BudLight

I for one am fed up with hearing that Barry Bonds is being prosecuted unfairly for steroid use. He is being prosecuted for lying to a federal grand jury!!! He and Giambi were both in the same boat, both had immunity from prosecution for telling the truth, they chose different paths and now Barry should realize they weren't screwing around about the consequences of lying. Giambi did the smart thing, told the truth and even, somewhat, apologized for his steroid use. No, Giambi did not "admit" using steroids, but he also didn't disclose his testimony, he walked a fine line, but anyone with any common sense at all could ascertain what he was apologizing for. So for all of you Barry Bonds sympathizers, get over it, he lied, had the chance to tell the truth, free from prosecution, and chose not to abide by the rules. Deal with it!

If Tejada is truly on the list (which would be no surprise) is surely makes one wonder if Angelos had inside info yesterday or earlier, resulting in the trade timing. It is funny how he wanted major league ready talent before for Tejada and the deal he actually accepted from Houston yesterday. Also makes me wonder about Andruw Jones, he signed pretty quickly for someone who wanted a long term deal.

What about Schilling? Wasn't he a "student" of the Raja off-season "conditioning" program at one time?

There are stories this morning (and posted in other topics here) that the Yanks are trying to free up some salary by trading Matsui or Mussina. Very preliminary right now, but the stated reason the Yanks didn't pull the trigger on the Santana deal was because of costs after Pettite decided to return in 08.

Here's the rest of the article: Now, that difference is a little more noticeable — a 64-point drop in OPS. It’s much harder for a player to stand heads and shoulders above the pack in the American League. Since 2001, there are 36 players who have posted an OPS of 1.000 or higher in the National League, as compared to just 23 in the AL. But here’s the key question … does this make Cabrera any less valuable to the Tigers? Absolutely not. This simply represents the prevailing exchange rate between the two leagues. Cabrera will be just as valuable to the Tigers, even if he might not be quite as valuable to his fantasy owners. And if more players like Cabrera migrate to the American League, the gap between the two circuits is only going to increase. ___ Wonky disclaimer: this should not be read to mean that there is a 64-point gap in talent between the AL and the NL. The talent gap is big, but more along the lines of 25-30 points of OPS. The balance of the difference has to do with the fact that the NL is actually a better hitter’s league right now, especially for a power hitter, perhaps because it has a lot of small ballparks.

I'm not ready to give up on Willis just yet. His best years were 2003 and 2005 where he had a veteran battery mate (I-Rod and LoDuca respectively). His being reunited with I-Rod coupled with the potent offensive line-up the Tigers now have established should prove to be very positive for Willis. I expect he will be improving greatly.

Buster Olney on Mike and Mike in the Morning today stated he believes this deal between the Sox and Twins for Johan will not get done. IMHO - the Tigers acquiring Cabrera and Willis last night has to play into the thinking now of the Twins GM. That division just got a lot stronger and it may not be in the Twins best interest right now to trade Santana if they want any chance of competing in that division next season. Losing the 15 - 20 wins from Santana would hurt a great deal. While I think Lester has good stuff, I don't believe he is a 15-20 game winner his first year in Minnesota.

I beginning to see why Steinbrenner was getting so frustrated with the Twins GM. Make up your f***ing mind already!!! From the Globe's Nick Cafardo (2:18 p.m.): Johan Santana's agent, Peter Greenberg indicated moments ago that he has not begun contract negotiations with any team at this stage, an indication a deal between Boston and the Twins might still have a ways to go. Major League sources have also indicated there have been no discussions between the Twins and Red Sox yet today, though talks are planned later in the day. The medical information the Twins sought on Jon Lester was simply "due diligence" according to one official, and that nothing was imminent with the Twins and Red Sox, though that could change rapidly after their meeting later today. Greenberg remains a key to the deal because the Sox have to agree on a multi-year deal with Santana in order for him to waive his full no-trade clause.

Billy Beane is happy as a pig in s*** right now! He just sits back, waits for the Santana auction to end, then swoops in and gets more than he should for Haren. The one-ups manship by the Yanks and Sox in the Santana bidding can come back and bite the loser of that auction in the ass. Beane will surely want a Santana like package for Haren and the best part, he doesn't have to deal him, he controls him for the next three years at a bargain basement price. The Twins however have to deal Santana now or end up with virtually nothing for him next Winter. The winner in all of this, Billy Beane and the Oakland A's. Also, keep in mind the Mets are very interested in Haren and so far this off-season, Minaya has proven he will take the short end of a deal.

If Sheff had agreed to move to 1B for the Yanks this would all have been a mute point. His ego was shattered when the Yanks acquired Abreu and Sheffield showed his true colors (urine yellow) when he refused the request to move to 1B for the good of the team. His numbers can't be argued but his leading cause of cancer in the clubhouse can.

The Olsen twins and Karen Carpenter :dunno:

Because NY state is not a wasteful state with the tax payers monies, we should all be concerned -- give me a break. As for the military comments regarding taxes, if you are a resident of NY state and are stationed in NY state, you pay NY state taxes. If you are stationed outside of NY state you do not. That's fair??? f*** the NY state tax system, it's as corrupt as Barry Bonds!!!

It was also reported that the Yankees were prepared to offer a 7 year extension at $29M per year in addition to the 3/91 that was remaining on his contract for 08-10. That's a total of $294M for 10 years. The offer now is being reported as 10 yrs, $273M, there's where the $21M Texas money comes in to play. So, if A-Fraud had not opted out the Yanks would have been on the hook for $23M per year for 08-10, now they will be on the hook for $27.3M per year in 08-10, that's an increase of $12.9M over the 08-10 period. Anything after 2010 is mute here for arguments sake. Until yesterday there was no contract offer after 2010 for A-Fraud and no one knows what his market value would have been in 2011 and beyond.

I would not be surprised if this was all being cooked up by the master spin doctor himself, Scott Boras. With the Yankees out of the bidding, the price is going to go down, Boras won't take the chance of looking like a fool by having A-Rod opt out and then receive less money somewhere else. They have to have the Yankees in the mix or at least give the impression that the Yankees are in the mix in order to keep the price up.

I have to believe that without the 4th year Posada would be wearing blue and orange next year. This deal IMHO is what Posada deserved. Him and Rodriguez carried the Yankees out of their early season funk last year. His experience will be a real benefit for the young pitchers coming up in the system now.

Quote: Red Sox would be No.1 on A-Rod's list Sunday, Nov 4, 2007 8:12 am EST Citing sources close to Alex Rodriguez, the Boston Globe reported Sunday that if Rodriguez could handpick the team he plays for, the Boston Red Sox might be No. 1 on his list. According to The Globe, the source said Rodriguez would love to play for the Sox because he thinks they can win multiple championships. Also, agent Scott Boras has been pleasantly surprised with the early interest in Rodriguez. "Several teams have expressed an interest and there have been a couple of surprise teams I never expected to hear from," he said. Boras would not reveal any names (one of the surprise teams is thought to be the Marlins). Source: The Boston Globe With the Yankees out of the bidding for A-Fraud it is no surprise this story would emerge. When one of the two highest spending clubs in baseball drops out (Yankees) Boras is left with no choice except to state something like this. Without Boston in the "mix" the price drops significantly.

"Ramrod", isn't that what you will be calling your 4/5 hitters next year after you sign A-Fraud?

Yankees or nowhere in 2008. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071031&content_id=2289336&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

No, hapless is correct. While the D-Backs, Rockies and Pads may have been battling each other for the Division title it was all really a mute point in the end, wasn't it, another WS sweep at the hands of an AL East team. Munch on this "homer" -- Since 1997, the AL has won 7 WS, the NL 4 and here's the breakdown: WS Appearances: NL West - 4 (1 Title) NL East - 4 (2 Titles) NL Cent - 3 (1 Title) AL West - 1 (1 Title) AL East - 7 (5 Titles) AL Cent - 3 (1 Title)

Don "I won't take any job but manager with the Yankees" Mattingly will follow Torre to L.A. Okay Don, you may be loved in NY, but I believe if this pans out your image is about to be severely tarnished. You would accept a job under Torre in that cesspool of L.A., in the hapless National League, but not accept such a position in the Yankee organization, in the superior American League and the toughest division in baseball, the A.L. East. You're a phony Don - you just reinforce that the Steinbrenners and Cashman made the right decision in hiring Joe Girardi instead of a Torre clone. The Yankees are going through some serious transition and need a manager who is able to bring a new style to fit with that transition. Don you have proven you are not that individual.

And the NY Papers start the dirt digging process: http://www.nypost.com/seven/10292007/news/regionalnews/high_flier_a_rod_buys_mob_jet.htm

Congrats Sox and the RSN - you set the standard early in the season and finished the way you started. The team and fans truly deserve this championship.

Probably the best player of modern times, surely destined for the HOF. To the stats geek, he is the best to ever play the game, to the "fan" of the game he's the biggest ******* to ever don a MLB uniform. He wants it all, money, a ring and the adoration of the fans. He had adoration in Seattle, money in Texas and money in NY. I doubt he will ever be embraced the way he was in Seattle and IMHO that is what is most important to him, regardless of what he says. He will never figure out that there are still some who want to see players with a passion for the game and a loyalty for their team. Arod was on the Yankees roster but he was never on their team. The same will be true for wherever he signs, his ego and his agent will never allow him to be part of a team.

Insult or not, Torre made the right decision! The 2008 Yankees will not resemble any team Joe was give over his tenure in NY. The team is getting younger (transition) and Joe has never been in that situation before. Could he succeed without all of the overpaid all-stars? Who knows. Why take that chance, he has nothing to prove to anyone. He is a HOF manager. He doesn't need the money nor the aggravation that comes along with being the manager in NY. Personally, I hope he never manages again, he doesn't need to in order to gain entrance into the HOF.