According to Joe Torre, Alex Rodriguez could be wearing Dodger next season. "It's possible," Torre said Friday before his annual Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation gala. Via ESPN.com
If A-Rod decides to join Torre out west, he'll join hitting coach Don Mattingly as another former Yankee wearing Dodger blue, as well as former Yankees 3rd base coach Larry Bowa.
The relationship between Torre and A-Rod seems to be on good ground after this past season, which saw Rodriguez post remarkable numbers (.314 avg 54 HR 156 RBI).
Rodriguez is likely to pick up his third MVP in the coming weeks - his second with the Yankees. Whoever decides to pay A-Rod the $350 million he's asking for (and do you really think anyone will?) will be acquiring a great player with great talent. The questions will remain: Can he produce in the postseason? Is it worth spending that much money on ONE player? Is he a cancer in the clubhouse with his self serving attitude? These are the questions GM's and owners will have to ask themselves before handing out the big bucks for Alex. Or of course, A-Rod could always come back to the Yankees....pssh like that's gonna happen. I wouldn't count on the latter, but hey, stranger things have happened.
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"You've got four or five clubs maybe that figure to be in the sweepstakes. There aren't a lot of clubs that are going to be able to pay the money."
If A-Rod decides to join Torre out west, he'll join hitting coach Don Mattingly as another former Yankee wearing Dodger blue, as well as former Yankees 3rd base coach Larry Bowa.The relationship between Torre and A-Rod seems to be on good ground after this past season, which saw Rodriguez post remarkable numbers (.314 avg 54 HR 156 RBI).
"All I know is it was very comfortable for both of us," the manager said. "And I think my being uncomfortable came from the fact that I didn't think he was as comfortable. This year he just seemed to be a different guy in spring training."
Rodriguez is likely to pick up his third MVP in the coming weeks - his second with the Yankees. Whoever decides to pay A-Rod the $350 million he's asking for (and do you really think anyone will?) will be acquiring a great player with great talent. The questions will remain: Can he produce in the postseason? Is it worth spending that much money on ONE player? Is he a cancer in the clubhouse with his self serving attitude? These are the questions GM's and owners will have to ask themselves before handing out the big bucks for Alex. Or of course, A-Rod could always come back to the Yankees....pssh like that's gonna happen. I wouldn't count on the latter, but hey, stranger things have happened.
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For the first time since last December, the Nets had their starting 5 on the court. That included center Nenad Kristic and point guard Jason Kidd. Kristic was sidelined in December with a knee injury that ended his season prematurely. Kidd made his preseason debut after sitting out the first 6 games with a lower back strain. The Nets appeared to click on all cylinders, as Kidd was the catalyst for a fast paced attack, the type of motion the Nets are known for. Kidd finished with 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists in 30 minutes.
The new look Boston Celtics came to town Tuesday night and invaded the Izod Center, formerly Contential Airlines Arena to face the New Jersey Nets. The end result was a 
On Thursday afternoon the New York Yankees took their first step in a new direction. A 4pm conference call was announced and the Yankees Team President Randy Levine spoke. He offically announced that Joe Torre rejected the Yankees offer of a 1-year $5 million offer with a $1 million bonus for every round of the postseason he reached. It marked an end of an era and it was the beginning of something new.
Rivera told reporters a week ago that his status might be determined on if Torre was back next year as the manager of the Yankees. Posada also hinted at the notion the fate of the manager might affect where his plays next season.
It's true he hasn't won it all in 7 years but the job he has done over the last few years has shown his worth. The days of the (11-19) 2005 Yanks, the (21-29) 2007 Yanks are some of those examples. He once shipped out slugger Ruben Sierra because Sierra had a "me"-first attittude and that's not what Torre stood for. Sierra came back and was a new man and had a new "team"-first attitude. Darryl Strawberry once said Torre was like a father to him. Jeter likes to call him "Mr. Torre"..a show of respect and admiration. Now, after 12 years Joe Torre is gone and no longer the manager of the New York Yankees. He was poorly treated and disrespected in his final days as manager. Where was the loyalty for Torre? How could you let a man that brought you so much success dangle and be tossed around like that? Where was the class of the Yankees brass? I agree with Joe, if they wanted him to manage the Yankees next year, then he would be the manager. I am disgusted by the way the Yankees handled Torre and the way they've done business this year. The way they handled Bernie Williams and now Torre. At this rate Pettitte, Posada and Rivera..you might want to start packing your bags, these aren't Torre's Yankees anymore and that could be a start of a long way down from grace..and the Yankees took their first step.
I am writing to you because I feel I need to remind you guys who of you are. You are the NY Yankees, the greatest franchise in sports. Nothing will ever take that away, but if you keep losing then what makes you so different from everyone else? I wear my Yankee gear all year round proudly, but why do you feel the need to torture me in the month of October? I am there for every pitch, yet I feel you're not. You're there in body, but I wonder if sometimes in mind, if you're there.
I need you to do this. I hate the winter and the shorter it is, the better. It's not even cold outside yet and you're gonna go home already? NO! I will NOT accept that. You are MY NY Yankees, you are everyone's else's NY Yankees! Play like you are. I need hits, I need sacrifices, I need diving catches, I need hustle, I need concentration, I need strikeouts in big spots, I need it all! I may be asking for a lot, but you are the NY Yankees, nothing is too much for you guys. You have no kryptonite, you have no fear. 
What will be overlooked is the starting pitching for Game 2. The Indians' Fausto Carmona dominated the Yankees lineup through 9 innings with his power sinker. He was reaching 94-97 mph all night with it. His one mistake was a hanging slider to Melky Cabrera in the 3rd inning. Otherwise he was exactly what the Indians hoped he would be. A night earlier in Game 1, Cleveland's other ace C.C. Sabathia was wild and in trouble but never gave in and pitched just well enough to keep his team in the game and pick up the win. Carmona struck out 5, giving up 1 run on 3 hits.
For the second straight game, the Yankee offense was nowhere to be seen. Alex Rodriguez went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and is now 4-for-47 with no RBIs in his last 14 playoffs games. Johnny Damon, Jeter, Hideki Matsui, Jorge Posada, and Robinson Cano all went hitless last night, a game that lasted 11 innings. The Yanks season is on the brink again in the first round for the 3rd consecutive season.
The 2007 Yankees saw it all get ugly before it got better. Lowlights of the season:
These were just some of the things the Yankee had to endure this season...but ultimately things turned around, and not EVERYTHING was bad. Here's some higlights:
-Contributions from youngsters Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera, Robinson Cano, Chamberlain, Shelley Duncan, Edwar Ramirez and Ian Kennedy brought new life to the team and infected it with energy and hunger.
The Yanks came as close as 1.5 games behind the Red Sox, but didn't quite get over the hump. They ended up with winning the Wild Card, nothing to be ashamed of, especially after the first three months of the season. Cashman and the Yankees organization did something that is very difficult to do..they dveloped their future, and remoded their bench all while still competing for a playoff spot. No team was hotter in the second half than the Bronx Bombers. This was Torre's toughest season at the helm and if the team keeps playing the way they did in the second half, then he and Yankee fans everywhere will be rewarded with a 27th championship.
I can honestly say the 2007 NY Mets are done. Thier slogan coming into this season: "Your Season has Come." I think that seems more apporiate for the Phillies. The slogan for the final weekend of the regular season at Shea might as well be "Your Season has Come and Gone." I might be stepping on some toes when bashing the Mets but isn't that what makes the Yankees-Mets fan rivalry so great?
And the debate begins..which team has the more loyal fans? I'd say just look at the attendance figures and that will give you your answer. I dont want to hear we're suppose to win because we have a high payroll (which is NOT $200 million), because the Mets have a high payroll themselves. So that has no bearing on the debate. This is why I chose to write a bloq on the Mets collapse. I dont think they deserve to make it to October. The Phillies have earned their way into the dance. The same way, I hate to admit this...the 2004 Red Sox earned their World Series victory. Citizens Bank Ballpark is filled with excitement, with fire, with hunger and mostly importantly..with fans that are sticking by their team down the stretch and yes, the fans are playing a part in this all. Where do you think the Phillies are getting the fire from? From fans that believe. Jimmy Rollins doesn't look so stupid now for his bold preseason prediction proclaming "..the Phillies are the team to beat." He has proven to back up his words with an MVP caliber season. He has proved HE is the best SS in the National League. He's started every single game this season. Jose Reyes isn't dancing around anymore is he? 2 stolen bases in the last 2 weeks? He isn't even the best SS in New York...yes I said it, because Derek Jeter gets the big hits and makes everyone else around him better. Reyes has been left for dead during the recent slide and a "great" player doesn't do that. That's what seperates Jeter and Reyes..and the four championship rings Derek has.
Start spreading the news...the Yanks are in. After tonight's 
The Yankees are coming, the Yankees are coming! Boston knows all about invasions and they've seen the Yanks do this before. After 
