Not sure a better candidate exists. Hard to imagine some of the guys allowing anyone to motivate them. I'm more interested in what his relationship is with Cash and what Cash's influence is with Hal. He got dealt with a pile of crap in the off-season, injuries beyond the curve, and mental breakdowns. Despite all of that the team won. A coach disappeared for a month. People couldn't play. People didn't hit. And the team won. What did he have to do with it? I dunno. I ain't movin him, if I had the cheerce, but I don't support him, either.

[1] ?? I... agree?? Okay, who are you and what have you done with our irascible ol' Mick!? >;)

Last night was a preview of "Cliff Lee The Yankee Years". It's shaping up to follow the classic recipe. Yankees pay big to bring in a player who damaged them in the past, especially big playoff games, only to have that player fail to live up to unreasonable expectations.

Hopefully the new regime will think less emotionally. A long term deal for Cliff Lee would be bad business. A three year deal would be good. I'd overpay for a short deal, but walk away from something four or five years (or more).

I have no problems with brining back Joe Girardi as manager. Someone like Bobby V would have been a zillion times more annoying. The Yankees have enough superstars. They don't need one as manager as well trying to get their time in the spotlights, which I believe lead to the problems with Joe Torre at the end. I think Joe has his head screwed on right. He might annoy people with that Binder of Matchups, but whatever. Right now he's a good fit for the Yankees.

Cashman has far more influence on the success of the team. Hopefully Santa won't be putting any more Nick Johnsons or Chan Ho Parks under the tree this year.

yeah there are things about girardi that i am not pleased with - i think the strategy of sorta rest but not really down the stretch was horseshit.
in the texas series, the ibb were bad, a few personnel decisions (pinch running thames for teix was bizarre) were his angst at work.

but i really don't know who is better, and especially who is available that is better.

maybe this is a career path i should explore because the number of managers who have both tactical abilities and people-handling skills seem to be damn near non-existent.

cliff lee turned into a duque pumpkin just in time for halloween.
a part of me really wants him because i think he can reduce the number of question marks in the rotation, but the fear of him falling off a cliff (that worked out well) just seems to be higher than you want for a pitcher in his 30s.

Does anyone really play better in the playoffs than in the regular season? I mean if they have enough opportunities in the post season. (Molinas not included).

Most players only get a few chances to show their stuff. But players, like many Yankees, who get to go pretty much every year... i bet theyrevert to their season average.

So Cliff Lee, excellent so far. My gut tells me he's got a lot of so-so perfomances ahead of him to revert to his season averages. I'd like those not to come with the Yankees.

Plus he's a tough competitor. I'd be nice to beat him.

With very little coming off the payroll I really don't see the Yanks going to 230 mil or so. The assumption that the club will pay any price to win is a hangover from the GS regime. The family today treats it like the business it is. They carry large debt and adding more luxury tax to an exploding payroll can't be a pleasant idea. Sure they make money but the obsession to win regardless of cost is no longer present.

As far as the mgr, he is the perfect choice to ease the transition that has to come.

From Baseball Musings:

"Baseball Time in Arlington is not happy with Vladimir Guerrero continuing in rightfield."

Your team is in the Whirled Serious for the first time ever and you're complaining about the manager's decisions. I'm sure there's some Giants fans not happy with Bochy too.

If the Yankees more often than not, I'm happy. It gives us a shot.

[6] Not sure how you mean that. A lot of money is coming off the books this winter. We assume that a whole bunch of that is going straight back on (Jeter, Mo, at least). Also, much of our very cheap bullpen is due for a raise (by arbitration), as is Hughes. But properly speaking, the Yanks' payroll obligation for next year is $144M. (This is from Cot's.)

You know what, as long as Francisco Cervelli isn't the starting catcher again next year and there's no Wilson Betemit 2008 fetish, It will be fine. Bullpen roulette and the pinch stand theres will be infuriating, but thats part of the fun,

[3] This is a *bad* team next year without Lee. If you're willing to punt 2011, plus whatever years are included on the bad FA pitchers we sign to make up for it, there had better be some master plan.

[0] regarding Girardi: whatever. He's been a bit of a disappointment, but what can you expect? Hopefully Cashman can somewhat Girard-proof the roster by making Cervelli go away and the like.

[3] I agree with your assessment of Lee. My super-irrational-pessimistic sense tells me that the Yankees are not going to be happy with the massive contract they dole out to Lee (a guys who, still, has only sorta been the best pitcher in the league for 1.5 seasons and completely unhittable in the PS only against the Yankees, except last season when he was hittable the second time they faced him).

Hey guys, buck up! Girardi managed us to World Series last year. Got close this year (I know... I know... close ain't good enough for us Yankee fans) But come on guys & gals, most fans in most cities would luv to have our problems with Girardi and a team like the Yankees. We all know the ups and downs this year with our aging ball club. But DAMN we wus more than pretty good clipboard Joe this season. So I am like, 'let's not get in the whathaveyoudone4me lately' thing with Joe. I blame Cashman for some of the junk we picked up this off season and thankfully Girardi over came it with his coaching.

[11] I just don't see how this is a respectable starting pitching staff without him.

[4] i'm all about Ms. O being the next manager of the Yanks. i also nominate our man Cliff to be the next GM! ; )

144 million
+ 15 for Mo (renewal of current salary)
+ 15 for Jeter (guessing that that wil equate him with Mo)
+ 13 for Pettitte (merit increase based on 1st-half performance)
+ 5 for Hughes (arbitration value based on win total)
--------------------
191 million.

Add 20 million for Lee and you've got 211 million before even starting with the cheaper players (and possibly some 1-5 million dollar FAs). Assuming Pettitte returns, the only big contract truly coming off the books is Vazquez.

Correction (I initally had Pettitte at 12 mil): 192 before Lee, 212 after.

I don't think pettitte comes back unless the Yankees lose out on lee.

[13] Without Lee specifically, or without some other starting pitcher? I'd much rather have the Yankees package a couple guys in a trade for a decent reliable starter than lock in Lee for a decade, most of which will almost surely be mediocre. With a trade you can limit the duration of the committment, which to me is more important for the Yankee future then how much their payroll is next season.

Lee is a good pitcher, but he's not Johan Santana or Randy Johnson. At least I don't think so. There are some guys you make exceptions for, such as CC Sabathia. Cliff Lee is not one of those guys. Good pitcher, but I think he's on one of those two-three years runs of exceptional pitching and some good luck. He's going to cash in huge and someone is going to be stuck with the downside of that crest he's riding. I don't want it to be the Yankees. We're already stuck with one of those guys (AJ Burnett).

Just IMHO of course. I could be wrong. He could be turning into Greg Maddux before our eyes.

That's what makes baseball winter so interesting. How much are teams willing to gamble on past results? If Lee gets a 7 year deal for CC money, then we'll know.

I dunno; I keep thinking of Moose when I look at him. We couldn't wait to have Moose when he became available, but got what, three out of seven great years and the rest were okay to bad. The thing about it though, Lee makes other pitchers around him better. I've heard a few rotation mates around the leagues say that he was instrumental in one way or another; I think his value is in his work ethic and knowledge. His presence would certainly make the new pitching coach's challenge easier in regard to certain erstwhile righthanders...

Hopefully Santa won’t be putting any more Nick Johnsons or Chan Ho Parks under the tree this year.

I want Santa to bring us Jesus this year ...

I don’t think pettitte comes back unless the Yankees lose out on lee.