Cleaning up some of the Yankee mess........

A couple of things on the Yankees, and then a look ahead to this offseason with some completely uninformed suggestions that will never, ever pan out.

Say it aint Joe: I will still contend that Don Mattingly was a better candidate for this job than Joe Girardi. Why? Because the most overrated thing a manager in baseball does is manage the game. That's right, managing the actualy game is about as difficult as playing tic-tack-toe all by yourself. Think about the team the Yankees will put out there next year. The lineup will still feature Damon, Jeter, Abreu, Matsui, Posada (most likely), Cano, Melky, Giambi. The starters will be Petitte (hopefully), Wang, Hughes, Chamberlain, Mussina. The bullpen, well that is a different issue, but more than likely Mariano Rivera will be there once again. This is the point: on game day, what does the manager REALLY need to do? Hit and Run? Send a runner? Know when to pull a pitcher? You're telling me a man who has been around the game for almost 30 years in Mattingly could never figure that out? Sure, he would make some questionable decisions, but everyone does.

Mattingly simply would have been better handling the larger issues, like the media, the day to day problems in the clubhouse, the barbs that will eventually reign down from the front office. I don't Girardi is a bad manager, I think he could be quite good, but I still believe Mattingly would have been better. The idea that Mattingly wouldn't know how to fill out a proper lineup card because he has never managed before is just absurd. Why is it that guys like Guillen and Girardi and Randolph and Scoscia can have NO managerial experience and do exceptionally well, yet Mattingly was too unproven to trust? Come on now.

A-Rod: I already covered the A-Rod thing in my last post, but let me just say, again, that the Yanks CANNOT go back on their word. Now, every team is gonna be linked to this asshole because Boras is gonna WANT the Yanks back in this to try and drive the price up. We are gonna hear about how much the Mets want him. We are gonna hear about how much the Red Sox want him. We are gonna hear about him following Joe Torre out to LA. We are gonna hear every scenario possible that would lead the Yanks to believe that something very bad, for them, is going to happen. DON'T BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Boras is a master bullshit artist, and until anyone catches the man telling the truth, I aint buying a word he said. Remember Yankees, you just spent 4 years with A-Rod on the same team as Jeter, Mariano, Posada, and a whole HOST of other superstars and it didn't mean a thing in terms of championships. Even if he does sign with the Mets or the Red Sox, he won't mean anything to them, or to you. Look to build your team in a different way now. Look to build your own great players in time. Let douche bag MVP boy walk away, and don't look back.

What to do now: Okay, here are a few of my suggestions for the upcoming offseason. First, in case I forgot to mention this, DO NOT sign A-Rod. Let him walk. Then, take Ian Kennedy and dangle him for a bat. See if you can get either a young third baseman or a young first baseman. Whose on that list? To be honest, I have no idea. Miguel Cabrera's name has been thrown around but it would take a lot to get him, probably more than just Kennedy and even Melky, and there are serious questions about his work ethic and his possible relationship with Girardi (another interesting side note to Giradi, the fact that his relationships with other teams and other players might hinder the Yankee chance to get them. There was little concern about bringing in problem people with Joe Torre because of the way he handled all different types of personalities, while Girardi seems more controlling and combative). I still think the Yanks NEED to explore getting this kid because he is an amazing offensive player and he could always be moved to first base. So let's say, for now, you trade Ian Kennedy, Melky Cabrera, and another player or two for Miguel Cabrera and you stick him at first. Now, I would stick Betemit at third and give him a chance over there. He is a heck of a defensive player, has pop, is a switch hitter, and is murder on righty pitchers. Give him a chance to flourish.

With Melky gone in the trade I would do one of two things: I would go and sign Aaron Rowand, or I would give minor leaguer Bret Gardner a chance in the outfield, a geat fielder with a lot of intangibles at the plate. Or, you could take a chance on the Austin Jasckson kid everyone loves and promote him. But, at this point, the better chance is to have Rowand in center. He is an excellent defender, and he would cover a lot of ground.

For the bullpen, my number one priority would be to sign Kerry Woods. I cannot tell you how strongly I feel about this. Woods can be Joba Chamberlain in the bullpen for the Yanks. He can be the bridge to Mariano. He is only 3o. His arm seems to be taking to bullpen work far better than it ever did to being in the rotation, and he has the guts of a burgalar. Plus, Girardi knows Woods and evidently loves him, so it would be a perfect match. Then, I would start Russ Olendorf and his 95 MPH sinker in the bullpen, look to sign one more veteran guy, maybe a veteran lefty or maybe even a Mike Timlin (even though I never trust Boston throw aways anymore).

If that is done, right there, here is the team you start the season with next year: Damon, Jeter, Abreu, Cabrera, Cano, Posada, Matsui, Betemit, Rowand. Rotation: Pettite, Wang, Hughes, Chamberlain, Mussina. Bullpen: Mo, Woods, Timlin, Olendorff, Farnsworth, veteran lefty. You can't tell me you don't like that team. And folks, it is a pretty good mix of young and old.