SC, I feel he does. He's made some of the greatest plays of his career when a game or a championship are on the line. To me, that defines "clutch".

We'll just have to agree to disagree on this one.

Don't wait for an argument from me there.

Just saw Babe Ruth's daughter on TV. She gave the best quote I've ever heard:

The only time she ever asked for his signature was on a check.

Can you imagine what it'd be like to be his child? Aside from the fact that he may not have been a good father, he was one of the biggest names to come out of the 20th century. He was like a god.

That's one of my favorite lines about Babe Ruth from The Sandlot. I need Gina's memory, but it's something about Babe Ruth being more than a man, but more like a god.

Forgive me if this has been overly-discussed and I don't frequent this thread so I want to know... how do Yankee fans feel about the Steinbrenner's? Since I live on the other coast I don't hear the daily stuff that is said by them. So I always thought George was the half(if not completely) crazy one. After Hank's comments about Wang's injury while running the bases...

"My only message is simple. The National League needs to join the 21st century. They need to grow up and join the 21st century. Am I (mad) about it? Yes. I’ve got my pitchers running the bases, and one of them gets hurt. . . . I don’t like that, and it’s about time they address it. That was a rule from the 1800s."

Now I'm convinced the Yankees are in the hands of crazy people for centuries to come. Doesn't Hank realize the American League changed 100 years of tradition by adding the DH? Maybe the National League should be revolutionary and join the American league by adding the DH, and then also adding designated runners because, God forbid, any "athlete's" should injure themselves running the bases.

Hell, why not have designated fielders and designated throwers. The infield might look crowded, but God forbid the freakin' athlete's should injure themselves by doing something athletic like running the damn bases!

The Yankees drive me nuts and it's because of two things. One, they buy their way into the playoffs, and two MLB won't do anything to stop it.

Long live the Steinbrenner's and their revolutionary comments.

P.S. forgive me for the negativity, I didn't intend this message to end that way, but I love baseball so much and the Yankees symbolize everything that is "great" and evil about the sport.

Personally, I think that the George Steinbrenner was an arrogant p**ck and that, judging from his comments made over the last year or two, Hank is a chip off of the old block.

And while many accuse the Yankees of buying their way into the playoffs, while I acknowledge that they have the highest payroll in baseball (you'd have to be a complete idiot not to), the Mets have the highest payroll in the NL, and that strategy certainly hasn't worked for them.

The reason I'm a Yankees fan? I think that they are one of the most exciting teams to watch. They've often pulled off the unexpected with a terrific come-from-behind win. Just look at the 2001 postseason! Even though they ended up losing the series, it was beyond exciting. Plus, it was right after September 11th, and I believe that it gave NY something else to think about and talk about, something of a return to normalcy if you will, even if you aren't a fan.

As a Yankees fan, at times I shake my head and feel like telling George or Hank to put a sock in it (Hank more than George). However, as owners of my beloved team I love them for the simple reason they will do whatever it takes to win. Money is no object. They actually put their own money back into the franchise. How many other owners do that? Just look at the Florida Marlins, Kansas City Royals, and Baltimore Orioles as examples. They care about their team deeply and I believe they do what is in the best interest of the organization and it's fans.

As for your dislikes of the Yankees, yes they have the highest payroll in baseball but I love how everyone focuses just on them. No one had a problem when Boston bought their World Series title last year. Yet the Yankees do it and immediately there's a problem. And as SB said, what about the Mets or even the Cubs in the NL? They have some pretty high payrolls and the Cubs are at least in first place. Granted I'm happy for them because they haven't won the series in 100 years but no one's bringing up the money issue. It's none other than good ol' fashion Yankee-hating. As such, I'm tired of the Yankees getting the short end of the stick. Granted I know it's to be expected as their's no middle ground when it comes to the Yankees, you either love them or hate them. But even though the Yankees have had the highest payroll in baseball for years, how many titles have they won since 2000? Regretfully none, so what's the problem really?

As a fan of the Marlins I respect the hell out of George Steinbrenner and can't fault him at all for doing what MLB's system lets him do.

But Hank should've kept his mouth shut on Wang's injury. If a Red Sox pitcher got injured in the same fashion I doubt he would've said anything.

As a baseball fan, I find the Steinbrenners' to be big, rude, mean drama-queens. I hate their attitudes that their money is better than other's and I think they're disgusting.

But you know what? Fuck the big-league players today! We all prostitute ourselves in some manner, and these players are getting well paid, so let them put up with the bullshit from owners like the Steinbrenners.

If the Marlins had the Yankee payroll, the talent gap between them and the rest of the league would be mind boggling. I don't think that there is an organization that evaluates talent and plans for the future with limited resources as well as the Marlins.

They're doing it the right way.

Freaking Farnsworth! What an idiot!! He tried to catch a ball with his pitching hand!!! He just walked off the mound holding his hand out in front of him like he was hurt. WTF was he thinking????? Now Mo is in.

I disagree. Right now people have the same negative feelings towards Boston as they do towards the Yankees. When the Red Sox finally won a championship in '04 I think most fans were happy because they were the underdogs as well as the rivals of the long hated Yankees with a long history of failing to win a World Series while the Yankees won so many.

When the Sox won again most fans were tired of it already because they were buying championships like the Yankees. In fact, with the success of the Red Sox, Celtics and Patriots most fans have had enough of that entire city, but we don't need to get into the other sports.

If the Mets and Cubs and any other high payroll team were to win other people would be just as upset, especially if they were to make the playoffs every single year.

However, I believe it's fair to say that it's tough for other high payroll teams to do as well as the Yankees because New York sucks up most of the best talent while the other teams settle for what's left. Proof is in A-Rod. Why isn't he a Cub?

The Yankees can out-pay any other team.

There's something about playing in New York, with all the media attention that goes with it. The big talent stars are looking to make mega bucks with endorsement deals that seem to go hand-in-hand with New York.

FWIW - As a Red Sox fan, I agree that a lot of their hardcore fans are somewhat disenchanted with them now (for being a "corporate" entity rather than just a baseball team). I know I am.

Believe me, if the Giants could buy a championship I'd be the happiest fan ever. I would also get sick of it quick though if it were every year.

I wish it were a level playing field. Then teams, such as the Marlins, might be in contention each year because they are so good at evaluating young talent and bringing those players to the big league. There needs to be a set salary cap for players and the teams, like in the NBA.

But MLB won't allow it, and ESPN will continue to milk the New York/Boston angle as much as they can even though most of the country has been sick of it for years. It's sad.

Given some years I think a team like Florida will be in contention because of their minor leagues and how they bring talent up. Sadly, a few years down the road after that, some of their talented players might opt to leave them for "greener" (i.e. cash) pastures.



I think the rivalry is still one of sports' best and I look forward to watching them go head-to-head. With that in mind, I can't stand to see the personnel changes in the teams' lineups ... like Johnny Damon or Wade Boggs playing in pinstripes. Whatever happened to team loyalty? (I know... I know.... it's all about money now). THAT'S what is sad!!

I agree with you that people are tired of the city of Boston constantly winning with the Celtics, Sox and Patriots. However, from where I sit, people aren't tired of the Red Sox winning. When they won the series in October all I heard about was dynasty, how great Beckett/Schilling were in October, another sweep, blah blah blah (and never once did I hear anyone bring up Boston's payroll). From my viewpoint, people are happy to see Boston win as long as it's not the Yankees (maybe it's different on the West Coast?).



I disagree with you on this point because Alex was acquired through a trade. If he's signed as a free agent then sure, the Yankees just outbid everyone else. However, in trades, other teams have the opportunity to either match or beat the Yankees offer. And remember, he was almost a Red Sox before he was a Yankee. The same thing can be said about Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett, they both were trades. The Yankees could have made a play for both. They actually did for Schilling but he took Boston due to his personal vendetta with the Yankees. I never heard the Yankees name brought up in the Beckett talks which means they totally missed their opportunity with that goose.

And yes, the Yankees do suck up a lot of the best players but how many have actually worked out for them? Just look at Carl Pavano who's been injury plagued for his 4 seasons in the Bronx. Or what about Jason Giambi who, while having a great season this year, hasn't been productive since 2006 but had horrible 2004, 2005, and 2007 seasons. Not to mention Johnny Damon last year or Hideki Matsui the past two years. And yet again I bring up the question. If the other teams are "settling" for what's left in the talent pool, it certainly hasn't kept them from winning the Series because the Yankees haven't won since 2000. So what's the problem? I understand that they spend, spend, and spend. Trade away top prospects to "rent" veterans for half a season but to what end? So they can make the postseason and lose in the first round?

Yeah, probably for the next few years the Marlins will be the Oakland A's of the National League (which is a big compliment in today's baseball world).



I agree, loyalty in sports is dead and it's a two-way street. The players have no loyalty to the organization and in turn the organization has no loyalty to the player (like why did Emmitt Smith not play his ENTIRE career in Dallas?). As Vince McMahon always says, "it's all about the mon-ayyyy!)

No team has produced more major league talent through their system than the Montreal Expos, but sadly they knew there was no way to keep it. They and several other teams were essentially glorified minor league teams whose stars would leave once ripe.

It got to the point that these teams could not even draft the best amateurs available, knowing they didn't have the money to sign them.

Q: What do Derek Jeter and I have in common?

A: We both spent our 34th birthday in Pittsburgh. Jeter turns 34 today, SB.

Today also marks the 15th anniversary of the death of Hall of Fame catcher, Roy Campanella, whose career was tragically cut short by an auto accident in the late-50s.

Yeah, but 34 years apart J/K

It would probably seem like 34 years. Actually, it's almost 10.

There is another major leaguer born on 6/26/1974. Do you know who it is?

I cheated: Jason Kendall

34?? That makes me feel a little bit like a dirty old lady. Not too much, just a little. Happy Birthday, Derek, on behalf of all the women who wouldn't mind giving you a little birthday love.

I have to admit that I was against making Joba a starter. I thought he should be kept as the set-up man and take over for Mo when he retires, which I'm pretty sure will be after next season. However, Joba has improved with each start, and he just may prove invaluable this season.

Congrats to Joba on his first win as a starter! Here's to the many more to come

Johan, who?

ESPN came up with a hilarious mini-headline after the Yanks' assault of the Rangers after their dismal offense lately:

Yankees slugger reportedly separating from wife

NEW YORK -- Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez and his wife have split less than three months after the birth of the couple's second daughter, according to a report in the New York Daily News.

The story on the newspaper's Web site comes amid reports linking Rodriguez to Madonna. Rodriguez refused to address the topic on three occasions Tuesday, once saying "no" when asked if he had any comment.

Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner also criticized the team's lack of hitting before an 18-7 win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night, suggesting "a little less outside distractions and a little more concentrating" might help the team at the plate.

The Daily News reported Wednesday night, citing an anonymous source, that Rodriguez and wife, Cynthia, have separated after having "problems" for about three months.

Cynthia Rodriguez's mother, Evangeline Scurtis, also denied a gossip Web site report that her daughter had gone on a romantic getaway with rocker Lenny Kravitz to Paris.

"She is not! I know that," Scurtis told The Daily News.

Scurtis repeatedly declined comment when asked about her daughter's relationship with Rodriguez.

The couple was married in November 2002 and has two children, Natasha Alexander and Ella Alexander, who was born April 21.

Rodriguez went 2-for-3 Wednesday night with his 17th homer of the season and also scored four times. It also was Rodriguez's 535th homer, moving him past Jimmie Foxx for 14th on the career list.

Source: ESPN

Why does this always turn into a TMZ affair? I, for one, don't give a shit about who Yanks are currently (and I use that term, perfectly) married to...

Yes, he got his 535th home run when the Yankees were scoring a ton of runs. Where was it the night before last, when they lost 3-2??? Jerkoff. He just can't get out of his own way.

And it would have been nice if the Yankees had spread those runs over a few games rather than scoring them all in one game.