*I have this eerie thought in the back of my mind that Arod is one of those players who will never win a championship. With all his talents and skills, there is something about him that hinders his ability to be successful on a "team" level. Dan Marino had it. Terrell Owens has it. And I am pretty sure Rodriguez has it. I never verbalized this thought of because I don't want to admit it. If he does have this mysterious attribute, that means the Yankees will still be searching for their 27th World Championship nine years from now. And I don't think I can take that. As discussed in a previous post, I am spoiled as a Yankee fan. I am only 21 years old and have experienced four championships. I have evolved into a being that needs team success. Myself and every other young Yankee fan. So my only hope is that Arod does not possess the trait of the unsuccessful. The life of every pinstripe-loving twenty year old depends on it.

Economy, not drugs, bigger problem for MLB
This is largely a useless poll. Actually, all polls are useless. But I thought I would include it in my post because the poll was conducted by the school I currently attend: Seton Hall University. This isn't the first time ESPN has used a Seton Hall poll. During my first semester I took part in conducting one. Needless to say, it wasn't fun. Cold-calling people usually is so. I did get free food though. Which made up for getting hung up on for four hours.

USA defeats Canada 6-5 in WBC
I am not going to lie and say that I watched the game because I didn't, but it is still nice to see competitive baseball being played again. And by the way, shouldn't AMERICA dominate CANADA in baseball? The last time I checked, the game was invented in Hoboken, New Jersey (America's armpit). Why are we defeating "our attic" by the skin of our teeth? This may sound a tad ignorant, but don't Canadians just play hockey, drink Molson Ice, and listen to Rush? I didn't think the word "baseball" was in their vernacular.

Duke, North Carolina game at 4:00 ET
I used to be a Duke fan. I enjoyed the likes of Jay Williams, Carlos Boozer, Shane Battier, Shelden Williams, and Chris Duhon. But that was then. I think I stopped being a fan when Krzyzewski recruited Greg Paulus. A player who has no discernable basketball talent, was heavily recruited and inevitably given a scholarship to arguably the most successful college basketball program in the country. Watching him play basketball for the past four years makes me hate the game, and my life. But also, I can't stand the University of North Carolina. So at 4:00ET when I shift from one end of the couch to the other, and turn on CBS, I will be rooting for a highly competitive game. That, or Paulus and Hansbrough get in a slap fight.

By the way, it's not gay that I like this song, is it? It does feature Ludacris, which makes it acceptable for straight men to enjoy. And enjoy I will.

Alex Rodriguez will miss some time this season
I wanted to write a lot about this, but I feel I just would have wasted my time trying to convince everyone that I think this is the best thing that could happen for the Yankees. I can not really explain why I feel this way. Every single tangible statistic and number points to the contrary. They'll have less power, they'll hit for a lower average, lower on base percentage, and a lower slugging percentage. But the man has been a constant distraction for the past three years. He says the wrong things, he does the wrong things, and the Yankee players are the ones who have to answer for him. I believe without him, they will perform even better. Let us not forget who the Yankees still have in their lineup:

Johnny Damon: Two words: Contract. Year. He stated earlier in the offseason that he wants to stay in New York. That's also not to mention that he did bat .303 with a .375 on base percentage in 2008. I would pencil him in for at least the same, if not better numbers.

Derek Jeter: Sure, he can't field. But what he lacks at shortstop, he'll make up for in hitting, and ladies. He had a bad year in 2008, and still batted .300.

Robinson Cano: Okay, we ALL know what he is capable of, right? Rod Carew comparisons. Perennial batting champion. It's about time the man lives up to his billing. There's not much to hang your hat on with him coming off last season, but he did bat .307 after the All Star Break and ended up with a .271 batting average for the year. My guess is that he finally brings it all together.

Jorge Posada: There should be a constant "?" next to his name for at least until June. If his shoulder holds up, they will have the fourth best hitting catcher in the league (McCann, Mauer, Martin). I say that because he will only catch about 90-100 games this year. With that kind of rest, a healthy Posada could tear the cover off the ball for a better part of the season. But the question remains, IF that shoulder holds up.

Mark Teixiera: There are a few numbers we can already give Teixiera for the 2009 season: .290+ average, .370+ OBP, .570+ SLG, 30+ HRs, 110+ RBIs. Those numbers should be set in stone. What matter is WHEN he will start compiling those numbers on a regular basis. He is known as an awful first half player. My hope is that he will step it up while Arod is out for the first couple months and carry the load until he returns. They are paying him $20+ million a year for the next eight years, it's the least he could do.

Hideki Matsui: Is anyone expecting anything from him? I'm not. So basically, if he hits one single this season, he will have surpassed my expectations. I can't be upset with his performance since he has joined the Yankees though. For four of the six years he has had 100+ RBIs, which he actually rather good for a player coming over from Japan.

Xavier Nady: Did you know that Nady went straight to the majors after being drafted? Not even a token trip to the minors. Something to hang your hat on for the 2009 season.

Melky Cabrera or Brett Gardner: Six of one, half dozen of the other. Flip a coin. At least that is what I think. However, if you were to look at Gardner's Wikipedia page, you would think he is the greatest prospect in the history of the Yankee farm system:

"Gardner's legs are his strength. He's the fastest baserunner in the organization, has 80 speed on a 20-80 scale, and has solid baserunning instincts. He's adept at picking spots, knowing when it's more valuable to the team for him to use the threat of a stolen base to get the pitcher to throw fastballs to the heart of the order. He has outstanding plate discipline, draws a good number of walks, and uses the whole field while making consistent, hard contact. Baseball America rated him as having the best strike zone discipline in the Yankees minor league system after the close of the 2006 season."

Sounds like a real find! He should start based solely on that assessment. Meanwhile, Cabrera's Wikipedia page states the following:

"On July 7, 2007, Cabrera tied a Yankees record by striking out 5 times in a single 13-inning game, a feat known as the platinum sombrero."

Now remember, Cabrera is still two years younger with MORE experience. I say, it doesn't matter. These are inconsequential pieces to the proverbial puzzle. Cabrera may hit for a better average while Gardner may steal more bases. There is enough talent around them to cancel out their inability. Regardless of how they perform this year, they will just be a stop-gap until Austin Jackson realizes his talent and is patrolling centerfield at Yankee Stadium.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Lovely. Here's a photo from the nearly finished Yankee Stadium set to open in less than two months. Looks like they missed a spot. I would love to meet the poor sap who bought season tickets right behind that load-bearing structure. Hey, at least they'll have a cup holder!

Yawn. Just another day as a Yankee fan. Today, in about 31 minutes, the Yankees will be introducing their first baseman for the next eight years. Price tag: $180 million. Seems like a bargain. After New York acquired both Sabathia and Burnett via trade, I thought there was no way they could even attempt signing Teixeira. Both its official, the Yankees have no budget. Which I'm happy about. I enjoy watching my team win. Anyway, I'll be live blogging the news event because I have nothing else to do. My spring semester begins next Monday, so I have some time to kill. Let's do this.

1:00-Watching Michael Kay in HD is down right frightening. The man has one of the biggest noggin's in the business. No wonder he didn't ever play baseball. They didn't have a hat big enough.

1:02-Boras sighting. It's easy to spot him on the dais, he's the one choking a puppy.

1:05-They must keep Hank locked up during these press conferences. God knows what he would say if he got behind that podium. "Thank you Mark for being here, those Red Sox can suck my dick. Thank You."

1:09-The pressure is clearly on Girardi. Didn't make the playoffs last year. Three new high priced free agents. New York City. He must wear a diaper 24/7.

1:10-He's wearing number 25. You're telling me Giambi isn't coming back?! No!!!!

1:14-Mark looks good in pinstripes. Well, everyone looks good in pinstripes. Except Carl Pavano, Randy Johnson, Kevin Brown, Kei Igawa, and many others.

1:19-Ooo! Cashman gave Mark a mix tape. No wonder he signed with the Yanks.

1:22-Well that concludes the "formal" portion of the press conference. Now begins about 600 interviews for Teixeira. He just might earn that $180 million today.

1:27-For a major signing, this conference/interview is really boring. Maybe because I'm used to it. This is the second one of these this offseason. I guess the Yanks need to sign Pujols for me to be interested.

1:30-The answer to the question of where should Teixeira hit, it's fourth. No discussion. Arod needs as much protection as he can get. The way to offset a mental case is to put a stable player behind him. Lord knows Arod wants a player like Teixeira behind him. (double entendre intended)

1:33-Hal Steinbrenner is the most defensive owner in sports. He's like a little kid. "C'mon, we wanted Mark. He's really good and we have money. Shut up. He's really cool and awesome. Leave me alone."

1:38-Where the hell does Randy Levine vacation? The sun? The man is a shade of red found only on tomatoes.

1:42-Big fan of Leigh Teixeira. Cute, southern. And she could probably play first better than Giambi.

Alright that's enough. I don't want to hear about baseball until pitchers and catchers report. Until then it's NFL playoffs, college basketball, and maybe a little NBA. Who knows?

This year are meetings are going to be held between December 8th and the 11th  in Las Vegas, Nevada. Because when I think baseball, I think Las Vegas, Nevada. Don't be suprised to hear a bunch of retarded puns and analogies from ESPN relating a risky deal to the fact that there is legalized gambling in Las Vegas. "He really ROLLED THE DICE on that signing, right Karl?" "He just went ALL IN on that deal." It will be frustrating, but we'll all get through it.

So far in this offseason for the best sport in America (That's right, I said it), nothing has really happened. Javier Vasquez went to the Braves. Boring. So he'll not live up to expectations somewhere else, big deal. Edgar Renteria signs with the Giants. What is this, his tenth team in three years? Another stellar signing by the Giants. They really know how to pick them. Bonds kept them relevant for the years he was there, now, sometimes I forget they're even a franchise. Come back to New York, Giants, there's plenty of room. And besides, it would be awesome to have two New York Giant franchises again.

But now, the meetings are upon us. A time where small market franchises feel they NEED to make a big splash to be considered important. Even if it means signing A.J. Burnett to a ten year deal. But let me go through some of the more important free agents and make my predictions on where they will sign. Lets do this, shall we?

Still fat

CC Sabathia
It feels like a few months ago when the Yankees offered Sabathia a six-year, $140 million contract. Because, I'm pretty sure it was a few months ago. He has remained silent on whether he will take the deal. The rumor has been that he wants to A) stay on the west coast and B) stay in the national league. Two very reasonable requests. But CC, think this through, please. It's $140 million. No team is going to touch that offer. Are you really going to sacrifice 20 to 30 million just for a few at-bats and a few days at the beach? Hell, for $140 million, I would play in Calcutta. From my point of view, he's waiting it out for no reason. Teams have bluffed monetary interest to him over the past few weeks, but none have made good. So far, there are two offers, the Brewers and the Yankees. I would be shocked if he isn't in pinstripes come spring training. The MLBPA won't let him NOT take it. If he accepts, he sets the standard for ace pitchers in the future, and that is a good thing for the union. The players assocation might have to "make it worth his while", but someone better start knitting him a Yankees jersey.
2009 Team: Yankees

You don't have to read if you're an athlete.

Mark Teixeira
Word on the street is that he enjoys money. Like the rest of us. It's just that, unlike CC, he doesn't care where he plays, just as long as that team gives him the most sacks of money. I got nothing against that, seems like a normal guy trying to get what he deserves. And lets face it, he is in probably the best position for a free agent in the history on the sport. Let me break it down. He will be 29 years old on opening day 2009. He is a corner infielder who hits for average, gets on base, drives in runs, and switch hits. He is a gold glove first baseman. And lest we forget, his agent is, drumroll please...Sata....I mean Scott Boras. If anyone can have a homeless guy give HIM money, it's Mr. Boras. God knows what kind of currency he get squeeze out of these teams fighting for Teixeira's services. He might ask for 25 mil a year for 10 years in EUROS. But who is going to doll out the dough for Marky Mark. Angels? Red Sox? Yankees? Orioles? Nationals? That Nationals rumor is hilarious. But at the same time, I guess that's what you got to do in order to get the ball rolling as a franchise. If the Yankees get CC, they are not touching Teixeira. Even for them that's too much money to sign over in one offseason. My thoughts are leaning towards the Sox. Papi is not what he used to be and Lowell can easily become expendable if Teixeira is signed. They have the money, the appeal, and the need.
2009 Team: Red Sox

I'll get hurt in a few minutes

 A.J. Burnett
There is not a pitcher, no, player in professional sports that I trust less that A.J. Burnett. I guess it's because he only has good seasons in walk years. Maybe it's because he's a malcontent. Or maybe it's because he sucks. Yeah, that's it. He sucks. Since the season ended, all I've heard is, "But he's got great STUFF". What the hell is stuff? I have stuff too. A lot of it. But I'm not being paid millions. So what if he occasionally can throw 98 MPH, or that he has a terrific curveball. Does he perform consistently? Absolutely not. "STUFF" is not worth the money he is going to be paid this offseason. I'd rather take Mike Mussina for another 5 years than A.J. Burnett for the next two. Because you know exactly what you are getting with Mussina. Consistency. Not erractic pitching, and anti-social behavior (well, maybe). I was so happy to find out the Yanks were losing interest in this guy. The last thing New York needs is another Carl Pavano, Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson, or Hideki Irabu. Well, the Braves have offered Burnett a 4-year, $60 million offer. Accept AJ! Take it and Run! Get yourself off the market before the Yanks get interested again!
2009 Team: Braves (God willing)

More to come...

1. Clearly the NFL Network can't handle the responsibility of broadcasting a game for which their channel is named. Currently, I am watching the Broncos/Browns game, and just about every three seconds, the screen starts to fizz, and Chris Collingsworth's voice cuts out. If you're going to annoy the majority of the NFL viewing public by NOT being on all of the cable providers, at least give a competent showing to those who have your network.

2. I know Brady Quinn has been in the game for only one quarter but I think it's time for Ken Dorsey.

3. I've lived in New York all my life and I know that it is a baseball town. But until only recently, did I realize how much so. The Giants are the defending Super Bowl Champions with a 7-1 record and well on their way to another long post season run. The Jets have Brett Favre, one of the most prolific quarterbacks in NFL history, with a 5-3 record and the chance to contend in the AFC East. And as I listen to sports talk radio while I drive home, the topic of conversation is: Do you want Mike Cameron in centerfield for the Yankees next year? Don't get me wrong, I can talk Yankees until everyone wants to punch me in the face. But baseball? Now? It's November 6th? It's NFL/NBA/College Football/College Basketball and maybe even hockey time. Do we really need to discuss the Yankees third base coach options in November? No, we don't. You know why we don't? Because the people who actually make these decisions could give a shit right now. If you ask Brian Cashman about the Yanks centerfield situation he would say, "What? It's November, leave me the fuck alone."

4. I know this has been discussed since probably the beginning of time. But I just can't stand people who think they are suddenly experts when an election comes around. The election was on November 4th, two days ago, and around November 3rd, every one of my friends/schoolmates/coworkers/strangers had to give me their two cents about the election. I'm all for people expressing their opinion, but not to me. First of all, I could care less to who you're voting for. Secondly, if you do tell me who you're voting for, do not tell me why. Because your reasons are idiotic. "He's a war hero," is not a reason. "It's time for a change," is not a reason. "He's so well-spoken," is not a reason. And don't say that bullshit statement "If so and so wins the election, I'm leaving the country". Nobody gives a shit when a celebrity says it, why do you think anyone cares about your "squeeze from the bottom" opinions? It's not like you have a masters degree in political science and wrote speeches for Ronald Reagan. Now, I'm not saying that your opinion means less than mine. I'm just saying don't express it unless you have some enlightening piece of information to back it up. Because otherwise, you're just white noise.

Anyway, how does this effect the country in general? Probably very little. Its just another president. Yes, its great that he is African American, but that won't mean anything when he takes over the clusterf*ck that George W. Bush is going to leave for him. It feels like Dubya is a teenager who threw an eight year kegger and Obama is the parents who have to clean it up. Everything is broken. The jewelry is gone. The cat is pregnant. Just a mess.

Its 12:36am, I'm exhausted. All this change has gotten me sleepy.

The only team that could pull off a ridiculous comeback such as that would have been those late 90s Yankees. Derek Jeter would've started it off with a bloop of a hit. Bernie Williams would line a single up through the middle. Paul O'Neill would then drive a double down the line. And Tino Martinez would probably finish them off with a homer to right. It's like those Yankees' teams didn't function properly unless they were the underdogs. They always have to prove that they were better than you. And since baseball is not a timed game, they could take all the time they needed. And now, that same attitude, has shifted up the coast, to these Boston Red Sox.

I couldn't believe what I was watching last night. 7-0! And 7-6, before you knew it. It felt like Game 7 tonight because of the history Boston has shown. In 2004, they overcame a 3-0 deficit to the Yankees. In Game 4, Dave Roberts stole second in the ninth. At the time it felt inconsequential, but as the past has told us, it was the catalyst that sparked their rally. Last year they overcame a 3-1 deficit to the Indians. And we all knew that the Red Sox were going to comeback somehow. The Indians didn't stand a chance. And now, this year. The momentum has totally changed to Boston's side.

As bad as Beckett pitched in Game 2, I don't believe for a second that he is going to let this team down in an elimination game. He is too seasoned and will find his stuff even if he has to dig deep in his pants' pocket. The Rays have also shown an uncanny ability to comeback this year, but I don't think they know what is coming. This is what its like being a Yankee fan in 2008.