I might have to read Summer of ‘49 again.  Ol’ Reliable was the real hero of that story.

RIP

He had a very good run. RIP.

The Angels have acquired another OF.

I didn’t know that Mel Allen gave Henrich that nickname.

RAB has a summary of Cash’s breakfast event at the Hard Rock Cafe with Francesa.

I’d really prefer that Cashman not spend so much time with Francesca.  Just in case the stupid is contagious.

Rich, I can’t make heads nor tails of [8].

[9] Really? It’s Jeter accepting SI’s Sportsman of the Year award.

Rosenthal:

Yanks likely to pursue plenty of relief — 10:47 p.m.

The Yankees have expressed interest in free-agent reliever Brandon Lyon, according to major-league sources. The Yankees likely will express interest in all of the top available late-inning relievers — lefty Mike Gonzalez, righties Fernando Rodney, Rafael Soriano and Jose Valverde — if they haven’t already.

Whether they will sign any of those pitchers is another question entirely.

If the Yankees commit to righties Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain as starters, they will need relievers.

If they trade Hughes or Chamberlain in a package for Blue Jays right- hander Roy Halladay, they also will need relievers.

Under the latter scenario, the rotation would consist of Halladay, left-hander CC Sabathia, righty A.J. Burnett and lefty Andy Pettitte, assuming he re-signs with the team.

Whichever young pitcher the Yankees keep — Hughes or Chamberlain — would compete with righties Alfredo Aceves, Sergio Mitre, Chad Gaudin and Ian Kennedy for the fifth spot.

The signing of right-hander John Lackey or another free-agent starter also could affect the Yankees’ plans.

In other words, a lot must happen before the Yankees decide whether they want to sign Brandon Lyon or any other free-agent reliever.

Except as Cash reportedly said at the Hard Rock link above:

Cashman replied that unless it was a situation where there was a specific guy they wanted, to fill a certain role, then they would not sacrifice a draft pick to sign a reliever. In other words, don’t expect the Yankees to pursue Rafael Soriano or Mike Gonzalez if the Braves offer them arbitration this evening.

It’s the only text on the page I can’t select to copy, and when I type it in, no page comes up.

[8] was a picture for me earlier, but now it is half of a web address.

Sorry. This link should have similar pics.

Why does the trophy have hieroglyphics on it?

Rosenthal:
 
Billy Wagner to Braves, pending physical. Story on FOXSports.com.

[16] I hope the Red Sox aren’t getting a draft pick out of that…

MLBTR has Billy Wagner as a type A that was offered arbitration, so it appears they are, unless the Braves have a protected pick. Which as far as I can tell the don’t since they have pick #20.

Yet another inspired Mets trade.

Well, I hope the retired Vikings receiver or creator of the X-Files or whoever they got for Wagner, plus the $2M they saved, is worth losing two top 45 draft picks.

Really a well run organization they’ve got there.

Pedroia:

“Tell Jeter to enjoy the gold glove and silver slugger awards while he can.”

Source.

/shit-stirring

“They’ve put it out there and I’ve told them I’m all for it…I can do it. I really want to do it.”

He isn’t the first Pedroia to utter that line, but it’s the first time it involves someone above the age of consent. ba-dum-bum-CHING!

[4] Well put.

Sherman:

Yankees officials have spoken to their Toronto counterparts enough to know they have prospects capable of landing Roy Halladay and that the Blue Jays will not trade their ace without giving them a chance to make the best offer.

Nevertheless, the Yankees remain bystanders rather than aggressive pursuers for arguably the AL’s best pitcher at a time when they have concerns about both their rotation and whether Halladay could end up with the Red Sox.

For now — like he was with Johan Santana two offseasons ago — Yankees GM Brian Cashman is averse to giving up both high-end prospects and a top-of-the-market contract extension to secure one player. In addition, Halladay will pitch at 33 next year, and an extension would further a condition that already scares Yankee executives: Having too many older (declining) players on huge contracts.

That is why one faction of the Yankee front office has advocated trying to trade for Halladay, but not extend his pact. That way they would get Halladay on a very good contract for 2010 ($16 million) and then offer him arbitration after the season to secure two draft picks as a way to recoup some of the prospects given up in the trade.

But that currently is not a strategy with much traction inside Yankee Stadium. The Yanks could change direction if Andy Pettitte does not return, though they believe he does want to pitch for them in 2010. Yet even in that scenario, the Yankees worry about their starting ranks.

[...]

The Yanks might be able to live with Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain as the Nos. 4-5 starters, but if there were breakdowns above them they would have to climb in importance. The ideal antidote would be a healthy Chien-Ming Wang, but the Yanks do not have a lot of faith in his surgically repaired shoulder. That is why they are talking to Detroit about Edwin Jackson (Seattle remains the frontrunner) while considering a physical reclamation project such as Ben Sheets or Justin Duchscherer.

And it is why they also remain engaged, at least on the periphery, with Halladay.

According to officials from several organizations, the Blue Jays have yet to divulge exactly what it would take to land Halladay. That led a few executives to speculate Toronto is at a similar stance as in July when the asking price was a package fronted by three elite prospects.

It is possible that if no suitor budges Toronto could lower its price late in the offseason. Remember, Santana and Roger Clemens were both traded in February.

It is possible that if no suitor budges Toronto could lower its price late in the offseason. Remember, Santana and Roger Clemens were both traded in February.

I doubt the Yankees will trade for Halladay before February, unless Toronto asks for something ridiculously small.  E.g. “We really want to get rid of these contracts and no one else will take Overbay too.  Take them both and we’ll take only McCallister.”  What does everyone think the chances of that are.  Definitely not zero, chances are AT LEAST .000025%!

The article ends with a quote from Pedera, and I think we would all want him to succeed in this:

I believe I can play shortstop and help get the Red Sox back where they belong.”

“Pedera”

This seems unnecessary to me.