It's a Walk Off

3 games. 3 Heroes. 3 consecutive walk off victories. The Yankees have done in the Twins in the most thrilling of fashions for 3 consecutive games. Tonight, they look to sweep the 4 game series with Andy Pettitte on the mound. First it was Melky, then it was A-Rod, followed by Johnny Damon. Who will be the hero tonight?

This Yankees Walk Off Party is Brought to you by Zoolander

First game. First at-bat. First pitch.

With or Without A-Rod

Doctors say Alex Rodriguez is ahead of his rehab schedule and could make it back to the club a week sooner than the expected mid May target date. A-Rod, who recently proclaimed that he would “cut the fat” out of his life and put his focus solely on baseball would be a welcome addition to the lineup as the Yankees have gotten little to no production from the third base position in A-Rod’s absence.

While he would be a welcome addition on the field for the club, it is still debatable whether or not the Yankees are better off without the embattled slugger when it comes to team chemistry. Not only does A-Rod promise to bring big production in the lineup upon his return, but also a circus like atmosphere that follows him wherever he goes.

Life without A-Rod has been pretty smooth for the Yankees as they have been able to keep their focus on the field rather than taking questions about their mercurial teammate. Although, he has promised to be “part of the team” and “one of the guys”, you can be sure that if A-Rod doesn’t make good on his oaths to the team, we’ll be back to talking about the ridiculous things he says, the ridiculous things he does, and the ridiculous people he dates; and that will not sit well with the rest of the team, which seems to have gelled nicely sans A-Rod.

The Legend of The Swish Continues to Grow

Another big night for newcomer Nick Swisher, as he not only hit his third home run of the season, he also pitched a scoreless inning and recorded a strikeout. 

In other news the Yankees were bombarded by the Rays as Chien Ming Wang has suddenly forgotten how to pitch. He was rocked once again, this time to the tune of 8 earned runs while recording only three outs. The Yankees went on to lose the game 15-5. Wang's ERA has ballooned to 28.93 (15 ER in 4.2 IP). Wang's ineffectiveness is a major cause for concern. You have to think if he continues to fire blanks in this fashion, we may see the return of Phil Hughes or even Ian Kennedy real soon.

BOX

Another return seems imminent as there was an Alex Rodriguez sighting before the game. It's time to jump for joy! I am not by any means the biggest A-Rod fan/supporter/apologist etc. But I think all Yankee fans have seen enough of Cody Ransom...(.083/.154/.125)

Rivalry Renewed

Yankees vs. Red Sox: Position by Position

With the Yankees falling out of playoff contention last year, the rivalry took a bit of a year off. With the moves the Yankees have made this offseason I believe they have closed the gap with their bitter rivals and the war is back on for 2009! I am no way discounting the Rays because they are the defending division champs and they will battle the Yanks and Sox all year long. This post is just purely to highlight the special rivalry the Yanks and Sox share.

C-Yankees. If Posada is anywhere near 100% his offensive production should be head and shoulders above the woeful Varitek

1B-Yankees (Barely). Tex is primed for a big year in the Bronx, but Youk is also an offensive force, especially in Fenway Park. Tiebreak goes to the Yankees because they ended up signing Teixeira away from the Sox, who so desperately wanted the slugger

2B- Red Sox. Reigning MVP Dustin Pedroia will probably come down to earth a bit from last year but Cano’s inconsistency gives Pedroia the edge.

3B-Yankees A-Rod Returns in May. Enough said.

SS-Yankees. Jeter may be headed into decline but I’d still take him over the combo of Lowrie and Lugo anyday.

LF-Push. Bay fit into the Red Sox clubhouse nicely, but Damon continues to be a force coming off of another great year.

CF- Red Sox. Ellsbury is exactly the type of player the Yankees hope Gardner turns into this year. Excellent defensively and on the bases.

RF- Push. Drew still has yet to put together a complete season in Boston. While the combination of Nady and Swisher should be comparible to Drew's production.

DH- Red Sox. Papi had a down year in 08 while Matsui could barely stay on the field. Papi takes it on pedigree.

Bench: Push. The Yankees will feature a bench with Nick Swisher and Melky Cabrera on it. While the Sox have Rocco Baldelli and Mark Kotsay on the bench.

SP- Yankees. Top 3 are a push. Sabathia, Wang, Burnett are just as good as Beckett, Lester, Matsuzaka. 4-5 Starters give the Yanks the edge. Pettitte and Chamberlain over Wakefield and Penny easily.

Middle Relief- Red Sox. The Yankees should be improved but the Sox have the proven bullpen arms.

Closer- Yankees. Rivera is still the greatest of all time but Papelbon isn’t far behind.

Manager- Red Sox. Francona has shown a winner’s touch while Girardi has yet to taste the champagne.

Front Office- Red Sox. You can’t argue with their success in mixing solid vets with young players from within. A lot like what the Yankees did back in ’94-’01. Yankees are slowly getting back to that formula.

Final Score: 6-6

It should be a fun year.

I’m sure these will be hotly contested opinions. I’d love to hear your comments/arguments. So please Post ‘em!

-Favad Ali

I Love Me Some Me

Oops! He did it again! Just when you thought our favorite slugger (who is apparently more full of himself than we thought before) would slip out of the public eye while he rehabs his hip injury; think again. In a story in today's New York Post which displays photographs from A-Rod's upcoming appearance in Details Magazine, the narcissistic slugger is seen smooching his own image in a mirror among other seductive poses. Here is a link to the full article entitled "Confessions of a Damned Yankee." This guy cannot seem to get of his own way.

A-Rod, A OK After Surgery

Alex Rodriguez had successful surgery Monday to repair torn cartilage in his hip (story). Everything went as planned and A-Rod is scheduled for a return sometime in May. A-Rod will have more extensive surgery on the same hip in the offseason but he should be ready to play for spring training 2010. The Yankees should be able to be alright without the three-time MVP in the lineup. However, it will take a concerted effort from the rest of the lineup as well as the starting rotation. Cody Ransom is still the leading candidate to fill in for Rodriguez, however another name has been thrown into the rumor mill as a possible A-Rod replacement.

According to the Kansas City Star, the Yankees are interested in aquiring Mark Teahen to keep third base warm until A-Rod returns. Teahen had an excellent 2006 campaign (.290/.357/.517), but has regressed the past two seasons with combined splits of .270./.333/.406. He would be a better option compared to Ransom and/or Angel Berroa. However, it would cost the Yankees a pitching prospect or two. I still think the best route would be to sign Mark Grudzielanek. He is a career .290/.332/.395 hitter and would only cost the Yankees a one year contract at around $1 million or so. Also, Grudzielanek would be an upgrade as a bench player once A-Rod does return.

-Favad Ali

Others Must Step Up in A-Rod's Absence

Everything that could have gone last year for the Yankees did go wrong. And this resulted in them missing out on the postseason. This season, the Yankees will have to overcome the loss of Alex Rodriguez if they wish to stay in the AL East race and everything will have to go right in order for them do so. The lineup will have to step up in a big way to cover for the loss of A-Rod. Love him, or hate him; Alex Rodriguez has been an offensive force for the Yankees since his arrival. His production will surely be missed. But they can win without him; if, and only if the many question marks up and down their lineup are answered.

Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui both need to stay in the lineup and produce at their career levels. Whether this will happen or not is not a given by any stretch of the imagination. Posada is coming off of shoulder surgery which cost him most of the 2008 season. He has hit well thus far in the spring, although he has yet to catch this spring and has been a last minute scratch due to his shoulder once already. Hideki Matsui is trying to come back and play on two bad knees which will relegate him to playing exclusively as a DH this year. He also missed most of last year and will be counted on to come back healthy and productive this year.

Also, whoever emerges from the battle in CF between Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera will have to step up their production significantly. Cabrera has been regressing the past two seasons while Gardner is still an unknown commodity at the Major League level. Robinson Cano also needs bounce back from a disappointing year last year. If his production after being benched late last year is any indication, expect him to bounce back close to his 2007 form.

The Yankees should get average to above average production from the remaining positions on the field (Teixeira at 1B, Jeter at SS, Swisher/Nady in RF, and Damon in LF). But this will not be enough; they need solid production from Posada (at the catcher position), Matsui, and Cano at the least. Anything they get out of the center field position would be a plus.

Things certainly did go terribly awry last year. Lightning may just strike twice again this year. Its up to everyone in the lineup to pick up the slack while A-Rod is gone. The one difference between this year and last is a vastly improved starting rotation. This should help the lineup cope with the loss of A-Rod, and keep them competetive until his return.

-Favad Ali

Bro-Rod: "Alex Rodriguez to Miss Ten Weeks"

Just when you thought it could not get any worse for Alex Rodriguez this spring. A-Rod's brother told ESPN Deportes earlier today, that the slugger will have surgery to remove a cyst that has formed on his right hip. Sources also say that surgery is schedule for Monday in Colorado.

There has been no official word from the Yankees on this matter as of yet. If this story proves to be true, this could be a devastating blow to the Yankees, as Rodriguez would miss the entire month of April and probably most of May as well.

Since 2004, the Yankees are 20-23 in games that Rodriguez has missed. Trade rumors have already hit the airwaves on possible replacements for Rodriguez at third base until his return. Names such as Garrett Atkins of the Colorado Rockies, Chad Tracy of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Bill Hall of the Milwaukee Brewers have been thrown about. If the Yankees stand pat and do not make a trade, Cody Ransom will likely get the bulk of playing time at third base.

Either way, A-Rod's absence will leave a huge void in the middle of the Yankees lineup. However, with the vast improvement in pitching, particularly starting pitching, the Yankees should be able to tread water until Alex return's. Also, the signing of Mark Teixeira looms even larger now more than ever. Imagine A-Rod going down and not having the force that is Mark Teixeira there to soften the blow.

Right now, the word is 10 weeks. However, ESPN's Stephania Bell reports that depending on the severity of the injured hip, A-Rod could be looking at more than the reported 10 weeks of recovery time. Yankees fans, it's time to hold our collective breaths.

-Favad Ali

A-Rod to see Hip Specialist in Colorado.

Surprise! Alex Rodriguez, is in the news again. Rodriguez was sent to see a hip specialist in Colorado after complaining of stiffness in the right hip (story here). Well, at least this time, Alex is in the news and it has nothing to do with his admitted use of steroids. Or, does it? Look, as a Yankee fan, you would like to give A-Rod the benefit of the doubt.

However, the cyst (which can form due to repeated injections in the same area) that has formed on his hip is definitely a head scratcher. Now, if you go along with Alex's story, then the cyst cannot be related to his usage of steroids in 2001-2003. That was 6 years ago; his current hip ailment certainly cannot be attributed to something that happened 6 years ago.

However, if you are like me, a cynic, who just cant take Rodriguez for his word, you might not be surprised if the cyst has formed because A-Rod has still been injecting something (HGH, maybe) in that same area of his body. I am in no way trying to make any type of allegations against Rodriguez, but due to his own sketchy stories, you can't help but wonder.

-Favad Ali

Body of Lies

Today marks the first day of Grapefruit League play. The Yankees will suit up to take on division rivals, the Toronto Blue Jays. But, this of course is not the story. As usual it’s all about Alex Rodriguez and how he will be received by the Blue Jays fans in Denedin, FL. You must be thinking to yourself, when will this story go away? I, myself have been thinking the same thing for about two weeks now. But the reality is its not going away. Many fans feel for the fallen star, but he only has himself to blame.

I’m not trying to take shots at A-Rod. I actually believe he has been unfairly targeted throughout all of this. His rights to anonymity were violated while 103 others got off scot free. He has been torn to shreads by the media even though he is the first big name user to come out and admit it and apologize for it as soon as they were caught. But the person who has done Alex Rodriguez the least amount of favors throughout all of this has been Alex Rodriguez.

This story is going to drag on and on as new revelations are made about the countless lies that have spewed from the mouth of A-Rod. He has lied about his age when he took it, and used it as an excuse, he has lied about not knowing what the drug was called, he lied about it being available over the counter in the DR, and the list goes on. Now, it has been revealed that during his (according to Alex) “best year”, 2008, he worked with banned trainer Angel Presinal throughout the length of the season.

His cloudy stories and explanations to the media have given them too much to work with when it comes to checking his stories and investigating him further. He now needs to simply shut his mouth and play the game. That is until Selena Roberts’ book, "A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez" is released on April 14, when again I am sure, A-Rod will have some more explaining to do.

-Favad Ali

Go Away, Jose

Jose Canseco is calling out baseball once again. This time it’s for an apology. The man who blew the whistle on steroid use in baseball, says he’s been called a liar and treated as an outcast. Now he wants the MLB to apologize and restore his “good name”. He also says that he wants to assist baseball in moving past the steroid era. He’s proposing working with baseball to help educate youth on the dangers of steroid use.

Should anyone be surprised that we’re are hearing from Canseco a day after Alex Rodriguez’s press conference to clear the air about his steroid use? Absolutely not. While maybe Canseco has turned out to be truthful in his two books about steroid use in baseball, he was so in the least noble way. Regardless of his statements about writing the books to ‘help the game’ or ‘open people’s eyes to the problem’ it was pure and simple all about the money. If Canseco truly cared about the game, he could have gone to Bud Selig or gone to the media. He didn’t do this however, he opened the door on steroid use with a blatant cash grab. Now Canseco is calling for an apology and offering to help out baseball with his problems.

Actually, Canseco is looking to get his name in the papers and likely looking for a job. We all know the immense financial trouble he’s been in of late. These latest statements are just an attempt to sell more books or make more public appearances. I don’t think baseball owes anything to Mr. Canseco. He made his money in the game and now all he’s trying to do is bleed the game for more. While he has been honest about steroid use in baseball, he is a completely transparent person. When I hear him speak all I hear is someone desperately seeking the all mighty dollar.

-Robb Lennahan

A-Rod's Press Conference Leaves us With More Questions

If you were unable to see Alex Rodriguez’s press conference today I’m sure you’ve already seen countless clips on Sportscenter and/or read all about it online. A-Rod did go into more detail about his steroid use, where he got it, who supplied it, and how many times he did use from 2001-2003. Rodriguez states his cousin supplied him with an over the counter drug from the Domincan Republic known to him as ‘boli’. This drug was intended as an energy booster and Rodriguez states he injected it roughly twice a month for 3 years.

Rodriguez claims that he did feel more energy but its was “ hard to say” if the drug was actually effective. This was one statement where I feel Alex was not particularly honest about. Why inject something roughly 36 times in 3 years if its not having a positive effect on you? I definitely feel the drug had a positive effect on him, whether it gave him more energy or it helped him recover day-to-day from the grueling heat of a Texas summer is pure speculation but obviously the drug did something good for his body. I really don’t think this drug enhanced his performance on the field a great deal.

I don’t want to get into the debate of whether or not steroids truly enhance your on field play, but if Alex is being honest that his use was only confined to 2001-2003 then we’ve seen him put up 10 great clean seasons. You do see a slight decrease in his home run totals since 2004 from his 3 year average in Texas. But you could contribute that from leaving an excellent hitters park in Texas and moving to Yankee Stadium a bad place to hit for right handed batters.

One thing I’ve noticed is a lot of the media has been questioning A-Rod’s refusal to give his cousin’s name. In the press conference, when asked what his cousin’s name is Alex states he didn’t think it was necessary to reveal his name and that Alex made the mistake himself and he was there to take the blame. Media members, especially WFAN’s Mike Francesa was not pleased that Alex refused to name his cousin. He questioned Alex’s honesty for not giving the mans name. This is something I applaud Alex for. Why would Alex want to drag his cousin into this media circus and also possible legal trouble. Yes, Alex’s cousin did commit a crime and bring an illegal drug into this country but would anyone actually rat out a family member for something they were primarily involved in. This was not a violent crime and as far as we know they weren’t operating a drug ring, it was 6 years ago so this mans identity is not relevant.

Another thing I have heard people questioning Alex on is his statement that he never saw any other players using performance enhancers. Well, of course he is going to say that! Even if he did see others in the game use he is not going to essentially blacklist himself among other players. Alex as we know already struggles with his popularity in the clubhouse, naming names would basically destroy any respect from current and future teammates for the rest of his career. I also believe if he were to identity players who have used it could be potentially harmful to him on the field. He would almost assuredly face being thrown at or spikes up slides at third.

I do commend Alex for coming out with the information that he used the supplement Ripped Fuel while in Seattle. This is currently a banned substance but at the time was sold over the counter at GNC. He claims he has never used HGH.

Overall, I was as satisfied as I guess you can be with Alex’s press conference. I share the same sentiment as Alex where I just want to put this behind us and get to playing baseball. I do believe he was honest about his years of use to an extent. I don’t think at this point he would risk committing career suicide if it came to light that he used performance enhancers in any other seasons. All anyone can ask for in this situation is the truth, and I think we got as much of it as we are going to get. Although, sadly for Alex his omissions of the truth and holes in his story mean that this won't be going away anytime soon. Especially if Selena Roberts' book on A-Rod, which is due to be released in April has factually accurate information that conflicts with what A-Rod has or has not been telling us.

He won’t be penalized by the MLB, his numbers wont be taken away, there’s nothing that can be accomplished by dragging this issue out any further. I don’t think Alex was correct when, speaking to his teammates, he says “It will be the best season of our lives”. I do agree with him when he stated “ Baseball is bigger than Alex Rodriguez”. He’s absolutely right. Spring training is here, so lets leave this drama behind and play ball!

-Robb Lennahan

Exclusive Photo of Yankees Players at A-Rod Press Conference

Among those pictured: Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Joba Chamberlain, Mark Teixeira, Brian Bruney, Chien-Ming Wang...HEY who's that old dude seated to the left of Mariano Rivera ???

The Circus Has Arrived

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages. The New York Yankees proudly present to you the saddest drama in baseball, ALEX RODRIGUEZ! Although it is not the least bit likely, lets hope that after todays press conference, A-Rod and the Yanks can put this soap opera behind them and get down to business. A-Rod just needs to get through today without putting his foot in his mouth (like calling that "Selena Roberts Lady" a stalker).

However, I am very curious to find out if A-Rod will go a little deeper into what exactly he used and where he got it from, as will everyone else. He will be asked about these burning issues, whether he will address them or not is another story. In order for Rodriguez to put these questions to rest, he will have to do a better job of answering them. If he doesn't, they will surely follow him around all season long.

His manager and teammates have come to his aid and have proclaimed they will be behind him at the press conference and will be behind him all season long. The only way A-Rod can repay his mates for their support is to put this story to rest and produce on the field. Lets just hope A-Rod doesn't wilt under the Tampa sun, much the way he does under the October lights.

-Favad Ali

No Need for Fuss about Joe's Book

First and foremost, you haven't seen a blog on the infamous book co-authored by Joe Torre here at Jersey Hardball because we wanted to hold our thoughts until we read the book. Now that that has been taken care of, here goes.

The most knowledge, die-hard Yankee fan I know is Jersey Hardball’s own Editor in Chief, Favad Ali. After years of gushing praise over longtime manager Joe Torre, just prior to Torre’s book release amid the ‘A-fraud’ comments and claims Torre broke the clubhouse code, Favad referred to Torre as ‘Clueless Joe’ and wanted to talk about his pre-Yankee record as a manager. His sentiment was shared by thousands of fellow Yankee fanatics who felt betrayed that the current LA Dodger manager was just trying to cash in and dirty the always good name of their beloved Yankee team. Well fret not Yankee fans because when you read his book he’ll win back you’re hearts. Torre has nothing but gushing praise for the 4 championship team era and it’s original core. Players such as Jeter, Bernie, Posada, Mo, Pettitte, Cone, Tino, Brosius, Knoblauch, and O’Neill are shown in nothing but the most shining light and you’ll probably discover a new found respect for these great players. Not being a Yankee fan myself, I certainly did. Does Torre speak in a negative light about some players? Yes, the same ones the fans have been more harshly bashing for years. 

Other than his words on Carl Pavano, he still remains constructively critical for the most part about players such as Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson, and Gary Sheffield just to name a few.
The one person who I felt Torre was looking to go after in this book was none other than Yankee owner, George Steinbrenner. I wouldn’t describe the way Torre speaks of him as attacks. I don’t think the way he speaks of him was a cold calculated maneuver. I think it was just a subconscious way of getting back at Steinbrenner for the 12 years amidst the lack of trust in Torre, the firing rumors, and essentially being in the middle of a dysfunctional front office and the team on the field. 

In Torre’s final two seasons with the Yankees he paints a picture of Steinbrenner, the great Yankee owner who brought them to the forefront of the baseball world, as basically a sad, aging man wilting away to be almost functionless. Whether this is true or not is really not the matter at hand. The issue is that regardless of the way he ran his organization or treated his employees in now his waning days he most assuredly deserves more than that. Regardless of your personal feelings of Mr. Steinbrenner, he wanted to win at any cost, and at least deserves to be thought of in this light. Not being a mere shadow in a meeting or being barely able to carry on a conversation. 

These are things the readers do not need to know. I believe Torre should of just left these kinds of things out, just maybe not of said anything about the man from those last two seasons. Just leave Steinbrenner unspoken of, let the fans think he’s the same old George, too old to travel but still in Tampa watching his team and going nuts. Don’t let the fans know he’s actually down in Tampa withering away.

As for all the hype about his talk about Alex Rodriguez in the book I think people will be disappointed. Yes, Torre does say the players referred to him as A-Fraud and that A-Rod desperately wanted to emulate Jeter, but is this really a surprise to the true fans? Everyone knows A-Rod has a plastic personality, that he’s not a true leader especially not for the Yankees. If you didn’t realize this all you had to do was watch A-Rod in an interview speak about the team and you’d be able to see right through him. Arod’s on the field ability is praised in the book. Torre says in the book on Arod “Nobody has ever worked harder in my memory..” and “Nobody’s in better shape than Alex”.

The player that Torre does bash in his book and it should come as no surprise, is Carl Pavano. He paints Pavano as a glass player with a weak mental makeup and a surly attitude. Among other incidents Torre reveals Pavano fired his agent over not getting him an extra $50,000 in his Yankee contract even after the agent offered to give it to him out of his commission. Torre also doesn’t shy away from the way Pavano was viewed by the players, he states “The players all hated him. It was no secret”.

Yankee fan or not, this a great book. Beyond all the pre-release hype and controversy is in my opinion one of the better baseball books in recent memory. What you have in ’The Yankee Years’ is essentially Yankee baseball, all the triumphs and failures mixed with two other recent books on the game ’Game of Shadows’ and ’Moneyball’. With ’The Yankee Years’ you get an in depth look at the beginning of the Steriod Era as well as the Moneyball Era and beyond. The book provides not only an interesting look inside baseball’s most storied clubhouse, but an insightful look at the inner workings of the front office. The evolutions in scouting and player assessment are discussed thoroughly, though Torre describes the Yankees as a team severely lacking in both areas, citing them as reasons for the recent postseason failures. 

All in all I must say this is a book that needs to be read by any baseball fan, especially Yankee fans so you can fall back in love with Torre all over again.

-Robb Lennahan

Yanks Need a Fast Start

You can hear it now, The boos raining down from the upper deck of the brand new Yankee Stadium.  That's precisely the sound we will hear if Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees don't get off to a hot start. The zoo like atmosphere that will ensue during this first week of spring training can only be left behind if the Yankees, and especially A-Rod have a fast start. Otherwise, the media circus concerning steroids, big money free agents, and Joe Torre's, and not to mention Selena Roberts' new books won't be leaving town anytime soon. 

The only way out of this for the Bombers will be to win. Win now and win fast. Sabathia and Burnett must be the Aces they were signed to be. Teixeira must combine with A-Rod to become the one-two punch in the middle of the order the Yankees were missing last year. Role players like Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano must come into their own and prove that last year's dreadful performances were abberations. Joe Girardi must prove to the fans and management that letting Saint Joe Torre go was the right decision. Even Derek Jeter has something to prove coming into the season. There has been much talk about his decline both offensively and defensively throughout the offseason.  Jeter must bounce back from last year and prove the critics wrong.  

Will all of this happen? Not likely. However, enough of it must in order for the Yankees to play out the year while leaving behind the circus like atomsphere we have seen throughout the offseason and we will continue to see during spring training. The Yankees have a lot to prove, no doubt about it. If they start off slow, don't expect them to recover. The division is too good. They cannot afford to fall behind or they face the same fate as last season. Only this time it could mean Girardi's and Cashman's jobs. 

Yankees News and Notes from the AP:

Posada, coming off shoulder surgery, isn't likely to catch in exhibition games until mid-March, Girardi said. He probably will catch 100-110 games during the regular season if there are no setbacks, down from Posada's September estimate of 120-130. ... With spring training expanded by a week to 7 1/2 weeks because of the World Baseball Classic, Mariano Rivera isn't likely to pitch in exhibitions when they start Feb. 25. Rivera, coming off minor shoulder surgery, has a preference to pitch eight-to-10 innings each spring training. ... Matsui, coming off left knee surgery, probably will be a DH for much of spring training. ... Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner was in attendance for part of a pre-spring training workout at the minor league complex that included Posada, SS Derek Jeter, 1B-OF Nick Swisher and RHP Chien-Ming Wang. Burnett arrived two days before the first official workout for pitchers and catchers and played catch in the outfield with reliever Brian Bruney. ... The highest number, 94, was assigned to RHP Kanekoa Texeira.

Reinstate Shoeless Joe and Charlie Hustle

(Shoeless Joe Jackson, Pete Rose)

Baseball needs damage control. Just when you thought the whole Arod frenzy was bad enough today we are greeted with Miguel Tejada being charged with lying to Congress about steriod use in baseball. Not only that, if convicted he faces up to a year in prison. Can commissioner Bud Selig do anything to make the media and fans forget all this? Absolutely not.

He can provide a nice little distraction though to make the nearly 3 months to opening day a little less stressful on Major League Baseball. What is it, you ask? Simple reinstate Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson. Think about it Bud. Hold a press conference announcing that in light of the recent steriod problem in the game, you’ve made the decision to reinstate two of the best players in the history of the game. The decision on Shoeloess Joe should be an easy one. It should have been a decision made long ago. Banned from baseball for allegedly taking part in the 1919 Black Sox scandal, when members of the team participated in throwing the World Series, his performance clearly indicates his innocence. In the World Series his .375 batting average and 12 hits were the most from either team.

Pete Rose, on the other hand, is no angel. Banned for life for gambling on the game, Rose has admitted his mistake and after years of denial finally come clean. Yes, he says he did bet on his own team but he never once threw a game because he never once bet on his team to lose. Rose was a fiercely competitive player and he showed it on the field everyday. He played the game hard and he played the game to win. Evident by his three World Series Rings. In this steriod era that we are now in Rose’s statistical achievements are his greatest support for reinstatement. He remains the all time leader in hits with 4,256 and games played with 3,562. Also included in his resume are a Rookie of the Year award, 3 Batting Titles, 2 Gold Gloves, one MVP award, and 17 All-Star appearances.

We are in a time of the game where every player is guilty by association. Some writers are proclaiming to never vote a player from this era into the Hall of Fame. I think its time for Mr. Selig to reinstate Rose and Jackson and announce both of their names will appear on the next Hall of Fame ballot. Baseball can no longer keep two of its all time greats out of the Hall, when the greats of today have already confessed or been accused of cheating on the field. Nothing will make the fans forget the steriods and the lies but opening baseballs doors to Rose and Jackson , while long overdue, certainly will be a nice distraction.

-Robb Lennahan

Poll