Good Morning,

Most people know the old adage “If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.” That goes for many things in life. The gorgeous woman with a dishrag for a personality, the on paper finances of a corrupt and credit-lined out city, or the starting pitching rotation of the New York Yankees.

Yes, entering play this weekend, the Bombers find themselves in first place in the AL East by 2.5 games, while the much ballyhooed BoSox find themselves on their backs, looking up at the rest of the division. Don’t be fooled. Anyone that thinks a rotation with a 300lb.+ has been, and a former flame thrower holding on for dear life to a major league career manning the back end of championship or else rotation is going to hold up over a 162 game season and 3 possible rounds of playoffs needs to participate in National Drug Test at the Workplace. This rotation is a mirage. Nova is beginning to look shaky, Hughes has a dead arm, Burnett is showing signs of 2010, not what he’s being paid to look like, leaving Mr. Opt Out himself, Sabathia.

This lineup is flawed. Other than Tex and A-Rod, who is really living up to expectations thus far? This team talent-wise, should be sitting at around 13-3, not the 10-6 record they currently sport. The bullpen has been anything but lockdown, with we the fans never knowing which version of which pitcher we will witness taking the mound that night.

All is not right in Yankeeland boys and girls, and if you think it is, you’re simply fooling yourselves. I read the other day on a well followed Yankee blog that Brian Cashman’s Plan B has worked wonderfully. Really? Instead of pulling the trigger and getting what the team needed, preaching patience and loading up on scrap heap guys is your plan? Is it me or does something seriously stink around here? Get the waders out, because the Bronx is filling up with b.s. faster than the East river. There is absolutely no chance this rotation stays intact, and leads this team to the postseason. Age, injuries, and simple ineffectiveness will catch up to this group and then what? Give the farm away for another scrap head guy, or somebody else’s ace who will melt under the white hot lights of the Big Apple? As Bobby D said in the movie “Copland”…”You had your chance and your blew it.” Don’t say I didn’t warn you…just as living in Sin City does, it fools people into believing riches and fame can be had for nothing….this Yankee team is nothing more than a mirage, and when the sun sets at the end of the season, if everything stays the way it is now, there will be no October in the Bronx.

As always, take care of yourself, be good, and take care of your buddy next to ya!

Good Morning and Happy Opening Week!

I don’t know about you, but opening day for me, is like Christmas morning for youngsters. I’ve been excited for weeks, and yesterday, the day finally came to celebrate the start of a brand new season in Major League Baseball. The Yanks opened their 3rd season in the new house with a nice win against the Tigers yesterday. Here are a few points that I took from yesterday’s game that we should examine:

1. Was it me, or did Mariano Rivera look somewhat hittable yesterday? His location was spotty, and some good wood was laid to a couple of his pitches. Please don’t tell me this is the start of him going over the cliff (i.e 2010 Trevor Hoffman).

2. Tex finally looked locked in PRIOR to June 1st. Perhaps his offseason adjustments to his training program is paying off.

3. Russell Martin looked like the Martin of 3 years ago rather than the guy the Dodgers non-tendered. Funny how becoming an afterthought will remotivate a player. He could be the steal of the offseason at $4 mil.

4. I listened to the ESPN announcers discuss why Sabathia should opt out of his contract at the end of this season. I believe that unlike the A-Rod bidding against themselves policy, that if the big boy does pull the pin, the Yankees should stand their ground and not give him what he wants. Who else can afford a raise from the $23 mil per he is already pulling in?

5. The lineup looked solid, the defense was stellar, the bullpen did their job.

1 win down, about 99 more to go to win the AL East.

As always, be good, take care of yourself, and take care of your buddy next to ya!

Good Evening,

I arrived home from work this morning, had my newborn daughter Kamryn fall asleep on my chest for about an hour. While listening to her, I skimmed through the sports channels on t.v., hoping for some new tidbit of information and…nothing. I went ahead and decided to go to sleep for the day, and figured I’d catch some spring training baseball when I awoke.

Instead, I awake to find a headline on MLB.com, that the Yankees had wheeled and dealed some pitching. I was hopeful, then disappointed. Sergio Mitre, whom I’ve already blogged and is more than a known fact to have no business remaining in the big leagues, had been dealt to the Brewers for journeyman outfielder Chris Dickerson. I understand that move. Gazelle in the outfield to cover for the injured Curtis Granderson, a low cost, low risk move. The Yankees know what they have with Dickerson-no high salary, big opportunity for disappointment. This move leaves Garcia and Colon fighting the last few days for the 5th and final rotation spot, with the loser being the long man in the bullpen.

The move that shocked me, was the signing to a minor league deal of Kevin Millwood. Here is a guy, whom the Yankees had made a previous offer earlier in the spring, and were rebuffed due to not offering a MAJOR LEAGUE deal. Fast forward to last week, the Yankees send out scouts to California to watch Millwood workout, only to report back that his fastball barely touched 86 mph on the gun. Okay, not worth the headache, as Millwood once again stated he was only looking for a big league contract. So the headline today states…”Yanks sign Millwood to minor league deal.” Really? Did I go to sleep aivnd wake up in bizarro world? When did an over the hill Kevin Millwood become more valuable and useful to the big league roster than a kid like Manny Banuelos?

I’m convinced that Brian Cashman has completely lost his sanity. I wouldn’t give Millwood a bag of batting practice balls and a used jock strap to pitch at this point in time. I suppose the reasoning behind this move is obvious. Among Colon, Garcia, and Millwood-something has to work out right? Don’t be so sure. How long can Colon hold up? Garcia has looked less than impressive this spring, but then again, he rarely has throughout his career. And Millwood? He’s got a handful of days to face live hitters before he’s reassigned to Scranton, with an option to be released by May 1st if he’s not on the big league roster. Ugh!

After missing out on Cliff Lee, and unable to part with top notch talent for a legit arm to pair along with Sabathia, Cashman has continued to preach patience. Why hold on to top tier minor league talent if you aren’t going to give the kids a shot? This isn’t the failed Hughes/Joba/Kennedy experiment of a few years ago. This is the day of Nova having clinched the #4 slot, and a whole bunch of question marks, has beens and unprovens to fill the final rotation slot. What else does Baby Manny have to do? I’ve harped and fought for this kid all spring, and again, it appears I’m the only one who believes this kid is the real deal. Oh yeah, Mariano Rivera agrees with me, but what does he know? He’s only the greatest closer of all time, and rarely voices his opinion on anything.

So with my hope that the headline I read that a deal had been made today was for a top flight starter, I’m left looking at a car lot of vehicles with no Car Fax report. We shall see what comes of these latest transactions, but we in Yankeeland can only assume it will be more of the same until the young guns are given their respective chances.

As always, take care of yourself, be good, and take care of your buddy next to ya!

Congrats to Buck Showalter!

I’ve been a huge Buck fan since he was in the Bronx all those years ago. I was a fan when he built the eventual World Champion D-Backs, and I was a fan when he had zero pitching in Texas. As a Yankee fan, I was happy to see him get another shot to turn around a pooper for a team in Baltimore City. After watching a handful of games this spring, Buck’s fingerprints are all over this roster, just as they were at each of his previous stops. I’ve been arguing since Joe Torre left the Bronx at the end of ’07, that Buck-not Girardi should’ve been brought in. I don’t care that the Yankees won the Series in ’09. It’s the disaster of ’08 and the mismanagement of the ’10 ALCS that has me concerned about Girardi’s usefulness in the Bronx longterm. Anyway, after watching the Orioles light up Yankee starter Sergio Mitre like a Christmas tree, I’m convinced the back end of the Yankees rotation is in serious trouble, and that the Orioles will sneak up on some folks in 2011.

I’m still dumbfounded and at a true loss for words when I look to describe what I’ve seen in Mitre since his arrival in New York. A once promising arm in Florida, suffered through Tommy John surgery, and then a 50-game PED suspension the following season. His first season, he was getting arm strength and velocity back-but neither has reappeared as it had previously. Now, with less than 2 weeks to go before Opening Day, and a #5 rotation spot in the balance, here sits Mitre, along with Garcia and Colon, all of whom should be pitching high school batting practice rather than holding a roster spot for a World Series contender. Jake Fox, Matt Wieters, J.J. Hardy-all went yard off Mitre on pitches that were better suited for Pony League than Grapefruit League play.

As I have said before, is it only obvious to me? Manny Banuelos and Ivan Nova are not only the future of this rotation, but given the other options, they are both now the present-the true answers to the back of the rotation, getting much needed experience, learning from Sabathia, Rivera and the other seasoned, successful veterans on how to pitch-and win in the Bronx. Pair these two young guns with Phil Hughes, hope that Burnett has hold up, and watch C.C. be, well, C.C., and the rest will take care of itself. Instead, Girardi and Cashman will go with Colon more than likely, while Mitre, who is out of options, will find himself in the long man/mop up role in the bullpen. Mitre could be the one weakness of this bullpen. Chamberlain, Robertson, Logan, Feliciano, Soriano and of course, Mo Rivera, will shorten this game for the starters. Nova and Banuelos are good enough, and will improve with each start, to get the ball and a close game to the slam the door shut bullpen. Everyone under the Sun knows that Colon may be good enough for 10 or so starts before his overweight body and rebuilt shoulder breakdown. Why even give him the shot when Baby Manny can be getting much needed big league experience now? Along with not needing a 5th starter for the first few runs through the rotation? Let the kids learn on the job!

As always, take care, be good, and take care of your buddy next to ya!

After watching the Yankees/Phillies game the other evening, I was mesmerized by what I thought I was seeing: a carbon copy, dead on, spitting image of Alfonso Soriano standing in the batter’s box ready to take a pitch. Hold on, did the Yanks re-acquire Soriano for a bag of balls and a dirty jock? Nope. After watching the first pitch, I realized I was looking at the closest thing the Yankees will ever have to Soriano-Melky Mesa!

After watching two of his at bats on Saturday, I realized this kid has both the upside and the curse that is Alfonso Soriano. Yankees’ broadcaster Ken Singleton stated that scouts claim “…he’s the combo of (Sammy) Sosa and Soriano.” I decided to do a little more leg work of my own to find out exactly why I had never heard of this so-called “possessor of 5 tools.” What I found didn’t surprise me. Absolutely zero plate discipline, can crush a fastball with the best of them, super speed, but lacks baserunning skills, and a cannon for an arm. Sound familiar? The Yankees just recently (this past offseason) added Mesa to the 40-man roster. Sounds as if the Yankees aren’t too impressed either.

To defend Mesa though, his mind numbing (think Mark Reynolds) strikeout rate is the Major League norm for this generation. His ability to play defense appears to be ++, and his improvement in drawing walks each of the last two seasons, along with cutting his strikeout rate down. Will he ever see time in the Bronx? It doesn’t appear likely. He’s the type of potential player that could garner a top flight arm when it comes to trading time. Is he the centerfielder of the future? Again, highly unlikely, as his career on-base percentage and batting average don’t translate to big league success. They translate to getting a long look at the big league level, desperate for taking a flier out on “potential” rather than results. The Yankees are not one of those teams. As intriguing as it is to want to see what raw potential can do at this level, the Bombers can ill-afford to take a chance on a guy who lacks this much self discipline.

As for the big club in the Bronx, I can’t get over how good Eric Chavez looks this spring. He played some third base against Philly, showing the hands and quickness that made him a 6-time Gold Glove winner as a member of the A’s. His bat looks quick, and he’s shown power to all fields. If for some reason he doesn’t make the squad, he will do nicely somewhere else-because the guy can still play!

Mo Rivera looks like Mo should. Cutter, cutter, cutter and have a nice afternoon. His velocity looks good for this time of the spring, and if you didn’t know this guy was into his 40s, you’d think he was still in his prime. He will catch Hoffman, and he will make this record his own-to go along with the post season accolades that he has owned for the better part of a decade and a half.

Is it me, or does A-Rod look like a man possessed? He looks the best that he’s looked since his last MVP season. He’s quick, the bat looks alive, and he now has me rethinking my choice of Evan Longoria as my 1st round fantasy pick rather than blood and guts 30/100 every single year. Hopefully it won’t come back to bite me in the keester.

My Yankee sleeper for 2011? Ivan Nova. I think this kid could win 12-14 games in the #4 hole, and strike out 150-160 hitters this season. He looked sharp and cool during his audition last season, and he’s carried that over to spring training. You heard it here first, Nova will be the first of many Baby Bomber Young Guns to take their rightful place with the big club. By the time Burnett’s contract expires, that will open up yet another rotation slot, you put Nova, Hughes (who will take another giant leap forward in 2011) with Sabathia, mix in Brackman and Banuelos, who needs Cliff Lee and his over 30 mileage?

As always, take care of yourself, be good, and take care of your buddy next to ya!!!

Good Afternoon,

Let me start by thanking all of you that sent your well wishes as the Brost family welcomed our newest member this past Wednesday morning! Kamryn Alivia Brost arrived at 1:59 a.m. MST weighing in at 7.3 lbs, and measuring 19 inches long. I will post some pics later! We are so blessed to have her join our 17 month old son Braden, as the 2011 baseball season is just about to get underway.

As for the Yankees, things appear to be falling into place-one way or the other. Former manager Joe Torre made 2 appearances over the last week, visited with the team, and is now confirmed to be a participant in this year’s Old Timer’s Day at the Stadium later this summer. It’ll be good to see old #6 back in pinstripes, however brief it may be.

The starting rotation appears to be set as well-barring any last second spring time deals that Brian Cashman may be working on. Joe Girardi announced that A.J. Burnett will re-assume the #2 slot behind Sabathia due to his strong spring, and Phil Hughes will slide back to the #3 hole. Youngster Ivan Nova, with his 6 innings of no-hit ball during his last outing has basically clinched the #4 slot, leaving Mitre, Colon, and Garcia battling it out for the 5th and final rotation slot. Mitre’s best role is the mop-up/long man in the bullpen. Colon has looked the best, and you have to wonder how long his rebuilt shoulder and 300 lb. weight can hold up. Garcia said yesterday after getting whacked for 5 runs in 6 innings that he won’t accept a minor league assignment stating “…it’s this team or somewhere else. What would pitching at AAA do for me?” Here’s an answer Mr. Garcia: you might learn how to handle a major league-caliber lineup. I say good riddance to yet another has been trying to hang on for dear life to a major league career that should’ve ended a couple of seasons ago.

The Yankees sent scouts out to California this past week to work out free agent Kevin Millwood, and reports have surfaced that his fastball no longer has much zip on it. For an innings horse not to have his best pitch, along with the fact Millwood is still insisting on a Major League contract-those are headaches the Yankees simply do not need at this point in the spring.

I still believe that 20-year old Manny Banuelos has earned that 5th rotation slot, but the Yankee hierarchy see things otherwise. Why waste the talent of a kid who possesses both the moxy and stuff to pitch at the big league level on guys you know won’t make it through the season? AND give Nova the 4th slot? Given, Nova has looked really good this spring, lowering his E.R.A. to 1.29 with his last outing. Banuelos looked like he could handle big league lineups, showing minor control issues in keeping the Yankees close in their loss earlier in the week to the Red Sox.

What I hope doesn’t happen, is that Cashman abandons the “patience” approach, and follows Ken Rosenthal’s advice, allowing the Mariners to put them over the barrel, give away Montero, Banuelos, and other top-tier prospects for King Felix, who is 25 years old, but has the mileage of a 30 year old on his right arm. The Yankees have the young guns, and if Cash can make a deal to upgrade the rotation without giving away the farm, so be it, but not at the cost that Rosenthal suggests.

We are just under two weeks from the start of the 2011 season. Boston of course is the favorite to not only win the AL East, but possibly their 3rd World Series in the last 7 seasons. The Phillies are expected to run through the National League without much of a push. But as the old adage goes…”That’s why they play the games.” The Yankees should be able to hit their way into the post season, their bullpen is rivaled by no other, and their bench can be adjusted as the season progresses. It all comes down to whether or not the starting rotation can hold up. Perhaps we’ll see Baby Manny before ’11 ends, perhaps someone wearing another uniform will be a Yankee before it’s all said and done.

I’ve been very impressed with Eric Chavez so far this spring. I’m just concerned about how long that surgically repaired back will hold up. One swing could end not only his season, but what has been a nice career for the former Gold Glover. A-Rod is hitting like he’s 25, not 35 or 36. Glad to see he is focused heading into the final weeks of the spring. I’m somewhat concerned about Tex’s lack of power-even though he’s hovering right around .370 for the spring. Joba and Pedro Feliciano are battling lingering injuries, which could weaken the bullpen, but both should be ready to go come Opening Day.

With that, my little newborn baby Kam just laid down for her nap, son Braden is snoozing after playing outside on a gorgeous spring day in Billings, and I’m watching the Cards lay the wood on Boston. How frustrating is Andrew Miller? Ask the Tigers and Marlins about that one. Thoughts and prayers to our soldiers, and the people of Libya who are fighting the oppression of their dictator, and I’ll be checking back in sometime tonight after the broadcast of the Yanks/Phils on the MLB Network.

As always, take care, be good, and take care of your buddy next to ya! Pics of the baby to follow soon!