The Clemens factor...

What will Roger do? At the very least, he is the master of building up the cash flow. So you know he'll get a ridiculous sum wherever he lands, probably the equal of a $20m season.

Here's the most recent outlook for his destinations:

Texas Rangers
Nope. Sorry Ranger fans, if he stays in Texas it won't be with you. 0% chance

New York Yankees
Money will not be the only driving force which is the Yankees best hope. He makes them a better team, but not dominant. An inconsistent Unit with a banged up squad getting older by the minute doesn't make them overwhelming favorites. 10% chance

Red Sox
Clemens makes this team dominant. A rotation of Schill, Beckett, Clemens, Wake, (and insert any #5) is the best rotation in the majors. Back that with MLB's best defense, best closer, and a solid offense, and October looks very bright. Throw in the relationship with Sox pitching coach & close friend Nipper, ability to break the tie with Cy Young, retire his #, and to wrap up his career where it all began are the other major factors. 30% chance

Houston
They are the clear favorites. His current relationship with his hometown team, including all the perks (right down the street from home, no travel unless pitching, son is in the organization, future job in the organization, etc) are difficult to overcome. Having his best buddy Pettite on the squad, pitching in the much easier NL (era of 2+ instead of 3+), and having to live in Houston when he "retires" will probably make him stay. The only factor not working in their favor is that they are a .500 team right now and Clemens alone may not be able to take them to the World Series. 60% chance

Here are some of the questions/factors he may be grappling with:

Best chance to win a world series (Red Sox)
Performance in AL vs NL (Houston)
Life after baseball (Houston)
Current relationships (Houston)
Place in history/milestones (Red Sox)
Intangibles/convenience (Houston)

He's probably made his choice already but is just driving up the price. It's going to be really difficult for him to pass on Houston. It comes down to what he wants most. Money is not a factor as he'll get paid what he wants by any team. The fans may only affect his thinking in Houston (he may not pitch vs Boston or NY in opposing stadiums anyway, or if so - only once). We'll hear many different reports in the next 2 weeks, but don't believe any of them.

Let's just hope his decision comes quickly...

Yankee Bats take last 2...

Game 2? Wake just didn't have it, result of 7ER. Jaret Wright was able to wriggle out of multiple baserunners against Bosox "B" lineup, but only managed 5IP. Why? Torre has the hook (unlike other managers we know).

A-Rod continues to make himself look silly. Hey coach, where did my pop-up go? It was a homerun, you dope. He's also compiled 8 errors already...

Game 3? Clement has a good 1st, gets hit by a line drive in the second, and implodes. Hey Terry, where the hell was the hook? Was there some reason to leave him in there that long? Was it a "back on the horse" type of deal to build his confidence? Yikes.

Papi looked uncomfortable at the plate to say the least. We're just so used to having him end games in a Bird like manner. Those 4K's were tough to swallow, especially the one with the bases jacked. But, he'll be fine. How hard can we be on the guy after everything he's accomplished?

The good news? Manny's back. He's crushing the ball & driving in runs. He's capable of carrying this team on his back for a while. Let's hope pitching cures itself so he doesn't need to.

Big Unit continues to struggle. You hate to say someone's career is over (even if they are in pinstripes), but we might be witnessing the beginning of the end if he doesn't turn things around in a hurry...

Sox missed a prime opportunity to take advantage of the Yanks while they're reeling with injuries. Game 3 was a gift. Let's just hope it provided a wake up call.

David Wells looks to bounce back tomorrow. Don't expect too much out of this outing folks. He's bound to struggle - it's happened too often. But don't worry, Lenny's in the pen waiting...

Enjoy the long weekend folks!!!

Yanks arrive at Fenway with a limp, Wang

Sorry. Just couldn't resist.

Yanks entered Fenway last night with a DL list bigger than any win streak this season. Wang was pitching well before last night, but just couldn't hold on late yielding 7ER. Ouch...

Strange energy in the park last night, almost like not much was expected out of the Yanks. Despite injuries, they still have a very good lineup, and the Sox had Cora & Harris in theirs. The Sox still needed to execute & play well to win. But it almost felt like the beginning of the end for the bombers. That relentless attack just didn't seem to be there. When was the last time a Sox Yanks game lasted under 3 hours? It's usually a grind...

Jaret "don't call me DL" Wright goes to the mound tonight facing a lineup full of guys who have had success against him. You know it's only a matter of time before he gets hurt too.

The Big Unit struggles continue, and he takes the mound on Wed. His 5.62 ERA has Yankee fans wondering if he's done. Get your forks out baby...

Damon (foot & shoulder), Posada (back), and the returning Sheffield (wrist) are all banged up and will probably be in and out of the lineup throughout the season. Add in Chacon (bruise?) and Bubba Crosby to that list as well. By the way, it's more than a contusion if you're put on the DL...
Pavano has been a complete bust, and is probably out for the rest of the season. Sturtze has some sort of tear, and will probably be gone for the year as well. Matsui is gone for the year barring a miracle comeback, but it may be too late by then.

AAA Columbus is now loaded with former MLB talent past their primes (if they even had one) to try and replace the different broken parts. Heck, Terence Long (starter last night) was released from KC's AAA affiliate because he couldn't hit in AAA.

Sorry Yankee fans, but there is no Aaron Small & Shawn Chacon lurking in the background this year to save your season. No way it will happen two years in a row (they won a combined 17 games, most of them in 2nd half). They are not close to what they were last year. Big Unit also won 17 games last season, and you can forget that...

Mussina has been great so far, but has broken down the past two seasons as well. Your only saving grace may be to leverage whatever prospects you have (including top pitching prospect) include a solid performer in your lineup, and eat a ton of cash - just to acquire Dontrelle Willis/Kerry Wood. But don't forget there are 7 or 8 other clubs including the Sox with stacked farm systems as your competition.

So, your only hope is the trade deadline. Only there's not much pitching (your lineup will be fine). Good luck. Here comes Toronto.

It may be the House that Ruth Built, but it's now Papi's Place

That little excerpt is from NY Post writer Mike Vaccaro. You can read the full article in the link below...

http://www.nypost.com/sports/yankees/63546.htm

Basically he is suggesting that the Yankee pitching staff should literally hit Ortiz. Not pitch him inside, but drill him. He's also suggesting that Johnson, Mussina, and Chacon attempt it 3-4 times PER GAME. OK donkey boy...

Mind you this will be no surprise - as the media in both cities will run with this one. So don't expect things to get out of hand. Would you like to be part of the Yankee lineup with Beckett throwing 97 and Schilling throwing 95? Yeah right...

Papi is also in the midst of a 1 for 20 slump coming in. Most teams now employ the shift and pitch him inside. He will make the adjustment and eventually make teams pay. He's too good a hitter over a long stretch to be counted out.

Is this another big story in the game's biggest rivalry? It remains to be seen, but doubtful. If the Yankee pitchers are dumb enough to hit him - especially more than once - things will get ugly quickly. If Beckett is on the hill, look out. He's only 25, still maturing, and is emotionally charged on the mound. Someone will pay - and hopefully with nothing more than a bruise.

After all is said and done, it's chalked up to another blowhard NY sportswriter trying to create some turmoil out of nothing. At least he provided a good title for us...

Mirabelli, Ortiz, steal the Johnny Show...

The energy level at Fenway was unbelieveable last night, and it came on the coldest night of the season so far. It almost had a playoff feel to it.

Johnny Damon's first reception at the Fens was probably a little different than what he thought. The boo birds were out in force for his first at bat, but turned to cheers once he tipped his helmet. Many fans applauded him out of respect at that moment, but the park was filled with anti-Johnny signs and even chants throughout the game. It must have been a difficult pill for Damon to swallow especially since he's seen former players like Orlando Cabrera came back to standing O's. The difference? Pinstripes.

Fans can't & won't understand the difference between landing $45 vs. $50 million, especially since players have money in the bank already. Heck, Manny STILL gets booed in Cleveland because he left for more money. Damon's "faux-pas" was signing with the hated Yanks. That apparently is an unforgiveable offense in the Nation. Damon may have underestimated that during his decision process - not that it may have swayed him anyway. But, he did appear somewhat wounded by it. It's also notable that he has handled himself in a professional manner and said all the right things. Despite the idiot monicker, he is a class act...

The real story of the night was the return of Mirabelli. From his plane skidding sideways upon landing, to his 100 MPH journey to the park, he barely made his debut. For those of you who have not driven in Boston rush hour traffic, the ride from Logan Airport to Fenway is a nightmare. Dressing into uniform in the back of a state police SUV, he made it in 12 minutes. Wow. He played very well defensively, blocking a number of balls, and throwing out a runner. It was great to see the ovation he received as well.

So, to recap, a pivotal player in bringing home a World Series gets booed, and a backup catcher hitting under .200 gets a standing O. Only at Fenway. The moral? Don't mess with the Nation...


Big Papi comes through in the clutch once again. The Yankee nemesis continues to punish. Joe Torre will continue to have those Papi nightmares. It looks like their major acquisition of Mike Myers (lefty specialist) to come in and shut down Papi wasn't as critical as they thought. Sweet dreams Joe... That shot Papi hit against the wind was absolutely crushed. Nothing else came close to going out.

So, this is only game 1, with 18 to go. It just has that feeling that every game will be a grind. Nothing will come in under 3 1/2 hours. Would love to have been a fly on the wall to see the reactions of all the new additions to this rivalry - Loretta, Lowell, Beckett, Gonzalez, etc... The words "you have got to be kidding me" was probably said about 50 times. Guess what, it's going to be said a lot more over 18 games...

Evil Empire makes first visit to Fenway with "Johnny Cash" in tow...

The Yanks make their 2006 debut at the Fens. The biggest story is of course the return of Damon. Will the boo's outweight the cheers? Don't count on it. After all, he played every game with an intensity unmatched by most. He also drove daggers into the Yanks during game 7 of the ALCS. Also remember that he brings any negativity uopn himself - for simply taking the money, and more so for joining his former archrivals. (This will mostly go away after his next visit back here anyway).

Our favorite quote from a Yankee fan upon the Yanks signing Damon: "It's like having some guy that had an affair with your wife, suddenly get married to your sister". Priceless... And by the way, we hope you Yankee fans are now enjoying the many insights only Johnny can point out. Yikes.

These two teams start the year off in first gear and still manage to stay at the top of the division. Toronto is greatly improved, Baltimore has had some show of life, and if the D-Rays ever get consistent pitching, they could challenge as well.

The Yanks have been surviving on mostly their powerful lineup. Their starting 5 only has one guy below 4.50 ERA, but their pen has been a bright spot. Giambi has been a surprising performer as well (MLB still not testing for HGH yet...). Defense has been average, and age will certainly become a factor as the year progresses. For those of you waiting for a big splash come July 31 to shore your rotation, don't hold your breath. You've got nothing to trade and no one to go after.

The Sox have been struggling at the plate, especially since the injury to Crisp. His replacements in CF have not performed well, other than the small sampling from Pena. Gonzalez is becoming an automatic out, and his glove alone may no longer secure his position. Manny, Tek, and Loretta are all off to slow starts. The rotation has looked good with Schilling returning to his 2004 form, Beckett looking like a potential all-star, Wake being himself, and Clement looking OK. Filling Wells' spot has been a concern so far, and arms in the minors won't be ready for a while. Papelbon is the best closer in the league right now, and Foulke has been better than last season. Defense has been far better than any team in recent memory.

The Yanks need to get more pitching, which doesn't grow on trees. An aging Johnson with knee & back issues, Pavano who has literally been a pain in the butt, Wright who is destined to go back on the DL multiple times, and even Wang who ended up on the DL as a rookie last season, all spells bad news. The brightest spot, Mussina, is another year older and has broken down the last few seasons as well. The pen is carrying them when the bats aren't, but just ask Tom Gordon & Tanyon Sturtze how effective they were after being overused all season. Your lineup features one player under 30. Your Yankees are built like the Red Sox of old. It's a collection of aging former all-stars on the back nine of their careers, that must rely on bats to slug out wins. That formula may let you see October, but not past the first week...

The Sox obviously need to get more pop from the lineup. Tek, Loretta, and Gonzalez need to get it going. Manny will be fine. Don't be surprised to see a change at short before long, and speaking of changes, welcome back to Doug Mirabelli! It's been great to see Youkilis taking over the leadoff spot with a .406 OBP, and also Mike Lowell (who many had written off) with a .318 BA. It will be interesting to see if Wells makes it back. If not, will they pull Papelbon out of his role? That probably depends on their confidence in Foulke, and the progression of Hansen who was promoted to AAA after dominating in AA. The Sox have many things going for them including youth. It will be much easier to address any issues come July 31 because they will be mostly offense, not defense or pitching. The other major factor is the clubhouse. This team has not jelled fully, and that will come as the season progresses.

Things are looking good in the Nation, even though things are off to a sluggish start. Not much will be settled after this 2 game set, but the Hatfields & McCoys start it off once again...