No Edwar?

no Bean? he was so awesome he got called up in april. the only reason he had to stop pitching this season was so that he could star in documentary about his holiday in Europe.

is the nlcs more that colorado is a team of destiny, or that arizona has been on the brink of sucking all year? i like to think both.

The entire NL has been on the brink of sucking this year.  The Rox . . .  I dunno.  Teams that get super-hot in October weird me out.  The Yankees of 98-2000, when they went on that ridiculous run of never needing for a series to go to a deciding game (except Oakland 2000), they didn’t seem hot, just methodical.

great job by those rockies.

The Rockies are using up all the luck they have for the next four decades… They’ll probably start 2-18 next year.

Congrats, now go get those AL jackasses (and Joe Buck) in the World Series!!!!

Good info on Horne, Fabian. I like the idea of keeping him as a starter and those 1st inning BB numbers are good support for that. 2008 in AAA and when Moose (and maybe Pettitte) is ready to move on after this season, let he and McCutchen duke it out to see who gets the 5th starter slot in ‘09, barring any FA moves or trades.

With any luck, the bullpen will begin to take care of itself with Robertson, maybe Humberto Sanchez, JB Cox, Kevin Whelan, Scott Patterson and Mark Melancon (who Nardi Contreras recently said could move quickly) filling a few key spots.

http://www.nj.com/yankees/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1192249791216030.xml&coll=1

Yankees and Mazzone showing mutual interest.

I like to think Mazzone is good news, though I guess his star is a bit tarnished by the Baltimore years, where he seemed to be able to help exactly one pitcher.

Forget MadduxGlavieSmoltz, for Mazzone did wonders with career mediocrities.  (Our pals Jaret W., Kyle F., and Chris Hammond had their best years by far under him, for example.) I’d be interested to see what he might do with our guys like Bruney, Edwar, even Igawa.  If he can take just ne of these guys and turn him into a legitimately reliable set-up guy I’d be thrilled.

Some Kevin Thompson news:

The Pirates claimed Kevin Thompson off waivers from the Oakland Athletics, making Thompson Huntington’s first hire.

“I guess that’s true,” Huntington said with a laugh. “He’s the first of many additions we have to make on and off the field.”

He should get a chance to be an everyday guy in Pittsburgh, I think.

"for Mazzone” = “for years Mazzone”

“ne” = “one”

Sheesh, Frog.

"He should get a chance to be an everyday guy in Pittsburgh, I think.”

He’ll be hitting third and playing center by June.

Jaret W., Kyle F., and Chris Hammond

I thought there were only 2 options regarding Farnsworth:

(1) Trade him to a team that thinks they can fix him
(2) Get a coaching on the staff that has Farsnworth-experience from that 198 ERA+ year he had split between Detroit and Atlanta.

BTW, this is an awesome pic;

I don’t think there is enough concern over the Hank and Hal show and what it means for the long-term success of the Yankees. That George would annoit his son-in-law to run the team should tell you all you need to know about how capable he viewed his kids. Further, I work in private equity. I have a lot of experience buying companies from “the children of the founder”. They almost always run businesses into the ground, treating them as cash cows as opposed to long-term investments. I’m worried

I don’t think there is enough concern over the Hank and Hal show

It’s certainly possible that Hal and Hank won’t carry with them the good qualities in George had (specifically the willingness to have a large payroll), but let’s see what they do before we jump to conclusions about what direction we’re headed in over the long term. When I see this, however, it makes me thinks that things are going the way they should (from WW):

The official, who asked not to be named because he is not authorized to speak for the owners, said the discussion was expected to center on who is the best man for the job as opposed to a referendum on Torre, whose contract is expiring.

I think that’s the way most of us hoped the managerial situation would be decided.

Wasn’t IPK named minor league pitcher of the year and Edwar minor league reliever of the year somewhere?

As for Joe from Bayonne

Apparently, it’s pronounced “Buy On”. Too think I’ve been pronouncing it “Bay-own” all these years! It’s a good thing Chip Caray cleared that up for me.

Araton on Torre today:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/sports/baseball/16araton.html?ref=baseball

I’m a pretty good reader but I don’t really understand what he’s trying to say here, beyond that Torre is nice and people like him. 

I agree with his point, though, that Boras’ claims that A-Rod is driving the Yankees’ financial success is idiotic.

Generally, as a baseball comentator, Araton makes a good basketball analyst.

Araton on Torre today:

That article may get a 2 on the GRE. Lots of words and some nice sentences, but wh at the hell is he trying to say?

Since I haven’t checked in since before the postseason, I thought I would share a few thoughts. Today may be the day we find out about the managerial situation. Put me in the column with those who remember the 1981-1994 period all too well. Making the post season for 12 or 13 years in a row is no small achievement. I get a kick out of the annual ESPN column about this being the end of the Yankee dynasty. There has been a column ion their site by some “expert” each of the last three Octobers. I guess if the dynasty is defined by W.S. championships it died some time back. If the dynasty relates to postseason play then they have been wrong for the past three seasons. The Olney book by that title -what,came out three or four years ago? Everyone is on the bandwagon that the era is over… and it could be at least for a while if Rivera, Posada and particularly Arod were to exodus. I’m hopeful that won’t be the case, though this season showed exactly how easy it would be to give up on the year, say the way the ChiSox did. It will happen sooner or later and probably a complete rollover to a youth program will hasten it. I hope that isn’t the case, because the veterans can provide the confidence spark the young people need. 
As to the manager situation. Torre deserves to stay as long as he is getting the team to the postseason. Steinbrenners ultimatum was vintage George, but he should reevaluate his posture. It seems so attractive to hand the job over to Mattingly. How attractive will it be then if Don has the unfortunate luck of presiding over a rebuilding program and the team is 15 games out next July 4th? I would think that George might remember the last time he employed a Yankee favorite as a manager in 1984 and then if my memory is correct dispatched someone else to inform Mr. Berra he would be replaced after what about 30 games in 1985? Do you think Mattingly will be fond of the Yankee regime should he get fired for not producing WS winners? I remember too, that Mattingly was really, really fed up with the NY press and jerks on the radio like the Mad Dog and others who were eating his lunch during his last season (95). It could get ugly really fast and I for one don’t want to see Don upset with the organization and not appearing at Old Timers games, etc.
Girardi should be set to replace Torre, but Torre IMO deserves two more years and then by mutual agreement at this time- that should be it. After all Stengel was fired at 70 and he said he would never make the mistake of turning 70 again.
Joe should let the world know that 2009 the first year of the new park would be his swan song. That’s my take FWIW.

As to the manager situation. Torre deserves to stay as long as he is getting the team to the postseason

Sounds good, but just like with players, you probably want to get rid of your manager a year to year rather than a year too late.  Also, you note the 1981-1994 period; which means after the 1995 season, what were you thinking about Showalter?  Were you thinking then, “well, sure he got us to the post-season for the first time since 1981, but he didn’t win so he deserves to go”.  Or were you instead thinking, “Why are they letting him go?  Who else could get the Yankees this far?” The change of course worked out fairly well.

Mike K- I was actually in Showalter’s camp at the time. I really didn’t like the change at that point when Joe came over. He was anything but a winner with his stops in St Louis and with the Mets. But my point is that this isn’t the same as the Buck era in that Buck was only there for three seasons. BTW, he(Showalter) doesn’t get enough credit IMO for turning the team around- particularly getting them in a pennant chase in 93 and having the best record in the AL in 94. As to Torre, Joe exceeded all expectations by virtually anyone watching the sport. His legacy and contribution should deserve special handling. Mattingly himself feels that Joe should be handled with utmost respect and if the Yankees are a class organization, he should walk out with his head high- instead of on a platter.

How could the Yankees NOT pick up Mazzone?

Let’s say he’s over-rated - fine. But he’s gotta be a step up from Guidry, right?

I think i remember Mazzone only pretending to be semi-interested in the yankees last time in order to get more money from the o’s and that he never intended to consider NY as an option.  am i making that up?

Joeln:

I think Yogi was fired after something more like 14 games in 1985, actually.  I too, was around in those days, but I don’t actually think that makes me any more qualified to judge this situation.  But in those days George reigned supreme in the Yankees brass.  There’s no way Cashman and the Heirs would let that hapen again.  That being said, I don’t personally think Mattingly’s the man for the job either--and I don’t think he’ll get the nod.  I see Girardi as a compromise for everyone, and a good one.

In other news:  Has anyone ever noticed that Joe Morgan is an idiot? 

There’s a wesite devoted to what? 

. . .  Oh.

Frog.. I believe you are correct in the 14 game deal for the Yogster. 6 and 8 and out the door for one of the greatest Yankees ever. It was an effin disgrace. I felt pride in the fact that Mr. Berra stayed away for 15 years and had his ass kissed ad nauseum by George et al and even blew george off at the Mick’s funeral, and still stayed away. Torre I wanted gone after the shitstorm that was 04. We all know why. That said, I can’t see a better alternative at this time. Girardio is the only decent choice IMO. There are no good or great choices. THe scenario that Joeln presents is very possible and would suck to witness. I just hope the Hank and Hal show doesn’t turn into a complete SNAFU. See post #13 by DDD.

Frog.. Joe morgan is not an idiot. However it is more than possible that he is an assholio.  Hi EELZ, IE. miss you guys. Go Tribe.

Hi folks - I think, though I haven’t checked, that Lemon was fired after 6-8 in 1982, and Yogi was fired after 6-10 in 1985. All based on memory though…

Seven runs for the Tribe in the fifth.

That was nice.

Back to back to back home runs for the Red Sox, though! Scary.

Going into that inning when youkilis, ortiz and manny were announced i figured that meant 3 runs one way or another and i was fine with that.

manny has really taken his home run pimping to a new level this october. it’s getting pretty old.

interesting thing about paul byrd. apparently he wrote a book and “struggled with porn”

He should talk to Matsui. Hideki does not struggle with porn, he embraces it!

Up 3-1, Go Cleveland!

“struggled with porn”

Me too, over and over

I’m so happy the Indians are going to kick sand in Boston’s face.  And I’m looking forward to the Rockies finding out how major leaguers play the game.

kudos to the sportscenter dudes for mocking manny ramirez’ antics all night.

Does anyone thing that Kevin Kennedy would be a good choice? Maybe I just spend too much time listening to him and Dibble on the radio.