From the Worldwide leader:

Derek Jeter has won his fourth Gold Glove at shortstop, joining New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira among the American League players honored for fielding excellence.

....

Jeter and Teixeira helped lead the Yankees past Philadelphia last week for the team's 27th World Series championship.

Nice to see Jeter rewarded for what was probably his best defensive season of his career. Let's hear what the nay-sayers have to nay-say about that!! Tex, to me, is a slam dunk. Seeing him play everyday this year raised my already high level of admiration for his defensive abilities.

But Jerry Hairston, Jr. is, according to Rotoworld.

Nick Swisher has been benched in favor of Jerry Hairston Jr. for Game 2 of the World Series. Hairston is 10-for-27 (.370) lifetime against Phillies starter Pedro Martinez and Swisher is 11 for his last 77 (.143) with one homer dating back to the regular season.

I guess Girardi is just SUPER in love with Brett off the bench. Well, here's hoping Hairston's career numbers against Pedro translate into success for tonight.

LoHud's got the lineups, here.

Also of note, Jose Molina - catching and batting ninth. Somebody explain to me why Cervelli's not on the roster and Bruney is? Sigh.

This is according to the LoHud Yankees Blog:

Jorge Posada just revealed that Joe Girardi told him on Sunday that Jose Molina will catch A.J. Burnett in this series.

...

“I just hope we win that game,” Posada said. “That’s all I’ve got to say.”

He added, “It’s not like I didn’t see it coming.”

When asked if he might be the DH when Molina catches, Posada said he wasn’t sure but that, “Matsui is our DH.”

Also confirmed on Tyler Kepner's twitter page.

Hopefully this works out for everyone. With AJ pitching to a comfortable backstop, there will be no excuses. I just hate to have Matsui's or Jorge's bat sitting on the bench in favor of Jose Molina.

The new "It" guy will soon be a Free Agent:

Aroldis Chapman, the Cuban defector considered to be one of the top pitching prospects in the world, petitioned Major League Baseball for free-agency status recently and is likely only weeks from becoming a free agent, according to his agent.

Early Monday, Chapman's representatives announced that the left-hander has established residency in Andorra, a tiny country of about 84,000 that borders Spain and France.

By establishing residency outside the United States, the 21-year-old Chapman avoids being subject to baseball's amateur draft. MLB must study his residency and legal paperwork before declaring him a free agent.

...

Since Chapman has a passport -- a rarity for Cuban defectors -- MLB is not expected to take much time in determining his free-agent status. Chapman's passport helps verify his identity and allows him to immediately apply for a visa to play in the United States. Once he is declared a free agent, teams can officially work him out and begin bidding for his services.

In an interview with ESPN in August, [Chapman's agent Edwin] Mejia said teams would have to come to Europe to work out the pitcher.

How high will the bidding go? And let's remember, this is not a polished professional. Chapman is raw, albeit raw with absolutely sick physical tools. I see another Red Sox-Yankees bidding war in the not too distant future.

Pete Abraham, late of the Journal News, is heading North. From the horse's mouth (or pen... or computer):

I was hoping to keep this quiet another day or two so I could compose my thoughts. But that’s not possible these days.

So here it is: I’m leaving The Journal News after nearly 10 years and going to work for The Boston Globe.

I’ll be covering baseball — yes, the Red Sox — and blogging for Boston.com. The Globe approached me in August, right around the time my newspaper was going through some painful restructuring that you all heard about.

I , for one, used to really enjoy Pete's "everyman" kind of take on the Yanks. Kind of like a fan with a press pass. Lately, I haven't enjoyed his complaining- about A-Rod, the new Stadium, etc... - kind of like a fan with press pass. So best of luck Pete- you can tirade anti-A-Rod-style to your heart's content now, with a captive audience.

(h/t to Tyler Kepner's twitter page, where I first came across the link.)

Jim Rice doesn't think today's major leaguers are good role models, as he told the players at the Little League World Series. For the most part, sure, fair assessment. But then what he said was this:

"You see a Manny Ramirez, you see an A-Rod [Alex Rodriguez], you see [Derek] Jeter ... Guys that I played against and with, these guys you're talking about cannot compare," Rice said to Little Leaguers gathered in the cafeteria.

***

"We didn't have the baggy uniforms. We didn't have the dreadlocks," Rice said. "It was a clean game, and now they're setting a bad example for the young guys."

Asked later at a news conference to list current players worthy of the Hall of Fame, Rice suggested Seattle Mariner outfielders Ichiro Suzuki and Ken Griffey Jr., and Chicago White Sox slugger Jim Thome.

He said he believes current Hall of Famers who did not cheat don't want players who took performance-enhancing drugs to join them in the Hall.

Flexing the muscles in his right arm, Rice said, "That's all the steroids you need . . . It's called God-given talent."

So where the hell does Jeter come up in all this? PED's? Check for A-Rod and Manny. Baggy uniforms and dreads? Check for Manny. So tell me Jim, how is Derek Jeter setting a poor example for kids? Why are Ichiro, Junior, and Thome on your pedestal?? Perhaps because they are not Yankees? I mean they've played in the same era as DJ, aren't they subject to the same groundless suspicions? I just don't get it. All I know is I would give plenty to make sure my kid grows up to be Derek Jeter.

We always knew Jim Rice was an asshole, but even this took me by surprise.

From Pete Abe:

Anthony Claggett is headed to Toronto and will join the Yankees today. He was 4-6 with a 3.02 ERA in 32 games at Scranton. Claggett was on the 25-man roster on April 18 and allowed eight runs on nine hits in 1.2 innings against Cleveland.

...

The scenario could be Cody Ransom gets DFA’d, Claggett is here for a day or two and at some point Ramiro Pena rejoins the team.  We’ll find out soon enough.

Please let this be the end of the Cody Ransom era... Not to mention I'd love to see Pena back up.

In the midst of all the Yankees (Joba-Hughes bullpen/starter, Cervelli-Posada, A-Rod, Jeter at SS) banter, there's one subject I don't think I've seen much of (if any) this year- here or otherwise, and that's: What happens to Johnny Damon?

As he comes to the end of his 4-year $52M contract, I think back to his time in pinstripes as being solid. Although I've liked him- when I think back, he's been banged up quite a bit. And even seemed to be breaking down at times- which made made surprised when I looked back and saw that he's never played less than 141 games in a season for the Yanks.

(stats from Baseball-Reference.com)

He's having arguably his best statistical season, offensively speaking, as a Yankee. His BA is just about his career average, but he's slugging higher than ever (thank you new Stadium) and he's on pace to score more runs, and have more RBIs and HRs than he's had in his career.

Next year the Yanks will have under contract OF's Melky, Gardner, and Swish- add to the mix the Austin Jackson's and come-what-may FA's of the world. So where does that leave Johnny? What's reasonable to bring him back? (Or is it even reasonable to think about bringing him back?) A two-year deal at $7-8M per? One year deal? Less money? Will he take less years/money? I am sure some of these questions will be answered by the what the economic climate brings this offseason. If last offseason taught us anything though, we can't expect big numbers to be thrown around for guys in their mid-30s.

So I ask again- if it was up to you- what happens to Johnny Damon?

As per Pete Abe - updated in this post :

UPDATE, 4:15 p.m. Watching CC throw. Seems to have velocity and command.

UPDATE, 4:23 p.m.: He threw 30 pitches.

UPDATE, 4:29 p.m.: CC says he felt great and will start Friday.

Seems like good news to me, but we'll wait for an official announcement I suppose.

Pete also closed with this update:

UPDATE, 5:01 p.m.: The hitters all just went into a meeting. I bet it’s about getting more hits.

Ooooh, that witty Peter Abraham. He's still good for breaking clubhouse news, and if you hate A-Rod- Pete's your guy for sure.

Here's some news that everyone can cheer for:

Yankees designated RHP Jose Veras for assignment. The club now has 10 days to trade, waive or release the 28-year-old, who had a 5.96 ERA in 25 2/3 innings for the Yankees this season.

From Rotoworld.com

Things like, hallelujah and 'bout time come to mind. Who gets the call up? Hopefully one of the young arms. This also probably keeps Hughes on the ML roster and in the bullpen for a while now- unless/ until CMW falters yet again.

From the Worldwide leader:

Yankees pitcher A.J. Burnett has been suspended six games for throwing a pitch over the head of the Rangers' Nelson Cruz in Tuesday night's game. Burnett has filed an appeal of the penalty, however, and will be allowed to pitch until the appeals process is complete.

Rangers pitcher Vicente Padilla, who hit Yankees slugger Mark Teixeira with two pitches Tuesday, was fined an undisclosed amount.

Okay, I get it- so if you actually hit the guy, you don't get suspended. Idiotic. If the intent was was there on both sides, they should be dealt with equally.

This is in response to the whole Should Nick Swisher have been laughing stuff that still seems to be floating around here, and elsewhere.

I take issue with people- fans, really- saying how players should be acting during a blow-out, or after a tough loss. In addition to this crap with Swisher, I remember a couple of years back, hearing people on talk radio giving Robby Cano grief when he was spotted out at a bar having fun after the Yanks got bumped from the playoffs.

This is their job, people.

What do you do when you have a crappy day at the office?? I myself try and laugh it off. Maybe go out from some drinks afterward, you know, try not to let ruin my whole life. I don't sulk around to make sure that everyone who may see me knows I am having a bad day.

Being a fan is an emotional thing- that's all we have as fans, an emotional connection to the team we love. And while sure the players want to win every game, there is an understanding that they won't- just like I know everyday at work won't be the peachiest as I would hope- and I for one would rather see guys lose and still enjoying playing the game, rather than a bunch of long faces hoping they don't lose again tomorrow.

I have to say, I have been pretty impressed with the quality of games in this year's WBC. Most of the games I have watched have been competitive, and as far as baseball in March goes- it truly beats meaningless Spring Training games in my book. It's great to see the prospects get their shot in the spring games- but as far as pure baseball goes, the WBC definitely has my attention this year.

The USA-Canada game was a back and forth, pretty exciting contest; and the pesky Netherlands team beating the Domincans twice, and nearly knocking off Puerto Rico as well, Australia wailing on host Mexico- it has all been fun to watch. I am not even watching from a standpoint of really caring who wins, just watching. And enjoying. Sure I would like the US to win, but it is certainly not a matter of personal or national pride as it is it in many of the other countries- and frankly (and obviously) I would rather the Yanks win the Series any day.

Would I prefer that these guys be in camp getting ready for the season? Yes. But for all that was said about WBC being less-than... I'm not ashamed to say I am watching. And it's good baseball to me.

From an interview with Peter Gammons:

His voice shaking at times, Alex Rodriguez met head-on allegations that he tested positive for steroids six years ago, telling ESPN on Monday that he did take performance-enhancing drugs while playing for the Texas Rangers during a three-year period beginning in 2001.

"When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure. I needed to perform, and perform at a high level every day," Rodriguez told ESPN's Peter Gammons in an interview in Miami Beach, Fla. "Back then, [baseball] was a different culture. It was very loose. I was young, I was stupid, I was naïve. I wanted to prove to everyone I was worth being one of the greatest players of all time.

"I did take a banned substance. For that, I'm very sorry and deeply regretful."

Let the lashing begin. The full interview is airing on the 6pm SportsCenter tonight.

Interesting article posted on The Worldwide Leader article by Christina Kahrl of Baseball Prospectus. I know, I know- new article, old story. But it's certainly a story that is going to gain momentum in the next year or or so, as Jeet gets ready for a new deal.

In his prime, Jeter's tremendous position-relative value helped power the last Yankees dynasty. Even as recently as 2006, when Jeter was able to provide a Wins Above Replacement Player (WARP) mark of 6.9, the debate over Jeter's defense was puerile, if not downright academic. Ask any GM if he can have a seven-win player at shortstop, and he'll say yes. Players this good don't grow on trees.

However, Jeter's WARP dropped to 3.5 in 2007 and 2.5 last season. With his overall offensive contributions coming down from MVP-worthy to merely very good, especially in the power department, we start rekindling the question of whether or not Jeter really belongs at short.

She also more or less states, that more important than Jeter's declining value at SS, is the Yankees' current blaring need in CF, and offers a replacement for Jeter at SS:

Crying over last year's spilled Melky won't help you catch up to the Rays and Red Sox, but signing Orlando Cabrera would provide the team with a useful-enough hitter and a slick-fielding asset at short could make a small but important difference to a bad defensive ballclub.

(Gotta love that line about spilled Melky... )

If something like was to happen, it would need to happen soon. The guy's not getting any younger- if it's hard to convert someone to CF at 35, how about 36? 37? I'm not sure how likely this is, but Kahrl points out that other iconic-figures such as Ripken and Yount made the switch for the good of their teams.

So I ask you all two things -What does Jeter do? And what's best for the Yankees?

SI.com is running an excerpt from the book we all know about by now.

So, do you want me to manage?

Joe Torre began the meeting with that simple question. He was sitting in the Legends Field office of George Steinbrenner. There was a time, as recently as only 24 months earlier, when Torre could look the Boss in the eye and propose that question, and he would get an answer that would let him know exactly where he stood. But Steinbrenner ­wasn't the Boss anymore; he was the aging patriarch of a seven-man tribunal. His family members and front-office lieutenants went through the exercise of playing to tradition and formality, anyway. Steinbrenner sat at his desk and the others sat at the table that ran lengthwise away from his desk. There was Torre, of course; and Steinbrenner's two sons, Hank and Hal; George's son-in-law, Felix Lopez; team president Randy Levine; chief operating officer Lonn Trost; and general manager Brian Cashman, who sat behind Torre's right shoulder.

And it goes on from there. There is nothing really new or shocking in this excerpt, mostly stuff we already knew.

All the same, I couldn't help but have a pit in my stomach while I read it. I want to read the book and I don't all at the same time. Here's hoping the post-Torre era in the Bronx get a little sunnier this year.

I am sure many of you have seen this. The Mets unveiled their new logo to be worn on the uniform sleeve to celebrate their innagural season at Citi Field.

via farm4.static.flickr.com

It is about as inspired as the Mets' late-season play the past two years. Pete Abe weighed in:

Yeesh. I’m tempted to arm my 3-year-old nephew Jason with his markers and see if he can do better. He certainly can’t do any worse.

So did Paul Lukas from UniWatch. Sports Hernia has some pretty funny ideas that didn't make the cut for the Mets. I personally love the Keith Hernandez one.

Maybe lost in all this- the Yanks' classy new logo to be worn on their sleeves.

via yankees.lhblogs.com

That, I like. It's not free agency or hot stove per se, but anything baseball-related in January is good for me.

From the Worldwide leader:

Andy Pettitte may not be returning to the New York Yankees after all.

The left-handed starter has rejected the Yankees' one-year, $10 million offer, The New York Times reported, citing a person with knowledge of the negotiations.

***

The door does not appear closed on Pettitte returning to New York. The New York Daily News reported that according to a person close to the situation, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has "had dialogue" in recent days with Pettitte's agents, Randy and Alan Hendricks.

***

Last month, Pettitte told The Times that he wanted to return to the Yankees but was leaving the matter to his agents. Randy Hendricks did not respond to an e-mail message on Monday, The Times reported.

This has gone on way too long in my opinion. Yes, he's a free agent, but come on already. When deciding his value, all factors need to be taken into consideration: age, health, stats from last year- notwithstanding the complete support he got from the Yankees last year in the wake of the Mitchell mess.

I think $10M is a reasonable offer. If he really wants to be Yankee, it's time to take the matter out of the agents' hands and get this thing done.

Danny Knobler at CBSSports.com seems to think so:

A Cameron for Melky Cabrera fell apart when the Yankees asked Milwaukee to pick up some of Cameron's $10 million 2009 salary, according to two sources familiar with the talks. The Brewers and Yankees could continue trade discussions next week, but about other players, not Cameron.

Those talks are on hold as both teams travel home, and also while the Yankees wait for an answer from A.J. Burnett.

And since rumors will fly this time of year, he also had this to say:

Who else could [The Yankees and Brewers] talk about besides Cameron, who would fill the Yankees' need in center field? Two baseball executives speculated that the Yankees could have interest in Prince Fielder. The Yankees have reentered the Mark Teixeira free-agent talks, and assuming they don't get Teixeira, perhaps they would be open to adding Fielder.

The Brewers, who have to shed a salary or two to help them sign a free-agent starting pitcher, were dead against paying any of Cameron's money as part of a deal to get Cabrera. The Brewers want to chase a lower-level free-agent starter to replace Sabathia and Ben Sheets, who they will also lose to free agency.

The stove is getting hotter at last.

From the Worldwide leader:

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman met Thursday with agent Scott Boras and planned to get together this weekend with free-agent pitcher CC Sabathia ahead of the winter meetings.

Cashman's meeting with Boras and intention to meet with Sabathia were disclosed by separate baseball officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Yankees did not announce Cashman's plans.

Oh my word!! Something slightly resembling forward movement on this situation. I am not expecting any sort of quick end to end, but geez. Some news is better than complete silence on the subject.

[Ed. Note: Ken Rosenthal has it too.]

In other news (same article):

In other free-agent news, agent Barry Meister planned to meet with teams at the winter meetings to discuss left-hander Randy Johnson. Meister said 10 clubs had contacted him about the Big Unit, who needs five wins to reach 300.

I think Monty Python said it best: RUN AWAY!!

Via Pete Abe over at LoHud:

Bobby Abreu made $16 million, Andy Pettitte made $16 million and Pudge Rodriguez made $13 million. All three would have been in a position to get at least as much via arbitration and likely some sort of raise.

Meanwhile, if Mike Mussina suddenly decides to play for somebody else, the Yankees get nothing in return. Sure, that’s extremely unlikely. But that was supposedly the case for Roger Clemens, too.

Cashman said the Yankees remain engaged with Pettitte and Abreu. To what degree isn’t certain. Today’s decision certainly indicates they want Andy back only at a pay cut and the same would be true of Abreu.

Seems a little strange to me, splitting hairs. They want Pettitte and Abreu to take pay cuts if they come back, sure- but just how much of a cut are they thinking? $3-4 M? More? Abreu for one year in the neighborhood of $16M ain't so bad IMO, especially when the downside is getting a draft pick if he goes elsewhere. And is Pudge really going to accept arbitration from the Yanks?

In a later post by Pete, he says Cashman explains it was all about spending control. If so, the Yankees really seem to balking at spending at spending maybe an extra $4-5M on one year deals? Used to be chump change... is this a new era beginning in the Bronx?

From ESPN.com:

Major League Baseball owners have approved the shift of control of the New York Yankees from George Steinbrenner to his son, Hal.
***
Hal Steinbrenner calls his father "a tough act to follow."

Not a surprise, but now now it is official.

words words words words words words words words words words words words words Yankees words words words words words words Yankees words words words words words words words words words words.

75 words.

For any of you interested - Pete Abe has posted today's conference call with Nick Swisher

Pete's thoughts:

Nick Swisher seems like a good guy based on his just-concluded conference call.
*
He made it very clear that he wants to play first base, saying it’s his best position and that he would like to see what he can do if he finally gets a chance to play one position instead of hopping around. … He didn’t go into detail about last season beyond saying hitting leadoff wasn’t a good fit and that he learned a lot and was humbled by it.
*
In general, he seems thrilled to be with the Yankees.

The sound quality's pretty brutal (Ithink Pete probably just has his tape recorder running next to the speaker phone), but it was fun to hear. I agree with Pete that he seems like a good guy who is genuinely excited to be putting on the Pinstripes. Let's hope he can turn that enthusiasm into a productive season at first (or wherever he winds up).

I am sure most have you have seen this already, but for those who haven't I think it's worth a read. In this week's SI, Tom Verducci gives a sentimental goodbye to the Stadium, in a first person account- as if the Stadium itself had written it.

I don't like to blow smoke, but my death is unlike any loss seen before in America. I am tangible Americana, like Independence Hall, the Alamo or Graceland. I have been about more than baseball. The first papal mass ever celebrated in the Western Hemisphere? That was me. The first overtime game in NFL history? Me. The birthplace of the "DEE-fense! DEE-fense!" chant? Of the Bronx cheer? Of the triple-decker ballpark in this country? The electronic scoreboard, the replay video board, the "Win one for the Gipper" aphorism, what it means to get Wally Pipped, the standing applause on two-strike counts, the running leap onto home plate to punctuate a walk-off homer? Me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me and me.

A little sappy, some may say, but I read this article yesterday on the day of my last trip to Yankee Stadium- and it certainly hit the right buttons for me. I am looking forward to the new Stadium, but will miss the old one too on many levels.

Side note: My brother in law, Carl- who had tickets to last night's game but wound up not being able to make it- found it fitting that when he brought his son to his very first game at the Stadium this year, it would wind up being Carl's last.

Here's to new memories, and to 26 more at the new Stadium!

Yesterday, for the first time, I actually watched the Joe Girardi Show on YES. I had seen it advertised, and caught bits here and there but never took in a whole show. And this week especially piqued my interest, being that it was such a rough week for the Yanks.

Now I am far from a Girardi apologist, and have scratched my head countless times this year wondering where he was coming from- but I have to say I was impressed. I liked his direct answers to a lot of "What were you thinking?" questions from PA favorite Michael Kay, and emails from the viewers.

At the end of the show, Kay basically asked of the Yankees were out of it, to which Girardi very succinctly said no they weren't. And waking up this morning 5 games out of the wild card, after all that's happened this season, I think you'd be a fool not to believe him.

Although I definitely believe his job is safe, this next month and a half will certainly go a long way as to deciding where Joe G stands in the eyes of Yankee fans.