26 to 6

ORS and ?, you guys have offers waiting.. mtbykr, yours is still there too. Let me know ASAP please.

Tomorrow at 7 The Tigers/Royals game has kept me entertained. I've been looking forward to Dbacks/Reds, but theyre in a delay. Im stuck flipping between the Cubs game and the Tigers game in utter disappointment due to not being able to see my Yanks today...tomorrow night cant come soon enough

C'mon, rain never hurt anybody. I used to LOVE playing ball in the rain. Lets get this s*** under way!

Gettin' antsy here...I need a baseball fix.

ok cool ...didnt mean to sound like impatient, I just heard Mrs. Robinson on a movie and posted that with the tune fresh in my mind lol

I'm anxiously awaiting getting my hands on some Yankee Stadium goodies. I understand your point about it being undignified, but hey, if they're gonna tear the place down I dont see anything wrong with getting your hands on a keepsake to remember all those special times walking down the ramp and setting your eyes on that beautiful green field. Greenest thing for blocks, maybe miles....except the river of course lol

Where have you gone mtbykr? A potential trader awaits a response from you..

Not at all. From what I've read in the past the Shikoku Island League isn't even the top indy league in Japan. Matsuo did have a great year last year, but this is against guys who arent even on affiliated Japanese baseball, which at it's top/"Major" level is roughly the equivalent of AAA level ball. Some call is AAAA. Now this doesnt say much considering there are only12 teams and 1 farm team per club,so these indy Japanese players could prove to MAYBE pan out here and there, but nobody should expect much. I mean, there have been enough instances of top level (or at least recognizable) NPB players coming over and not doing a thing, so who knows with the indy guys. Great step by the Red Sox in reaching outside of the box on this one, but only time will tell. On a side-note I think it's REALLY interesting that the Sox are willing to bring this guy's catcher along with him. Makes sense in helping him settle in and get acclimated, but I wonder if they have any real interest in the catcher beyond being a comfort block for Matsuo.

Yup. Our number 8 hitter hit 25 home runs and had 103 RBIs last year. Sickening.

He only played in an independent league, no affiliations with NPB. I believe the Sox are currently in negotiations with a catcher from the same team.

I have him in an offer right now, waiting to hear back. I'llget back to u guys about him as soon as i hear, or by tuesday at the latest

So no interest in Kazmir anywhere? I mean,I know he's on the DL but shouldnt be for too long...

Honestly, there should be no questions about the Yankee lineup. I don't mean to come off as arrogant or snotty or like a homer, but when it comes down to it this juggernaut of a lineup is gonna do some f***ing damage this year. The biggest question in my eyes is Damon. If he can get on at the top of the order things will go fantastic. Everyone can get on base, move guys over, hit for power, and I think that the combination of what we have in our lineup will turn out to be something special. When Robby Cano, who bats 3,4,or 5 in almost any other lineup is batting 7th for the Yankees it's saying something. Jeter will be Jeter, Abreu can work walks as well as anyone and should be expected to have a HIGH obp. A-Rod cant be expected to do what he did last year, but who knows how well he'll produce. Right on down the line things look good. I think Giambi will have a nice year. He's looked good all spring, getting around on balls easier, going the other way. Matsui worries me somewhat, but he's modestly tucked into that lineup where he can go unnoticed and drive in 100 runs. So basically,despite individual question marks surrounding certain players, collectively this lineup is going to do an extraordinary amount of damage. Only question is if it will be enough to pull us to the postseason if the pitching doesntpan out.

mtbykr, I have an offer out to you..

Yea, who can say one way or the other which team will take the division this year. It's awesome that there is going to be what looks to be a great race the whole way.

lmao

I remember at some point in this thread somebody mentioning, or suggesting haveing 2 DL spots. Any chance this might happen? lol

Neither NESN nor ESPN2 are coming in right now on DirecTV for me, which kinda sucks.

I wouldn't say terrible. He's not great, or above average for that matter by any stretch of the imagination, but he's not terrible. I'd still take him over probably like 25 other catchers in the game.

Betemit refuses to give up 14 for Ensberg, despite $5,000 offer. http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/22/morgan-ensbergs-5000-pitch-for-no-14/

i would have no reason 2 watch after the Japan exhibitions. I have extra innings. I wudnt download anything to anyones account anyway, that would not be very nice lol. Thanks though. Its all good

Not quite breaking news as it was announced last night and I posted it in the Spring News & Notes thread late last night or this morning good try though Forgot the part where Ensberg says he doesnt want to wear O'Neills number so will likely make an offer to Betemit for 14

Ensberg added to the 40-man, Pavano placed on the 60-day DL. Ensberg will make the team as he has no options left, and plans on changing his number because he doesnt want to wear Paul O'Neill's number. Possibly make an offer to Betemit for 14. http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/blog/2008/03/ensberg_added_to_40man.html

Does anyone feel generous enough to lend out their mlb.tv password? I never bothered to get it because I have extra innings, but I've been looking forward to the 4 exhibition games all winter and now I cant even see them

The balls are slightly smaller, barely. It does not make sense to me though to not use the MLB balls in the regular season games. I believe when the Yanks were there in 2004 they used Japanese balls in the exhibitions and MLB balls in the games against the Rays. Wierd..