know the process and I know what comes with it. Most importantly, I need to go out there and pitch and be smart about it, get healthy, get ready. But for the last four or five years, my job is far greater than just pitching a baseball."

Trenton won the game, 4-3, in 10 innings.

Source: Yankees

You won't find this on a lot of websites

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Yanks donate $1 million to Virginia Tech

NEW YORK -- The Virginia Tech massacre affected families, friends, neighbors, acquaintances. Like a spider web, pain and sorrow spread up, down, sideways -- every string crossing paths and becoming entangled. On April 16, when 32 lives were taken at the hands of a gunman, the U.S. mourned from Maine to California, from Washington down to Florida, where Yankees principal owner George Steinbrenner watched the tragic events unfold in Blacksburg, Va.
Fast forward to Wednesday, when manager Joe Torre said that Steinbrenner has his finger on the pulse of society. Those horrifying images and dreadful sound bites snapping from Steinbrenner's television tugged at his heart. And now, a little more than a month after the shooting, the Yankees have made the largest donation to the Virginia Tech Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund, as the Boss wrote a check for $1 million.

"Whoa!" a fan shouted from behind the Yankees dugout as Bob Sheppard made the announcement over the loudspeakers.

The fund was established to help those touched by the tragedy, and the money will provide grief counseling, memorials and assistance to the victims and their families.

"The events that took place this spring in Virginia have deeply affected us all," Steinbrenner said in a statement. "But the Virginia Tech community has shown great spirit and resolve during this difficult time, and the New York Yankees are proud to join so many others in supporting the healing process."

Derek Jeter jogged onto the field to present the check just minutes before the Yankees took the field against the Red Sox in the final game of a three-game series. Standing at home plate were Virginia Tech president Dr. Charles Steger, Capt. Vince Houston of the Virginia Tech Police Department, Jason Dominczak and Matthew Johnson of the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad, and Director of Athletics Jim Weaver.

Also on the field were Yankees president Randy Levine, chief operating officer Lonn Trost and general manager Brian Cashman.

Wind snapped the tails of their jackets as the men watched a memorial video on the stadium's big screen. Steger talked with Steinbrenner just minutes before throwing out the game's ceremonial first pitch.

"I could also tell from the tone of his voice and what he said that he's sincere and committed, and really feels it's important to take this kind of step to help these young people regain their lives," Steger said.

Running out to their positions, the Yankees' starting lineup passed the Virginia Tech logos painted near the first- and third-base dugouts. Jorge Posada caught Steger's pitch in front of a nationally televised audience, a throw that came in low but reachable.

The catcher said that it's an honor for him to wear the Virginia Tech logo on his cap -- as the entire team did on Wednesday -- and that he's proud of the way the organization stands behind those at the school.

"The things that went on at Virginia Tech ... it just puts things in perspective," Posada said. "Baseball is not everything, and you [take] your life for granted. But this is an example of the great organization we are representing. I think the Yankees are doing the right thing."

According to Steger, the Yankees are the only sports team to contribute money to Virginia Tech. And Steinbrenner isn't finished supporting the school, either. The Yankees announced that the team will play an exhibition game against the Hokies baseball team sometime in 2008. All proceeds will be added to the memorial fund.

Others wishing to make a donation can call 800-533-1144.

Source: Yankees

Giambi meets with MLB over 'roids remarks

NEW YORK (AP) - On the same day a report alleged he failed an amphetamines test, Jason Giambi met with lawyers from the baseball commissioner's office Wednesday to discuss his recent comments on steroids.


"The commissioner requested that Jason come in in response to the USA Today piece. Jason was interviewed this morning," union general counsel Michael Weiner said.
He was not interviewed about the amphetamine report, which appeared in the Daily News. The paper said he flunked the test within the last year.

Asked about the report at Yankee Stadium, Giambi said: "I can't give you an accurate explanation."

Asked about the meeting, he said, "I hope it went smooth. It was definitely a willingness on both sides."

Giambi said no followup session has been scheduled. The meeting, at baseball's main office, lasted less than an hour.

"It's more or less now wait and see," he said.

Yankees manager Joe Torre said "we have no knowledge" of a positive test.

General manager Brian Cashman said he wasn't trying to trade Giambi, who has $21 million in salary due this year as well as next year, the final guaranteed season in his contract.

"That's not something that's currently on my plate," Cashman said.

The meeting included Rob Manfred, baseball's executive vice president for labor relations, senior vice president Frank Coonelly and Howard Ganz, an outside lawyer.

Giambi brought along agent Arn Tellem, lawyer Brian O'Neill and Weiner, who represented the players' association.

Tellem and Manfred declined to discuss the meeting.

Management and players did not agree to ban steroids until late 2002. Testing with penalties did not begin until 2004 and penalties for a first offense didn't start until 2005.

An agreement was reached before the 2006 season to also ban amphetamines. An initial positive test subjects a player to counseling and up to six additional tests over the next year, and a second positive test leads to a 25-game suspension.

Gene Orza, the union's chief operating officer, said baseball officials could not confirm or deny the News report because they don't want the absence of a denial in any drug-testing case to be interpreted as a confirmation.

Names of players who test positive for amphetamines for the first time are not made public. The only other player linked to a positive amphetamine test has been Barry Bonds. When the Daily News reported in January that Bonds had tested positive, Bonds issued a statement that neither confirmed nor denied he did.

"I'm upset at the fact how we found out about Barry Bonds' positive test and now Jason's," Yankees center fielder Johnny Damon said. "It doesn't seem like the guidelines of the drug testing (are) being done correctly when anybody can go around and leak something that we don't know if it's true or not and we're not supposed to know until they get in trouble for the second time."

Giambi has been a figure in baseball's drug controversy for several years. He told a federal grand jury in 2003 that he used steroids during the 2001-2003 seasons, the San Francisco Chronicle reported in 2004.

Giambi made a general apology before spring training in 2005 but didn't specify what he was apologizing for. The New York Yankees' designated hitter then was quoted in USA Today last Friday as saying:

"I was wrong for doing that stuff. What we should have done a long time ago was stand up - players, ownership, everybody - and said: 'We made a mistake.' We should have apologized back then and made sure we had a rule in place and gone forward. ... Steroids and all of that was a part of history. But it was a topic that everybody wanted to avoid. Nobody wanted to talk about it."

While it would be difficult for baseball to penalize Giambi for using steroids before the 2002 drug agreement, any admission of use in 2003 would be a gray area. Baseball had survey testing without penalties that year - the union is fighting government efforts to link tests with names - and any attempt to discipline players for that year likely would wind up before an arbitrator.

In his comments to USA Today, Giambi was quoted as saying: "I'm probably tested more than anybody else. I'm not hiding anything."

Source: FOX Sports

No surprises here

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Tommy John surgery expected soon for Yanks' Pavano

NEW YORK -- Carl Pavano is headed for reconstructive elbow surgery, probably ending his unproductive stint with the New York Yankees and making his contract a $40 million bust.


After being examined by four doctors over the past few weeks, Pavano met Wednesday with Yankees general manager Brian Cashman to go over all the medical documents. Pavano's agent, Gregg Clifton, said the pitcher will have the operation.

"All four doctors conclude that he has a damaged ligament and recommend Tommy John surgery," Cashman said.

The right-hander will be sidelined for most if not all of what remains on his $39.95 million, four-year deal, which runs through 2008.

"The time is not on our side, obviously, for him to get totally recovered," Cashman said. "Is it possible? Outside possibility the second half of next year, but everything would have to go right.

"It's unfortunate, it really is. When we signed him we had high expectations."

Cashman said Pavano has a tear in his elbow ligament.

"Some of the doctors say it's possible that, he's gone through rest and therapy and a throwing program, it's possible to try that again. But there's some risks that can go with that. You could do further damage to the elbow," Cashman said.

Clifton said Dr. James Andrews will operate soon.

"Now that the parties have had an opportunity to discuss this together, they've come to the conclusion surgery is Carl's only option," Clifton said. "We will attempt to schedule surgery as quickly as possible with Dr. Andrews. We hope to have a date for surgery by Thursday, once we have an opportunity to confer with Dr. Andrews and his scheduling team."

While two of the doctors said a conservative rehabilitation program could be tried, which could entail risk of additional damage, the Yankees left the decision up to Pavano, Yankees president Randy Levine said.


Pavano hasn't pitched since April 9. He saw Yankees physician Dr. Stuart Hershon, New York Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek, Los Angeles Angels medical director Dr. Lewis Yocum and Andrews.

It remained unclear whether the ligament was fully or partially torn.

"Tears don't heal on their own, but the good news is in this day and age, there is a way and an ability to correct the tear and give Carl the opportunity to resume his career," Clifton said.

A free-agent flop since signing with the Yankees before the 2005 season, Pavano is 5-7 in 19 starts, including 1-0 with a 4.76 ERA in two starts this year. He was sidelined from June 27, 2005, through the 2006 season by shoulder, back, elbow and rib injuries, then returned this year. He felt forearm soreness during a win at Minnesota on April 9, an injury the Yankees didn't originally think was serious.

Cashman said he's seen all the medical records on Pavano the past three years, and all his injuries have been legitimate.

"I never once thought that he laid down on this club," Cashman said.

Source: ESPN

Well you KNEW it was coming. Schilling gets his a$$ kicked tonight

6 innings, 12 hits, 6 runs, 0 BB, 3 SO, 4-2 with a 3.94 ERA.

Meanwhile the other ace, Andy Pettitte continues to impress me:

7 innings, 9 hits, 1 run, 1 BB, 2 SO, 3-3 with a 2.66 ERA

You have to love ESPN. Gloom and doom all around after Clemens' second start. Pretty hilarious. He's washed up, he's toast, etc.

Gotta love Every Sox Player Nationwide...

---

Great game all around. The Yankees finally gave Pettitte some offensive support, and even the bullpen came around, despite the best efforts by Kyle Farnsworth to blow it. Mo looked electric. Matsui was on, baby. Even Eye-Chart popped a homer off his old teammate.

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Giambi took amphetamines?

*shocked*

To paraphrase our dearly departed friend, Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bompensiero, "I was popping those little things like jujubees!"

Seriously, it's like having a tin of M&M's in MLB clubhouses. This shouldn't surprise anyone.

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A-Rod's slide into Pedroia?

Pretty hilarious the reaction, considering our hitters get plunked on a regular basis without retaliation from our pitchers, who lack balls, as Tony Montana would say.

Frankly, Pedroia should be more worried about keeping his spot and not losing it to a "great" talent like Alex Cora.

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T-Clip comes up big Friday? Maybe Mike Mussina gets demoted to the #4 starter. Finally.

---

All the "scouts" who were in attendance at Clemens last start and have leaked their "anonymous" thoughts to the press...guess who they were?

Theo Epstein and the Red Sox crew. They were there to see some Portland prospects (allegedly), so there is little doubt they're trying to play a bit of mind games.

Of course, ESPN laps it up...

And just for you, I12:

Just to elaborate... so many like to say that "it doesnt help you hit the ball.. it doesnt help your hand-eye coordination"

Steroids make you hit the ball farther... lets say you get an extra 10% on your distance. In a ballpark that has a fence of 300 ft... it adds 30 ft. So what would typically be a fly ball out is now a homerun.

Lets say it only gives you more power to hit the ball only 1% farther... 300ft wall... you now hit it 3% farther... could be difference in going over fence out of reach of fielder or not.

Of course. What Giambi said is kind of a cop-out, a bit of posturing to make it seem like it wasn't all that bad, even though he basically bitch slapped Major League baseball for turning a blind eye to it.

Barry Bonds would be retired by now without the steroids that have helped him recover and blast moon shots out into the Bay. No question.

I actually think that Giambi should be given a little credit. He is the only one to come forward at all with this problem. He is right in blaming MLB and he is right for blaming himself.

True, but his little quip about how steroids don't help you hit home runs is a bit of mealy mouthing, no?

THANK YOU! I can't get enough of it

Yeah and Giambi will become the scapegoat of MLB, the Yankees, and Selig just because the guy did something that the rest of us had wanted from these alleged-roid-users: Fess up!

Seriously, why SHOULDN'T I punch Selig right now?

Well, we'll supposedly have a decision in 1-2 weeks. But I can't see them suspending him for shit he did before the steroid policy, or the MLBPA will go ape shit. And I doubt Giambi was stupid enough to go in there and tell them he's been using for the last few years.

If anything, they'll try to concoct some BS suspension for the amphetamines test and Selig will act like they've taken a major step in stopping drug use in baseball.

I don't see a basis for a suspension, especially for the amphetamines test, which was supposed to have remained confidential. That's twice now where information against Giambi, which was supposed to have remained sealed and confidential, was leaked and released to the public.

My guess is that the MLB lawyers merely advised Giambi not to discuss steroids or drug testing too much. I admire Giambi for being more candid and forthright about his involvement, and he's probably won him some fans.

I think we may be approaching the point where baseball fans are becoming as upset about the conspiracy of silence and cover up as they are about the steroid use in the first place.

Apparently, George Mitchell is eventually going to blow the lid off this whole thing. The former Mets' ball boy is the 21st century Deep Throat, and has seemingly pointed him to many avenues to explore.

Steinbrenner: Cashman on 'big hook'

BBA-Steinbrenner-Cashman - Despite constant speculation about manager Joe Torre's job, New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner says someone else also needs to deliver as the team looks to reverse its floundering start: general manager Brian Cashman.

"He's on a big hook," a spirited Steinbrenner told The Associated Press in a rare interview from his Tampa office. "He wanted sole authority. He got it. Now he's got to deliver."

Steinbrenner's comments came with the Yankees' record at 21-24, sitting 9 1/2 games behind the American League East-leading Boston Red Sox. The Boss said he was encouraged by the Yankees' performance this week in taking two out of three games from Boston — and he felt the return of Roger Clemens could provide another boost.

"We hope we have turned it around," Steinbrenner said emphatically. The 44-year-old Clemens brings "a winning attitude," he continued. "I think Roger is capable of sparking the team. He is a veteran and will bring stability. I am happy he is coming back. I love him."

Steinbrenner, 76, felt "The Rocket" needed at least one more minor-league start to sharpen his stuff, and Yankees officials said Thursday that the right-hander will likely pitch Monday in a Triple-A game.

That would put the seven-time Cy Young Award winner on track to return to the majors in Fenway Park next weekend against his old team.

As for Torre, the Yankees manager since 1996, Steinbrenner said "we are not considering a change." The owner did say he was impressed with Torre's bench coach, ex-Yankee great Don Mattingly, and that he "could possibly" become manager someday.

"Mattingly is a good one," Steinbrenner said. "He is very thorough guy. He understands what it is to be a Yankee."

Steinbrenner had praise for captain Derek Jeter, who passed Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio this week for fifth place on the franchise hits list, and pitcher Andy Pettitte.

"He's a real gutsy guy," Steinbrenner said of the left-hander, who resigned with the Yankees in the off-season. "We are happy he is back with us."

He was less generous toward Jason Giambi, whose recent comments to USA Today that was "wrong for doing that stuff" were interpeted by some as an admission of steroid use. Giambi reportedly admitted to a 2003 grand jury that he used steroids.

"He should have kept his mouth shut," Steinbrenner opined. "The matter is in the hands of the baseball commissioner."

Steinbrenner bought the team in 1973 and has presided over six world championships and 10 pennants while building the Yankees franchise into the most lucrative in sports.

The Yankees' owner is also known for his generosity to those in need off-the-field especially young people.

He said he was deeply moved by the April massacre at Virginia Tech. The Yankees made a $1 million contribution to the school's "Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund" to assist the victims' families, and honored the victims before playing the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night. Virginia Tech's president threw out the first pitch and the Yankees wore VT logos on their caps.

"I feel very strongly about the young people," Steinbrenner said. "I feel so strongly about the teachers and the school, all the people affected by this. We wanted to help in the healing process."

As far as the Yankees' fate, the message of the legendary Boss was as strong and clear as ever:

"We just have to get out there and compete, compete hard, and win," he said.

Source: FOX Sports

Just when you think George is ready to pass on to the great Legends Field in the sky, he gives a rare and candid interview...