Gom

Phillips sucks. Just because you wore pinstripes doesn't make you a an All-Star.

Stop smoking crack. Those guys couldn't hold Santana's jock. Don't buy into New York media hype. Cabrera is an average CF at best overall. Hughes has potential, but may not be the power ace that everyone thinks he CAN be. Those are the centerpieces of a deal for the best pitcher in baseball? I'd love it if it could happen.

I hear the Mets may have jumped in the lead. I actually wouldn't mind, I just don't want him going to you guys. I feel you guys are thinking the same thing.

This isn't about Yankees guys. It's about a family losing their mother, wife, etc. The uniform he wore years ago has nothing to do with this.

Truth is, flip a coin. I think the Yankees rotation is much better than most people think. First of all, we won't have the likes of Pavano, Igawa, Wright, Desalvo, etc. At the very WORST, Kennedy, Chamberlain, and Hughes will be better than the other guys. Realize one thing. We were both down 1-3 to the Guardians. You had a longer series with them. Kudos to you, but the difference between us at this point is a coin flip. In a short series, I admit, I like the Sox better because of their better pitching. Over the course of the season, I think the Yankee bats will carry the Yankees to a division title. Both of us will be playing in October. Again. Some guy named Johan can slightly alter the mix, in my opinion. Not sure on that one though

The truth of the matter is that the trio of Hughes, Kennedy, and Chamberlain could be the next Smoltz, Glavine, and Maddux. Now to hope these pitchers turn into them is a stretch. However, that is the hopes the Yankees have for them. Hughes 1.28 whip is the highest of the three. Now, do I expect them to each win 20 games? Not any time soon, if ever. However, I wouldn't be surprised if Wang or Pettitte was our worst starting pitcher next year. They could pan out to be the Braves trio. They could also turn out to be Generation K from the Mets. Isringhausen, Pusipher, and Wilson. We know how they turned out. I'm just glad we got rid of Torre. This would have been Prior and Wood all over again.

What a sad story. Poor woman. What a tragedy.

This had nothing to do with steroids. It had everything to do with him hitting .230. It was a way for the Yankees to get out of the salary, nothing more or less. If he was hitting .300 with 40 homers, you wouldn't have heard a peep from the Yankees front office. I agree. As a Yankee fan, I have no problem with Mitchell. I think he's honorable and was a good choice. I do not think he was partial to any team or any one. However, for the most part, this seems like a "regurgitation" of players we already knew. It doesn't seem like there was anyone here who surprised me either way, although I didn't expect Gagne to be on the list. My personal belief? The MAJORITY of players who cheated, the GREAT MAJORITY, got away with it. These are only the dumb ones who paid by credit cards or personal checks. I'm not surprised at Clemens, who up till now, was a medical marvel, and Pettitte, who hangs out with Clemens. I'm surprised players like Ortiz didn't show up, or Schilling, or Posada, or Jeter [who in a secret way, I would have loved to have seen..him and Varitek, lol]. Really....was there any big name that showed up that shocked you? All the big names have been rumored at one time or another before. The only way to fix this is really very simple. However, we don't have a commissioner that has the intestinal fortitude [a.k.a. BALLS] to do this: You get caught with steroids. BANNED FOR LIFE. End of story. None of this three strikes you're out s***. You gamble on the game, you're out. You take steroids, you're out. These players look at it like..."Hey, I've still got two strikes before I'm in trouble". If you want to take steroids, fine. If you get caught, you're out for life. Make the punishment extreme, no one will do the crime. How many players have gambled on baseball? Get the point?

Go f*** yourself.

This just in...Santana unlikely to be traded soon. What would you guys do without me?

I'd hit better than .069 in your league. Maybe even break .100. We'll see.

Yankees: Hughes, Kennedy, Chamberlain Red Sox: Buchholz, Lester, Hansen, Delcarmen How would you guys rank them, one through seven? For not only next year, but for their careers? I'm curious as to your opinions. Let's hear them folks.

This has been a very interesting thread. I kinda stayed out of it, and for the most part you all stuck to the premise. Nice to see that most of you put your team's bias aside and judged the players, and not the uniforms.

Because none of these players are angels. The Red Sox fans who don't want Arod are just as idiotic, if not more so [when not factoring in the salary concern]. You know what? I've got great character. I'm honest, I don't steal, I don't cheat. I've never cheated on a girl [and yes, hold that thought, I've been with girls, emphasizing plural]. I give to charity, I hold the door open for ladies and older folks. So what if I can't hit a 95 MPH fastball with regularity? I'm a good person with an average glove and arm at third. I may hit .069 in the major leagues, but you won't hear a complaint from anyone in the clubhouse about me. Plus, I'll take less than minimum wage, I won't sign up with the player's union, and won't hire an agent. Would you rather have me or Arod at third?

Whoever made that up should just kill himself. Now. Stop wasting oxygen.

This is why most Yankee fans are clueless. Do you realize that without his season, we don't make the playoffs this past season? That with the team constructed as it is, we wouldn't make the playoffs next season? Do you realize that he's the only legitimate righty power threat in the lineup? Do you realize that he hits well against the Red Sox pitchers? Do you realize he out-hit most of the Yankees against Detroit? Even the famed Derek Jeter, who was unquestionably the offensive goat against Detroit? Personally, I know we'll be there in October again, barring injury. So will the Red Sox and the Angels. The question will be Detroit or Cleveland. We are a stronger team heading to 2008 than we were in 2007. Without Arod, we have NO CHANCE. We got lucky in the early 90's. Do you really think our farm system will turn out a boderline Hall of Fame center fielder and catcher, a hall of fame shortstop, and the greatest reliever in the history of baseball all within 4 years like we did in the 90's? I hear this ******** from Yankee fans all the time. Dude, look at the Red Sox. Who the hell did they rebuild with? Pedroia, Papelbon, and Youkilis? Merry f***ing Christmas. As good as those players are, Ortiz, Ramirez, Schilling, Beckett, and Lowell had more to do with it. Those guys were trades or free agents. You hope to get lucky with some players from your farm system, and you use trades and free agent signings to supplement what you have. It's what we did in the 90's. It's what the Sox are doing now. We were successful in the 90's, they are now. It's the same strategy. Wake up.

With the Yankees and Red Sox battling it out over Santana, I'm interested in your view points on this. Who do you think will have a better career, Phil Hughes or Jacoby Ellsbury? Seeing how I don't know much, I'll sit this debate out. Truthfully, I would take pitching over hitting, which would make me lean towards Hughes, but from what I've seen from Ellsbury in his late season call-up, he has been impressive. Your thoughts? I'm curious.

Joe Torre should have won. For leaving. I hate him. When you think about it, realize that he had to be given instructions [Joba Rules] so he didn't injure his player. Douchebag. Congrats Francona. You deserved it, but I would have given it to Wedge. As for the 2 AL awards...did you forget Arizona and Philly?

It was in between stations as I was turning the dial. When I went back, it was a 1920's Big Band AM station. Weird. I'm searching ESPN and CNNSI, but they have no links to confirm it. Stay tuned.

I'll get back to you. I heard it on the radio though.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove07/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=3138769&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines

Johan Santana is on the trading block. Just trying to help out here.

Dude, you are all over the place. The truth is, with the asking price in prospects, Santana's no-trade clause, and his salary demands, only the big market clubs are in. That means that the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, Dodgers, and possibly the Angels can have all three parameters. Remember, you have to give up the prospects, and sign him, while not weakening your team overall. The Dodgers have the most talent, but rightfully so, realize they are about a year away from making a serious run. Acquiring a big name player at the expense of their loaded young talent is a bad move. My verdict: OUT The Angels have the pieces to make the deal, and the financial ability to add Santana. However, their pitching is decent, and seeing how poorly they fared against the Red Sox on offense, have set their sights on Cabrera of the Marlins. If Cabrera ends up with the Dodgers, they can get back in, but I doubt that this will happen before the Santana thing ends one way or the other. My verdict: OUT The Mets...the most confusing, and dumbest team in the mix. I think Omar Minaya is one of the worst GM's in the game today. First of all, he gets rid of LoDuca, who is no worse [or better] than what's out there. The guy may not have the greatest skill set, but would have loved to come back and would have taken a short term deal. Instead he deals Milledge for spare parts, and refuses to part with Reyes. A package of Reyes and Milledge would trump both what the Yankees and Red Sox are offering, giving them the bona fide ace they need in a pitcher's park in the NL. Santana would probably have an ERA in the high one's. Considering that the Mets could find a suitable shortstop, possibly Eckstein, they can easily get this done. Verdict: Should be leading the pack here, but due to GM's stupidity, OUT The Red Sox. The smartest team in the mix. Realizing that they don't need Santana, and that in my opinion, Danny Haren is a better fit for the Red Sox, they have caused the Yankees to blink first by staying in the derby. Haren had as good a year as Santana last year, is under control for longer, and won't cost as much in both picks and salary. I would be surprised if they didn't go get Haren after this is resolved. They have driven the price up as high as they can at this point. I doubt the Sox's sincerity in actually making this deal happen, but they have already succeeded regardless of the outcome in making the Yankees up their offer. The only negative is something they can't control. If the Twins pull Santana off the table, then the Yankees and Sox go head to head for Haren. They've done their part to make sure it does happen by upping the ante. Who knows, they may even pull it off. Verdict: IN...and can't lose either way The Yankees. The most desperate team in the mix. Santana to the Red Sox is their worst nightmare. Due to their desperation, and being in the unfamiliar role of chasing the Red Sox, the Yankees have already blinked. Some would rather the Yankees lose and play for Haren, but the Santana move is the headline grabber. Still, with Santana, the post-season is a lock, but as all know, that means literally nothing in guaranteeing advancement. Verdict: IN and wish the Red Sox weren't.

I guess I look at things differently, but if I was the Sox, I would ABSOLUTELY give up Ellsbury or Buchholz. A rotation of Santana, Beckett, Dice-K and Schilling is as close to a guarantee in a championship as you can get. I would do it in a heartbeat if I was you guys. Here's hoping you don't.