Jeter to start season as lead off hitter

Joe Girardi says that Derek Jeter will lead off this year and Johnny Damon will hit second. One reason the Yanks are giving is that Jeter hit into more double-plays last year than Damon. Nothing against Damon, but couldn't the reason Jeter hit into more double plays simply be because he was hitting No. 2 and Damon was leading off? It's pretty hard to hit into a double-play when there's nobody on base.

A-Rod has surgery, will miss all of April and probably most of May

A-Rod had surgery today to fix the problem with his hip. He'll miss 6-9 weeks. Oddly, reports say the surgery is only a quick, temporary fix, and that he'll need another surgery at the end of the season. I'm bummed that our cleanup hitter is out, but have to admit I'm so sick of reading about the guy, I'll enjoy the break. (Of course, that will end in April anyway when the book the SI reporter has been working on comes out.) Whatever ... the fact is I'm glad he won't be in the lineup the day the new stadium opens. No one player should overshadow such a great event, and somehow, A-Rod would. He won't be on the field. He won't be the guy to hit the first home run. There will be no analysis of whether or not he is cheered or booed. And that's fine with me. Any thoughts?

Time to inject!

Lost amid all of the hype and flack of Joe Torre's book and A-Rod's steroids is the fact the Yankees had an amazing off season. Watched some of the pre-season game on YES last night and liked what I saw. Sabathia, Texiera and Burnett are huge. Jorge looks good. The lineup is menacing. Let the drive for 27 begin!

Your thoughts on A-Rod?

It's been almost a week since A-Rod met wth the press in Tampa. Most say it did not go well and there have already been some holes poked in his story. Mattingly came out today and defended him, while others in the media are really throwing him under the bus. What are your thoughts on A-Rod? Please just click on the word "comments" below to share your thoughts ...

A-Rod to meet the press

A-Rod will address the media today at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. More than 200 reporters are expected to grill him about the fact he tested postive for steroids while playing for the Texas Rangers six years ago. As a sign of unity, Jeter, Posada, Rivera, Pettite, Texiera and Girardi are expected to attend. If you are anywhere near a radio or TV, you should be able to check it out. Hey, remember when the first offical day of camp was all about the excitment of the upcoming season? Yanks added three great players this winter and are going into a glorious new stadium, yet none of that will probably be even mentioned today. Oh well, let's just get this over with ...

A-Rod was juicin'

BREAKING NEWS - Sports Illustrated is reporting that Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steriods in 2oo3 while playing for the Texas Rangers. Here is the story from the New York Daily News: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2009/02/07/2009-02-07_star_yankee_slugger_alex_rodriguez_teste.html

Pettite back with Yankees

Andy Pettite has signed a one-year deal with the Yankees. The contract, with incentives, could pay him $12 million, but the base is only $5.5 million. This is a pretty smart deal for the Yanks and, with pitchers and catchers only two weeks away, helps shore up the rotation. Here is the story: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2009/01/26/2009-01-26_andy_pettitte_signs_oneyear_incentivelad.html

Torre book grabbing headlines

Joe Torre is set to release a new book, "The Yankee Years," which is already grabbing huge headlines in NYC and creating quite a buzz in the world of sports. In the text, Torre supposedly talks about A-Rod's odd fixation on Jeter and his problems in the clubhouse, where he was referred to as "A-Fraud" by some teammates, plus his disappointment in Brian Cashman at the end of his tenure as Yankee manager. He also says some of his players were prima donnas and -perhaps most shocking - how doctors had actually informed Yankee officials that he had cancer before he was informed himself. This is all over the New York papers and WFAN. The book will be released on Feb. 3

Rickey voted into Hall of Fame

No suprise here. Rickey Henderson, MLB's all-time stolen base leader, was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame today. What some Yankees fans might not realize is that Henderson is still the Yankees all-time stolen base leader, and he did it in just four years. From 1985-1988, it seemed every game started like this: Henderson walks or gets a hit. Henderson steals second. Mattingly or Winfield drive in Henderson. 1-0 Yanks in the first, every game.

Congrats to Rickey. Since he left the game, nobody else has come even close to dominating the basepaths the way he did.

Yankees sign Texiera

The off-season ass kicking continues! Oh baby, has this team reloaded! Sweet! Sweet! Sweet!

Merry Christmas, from the Yanks! Here's the breaking story:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3790141

A.J. Burnett to sign with Yanks

The Yanks aggressive off-season continues with the signing of another top pitcher, A.J. Burnett. I would have preferred a three-year deal over five, but good pitchers always get want they want these days. And we didn't need one arm, we needed two, so it looks like a good move. Let's not forget, though, that this team was pretty lousy offensively last year and had a hard time scoring runs. Now that we've got the rotation shored up, we need another big bat.

NY Post: Yanks land CC

The New York Post is reporting that the Yankees and star pitcher CC Sabathia have come to terms on a contract. Here's the story:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12102008/sports/yankees/yanks_close_in_on_sabathia_deal_143481.htm

So long, Moose ...

Mike Mussina, coming off his first 20-win season, has decided to retire. He'll probably win another Gold Glove and "American League Comeback Player of The Year," so I guess it's a nice way to go out. Never got a ring, but got to pitch in the World Series in 2001 and 2003. His relief appearance in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS was totally huge, and frankly, I never thought he had it in him to turn it around last season and pitch so well. Yanks have called press conference for today at 4 p.m. Should be carried live on YES and WFAN. Here's a link to pretty good Lupica column from today's NY Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2008/11/19/2008-11-19_in_end_mike_mussina_does_earn_title_yank.html

Yanks target Sabathia

Rumor started yesterday that the Yanks were not going to mess around in the Sabathia sweepstakes. Rather than dance around and play coy, the plan was to blow everybody out of the water, right out of the gate, and find out now if he really wanted to be a Yankee. Today, on the very first day free agents could be made offers, the Yanks have reportedly offered him a six-year, $140 million dollar contract. Sweet! I love this approach. "If you want to be a Yankee, here is the offer. We know and you know that nobody will match it." This is how they should always approach this stuff. Get it done now, or not, and move on. Don't be played. Here is the story from the NY Post:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/11142008/sports/yankees/yanks_make_first_pitch_to_sabathia_138712.htm

Saluting the 1999 World Champions

On this date in 1999, Oct. 27, the New York Yankees won their 25th World Championship. Of the four World Championship teams from 1996-2000, the 1999 team seems to get talked about the least. The '96 team was the first, so it was special. The '98 team is considered the best of the four and won 125 games. And of course the 2000 team beat the Mets in the legendary "Subway Series." But the '99 team was an ass-kicker as well. Let's not forget they beat Boston in the American League Championship Series and then swept Atlanta in four. God bless the 1999 New York Yankees, now and forever.

Saluting the 1996 and 2000 World Champions

On this date, October 26, in 1996 and 2000, the Yankees won their 23rd and 26th World Championships. The '96 team was the first Yankee Word Championship team in 18 years and took out the heavily favored Atlanta Braves in six games. And the 2000 team dusted the Mets in the memorable, emotion-filled "Subway Series." Of the four World Championship teams from 1996-2000, I think I wanted that one the most. God bless the 1996 and 2000 New York Yankees, now and forever.

Saluting the 1998 World Champions

In 1998, ten years ago today, the New York Yankees completed a four game sweep of the San Diego Padres in the World Series to clinch the team's 24th World Championship. This team, with 114 season wins and 125 total wins, is considered the best of the great 1996-2003 Yankee teams and, in the opinion of many, the greatest baseball team of all-time. God bless the 1998 New York Yankees, now and forever.

Reg-gie! Reg-gie!

On this date in 1977, Reggie Jackson hit three home runs in Game 6 of the World Series. He hit them all on the first pitch off of three different pitchers. He was the MVP of the World Series and led the Yankees to their first World Championship in 15 years. God bless Reggie Jackson, now and forever.

Some Yankees news ...

Things are slow right now, but the hot stove should heat up in November with free agent signings, trades, contracts expiring, ect. Here's a few quick items:
1. Cashman has signed a new three-year deal to remain GM of Yanks. Says that, as of now, Wang is the only starter guaranteed a spot in the rotation next season.
2. Mo had successful surgery on his bum shoulder. He'll be throwing by January. No problems expected.
3. Yanks have decided against holding a second Yankee Stadium sendoff in November. There was talk of a concert, or having more old players come back, but they now feel that the ceremonies held on Sept. 21 would be hard to top, and that the last event at Yankee Stadium should be a baseball game. Jeter's speech to the fans and the team's tip of the cap and salute to the fans was the final moment. Nice move.

Deep to left ...

In 1978, 30 years ago today, Bucky Dent sank the hearts of New England with one of the most famous home runs in Yankee history. God bless Bucky Dent, now and forever.