They haven’t been happy with his defense but love his bat.

I do remember the play you’re talking about, actually. Since then, I haven’t seen Cano play that poorly. Make mistakes, yes, but play that nonchalantly, no.

I understand what you’re saying about hedging your bets against A-Rod leaving. The Yankees have a real problem on their hands at the end of the season. And you do have to wonder if Pettitte, Posada and Rivera will want to stick around after what could end as a truly disastrous season. But it’s not so easy to acclimate to another team after being with one your entire career, so I think that the Yankees still have first dibs on all of them (except, perhaps, Pettitte, who I wouldn’t be surprised would retire). I do agree with your assessment that starting to work on the future develoment now isn’t a bad idea. For the Yankees, for the fans, and also, for Posada, Rivera and Pettitte to be a part of that.

At least according to Michael Kay, Rivera has said that after he retires he wants to work with young pitchers in Tampa. For that reason I think he’s committed to remaining with the Yankee organization.

This year seems to be marking the end and a beginning.

I’m with you regarding Cano.

I guess Vizcaino’s not ready to do 2 consecutive innings yet. He did great in his first inning, and I thought he’d get out of the 2nd one, but it was too much.

Good day for Andy Phillips and Melky Cabrera and Ron Villone. Not a good game overall, but at least it continued to hold the interest and hope sparked until Myers’ ineffectiveness. I don’t think there’s a part of Jeter’s body that isn’t hurting right now. Damon looks to be running okay, but hasn’t really found his stroke yet. After defending Matsui a few days ago, I see he really does look lost up there – however, I have faith he’ll bounce back.

Gotta look for the silver lining. Not being delusional, just trying to take some positive from a negative situation. I have to say, I don’t understand some of the anger. Frustration and disappointment, absolutely. Anger? The Yankees don’t pay my bills, you know?

SJ44 –

The Yankees got to the World Series in 2001 and 2003 with Soriano. No, they didn’t win the WS, but the AL Champs is not nothing. I never thougth Soriano was lazy so much as he didn’t seem to like to make adjustments and he loved to admire his homeruns.

Four different situations this week, he came up with RISP, following a walk to the previous hitter. On each occasion, he swung at the first pitch and made outs three times of the four times on first pitches. The other time, he swung and missed and eventually K’ed on a ball over his head.

If we broke down his AB’s this season, we would see that happening on a daily basis. Its why teams don’t bother throwing him strikes anymore. He just gets himself out.

Here’s the way I look at it. I know the Yankees see this and I know he’s been told about it. Yet, still no change from him. If I was the manager or the GM, that would drive me nuts.

Tex for Cano and other parts? Its a no brainer if that was ever on the table. Mark Teixiera is a MUCH better player than Robinson Cano. In every way. Offense, defense, situational hitting, power. Its not even close.

Cano is a talented kid who hasn’t come to the realization that you can’t get by on talent alone.

‘Ya think Posada wasn’t directing his comments yesterday toward Cano (as well as others)? I certainly do.

I remember watching Jeter, in a game earlier this year, jump right in Cano’s face after an EXTREMELY lazy play at second base almost cost them a game. I wrote to Pete in the blog to ask Jeter about it the next day because I read Jeter’s lips telling him, “That’s not how we play here”.

I actually watched it again the next day to make sure I was accurate and I was.

Jeter cutely dodged Pete’s question by saying he didn’t say anything. Typical Jeter! lol

When I look at this team for next year, I see some real trouble areas:

1. Re-signing Mo, Posada and Arod isn’t going to be easy or cheap.
2. The pitching staff, from starters to the ‘pen is a huge question mark. We have to hope the younger guys (Hughes, Horne, Kennedy, Ramirez, Britton, David Robertson) can be helpful here. Right now, we have one starting pitcher that can go 7 innings each start (Wang). That’s not good enough.

3. The 2,000 pound elephant in the room nobody wants to talk about. Suppose Arod walks? Where is the power coming from in the lineup?

I gotta tell ya, if you can get a power bat for a guy like Cano, you have to do it. If, for no other reason, as a hedge against Arod leaving.