Gom

No. He gave a s*** about winning. That was it. Was he a perfect owner? No. Did he make mistakes? Yes. What he did do was care about his team, and did the best he could to put a winner on the field for New York. Realize, the real dark days when were CBS owned the team. The Yankees had the best winning percentage of any team in the 1980s. They also won 4 Championships in 5 years under his helm once, and twice in the 1970's. He put his money, his mouth, his persona on the line. He delivered. Not every time, but as best as he could. Find me a New York fan of another team that doesn't want a Steinbrenner running his team. The real crappy owners? Guys like Pohlard, who can buy Steinbrenner many times over but pockets the money. Owners whose teams pocket the revenue sharing money and don't throw it into player development or free agents. Like the Pirates. Or the Royals. Or the Devil Rays. Or the A's. The list goes on and on. I'm glad Steinbrenner owns the Yankees, and I hope his helm lasts for much, much longer. The man is definitely a cult of personality. He has given his team, his fans, much to cheer about. He is brash, rude, obnoxious, full of bluster and bile, but generally with a heart of gold, rushing to aid to those in need. He believes in winning...at all costs. Sounds like a New Yorker to me. Outside of this country, to the rest of the world, it would sound like America personified.

If you lose tonight, it doesn't matter how many games Beckett pitches in from this point on. You guys will be in serious trouble.

He's the greatest owner in the history of New York sports. I give him a lot of credit for turning the Yankees around, and I doubt that there's an owner who wants to win more than this guy.

We're finished then.

Arod isn't stupid either. Why opt out if you plan to stay? The Yankees lose 7 million a year for the next three years, money that can be allocated to another player. Plus, if the Yankees publicly state that they are out of the race for Arod, it will hurt his chances since the biggest market team is not bidding. Boras's MO is to use one team against the other. When the biggest team is out of it, it can't help his chances. I'm not saying he stays, I'm not saying he goes. I'm saying that if he stays, it makes no sense to opt out.

Stop smoking crack Jacko. These are All-Star players. For the 1 millionth time, we are not the Kansas City Royals.

I disagree. The steal was a prelude to the end of the game. In my opinion, it was no bigger than Posada's bloop double to tie the game in 2003 game 7. Same difference.

You don't give up talent at the major league level, ALL-STAR TALENT, for a draft pick. EVER. End of discussion.

Thank you God that Jacko is in NO POSITION to affect the Yankees front office. Dude, are you nuts? The Yankees do not rebuild under the current structure. They retool. The same goes for the Sox. The Yankees will have up and down years, but with the new decree of building up the farm system, they won't ever have to rebuild. They brought up Hughes, Chamberlain, and Kennedy this year. The last two years, they have brought up Cano, Cabrera, and Wang. They have Sanchez, Horne, and Tabata in the wings. This year they drafted Brackman. Now, the majority of the players won't be stars. However, I expect to see an impact player ever year for the foreseeable future. Coupled with what they have, and what they can afford, this is a 90 win team for a long, long time. Even if they lose Arod. Even when Posada and Rivera leave/retire. Even when Jeter starts sucking big time, and the post-season choke by him becomes the norm. Why on earth do you want us to become the Pirates. Teams with big budgets fix on the fly because they CAN. Right now, we hope that Pettitte comes back. But in two years, you could be looking at a rotation that will consist of five of the following pitchers: Wang, Hughes, Chamberlain, Kennedy, Sanchez, Horne and possibly Brackman. You will have an outfield that has Tabata and Cabrera. What is this retooling ******** you are spewing? You think because we have a first round pick it means something? Holy s***, the majority of first round picks don't make the majors. The entire draft isn't worth an Arod. Get real. Seriously, why support the Yankees if you are about a farm system, Jacko? You have this belief that because we got lucky with Bernie, Mariano, Jeter, etc., that it can be replicated with ease again. It's a numbers game, the more money you throw into the draft, the better your odds. The Yankees are worth close to 3 billion dollars, when you count YES. You want them to rebuild? Why, so the owners can put more money in their pockets? What planet are you from? You are willing to let their players go for DRAFT PICKS??????? What the last few seasons have convinced me is that the "aura" of the post-season is just luck. As you add in more teams, you increase the luck factor. Simple mathematics. The Yankees were not the dominant team that they are perceived to be in the late 90's. They just had an inordinate amount of luck. That's why they won 4 of 5. It's bad luck why they lost the last seven. Looking at the big picture, they have won four WS in the thirteen years of the wild card format. So basically, 25% of the time. You know how many teams make the post-season? 8. What's that percentage? 12.5%. So they are above the curve. They blew it. Fine. The goal is to make the post-season. After that, there is a lot of luck involved. Jeffery Maier. Flying ants. Steve Barman, etc, etc. A team wins 94 games. They [considering none of their free agents leave] will lose a 45 year old pitcher as their only "impact" player, and have three potential replacements. Their hitters are in the prime of their careers. Seriously, do you even get it Jacko? I'm a NEW YORK Yankee fan, not Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankee fan. You have been spewing this s*** about rebuilding and a farm system since I've been here, and you're lost. The idea of ANY FARM SYSTEM is to support the major league club. Not the other way around. You think the Twins or A's WANT to give up their stars and get draft picks? They have no choice by their edict sent from management. You think if Steinbrenner owned the Twins, that Santana would be going anywhere, or if he owned the A's that Giambi, Damon, Hudson, Mulder, or Zito would have gone anywhere? Wake up. Stop self-medicating. What you are stating has convinced me to never get sick if you will be my doctor. Seriously.

Well, ORS, just what will get this guy? I don't see the Yankees moving Cano. Period. So I guess the deal doesn't get done. However, just what team is out there than can offer more than the Yankees or the Dodgers? Will you trade Ellsbury/Buchholz?

I must admit, I completely agree. It would be foolish for the Twins to do anything but to sign Santana THEMSELVES. If Liriano comes back, they would have the best 1-2 punch in baseball and would have to be considered one of the favorites. If, for whatever reason, they are not in the race, they can trade him. You think that the Yankees, or Sox, or Mets will give up any less at mid-season considering he is signed, as long as he agrees not to opt out of his deal if traded? Get real. As much as I would love to see Santana in pinstripes next year, the reality is that Minnesota is foolish to trade him right now. Wait until July next year to figure it out.

I haven't missed a playoff game since 2002, and I'm getting tired of getting my post-season refund. At least Torre is done. What a loser.

Enjoy yourself folks. You can't torture me any more than my team did in the ALDS. Trust me on that one. Now in all seriousness, I will wake up tomorrow all annoyed and pissed off, so I probably won't return to the site until Friday to root for the Guardians. However, I expect to see a few thousand posts in this thread by then.

There are definitely going to be changes. There is no doubt. However, this is going to be the unofficial plan to fix the Yankees going into 2008. So here goes.... 1) Replace Joe Torre with Joe Girardi or Tony Larussa. Mattingly is a fan favorite, but both of these guys are better managers. Larussa is as good as it comes with managing a pen, and Girardi is almost as sharp. Joe Torre, while being a player's manager, can't manage a bullpen. To me, in the AL, that's all a manager needs to do. Also, the kind of small ball/situational hitting that is needed but lost on these Yankees may return. 2) Sign Arod to an extension. True...this is his choice. However, as long as he doesn't opt out, give him what he wants over the long haul. The Yankees can sign him to a 5-7 year extension at $30 million a year while prorating it [by not losing the next three years of Arod and his 20+ million from Texas], and keeping his salary at the same place it is for next year. 3a) Ask the Twins for Santana's price. Dangle Cabrera and Kennedy. While I doubt that will be all it will take, it may be a start. Cabrera is integral to any deal for Santana, and it may take Alan Horne in addition or Hughes or Chamberlain for him. However, if you can get Santana without giving up Hughes or Chamberlain, I'd have to jump at it. However, a deal for Santana that includes Cabrera, Kennedy, and Alan Horne for Santana might just get it done. [i admit, I'm biased...how does that sound?] 3b) Trade Giambi. Now, the only way you can trade Giambi is to eat at least half his salary, approximately 11.5 million. Now, as a one year rental, I believe many teams would take Giambi. It's never the short contract, it's the long one that kills teams. Who might take Giambi at 11.5 million for just one year? Many, in my opinion. The Angels would come knocking. So would the Twins probably. I can't see a national league club wanting him to play the field, but the Angels would be a perfect fit for him, giving them Anderson, Vlad, Giambi, and Juan Rivera, going left/right/left/right. Can't hurt. What to get back for Giambi? A player to be named later. A bar of soap. Anything. You can't help but think that Giambi could possibly help them, and as a one year rental, how can he really hurt? 4) As a reward for not opting out for Arod, Boras gets his other client signed, Carlos Pena. Give Pena..hmm...11.5 a year for 3-4 years, which is pretty much his asking price. Basically, you replaced Giambi with Pena. A bit of a risk, considering he hasn't done much except for this year, but hey...we still are the Yankees, and we can eat a bad contract or two. 5) Bring back Abreu at a reduced price. Abreu is the kind of player the Yankees should be looking to bring in. He really is a poor man's Paul O'Neil with better offensive numbers and less of a leader and fielder, but overall, a similar player. 17 million is a lot, Abreu could come back at a 7 million discount from his current salary. 6) Sign Bonds. An unpopular decision for most, but a statistical monster. As good as Posada is, we can't win with him as our number five hitter. Putting Bonds behind Arod gives the Yankees three amazing OBP players in a row in Abreu, Arod, and Bonds. Sign Bonds for...hmmm...a 1 year deal for 12 million. Now...how can we shave off five million [assuming #5 saves us 7 million]? 7) With Bonds penciled in at DH, there is no place for Matsui. Who would take Matsui? Many, many teams would, in my opinion. Seattle, cornering the Japanese market? The Giants, having lost Bonds? The Mets? Of course, the whole trade Matsui thing only happens if Cabrera isn't traded. 8) Resign Rivera and Posada at similar contracts. Calling that a fiscal wash. Realizing that Santana is a bit of a stretch to say the least, by following my plan, their 2008 payroll will actually drop by about 17-18 million due to Clemens coming off the books. Their rotation next year would look as follows Wang Pettitte Hughes Chamberlain Kennedy/Mussina Their lineup would look as follows: Damon LF Jeter SS Abreu RF Rodriguez 3B Bonds DH Pena 1B Posada C Cano 2B Cabrera CF All this can be accomplished with a decrease of 17-19 million dollars from current payroll. In 2009, Pettitte, Mussina, Pavano come off the books. Another 35 million coming off, to be used more efficiently. I hope. Ok, this is just a start. I will add more as I think of it.

Do your worst. Just realize that turnabout is fair play. He who posts here leaves himself open to ridicule later. Seriously, I don't care. We are all hard-core fans, we all love our teams, so have fun with it. It's not like I will stop bashing your Sox next season. I'll be honest, there is a strong part of me that would rather lose now than have you guys beat us next round.

Ok...I deserve it. My team choked. Big time. I was at the two games, and we couldn't do anything against a journeyman pitcher. We were plain garbage. Now.... I enjoy giving you guys grief, and I do, and will continue to do so. However, considering how badly my team has performed, I must eat crow. So this is the thread in which you guys can make fun of me, bring back old quotes, whatever. Bring it on fellas....do your worst, I can take it.

I must say...we sucked. We had our chances, and we blew it. The stadium tried to get into the game, but how many times can we get amped up and not get that clutch hit. Believe it or not, I was more upset after the game 2 loss than the series loss. We just were behind the 8 ball and couldn't get out of it. Oh well.

This is why players leave Boston. You guys don't appreciate what the player did for you. He didn't leave, you guys told him you would rather have Pedro. It's not like he left because he he didn't want to come back. Same with Damon. Figures. Bailing on my team? I'm going to the game on Sunday, but I don't think they have a chance in hell of bringing it back to Cleveland.

Dude, Torre is absolutely horrible. Why play Matsui instead of Giambi at DH? Why not let Rivera go one more inning instead of the wild Vizcaino? The Yankees were lucky to be in this game at all. They were thoroughly outclassed, he has been horrible. Why bring in Joba when Pettitte has been amazing. HE HAS TO GO. NOW. BEFORE GAME 3. This is not a championship caliber team. See ya next year, Yankees. Enjoy retirement, Mr. Torre.

Well here it is. The Yankees with a win, take back homefield advantage, and with the advantage with the pitching matchup in the next two games and going home, are sitting pretty. Conversely, with a Yankee loss, the series is all but over, with the Yankees needing to sweep three games in a row to make it. This is it, make or break time. Are these Yankees going to rebound, show some grit after their shellacking last night? Or will they simply fold under the Carmona sinker? A victory shall be dubbed "Jacko's revenge". Let's hope Carmona's sinker has the same bite Wang's did last night. Stay tuned.

We got smoked. I'm depressed. If I had a girlfriend, I'd throw her down the stairs. Instead, I'll punch Jacko if I see him.

I just got home. We got smoked. We had a chance to steal that game, and s*** the bed. Again. This is getting annoying. Oh well, at least we don't have to wait a full day in between to play.

Buck I don't mind, but McCarver drives me nuts. I don't understand why we don't have Garigiola and/or Scully. Those guys are such a treat to listen to.