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I'm very upset by this. I don't really know what to say. I know Cory's only been a Yankee a few months, but he's been a personal favorite of mine for years. This is a verry sad thing that's happened. I'm pretty much at a loss for words; but on the other hand what can you say? RIP http://images.sportsline.com/u/photos/baseball/mlb/img7705233.jpg

Thats something that's crossed my mind a lot the past 2 years. How nice would Timlin look in pinstripes? ok..i'll continue with my rant right here.... Go after Zito, but dont overspend. If the Mets or Padres want to give him an outrageous sum of money, let them. But there definately has to be an effort made. Matsuzaka will most likely be a Yankee, so make that happen. Thats a gamble i'm willing to take. Following him the past 3 years or so in Japan, and seeing him in the WBC first-hand; I think he can potentially be great in this rotation. I offer Andy Pettitte a 2 year contract. I realize that he has been injury prone these past few years, but Andy can win the big game. I'm sure a lot of you won't agree with me, but I definately persue Andy. If Lou does indeed take over, don't expect A-Rod or RJ to go anywhere. Like ATG said, spend $4 and buyout Wright's last year. I would definately explore a trade for Pavano, but I wouldnt be opposed to letting him start the season out. I want to give him another chance. I, personally, would want to keep Craig Wilson around because I think that he is a valuable player due to his versatility and the fact that he can get a big hit off the bench for you, particularily against lefties. This likely won't happen, but if it were up to me, Wilson would be back next year. I would love to bring Bernie back, but if someone other than Joe (or one of his coaches, past or present; Girardi, Mazzilli, Mattingly, etc.) manages the team it would be best to let him go. He would get absolutely no playing time otherwise and would be a wasted roster spot. I'm not thrilled about Melky being the 4th outfielder, but unlike previous suggestions, I don't look to trade any of the outfielders (unless, like i mentioned before, a good deal for Matsui presents itself). We have a solid outfield. Only thing I would do differently with managing the outfield, which Joe has done this year, is rotate and rest them more. I've said for a few months now that with Melky being the 4th outfielder I expect him to get 3-4 starts per week, and I think that would be for the best. I say give each starting outfielder at least one off day a week. Ron Villone is a free agent, and I wouldnt be opposed to bringing him back. But I would also explore other lefty-reliever possibilities. J.C. Romero is a free agent. Look into getting him, perhaps. I would bring Dotel back, as well. At the top of his game, Octavio Dotel is a great pitcher. He never really had a chance this season, but I think he can possibly be a great pitcher out of the pen for us coming into the start of the season healthy and at full strength. I also look into Justin Speier and perhaps LaTroy Hawkins. I certainly wouldnt mind bringing Keith Foulke in, but that'll never happen. Like I mentioned in my last post, I think it would be a great idea to bring Eric Gagne in as a setup guy. A lot of how the roster will look next year, and the changes that occur during the offseason depend on who the manager is. We'll have to wait and see. ...i've got so many ideas and suggestions, but i'm so tired and drugged up on painkillers that I can't really express them right now.

While I am extremely disappointed with Torre, I am pretty upset with his likely departure. It'll be tough. I'm looking forward to seeing some reaction. I want to see Torre get picked up by another team and see if anyYankees request a trade to that team. With Lou more than likely taking over, don't expect Randy or A-Rod to be moved this winter. Maybe Lou can get the best out of them, who knows. We'll see. I wonder what changes are gonna be made to the coaching staff. Mattingly has been one of the games best hitting coaches the past few years and I would expect him to stay. But he, along with maybe Bowa (who was the 3rd base coach under Lou in Seattle at one point) are the only people who more than likely remain. ..while I agree that Torre hasn't been a very good playoff manager in recent years (2003 throwing Jeff Weaver in the 11th inning of game 4, not bunting on Schill in Game 6 in '04, etc.), he did a great job this season, and we all know his capabilities. It's gonna be interesting to see how this unfolds. I, personally, would prefer Mattingly or Girardi to take over, but appearantly it's gonna be Lou.

A-Rod for Manny straight up? ..No thanks. We're not lacking in the power hitting outfielders department. What we need is pitching.

Ok...on to another important topic. My disgust for the New York Yankees and the beginning of my "Steinbrenner-mode." SInce he was here i've always defended Alex Rodriguez because he is the best active player in the game. But right now i'm willing to accept that he can't handle New York and would no mind trading him at all. Preferrably to an NL team, but anyone who will give us a good package is acceptable. My ideal return package would include perhaps Ervin Santana, Casey Kotchman, Scot Sheilds, and maybe a prospect. idk if the Angels would do that or not, but they would most likely be the biggest suitor for Alex. Also, we would be able to let Eric Duncan return to 3rd base. As for the picthing staff, I would love to trade Randy too. The only place he would go is Arizona, so we have to just take maybe a prospect or something. Regardless what the return package is, get him out of here. Under no circumstances should we pick up Mussina's option. I would love to bring him back for another year, but at a much cheaper price. That's on him. Sheffield doesn't come back. End of story. I love Matsui, and am not suggesting trading him, but if the right offer presented itself I wouldnt be opposed to it. I would definately look into signing Eric Gagne for setup duties. It sounds glutonous (sp), but with his injuries the past few years and the Dodgers' most likely letting him hit the market, we could probably get him at a reasonable price. We would however have to outbid other teams who would give him the opportunity to close. Farnsworth has to go. ...i'm pretty sick and feel like s***, so i'll cut this rant short right there.

You're right. It is just based on observation and reputation. But am I wrong?

We'll have a flag waving out in monument park that says 2006 A.L. East Champions. What do you guys get? Thought so. Go masturbate to some 2004 Red Sox DVDs.

As many of you probably remember after we lost to the Angels last year, I went into "Steinbrenner mode" for about a week. Tonight officially marks the beginning of "Steinbrenner mode" for me. However, there's a different feeling this time. Last year, and years prior, I was angry and mad. Thats not the case this year. I'm upset, sad, disappointed, and disgusted. I shed tears in the 8th inning; not after the game, but in the 8th f***ing inning. I just want to share my thoughts on the series and the Detroit Tigers here in this thread, then I will move over to the Yankee Thread for the week-long conclusion of my fury. The Detroit Tigers are amazing. Their fans are amazing. Jim Leyland is one of the most respectful men in Baseball, and he instills that in his players and staff. I wasn't a huge Leyland fan before this series, btu after seeing his first postseason press conference that quickly changed, and I truly admire him. Watching this series, and this game in particular I saw a familiar sight. I saw the energy and excitement in the Tigers that I saw in the Yankees for so many years. Those Tiger fans tonight were amazing. Those without tickets were on top of buildings, on top of busses, inside parking garages, and anywhere else they could get a view of the field. Those with tickets were AMAZING in there. They fueled the engine of the Detroit Tigers. I couldnt help but keep watching FOX after the game (rather than turn to the YES postgame) to see them celebrate. The passion was outstanding. As upset as I was because we lost, I was equally as happy for the Tigers and their fans. After what they showed me these past 3 days, and particularily tonight, i'm extremely envious. I know I always do a lot of supporting for the Yankee fans, but right now, the fans of the Detroit Tigers are the greatest fans in baseball. They have something that Yankee fans lack, and thats passion. We take so much for granted, and I didnt realize it until I saw the Tiger players out on the field spraying the fans with champagne, and slapping high fives, grabbing signs from the crowd and parading them around the field. It was an extraordinary sight. For me, it's impossible not to root for the Tigers in the ALCS, and maybe even the World Series (if the Mets dont make it). But for now, I have to, as a baseball fan, sit back and enjoy great baseball for the next two weeks. The ALCS is going to be an AMAZING series, and i'm sure that the NLCS will be the same, as will the World Series. For now, i'm pulling for the Mets and the Tigers. My disgust for the Yankees has never been this high, and for the first time in my life i'm ALMOST ashamed to be a Yankee fan. Some things need to change between tonight and the date in February that pitchers and catchers will report to Tampa. ...and as for you Red Sox fans who quickly jumped into this thread to taunt us and rub it in and say that we choked....f*** You!! As far as i'm concerned, you guys have no right to throw the "C word" at us after blowing your division lead and being forced to clean out the Fenway clubhouse a week earlier than us. So to you Sox fans who had the nerve to come here and taunt us, i'll say it again; f*** You and your Triple A baseball team. It's a shame I had to say this, because there are some truly respectful Sox fans here who I wouldn't want to offend, but had no choice because of you few *******s. Wait 'til next year.

I wouldnt go as far as to say they didn't deserve it; but there was definately some luck involved.

You hit that on the head of the nail. But excuse me, for several years when the Yankees were good, the Red Sox were not and had no reason to look at the scoreboard, hence no excuse for their "obsessive" behaivor. And yes, in the early '90s I did see this type of behaivor from Red Sox fans. Not to the degree as today, but I still saw it. Well whatever. I don't feel that way about fanbases in general. but about the die-hard fans. That statement was obviously made with a little bit of bias, but I truly feel that way growing up in a family that loves the Yankees. But lets get real, you can't tell me that you don't think die-hard Yankee fans are better than die-hard Royal/Angel/Mariner fans.

Definately. Bernie has good numbers against Rogers and Sheff is something like 3-17 (or somwhere around there).

This move probably won't work out as well for theRangers as it did for the Yankees and Diamondbacks; who both won the World Series the year after they fired Showalter. Anybody else think that Joe Girardi would be the PERFECT MANAGER for this team? I see success written all over this idea.

Like ARod2212 said, this is a disgrace. The Cubs are the most likely destination for him, although I think he would be the perfect manager for the Rangers. Bill Madden said he wouldnt be surprised if Girardi had no job offers this offseason and sat out next year. I can see that; but I hope that's not the case,

Size has nothing to do with it. There have been plenty of small guys who have used. The reason I wouldn't be surprised if Roberts used was because for years he struggled to even maintain a spot on the roster, let alone be the starting second baseman hitting home runs left and right (2005). I'm not saying I think he used, just that I wouldn't be surprised if he did.

Since nobody has posted it yet, here's the Yankees Division Series Roster Pitchers Chien-Ming Wang Mike Mussina Randy Johnson Jaret Wright Cory Lidle Ron Villone Mike Myers Brian Bruney Scott Proctor Kyle Farnsworth Mariano Rivera Catchers Jorge Posada Sal Fasano Infielders Jason Giambi Gary Sheffield Andy Phillips Robinson Cano Miguel Cairo Derek Jeter Alex Rodriguez Outfielders Hideki Matsui Melky Cabrera Johnny Damon Bernie Williams Bobby Abreu

Game was Rained Out. Will be played today at 1:00 on ESPN. Then after the game they head out to Detroit and play the rest of the series without an off day. ...I've been exhausted the past few days, so when I got home Tuesday I dozed off with about 5 minutes left in the YES pre-game and woke up 2 pitches into the top of the first. DId they show the player introductions and Tino throwing out the first pitch? I've noticed in recent years FOX never shows the ceremonial first pitch, which really annoys the s*** out of me.

Agreed. I gave the Tigers 1 as well, but I definately wouldn't be surprised to see a sweep.

We don't "run over to a Sox board" to celebrate. This is the board that I primarily post on. This is where i've been for the past 1 2/3 seasons. And I will deny it, because that really wasn't the motive. Honestly, I can't speak for anyone else here, but I know for me personally that wasn't my motive. In fact, I didn't even mention the division win until I made that post with the pictures of the Yankees celebrating, where at that point I was trying to rub it in. But only because there were a handful of Sox fans being pricks about harmless celebrating on the part of some fellow-Yankee fans here. Direct me to where I said anythig like that. If I did (which I honestly don't think I did. If I did I forgot) I guarantee that it was AFTER the handful of Sox fans came into the thread and started bashing us for celebrating. It MAY HAVE evolved to that now, but in general we are nowhere near as "obsessed" with Sox failure as you guys are with Yankee failure. I can recognize that it has become that way in recent years, but mainly by the general, casual, know-nothing fan who watching maybe 10-20 games a year. And the only reason it has become anything like that at all is because it's the example that they see set by Red Sox fans with the recent spark of the rivalry in the past 3-4 years or so, and the fact that the two teams have been so competitive in the division races. Red Sox fans have ALWAYS been obsessed with the Yankees and their failures. I remember being in Boston in 2000, 11 years old, and just seeing how misrebly obsessed with the Yankees the Red Sox fans were. I was aware that the two teams were rivals, but until then I didn't realize how serious it was. Red Sox fans have always gotten pleasure out of looking up at the out-of-town scoreboard and seeing a Yankee loss. I can't say that we, as Yankee fans are innocent of that, but it's only because for the last few years you guys have been right behind us in the standings. Trust me, up until about 2002-2003 we could care less what happened with you guys aside from when we played you. We weren't scoreboard watching for a Red Sox loss, it was usually an Oriole loss that gave us pleasure, but only because they were the team we were competiting with in the division. So to say that we are "just as obsessed with Sox failure as the Sox fan base is with Yankee failure" is a ridiculous statement. Trust me, I understand how it can be perceived that way. But don't neglect the countless times i've criticized the Yankee fan base. There is no doubt that the casual Yankee fan base is just absolutely TERRIBLE; maybe among the worst fans in sports. But when it comes to die-hard Yankee fans, I sincerely believe that there are no better fans. When I refer to the Yankee fan base, these are the people I am talking about. Now that isn't anything against other great fan-bases. The die-hard Red Sox fans, in particular are also GREAT fans. Same for the Mets, Reds, Tigers, Cubs, etc.

Well the words of one disgruntled, washed up pitcher don't mean very much to me, yet. I'm not denying that what Grimsley said was accurate, just that we need some more solid evidence. Grimsley isn't credible enough. For all we know he might have gotten into a big fight with Roger and Andy while they were teammates and when the feds pressured him to give up names he may have just given those two out of spite. Who knows what the circumstances are. As for the denials, I didn't think Andy's was very convincing. He looked pretty nervous. Clemens looked pretty genuine to me. According to his words, he's doing the smart thing in just letting it boil over, unless it affects him persoanlly or financially. As of now, Clemens and Pettitte are innocent in my judgement. That could change though. ..Tejada though...no way. 3 strikes and your out. 1) Palmeiro. 2) Canseco's book. 3) Grimsley. Roberts and Gibbons get the benefit of the doubt...for now. Although I wouldn't be shocked if either of them used.

I hear what your saying, and I understand where your coming from. But in being a Sox fan (or a fan of any team for that matter) in a particular region or market, that's something you have to put up with. Being a Sox fan living in NY, John Sterling and his homer tendancies are something you have to deal with, much like me being a Yankee fan here having to deal with things. Today, we live in an age of technology. If you despise Sterling so much, I suggest you look into XM Radio for when you want to listen to Sox/Yankee games, or any Sox games for that matter. While you may be right in some instances, John Sterling has always been good at providing little details or facts that I, as a fan, like to know. A lot of times they'll address a particular rule or regulation and explain it in full. Or sometimes they'll give us some insight on little things that arent important enough to be written about; uniform number changes, when a recently acquired player arrives at the stadium in the middle of a game, who's old locker he has, etc. I appreciate little things like that. ..anyone hear anything about the postseason roster? I haven't seen it.

Andruw and Howard would surprise me. Soriano and Jeter of course. Pudge ALREADY WAS accused. Aside from that, the only other person who might surprise me somewhat is Vlad. I wouldnt be surprised if any of the others were using at some point. Now that's not saying that I think any of the others were using, because I honestly think Jorge, A-Rod, and Trot are completely clean. I almost feel that way about Tek too. I felt that way about Nomar, but I can definately see him using after his career started going downhill in 2004.