Most of my friends have had trouble containing themselves about Ess Eff and I've told them that the Rangers are for real. They seem oblivious and have already forgotten about the ALDS and ALCS. It's completely different in Arlington on so many levels and Timmy and Cain are not pitching. I say the Rangers take two at home and then lose Game 6 in CA. We'll see. Most folks in the Dallas area are relatively polite but Jints fans are not going to be feeling the love at the ballpark. It'd be nice to see Nolan Ryan smile for once, too.

What does ya know about that. Now it comes out that Girardi and eiland were at odds since June. Just the kind of stuff we need to know to be informed.

One of my pet peeves with the Yankees is that you cannot believe what you see and hear. Now, how far did the knowledge go and why didn't they fire him in May when he left or June when he returned?

Nolan Ryan is a jerk. And so is the guy throwing out the first pitch tonight.

[3] Can Macy's believe what they say and hear from Gimbals?
The Yankees jobs is to Win ballgames, not to keep fans informed of their inner workings.

(Are Macy's and Gimbals still in business? Or has Walmart bought they out?)

Giants still in this game.

[3] Macy's is still live and kickin'. Gimbels, not so much...

[2] Jerk? I guess it wasn't Texas legend Ornette Coleman throwing out the first pitch then...

Alex....
Bro....
Mi Amigo.....
Time to pour some gasoline on the Hot Stove!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hate going to other Yankee sites and reading about Yankee issues, when they can only be truly solved by the Banter!

Chad J and others have identified a number of issues, but many (to my mind) are just a matter of rote (will the Yankees not get a new pitching coach?... not resign Jeter?... not resign Mo?)

To me, the major issues are:

1) the OF, and whether we trade Gritner (or God forbid Swisher) to make room for (the highly overpaid) Carl Crawford or Werth. A move like this will have payroll implications as well as being 'Georgeian' (trading young, cheap, homegrown talent for the newest shiny toy).

2) the DH. I think Posada is already at least 1/2 a DH. As good as Thames was, we all cringed when his played the OF. Should we skip the traditional 'Bat Only' DH player and instead have all 'position players', and rotate the DH around Posada.

And I'm curious. I HOPE Montero stays and becomes our primary Catcher. IF SO..... is Po done as a Yankee after 2011? Is he reasonable enough to go year-to-year after this year, and serve as a mentor for Jesus, DH, PH, BUC, bench player?

And saying 'Get Cliff Lee' is easy...
but what if that doesn't happen?
What is plan 'B'? And considering the price of Lee ($20m minimum) and our current payroll commitments, might plan B be better then plan A?

Going forward, is Jeter (with a 3 year contract) a .750 OPS SS, about to rapidly on Defense? (I believe he might be able to hit decently for 2 or 3 more years, but his D is a different story). And if Jeter IS a .750 OPS below average D SS, how much is lost when Nunez subs for him? (Please eliminate hero worship and manlove from any responses, and remember the primary goal is WINNING)

If the economy is in a decade long slump, and other teams do not escalate payroll, even if the Yankees can financially afford to radically increase, will Cashman enlarge the financial gap between us and the rest of the world? (I say No)

And is Cashman under appreciated?
He has to get younger, more athletic, have some constraints on payroll, and yet make the PS EVERY year? And in doing so, continue the last 15 year period of having bottom-of-the-barrel picks from the draft. And of course, not get any applause from the MSM because he has 'so much money' to work wiith.
Does any other GM, in any other sport, have this mandate?

8) Bro, relax. The Hot Stove doesn't officially begin until the World Serious is over. And, uh, we've got plenty of time to kibbitz all winter long.

LOL