Of course, we know that the Yankees are going to win the 2009 World Series. Why? Well, the guy over there in the Yankees-blinders said that they would! (Me? I still think the 2009 World Series is going to be close. It may not end up to be six or seven games. But, even if it doesn’t, the games are going to be close. And, therefore, it’s hard to predict who will win at this time.)

In any event, if the Yankees do win, the debate will begin around “The Team of the Decade 2000-2009″ – with the Yankees and Red Sox each waiving their two rings (from this decade) in the air.

Shoot, even if the unimaginable happens, and the Yankees lose – leaving the Red Sox and Phillies as the only teams with two rings this decade – many will want to claim the Yankees as “The Team of the Decade” given all their wins from 2000-09 and their number of first place finishes.

And, that leads to today’s wild thought: Say the Yankees do lose this World Series. But, nonetheless, you still want to say they’re still the team of the decade due to finishing first so many times in the last 10 years. Then, does that mean the Atlanta Braves were “The Team of the Decade 1990-1999″ even though the Yankees had three rings during that span? After all, didn’t the Braves have twice as many first place finishes as the Yankees from 1990 through 1999?

If you’re a Yankees fan, I doubt you’d want to say the Braves were “The Team of the Decade 1990-1999.” So, then, if the Yankees lose this World Series, how could they have any claim as to being the “The Team of the Decade 2000-2009″?

My buddy – who I will call “Phil” as that’s his real name – had tickets to Game Two of the 2009 ALCS. They were good seats – in the Main Level, not far from first base, and under cover. But, Phil also had a family wedding that night (of the game).

Now, Phil is as big a Yankees fan as can be found. And, he really wanted to see the ALCS game – but, there was no way he could skip the wedding. So, he decided to play the weather game – hoping that there would be a rain-out last Saturday, the day of Game Two, where they would call the game and then play “Game Two” on Sunday (the next day). This way, he could go to the wedding and then go to the game the following day.

But, they didn’t call the game last Saturday. And, on the following Monday, I asked Phil if he ended up selling his tickets at the last minute.

Much to my surprise, he said that he ended up eating the tickets. According to Phil, he offered the tickets to several people on Saturday morning, once he realized that the game was not going to be called in advance, and could find no takers. In fact, he said that he couldn’t even give them away – despite telling all that the seats were under cover and safe from the rain, etc., should it happen.

Related, just last night, someone who I work with told me that their friend went to the game last Saturday. She told that her friend went on to StubHub the morning of the game and found tons of seats available for sale – at discount prices – probably because people didn’t want to deal with the cold and rain, etc.

So, this all leads to today’s wild thought: Have Yankees fans become “fair weather” fans? If not, how can you explain people having to dump tickets at discount prices for an ALCS game – or not even being able to give great tickets to an ALCS game for free?

The 1986 post-season was not a fun time for me. During that crazy 1986 NLCS, the Mets took over the town. And, the World Series that year was terrible – since I wanted both teams to lose. In fact, I barely watched the ‘86 World Series – since I couldn’t stand to see either the Red Sox or Mets do well. And, don’t even ask me about the parade in New York after the Mets did win…

And, this leads to today’s wild thought. Would a Phillies-Yankees World Series this year be a Mets fan’s worst nightmare? And, as Yankees fans, would that fact, if true, make such a World Series match-up somewhat sweeter – knowing that it would twist in the back of Mets fans, etc.?

Me? To be honest, as a Yankees fan, the Phillies scare me in the World Series. They’ve been there before and will not be like a deer in the headlights, etc. Plus, they can hit. And, Cliff Lee might be able to go toe-to-toe with Sabathia…

Then again, if the other option is to play Joe Torre, and have to listen to the media play that up, maybe the Phils are the better option?

In any event, back to the point, anyone else thinking about, and/or potentially enjoying, the impact of a Phillies/Yankees World Series on Mets Nation?

I was bothered by the Yankees loss in Game 3 of the 2009 ALCS. After all, how could a Yankees fan not be bothered by a loss like that? But, I was not as bothered as I expected to be bothered by such a loss – and I find that, the measure of my being bothered, bothersome.

Why was I not as bothered as I expected to be bothered? Perhaps the Yankees circa 2004-2008 have conditioned me to expect nothing and be prepared for anything and that’s why I wasn’t bothered as much as I was? But, in any event, it is still bothersome that I was not as bothered as normally bothered, at least to me.

So, that’s today’s wild thought – which is more a question, in reality. Were you bothered by the Yankees loss in Game 3? Were you bothered as much as you typically would be bothered by such a loss? And, if not, do you find it bothersome that you were not as bothered as you would normally be bothered?

Today’s wild thought is powered by the book I’m currently reading…

What will happen if A-Rod, even with all the great things he’s done, already, this post-season, has a “Fred Snodgrass 1912 World Series” moment…in the World Series this year for the Yankees?

Personally, right now, I think it could become a Bill Buckner type thing for Alex…if it happens.

Some will want him run out of town whereas others will feel sorry for him…getting blame for losing a series when it’s not proper, in their belief, to blame one person for overall defeat in a series of games played by a team.

What do you think will happen, if this does occur? Or, do you have to wait and see what happens before you could make a call on it?

Let’s look at Alex Rodriguez’ post-season career to date – sans the 1995 post-season where he didn’t play outside of getting two plate appearances over two series.  First, here are the post-season series where A-Rod was a star…two coming in winning efforts, both against the Twins, and two coming in losing efforts:

Next, here are A-Rod’s stats from the 2005 and 2006 ALDS – where he was terrible:

Lastly, here are A-Rod’s stats where he had a so-so post-season…one ALDS as a Mariner in a win over the White Sox…and two losing series as a member of the Yankees:

Yeah, I know his numbers above in the 2004 ALCS look good…but we all know how he did offensively in the last four games of that series.

Looking all this over, is it correct to say the only two post-season series where Alex Rodriguez batted like a superstar, and where his team won, were the two ALDS match-ups against the Minnesota Twins? Anywho, that’s today’s wild thought. What do you think…looking at these stats? Should A-Rod wish for more post-seasons against the Twins?

Today’s wild thought centers on what’s “good enough” for Yankees fans, now, that New York has won an ALDS for the first time in five years…

Do the Yankees have to go on and win the World Series for this season to be considered “great”? Or, would it be enough just to reach the World Series – and the outcome of the Fall Classic doesn’t matter?

Or, do the Yankees even have to win the ALCS for this season to be considered “great”? What if it’s a hard fought ALCS that goes six or seven games, and, in the end, the Yankees lose – but do it in a manner that’s not embarrassing (and they just get beat by a team who played better)? Is that “enough” for you, as a Yankees fan, to say this season was a success?

Me? I want to say “As long as they play hard, and don’t give away the ALCS, I can live with that.” But, deep down, inside, I want them to reach the World Series – at a minimum. And, if they get there, I’m probably not going to be “O.K.” with it if they lose.

I wasn’t “O.K.” with it in 1976, 1981, 2001 or 2003. So, I doubt I’ll be fine with it now. Yet, sincerely, again, I want to say that a good showing in the ALCS, win or lose, should be enough to say “Hey, being the second best team in the league, and just missing by a whisker of being the best, is nothing to be ashamed about, etc.” It’s just that I don’t think I’m capable of pulling that off…for whatever reason.

How about you?

So, six years later, is anyone in Yankeeland missing Alfonso Soriano? Remember, back in the day, when he finished 3rd in the 2002 A.L. MVP voting, as a member of the Yankees?

And, do you think, it’s possible, we’ll be asking the same questions about Robinson Cano in 2016?

Anywho, that’s today’s wild thought…

Today’s wild thought is about post-season off-days and rain-outs. We know that the Yankees are off today and tomorrow. And, after Game One of the 2009 ALDS, they have another off-day. This is followed by Game Two on Friday – and that’s followed by another off-day. Oh, and, by the way, for the two days that the Yankees play at home this week, Wednesday and Friday, there’s some rain in the weather forecast.

Maybe this is just a gut feeling thing, and totally subjective, and somewhat off-base, but, I always felt that off-days and rain-outs have worked against the Yankees in the last four post-season series that they have played over the last five years. I recall, after the 2004 ALCS and 2006 ALDS, lamenting, in retrospect, about how things might have been different if certain games had not been rained-out. And, I want to say there was at least one other ALDS – 2005? – where it seemed like a break in the series sort of stopped some momentum or enabled the other team to bring back a better pitcher…but, this could just be me, as Roger Clemens likes to say, misremembering it.

In any event, how do you feel about all these off-days for the Yankees in this ALDS? Sure, it enables them to skip starting Joba Chamberlain. But, does it also allow the Twins or Tigers to somewhat recover from their play-in game tomorrow as well – allowing them to start a pitcher in Game 2 that maybe might not have been available if Games One and Two were on back-to-back days? Or, maybe it helps them come back in Game Three with a better pitcher? Maybe both?

All these off-days, whether planned or due to weather, just seem to mess with the flow of the series…or, is that just me? What do you think?

Suppose the Twins manage to take the A.L. Central this season – and go on to face the Yankees in the ALDS. And, suppose that the ALDS goes down to a fifth and final game…with Carl Pavano pitching for the Twins, against New York, at Yankee Stadium.

And, this leads to today’s wild thought: What if Carl Pavano ends up throwing a five-hitter and beats the Yankees in that fifth game, to advance the Twins to the ALCS?

What would you do if this happened?

Me? Well, I potentially have tickets to that game. So, if it goes down like that, my first reaction would be to throw myself off the Macombs Dam Bridge immediately following the game. But, I know that would then deprive those who like to bellyache about my blogging. So, I would probably count to ten and come up with another plan to relieve my pain. But, oh, boy, what a pain that would be…how about for you?

Playing around with this query, leads to today’s wild thought. Which of these starting rotations would you rather have on your team, this season:

Ryan Dempster / Carlos Zambrano / Rich Harden / Ted Lilly
C.C. Sabathia / Andy Pettitte / A.J. Burnett / Joba Chamberlain
Barry Zito / Matt Cain / Tim Lincecum / Jonathan Sanchez

Is the Cubs front four better than the Yankees current front four? How about the Giants…are their starting pitchers, listed here, a better bunch this season than what the Yankees have?

What about the 2009 Rockies?

Would you rather have four of their starters from the group of:

Jorge de la Rosa / Ubaldo Jimenez / Jason Hammel / Jason Marquis / Aaron Cook

over the Yankees big four this season?

It will be an interesting match-up if both the Yankees and the Rockies make the World Series this year, no?

Do you think the Yankees were lucky to win 5 or 6 games this season that they should not have won? Their Pythagorean Won-Loss record brings cause for this wild thought – since it suggests the notion that New York has won 5 or 6 games more than they should have this year.

Just for the fun of it, which games, in your mind, were the Yankees lucky to win, this season, so far? The Luis Castillo game has to be one of them…in your opinion, what are the others?

Today’s wild thought is a quick and simple one: If the Yankees make the World Series this year, do you ask CC Sabathia to make his starts on three day’s rest? Hey, it’s not like it’s never been done before…

Any thoughts on this?

Back in December of 2007, when A-Rod signed his new deal with the Yankees, he got a clause in his contract that pays him $6 million (each time) for making appearances, signing memorabilia, etc., when he matches the career homerun totals of Willie Mays (660), Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755) and Bonds (762). And, he gets another six-mill when he sets the new career homer mark. Should Derek Jeter’s agent be looking for a clause like this in the next deal for his client?

After all, Jeter has these marks to shoot for after his current contract is up:

Career hit #3,000 – first Yankee to ever reach this level
Career hit #3,320 – most ever for a right-handed batter in the American League
Career hit #3,772 – most ever for a right-handed batter, period
Career hit #4,000 – becoming only the 3rd batter, ever, to reach this level
Career hit #4,190 – most ever in the American League
Career hit #4,257 – most ever in baseball history

Hey, it wouldn’t hurt to ask, right?

Today’s wild thought is meant to be a fun one. Let’s look ahead – way ahead, past the post-season- and towards the 2010 season. In your opinion, what are the THREE critical moves (for lack of a better handle) that the Yankees must make during the 2009-2010 off-season? Is it resigning Johnny Damon? Is it moving Phil Hughes to the rotation? Is it keeping Hughes in the bullpen? Is it finding a center fielder other than Melky Caberea or Brett Gardner? Is it upgrading on Nick Swisher? Upgrading on Andy Pettitte? Is it trading Robinson Cano? Is it locking up Derek Jeter to a long-term deal? Is it trading Joba Chamberlain? Is it moving Chamberlain to the bullpen? These are just some spitball examples…and not necessarily “must moves” for me…

…what do you think? In your opinion, what are the THREE critical moves that the Yankees must make during the off-season? It could be fun to make a list…and then look back at during November, December and January…at least that’s this wild thought.

Here’s today’s wild thought: Are Johnny Damon and Nick Swisher, this season, the best pair of offensive outfielders that the Yankees have featured since Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matusi played the outfield for the team in 2004-2005?

You could make a case that this is true.

Has it really been four years since the Yankees have had a pair of outfielders who batted really well? How’d that happen?

First, an inventory of where we are in Yankeeland, and what’s coming up…

The Yankees are currently in first place in the A.L. East and have a 5.5 game lead over the second place Boston Red Sox.

The Yankees are on a West Coast trip where they will play 4 games against the Mariners and 3 against the A’s – and then will head to Fenway Park to play the Red Sox for 3 games (following an off-day for travel).

The Red Sox have a game at home this afternoon against the Tigers – and then hit the road for 3 games in Texas and 3 games in Toronto before that three-game set where Boston will host New York. (And, for the record, the Red Sox have another 7 games at home after that Yankees series.)

Next, today’s wild thought: How important is it for the Yankees to have at least a 3.5 lead over the Red Sox, at the end of their West Coast trip, before they head into Boston for those 3 games at Fenway?

Think about it: Yes, the Yankees took all four games against the Sox recently at Yankee Stadium. But, two of the games were very close. And, Boston plays extremely well at home. Those 3 games at Fenway are going to be tough for the Yankees. What happens if the Red Sox go 6-1 in their next 7 games and the Yankees go 3-4 in their next 7 games…and then the Yankees lead is only 2.5 games over the Red Sox before they play those 3 games in Fenway? If Boston then sweeps those 3 games…New York will come out of that series a half-game behind the Sox. And, that’s not good…

Bottom line, it seems like the Yankees really need to come out of this West Coast swing with at least 4 wins – just to ensure, no matter what Boston does now, and during that Fenway series, that New York will be in first place when they leave Fenway Park. Or, is that too wild a thought?

The Twins have picked up Carl Pavano from the Indians.

So, here’s a wild thought: Given the Yankees need for a fifth starting pitcher, should New York had made a play to get Pavano? Or, if they had, would you have wanted Brian Cashman run out of town on a rail?

After all, we saw enough of Pavano in Yankeeland, didn’t we? Then again, those in support of the Yankees recent acquistion of Chad Gaudin are quick to say things like it’s better than nothing and why not try it and then ditch it if it doesn’t work…so, shouldn’t the same apply to Pavano? If not, then it seems silly to offer that logic toward any scrub pitcher the Yankees acquire between now and September 1st, no?

Today’s wild thought is a two-for-one special – meaning you get two wild thoughts for the price of one. And, boy, are they wild!

It’s pretty much a given that Joe Torre, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera will be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, someday. And, it’s a pretty safe bet that Mo Rivera will retire before Derek Jeter – so Rivera gets in before Jeter. Unless…

And, here’s wild thought #1: Should the Yankees, and Rivera, set it up so that Mo Rivera comes back to throw one meaningless pitch in a September game during Jeter’s last season – in order to set up a situation where Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera are on the H.O.F. ballot, for the first time, together – and therefore have a chance to go into the Hall together? Yeah, I know – that’s crazy. But, I thought of it today – and, this is supposed to be about wild thoughts…

O.K., moving on to wild thought #2 – which is not as wild as the first one. Assume that Torre, Jeter and Rivera are in the Hall – and, as such, then have a chance to vote on players who are not elected by the baseball writers. Does this help the future chances of guys like Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada – should these three not get elected to the Hall by the writers? Think about it. When Torre, Jeter and Rivera talk, the other Hall of Fame members will listen. And, you would have to think that Torre, Jeter and Rivera would be talking up Bernie, ‘Sado and Andy as much as possible – when the time comes, no?

What do you think?

So, the Yankees head into Tampa today for a three game set with the Rays – and New York has their three hard-throwers in the rotation set up to pitch this one (meaning Burnett, Sabathia and Chamberlain).

This leads to today’s wild thought: What if the Rays take it to A.J., CC and Joba and sweep the Yankees in this one – putting themselves just 4 games back, in the loss column, behind the Yankees.

Will New York just shrug it off, and move on to their next series, or, would a sweep by Tampa (against the Yankees stud starters) set off all kinds of crazy things in Yankeeland that will mean bad news for the team? What do you think?

I just noticed that Jonah Keri writing a book about the Tampa Bay Rays, and their climb from worst to first last year, and how they use a Wall Street approach to baseball.

And, we know there have been books written about Theo Epstein and Billy Beane detailing their approach as baseball General Managers.

So, I wonder why…and it’s today’s wild thought, by the way…why no one has ever written a book about Brian Cashman and his great work as G.M. for the Yankees? What do you think?

Someone who’s been a Yankees fan for the last 25 years recently said to me “I just wish this Yankees team wasn’t so hard to like.” And, that leads to today’s wild thought.

In comments left by readers of this blog, this season, I have seen laments, at times, about Alex Rodriguez, Joba Chamberlain, Robinson Cano, Brian Bruney, Jorge Posada, Chien-Ming Wang, Nick Swisher, Andy Pettitte and Melky Cabrera. And, there may have been other Yankees players mentioned along these lines as well – and I just don’t remember them now…

And, in comments left by readers of this blog, this year and in the recent past, I’ve seen complaints about Hank and Hal Steinbrenner, Randy Levine, Lonn Trost and Brian Cashman.

So, here’s the wild thought…actually, it’s more a series of questions…

Are these current Yankees a tough bunch to “like” – even for a dyed-in-the-wool Yankees fan? It is because of one player in particular, or a collection of players? Or, is it because of the Yankees front office? Is it because of one person, in particular, in the front office, or a collection of them? Or, are these current Yankees a tough bunch to “like” because of the players and the front office, combined?

Or, is this all hogwash and do you find this Yankees team and/or organization easy to “like”?

With Chien-Ming Wang on the disabled list (for an unknown period) and Joba Chamberlain having issues performing under the requirements of taking a regular turn in the Yankees rotation, today’s wild thought suggests it’s time for Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi to make some changes to their pitching staff. And, here’s what we suggest changing:

1. Add Sergio Mitre to the 40-man roster by cutting Kevin Cash. And, once Mitre is on, promote him to the 25-man roster by optioning Mark Melancon to Triple-A.

2. Move Joba Chamberlain to the bullpen and replace him in the starting rotation with Sergio Mitre.

3. Drop Anthony Claggett from the 40-man roster and replace him with George Kontos. And, once Kontos is on, promote him to the 25-man roster by optioning David Robertson to Triple-A (or, if you can, by disabling Brian Bruney). Sure, some may be thinking here “What about Brett Tomko?” However, as crazy as it sounds, I would keep Tomko – for now – just to pitch in games where the score is out of hand.

4. Have George Kontos take Chien-Ming Wang’s place in the rotation until the latter is back from the disabled list. If Kontos has issues, then flip him with Alfredo Aceves (making Kontos a long-man in the pen) and allow “Ace” to fill in for Wang until he comes back.

5. If possible, try and acquire Cliff Lee via a trade with the Indians – and then give him Mitre’s or Kontos’ spot in the rotation – whichever one is pitching worse. (And, then you can cut Tomko to make room for Lee.)

If you had a chance to give the Yankees rotation a make-over for the second half of 2009, what would you do?

Update, 7/13/09 9:49 am ET: I just became aware that George Kontos is done for the season. (Thanks to WasWatching.com reader “yagottagotomo1″ for the heads-up on this news.)

O.K., simple enough – insert Ivan Nova for George Kontos on the plan above and go from there…six of one, half dozen of the other, as far as I am concerned. I only took Kontos over Nova since he was a little older and had some more Triple-A time under his belt…

Given the health issues around Chien-Ming Wang and the inconsistency of Joba Chamberlain, does it make sense for the Yankees to go out and get a proven starting pitcher for the second half of 2009? Well, that’s today’s wild thought…

And, while everyone is focused on the chase for the Blue Jays’ Doc Halladay, perhaps the Yankees should try a sneak attack at another solid starter…like the Indians Cliff Lee? He’s also available…see this, recently, from Bob Nightengale:

The Blue Jays would require a package greater than the three prospects the Cleveland Indians received last year for ace CC Sabathia, Ricciardi said, considering Halladay won’t be a free agent until after the 2010 season. Halladay, 10-2 with a 2.79 ERA, said he is open to a trade but has told Ricciardi the teams for which he would exercise his no-trade rights.

Cleveland is in a similar situation with Cliff Lee, the defending Cy Young winner who is a free agent after next season. Indians GM Mark Shapiro has not publicly made the left-hander available. But since Cleveland has the American League’s worst record, teams are bound to call.

“We’re in a position where we are open to all thoughts and ideas,” Shapiro said.

Few teams might have the resources and prospects to acquire players the caliber of Halladay and Lee, who are making $14.25 million and $6 million this year.

Well, we know that the Yankees have kicked the tires on Halladay. Maybe they should do the same with Cliff Lee and the Indians?

Here’s today’s wild thought – and it’s tied to all the talk about Doc Halladay being available via trade.

What if the Blue Jays decide to handle this like the Marlins did when they made Josh Beckett available? By this, I mean, what if Toronto decides to use this as an opportunity to dump Vernon Wells contract – insisting that the team who trades for Halladay also takes Wells – like when Florida insisted that the team who acquired Beckett also took Mike Lowell.

After all, if the Jays can’t afford to pay Halladay, wouldn’t they want to also shed all that money due Vernon Wells – especially given the way Wells has performed since signing that deal?

This would narrow the field for trading Halladay – since few teams could afford to take on Wells’ contract. In fact, it could make it a two team race between the Red Sox and the Yankees. Further, maybe the Blue Jays would then want Brett Gardner (from New York) or Jacoby Ellsbury (from Boston) as part of the return for Halladay and Wells? For certain, with Johnny Damon, Xavier Nady and Hideki Matsui being free agents in New York, the Yankees could consider taking on Vernon Wells for this season and those remaining on his deal – even if the cost, around $20 million a year, is crazy. And, perhaps the Red Sox might see Wells as a replacement for Jason Bay if he leaves as a free agent?

So, that’s today’s wild thought. Should the Jays try this package play? If they did, if you were the Yankees and/or Red Sox, would it scare you away?

Me? I’d have to think about it . And, if I were the Yankees, I would really have to get some good intell on Vernon Wells to see if he could rebound in New York the way that Mike Lowell did when he went to Boston – before I pulled the trigger on that one.

Here are the career stats for Robinson Cano, through yesterday, compared to the stats for Juan Samuel when he was the same age as Cano – via Baseball-Reference.com:

Batter	        OPS+	PA	From	To	Ages	G	AB
Juan Samuel	107	2876	1983	1987	22-26	644	2675
Robinson Cano	110	2714	2005	2009	22-26	654	2551

Batter	        OPS+	PA	From	To	Ages	 BA	 OBP	 SLG
Juan Samuel	107	2876	1983	1987	22-26	.269	.312	.457
Robinson Cano	110	2714	2005	2009	22-26	.303	.335	.471

Batter		OPS+	PA	From	To	Ages	H    HR  RBI
Juan Samuel	107	2876	1983	1987	22-26	719  80  326
Robinson Cano	110	2714	2005	2009	22-26	772  75  352	 

Batter		OPS+	PA	From	To	Ages	BB   SO  GDP	SB
Juan Samuel	107	2876	1983	1987	22-26	151  629  35	205
Robinson Cano	110	2714	2005	2009	22-26	115  299  84	 16

It terms of games played, plate appearances, OPS+, hits, homeruns, RBI and walks, these two are very close. Samuel struck out a more – and that’s probably a key difference here. It suggests that he had more holes in his swing than Cano – as the walk totals for both these players offer that they were hackers. (Samuel was also a lot faster than Cano – see the stolen base totals.)

In any event, it’s an interesting comp-find here. And, it’s today’s wild thought: Is Robinson Cano the next Juan Samuel? What do you think?

We’ve heard so much in Yankeeland this season about how Hideki Matsui is clogging up the Yankees roster this year because he can only D.H., etc. Just this morning, I heard Kim Jones talking about it on WFAN. So, here’s today’s wild thought. As much as I am a fan of Godzilla – and have been since 2003 – if he’s really a burden to the Yankees roster, why not release Matsui (and then replace him on the roster with a more versatile player)?

Is it about the money? Heck, at this point, the Yankees owe Matsui another $6.5 million for this season. And, we know the Yankees have tinkled away more money on lesser players. It can’t be about not wanting to eat that cheddar.

Is it about the fear of paying Matsui to play for another team, if he’s released, where he can come back to haunt you? Well, where is Matsui going if the Yankees let him loose?

Godzilla cannot play the outfield – so, he’s not going to the National League. And, thanks to players such as Jason Kubel, Adam Lind, Luke Scott, Jim Thome, Hank Blalock, Ken Griffey Jr., Jack Cust, Mike Jacobs and David Ortiz, there’s a limited number of teams in the American League who can use him: The Tigers, Rays, Angels and Indians.

Since Cleveland is going nowhere, that leaves the Tigers, Rays and Angels. Perhaps that’s why the Yankees, if they truly feel that Matsui is roster blockage, won’t cut him? New York fears Detroit, Tampa Bay or Los Angeles picking him up, with the Yankees paying the tab, and Godzilla then wrecking New York’s season somewhere down the line?

Or, maybe, it’s the whole “keep good relations with the Japanese market” thing? But, for sure, Matsui is gone from the Yankees at the end of this season. So, is having him for three more months really that important there? In any event, that’s today’s wild thought. If it’s for the good of the team, in terms of having a better roster, should the Yankees release Hideki Matsui. What do you think?

There seems to be much talk in Yankeeland today about Alex Rodriguez taking a walk in the bottom of the 9th inning last night – with one out and the tying run on third base. Some feel that A-Rod should have made contact, somewhere in his At Bat, and driven home the tying run. And, others feel that A-Rod did the correct thing by not expanding his strike zone, etc., and taking the free pass.

It’s funny, it spots like this, I always think back to a Yankees game from the 1980’s. It’s when Don Mattingly was in his prime and Bill White and the Scooter were doing the Yankees broadcasts. In this game, the Yankees were losing, and it was late, and Donnie Baseball came through with a huge hit – on a pitch that was up around his eyes. When it happened, Bill White went nuts. In praise of Mattingly, White went on and on about how Mattingly was a winning player, a team player, and a leader, etc., – because he knew that he was never going to get a good pitch to hit in that At Bat (as the other team didn’t want ‘the big man’ to beat them) and he took it upon himself to make something happen despite of those plans by the opposing team (and pitcher).

I’m not 100% sure – but, I want to say it was the Yankees game of May 13, 1985. I do recall that it was a home game, at night, and it was when Mattingly was among the best in the game. And, I know that White stopped doing Yankees games after 1988. Looking at Mattingly’s homerun log, it appears that May 13, 1985 could have been that game.

In any event, that’s today’s wild thought. In a big spot, should ‘the man’ on your team be happy to take a walk, if the other team is not willing to let him beat them? Or, are you like Bill White and feel that a winning and team player, a leader, should make it happen based on what he has to work with?

Me? I see both sides of the debate. I understand, as a batter, how you shouldn’t chase pitches. But, then again, if something is close enough to make it happen…as a fan, I love it when our ‘man’ comes through with a hit in a spot like that, taking it on his own shoulders, rather than leaving it up to the next guy.

It’s a tough call. But, a fun wild thought.

Today’s wild thought is on Phil Hughes – who looked impressive pitching the seventh inning out of the Yankees bullpen last night.

Part of the lament about Hughes as a starting pitcher has been around the fact that he’s basically a two-pitch pitcher (fastball and a curve) and that his fastball is in the lower-90’s. And, while this is enough to fool minor league batters, this requires him to have pinpoint control/command, or face an impatient and aggressive swinging team, to excel as a starter in the majors. If Hughes had a quality third pitch – that he could throw for strikes – then that would make up for his shorter fastball and enable him to have more success in the majors as a starter. However, his cutter/slider and change-up are works in progress at this moment.

This all said, it’s been proven that someone can pitch out of the bullpen, at the major league level, with just two-pitches – providing that one is exceptional and the other is enough to keep batters honest. And, as a relief pitcher, because you’re only facing a line-up once, at the max, in a game, you can get away with just having those two pitches.

And, last night, being able to gas it out – as he was only going one inning, Phil Hughes’ fastball, which is usually in the 89-93 MPH range, was in the 94-96 MPH neighborhood – which is a near exceptional fastball. If Hughes is able to throw a heater in the mid-90’s and mix in his curve, he can be a very effective relief pitcher – like a John Wetteland type (who was also a fastball/curve failed starter who was converted to closer).

In closing – that’s today’s wild thought: Should the Yankees, and Phil Hughes, now start thinking about his future in the majors…as a relief pitcher?

Granted, starters get paid a lot more than relief pitchers. Hughes knows this, I’m sure. And, it’s somewhat easier on the mind, for some, to throw as a starter and then have four days off to play around with your Wii, etc., as opposed to having to deal with the stress of being in the game, in a big spot, two or three times a week (or more). But, then again, if you’re a closer, and you’re great, in a town like New York, you can be a legend. Just go ask Sparky Lyle, Goose Gossage or Mo Rivera.

What do you think? Based on what we saw last night – albeit just one game – should Phil of the Future be a member of the Yankees bullpen?

Today’s wild thought is an off-the-wall trade proposal…

…if the Oakland A’s offered the Yankees Matt Holliday, right now, for Nick Swisher, Alfredo Aceves, Dellin Betances and cash…would you make that deal, if you were Brian Cashman?

Tough one – huh? It would be fun to see Teixeira, A-Rod and Holliday batting back-to-back-to-back in the new Yankee Stadium this summer. And, Swisher and money are no issue to give up…but, do you include the somewhat useful Aceves and the promise of Betances?

Me? If I’m the Yankees, I make that deal and don’t look back – even with Holliday being a free agent at the end of the season and the loss of Swisher’s “chemistry” factor. How about you?

Then again, would the A’s make such a deal? Probably not…but, hey, I did say it was a wild thought, right?