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We know. Billy has a way of making the difficult look routine.

No, but calling RSN ignorant just because the Yankees have 5 farm hands on their roster vs. the Sox 2 is uncalled for and, quite frankly, insulting. Many people in RSN are well aware that the current team is composed primarily of imported talent, yet they still believe the Yankees try to buy their way to victory. Steinbrenner has done very little to dissuade them from that perception.

With your posts you provide so much evidence that you are absolutely incapable objectivity that it is hard to take you seriously. That perception about the Yankees has very little to do with how many of their players are from their farm system. It has to do with the number of players acquired that were legitimate stars when the Yankees got them. Brown, Johnson, ARod (you got him because you agreed to pony up the dough, so it is a money issue too), Sheff, Giambi, Mussina, and Pavano were all considered top-shelf talent when the Yankees acquired them. Matsui and Wright missed that list due to Wright's injury prone past and the fact that Matsui was a roll of the dice. For the Sox, only Manny, Curt, Rent, Foulke, and Boomer were in that category when the Sox got them. Clement, Mueller, Wake, Arroyo, Millar, Damon, Ortiz, Miller, and Timlin were all good players but not MLB elite when the Sox put them on the roster. P.S. The fact that the Yankees have more home grown talent will most likely end next year, and once it changes it will stay that way for quite some time.

You are 16. Been rooting for the Yankees since you were what, 7 years old? That's 9 years of rooting for your team, putting your first season back in 1996. What's my point? Don't condescend as if you are any better than a fairweather fan if your team has never struggled in your life. How do you know if you are any better? The Yankees haven't been bad so you wouldn't know.

The rules are pretty clear. The runner is entitled to the basepath, so running into a fielder that is blocking the plate/base is allowed. Arroyo was trying to apply a tag without blocking 1st base. Comparisons between the two plays are completely unfounded.

I don't think Bernie's offensive dropoff can be explained by age. He is still hitting for comparable power to previous years (just a lot less AB's now). I think it has more to do with being dropped down in the batting order (those FA sluggers are going to fill the heart of the lineup) and a change of approach at the plate. If you look at his career numbers, his strikeouts and walks are significantly lower than during his best years. That, to me, suggests that he has expanded his strikezone and is swinging at more pitchers pitches near the edge of the strikezone. Beyond a statistical analysis, I have noticed that he seems less patient at the plate than he was a few years ago.

There isn't any evidence I can find that supports a claim that age slows down a players bat. Manny is only 33, and there are several players either over 40 or close to it that can still catch up to MLB fastballs. Yes, he has been behind on some pitches during his little slump, but that has nothing to do with age. Players go through stretches where they aren't picking the ball up as well, but good players usually break out of that situation. Manny is one of the most prolific and productive hitters of his era. He will have hot streaks and cold streaks, but he will, as long as he stays healthy, be a pain in the ass for MLB pitchers for years to come.

The Sox need to s*** or get off the pot with Youk. He's going to be a solid player, but he is out of options at the end of this year, so they need to either make a roster spot for him or trade him for as much as they can get. I think letting Bill Mueller go would be a mistake at this point and would be upsetting for Sox fans. I say sign him to a 2-year deal (or 3 if that is a demand of his, he'd be a hell of a PH off the bench that last year if he's showing age in the field) and platoon Youk at first. Youk will play better D than Millar and put up similar offensive numbers. He could platoon with Olerud, if he comes back, or Petagine. Papi could even play a few games in the field. The platooning option would save the Sox from overspending for a FA 1B in the offseason, which would allow them to go after a frontline starter and some BP help.

Curt being Curt by making 55,000 New Yorkers STFU.

#7 VTech whacked hapless Duke 45-0. Duke's total offense: 35 yds.

ND gets their 2nd upset on the road in a row to start the season. I'd still be surprised if they win more than 7 games because their schedule is so tough, but my hat is off to Charlie for turning that team around. He hasn't even had his first full recruiting season. Imagine what he'll be able to do down the road when he gets the personel he wants.

Schill's splitty is starting to get that nasty look again. Velocity is good. Location is awesome. The secondary pitches are close to being all the way back. P.S. He keeps improving from start to start. I can't wait to see what he's got next time out.

There goes the no-no and shut-out, good thing it was a solo.

Update 17-3, but ND just fumbled the hand-off deep in their own territory. UM ball in the red-zone with 12 mins left in the 4th.

Cano!!!! LMFAO! 8-0

Trot! I love crooked numbers, 7-0.

It's good to see Manny break out of his little funk. 5-0.

And you choose here to complain about it? Not the sharpest tool in the tool shed. Thank you Matsui.

People were writing off Notre Dame's shellacking of Pitt as bad preseason rankings (Pitt was #23, ND unranked). Thus far they are handling business in The Big House against #3 Michigan, leading 14-3 going into the 4th quarter. Charlie's squad looks like it is the real deal.

Johnny Helmet goes upper-deck. I know he can't play every day, and it is nice now that Kev's bat has been taken out of the freezer. If Millar could play some better D, I'd love this platooning situation. Nice Kappy, 2 on, no outs.

Sanchez is only 21 and is somewhat inexperienced because he hasn't always been a pitcher. I think they needed to keep a closer eye on his inning count. Shoulder tenderness was the report that had him leave a game early two weeks ago, but he has pitched twice since, so I'm not overly concerned about his future. I think he is just gassed.

Sierra-out, Posada-Millar bobble, Cano-single, Lawton-out. Three outs if Millar makes that play. Tie game, 4-4.

He will be given every chance to get the job in spring training.

He should have been shut down two weeks ago. I've heard the same thing about Hughes, who was shut down.

Don't forget about Anibal Sanchez, who had a really good year until his last three starts. He's young so I think he may have been showing the effects of his first really long season. Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden are both very young and have a lot of upside. The farm is deep with good pitching, but we need to get some more promising position players.