nymr83

I wasn't even necessarily going to ask him to do it other than down by multiple runs very late in the game, but some people can't even grasp that its a smart idea then so you may need to start small.

I like the jerseys, the old ones were ugly, purple should not be a team color in a Mens sport, and I'd have to think it hurt sales (it certainly hurt them at my undergrad school where the colors were a disgusting purple and gold, needless to say everyone just bought white ones)

more importantly, salty is on my NL-only rototeam and is a welcome relief from starting the likes of Bowen and Miller in my 2nd catcher slot

Edgy, the problem with that comparison, and I'm sure you didn't mean it to be an exact one, is that Valentin had a history (even if it wasn't recent) of production, while Newhan has never shown much of anything. Also, Franco is about as big a waste as Newhan is, they are both good for nothing but a single and we can't afford to carry 2 guys like that all year. I don't think there is such a thing as a situation that "isn't yet important enough to burn Julio Franco" when you consider that he's a singles hitter who plays only one position, a position which at least 3 other guys on the roster could handle in an emergency. I think the problem is that a bench composed of Castro/Chavez/Franco/Newhan/Easley just doesn't have much to it. you need a backup catcher, chavez has shown he is good, easley can hit lefties and plays 2 or 3 infield spots, that leaves either franco or newhan as the guy has to go if you want to have a fearsome hitter (relatively of course) on the bench. and i think we could use one.

DocTee wrote: Piazza left tonight's game vs. Boston with a shoulder injury-- looks bad, awaiting results. Play similar to the one in Toronto a few years back where Jeter dislocated his shoulder on opening day-- a baserunning/sliding collision with 3B Mike Lowell in this instance. ESPN.com says Piazza out 4-6 weeks.

]I don't necessarily buy the "we need a baserunner" argument, either. We don't need a baserunner. we need 2 runs. we can get them any number of ways. While the odds of getting ONE run increase with a man on first/no out, the odds of getting TWO or more runs are significantly better with a man on 2nd or 3rd (or after a homerun). So, i don't think its quite so self-evident, CF, that taking the bat out of the hands of one of our main power guys is a no-brainer. in the 9th inning, down by 2+ runs, any baserunner is as good as the potential homerun. go plug it into edgy's win predictor thing, i did it the other night and down by 3 in the bottom of the 9th there was a better chance to win the game with a runner on first (no outs) than there was with nobody on an down by only 2 (the situation after the homer) thats probably sample size (or maybe there really is a "rally-killing" effect from thbases being empty) but at the very least it shows that single = homer in that situation.

Wright gives em back as his error lets 2 runs score

i certainly wouldnt force him to bunt if he isn't comfortable, but he did it before and its a good idea in situations where the Mets trail by more than 1 at least

Wright 3 Delgado 1.5 LoDuca 1.5 Chavez 1 Pelfrey 2 Smith 1

now that the link between the Yankees and Al-Qaeda has been proven action MUST be taken to monitor the entire organization and its Al-Qaeda sympathizing fans. I propose the forfeiting of the rest of the season, wiretapping of all Yankee-owned phonelines, and closing down of any establishment that displays the Yankee logo more prominently than it does that of other NY sports teams. Furthermore, anyone shouting "we love derek jeter" shall be detained for questioning on suspicion that "jeter" is in fact al-qaeda code for "osama."

i've got 11.5 for Wright, i've also got 28.5 for Beltran and only 24.5 for Reyes whom you are all madly in man-love with, Greena nd Alou both have 16 and change, Orlando has 18 while Maine leads all my pitchers with 20.5

]If the number two prospect in the game is starting for the most storied franchise, it's already as compelling a story as there is before the night even starts. edgy knows prospects?!?!

depending on what else is going on in baseball that night a no-hitter through 5 isn't the worst "story" to have up there.

You will all be happy to know that David Wright no longerhas the embarassment of being lower than Joe Smith in my season rankings. Now lets see if he can pass the mighty .250 hitter Paul Loduca.

Yankees losing a no-hitter because the pitcher got hurt? priceless. though i hope he's ok.

nah, in sports writing you can do whatever you want, just don't try to take that crap to other subjects.

too bad A-rod hasn't homered, the Yankees are 1-11 in games where he hasn't homered this year and i was hoping to keep that nice stat going

can Scott Hairston still play the infield? Arizona has been moving him around and STILL not playing him for afew years now as he steadily gets older and less prospect-y.

or he could recruit Lucy and play against Charlie Brown

That was 2 years ago, and they were one of the 4.2% of playoff teams that were that far back, but they were behind BALTIMORE not BOSTON at the time. they did NOT win the WS that year, whoever said that

somewhat related to the foolish argument that its ok for willie to do dumb things "because its only april" but more relevant to the craptastic yankees. all quotes from Stark's article. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2855072 ]We looked at every full season since 1982. Here's what we found: � Of the 144 teams that made it to the postseason in that span, only eight (or 5.6 percent) came out of April more than three games under .500. Clubs that need to worry most about that history lesson: the Yankees (9-14), Astros (10-14), Cardinals (10-14), Cubs (10-14) and Rangers (10-15). ]Just six of those 144 playoff teams (or 4.2 percent) found themselves more than 4� games out of a playoff spot after April. Those same five clubs ought to get nervous about that trend; the Yankees are 6� games out ]And you wouldn't think the standings would mean much this time of year. But more than half of the 120 teams that found themselves in first place after April (66 of 120) wound up finishing first. And 98 of the 120 first-place teams (or 81.7 percent) either led their division or were within 2� games of the lead at the end of April. ]� So when was the last time the Yankees were this far behind Boston after April? How about 1912, when they started out 2-10 (while the Red Sox went 9-4). And how did that season turn out? The Red Sox won 105 games and won the World Series. The Yankees lost 102 -- and finished 55 games out of first. now theres a promising piece of history, the yankees havent been this bad relative to Boston in april for 95 years. ]Just remember this: Over the last five years, the AL wild-card winner has averaged 96 wins. For the Yankees to reach that number, they'd have to go 87-52 the rest of the way. these arent the 1998 or even the 2003 Yankees. While it is certainly possible or even likely that their record doesn't reflect their talent they are simply not that dominant team that can roll out 8-straight, 10 of 11, etc runs that get you to 87-52 the rest of the way.

But the most telling A-Rod stat of the month was this: The Yankees went 1-11 in April games he didn't homer in

Yancy Street Gang wrote: My cousin is 24 and single. But she prefers the Yankees to the Mets. I'm looking too, does she prefer Menorahs to Christmas trees?

]They cost us a playoff series against what might have been the easiest team to beat in NLCS history I think the 2000 Cardinals team that the Mets did beat has to be up there. I've never felt more sure of the Mets taking series than i was then, and that includes when the Nationals/Expos have come to town for a 3-game set.

Beltran 2.5 Reyes 2 Loduca 1.5 Green 1 Alou .75 Easley .75 Burgos 1 Schoenweis .5