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Will play ball for food (or $750,000)

Peter Abraham
February
4

What do Kris Benson, Barry Bonds, Shawn Chacon, Tony Clark, Bartolo Colon, Shawn Green, Livan Hernandez, Kenny Lofton, Kyle Lohse, Kevin Mench, Doug Mientkiewicz, Trot Nixon, Corey Patterson, Mike Piazza, Sammy Sosa, Shannon Stewart, Mike Sweeney, Ron Villone, David Wells and Preston Wilson have in common?

They’re all among the unemployed at the moment. With spring training approaching, you’ll start to see some of these guys accept minor-league deals or incentive-laden major league contracts. It’s either that or retirement.

Brian Cashman had an interesting take on it.

“There’s no middle class,” he said last week. “You either have the stars or the young guys. There are very few players in between.”

————

Just spent a good part of the morning on my new favorite web site. It’s Thomas The Tank Engine and Friends.

I’m hanging out with my nephew today before heading back to New York. I’m on vacation this week before heading down to Tampa.

The plan for the blog this week is to break down a segment of the training camp roster each day starting tomorrow. We’ll do catchers, starters, relievers, infielders and outfielders.

The Yankees have 67 players on the roster at the moment. That will go to 68 once they get around to admitting they signed Chris Woodward.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 4th, 2008 at 11:59 am by Peter Abraham.
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132 Responses to “Will play ball for food (or $750,000)”

  1. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Save the Three Musketeers!

    Who is Chris Woodward?

    And I think I heard that Shawn Green signed somewhere, but I’m probably confusing him with someone else.

  2. Stephen

    This team needs more utility infielders like it needs more bloated contracts.

  3. pat

    I was thinking the same thing about Chris Woodward. Why do the Yankees need another utitlity infielder who can’t hit?

  4. Fernando Alejandro (Respect Jeter's Gangster)

    I was wondering when they would announce the Chris Woodward signing. We definetely inked that kid. Yes, Chris Woodward is on the Yankees. WHo the heck is Chris Woodward?

  5. jennifer- Hip Hip Jorge

    Why in the world would they sign Chris Woodward. His numbers are awful!

  6. jennifer- Hip Hip Jorge

    I wonder if the Yankees will try to steal the Mets spot light and cnnounce Chris’s signing the same day they announce Johans?

  7. whozat

    “Why in the world would they sign Chris Woodward. His numbers are awful!”

    To provide some competition for Nick Green? Depth at AAA?

    I’ll never understand why people get irritated by low-risk, low-impact signings. How does it hurt to bring the guy in and give him a look?

  8. jennifer- Hip Hip Jorge

    Because he didn’t hit about .200 last year.

  9. Bronx Liaison

    true that Whozat.

    These types of signings are done to bolster minor league depth or push a minor league player into performing at a higher level. We’re not thinking he will push Cano to the bench or Betemit to the trading block.

  10. gianthinker

    Ca$hMan should offer Corey Patterson a minor league deal with an invite to ST. He could be that speedy backup OF we are looking for.

  11. Jon

    ““There’s no middle class,” he said last week. “You either have the stars or the young guys. There are very few players in between.””

    That’s how it should be. Hopefully the days of Shawn Green getting $8M a year because he’s a veteran are over.

    There’s very little reason for a team to sign a below average veteran for even $2M when they can let a young player who can perform just as well while making 1/6th of that develop.

  12. hmmm (17-14*)

    “I’ll never understand why people get irritated by low-risk, low-impact signings. How does it hurt to bring the guy in and give him a look?”

    because a lot of people don’t really understand how things work.

  13. Vince

    All the above mentioned players are at the bottom of the barrel for a reason.
    None can fit any piece to a puzzle as far as the Yankees are concerned.

  14. mel

    I’m surprised that Corey Patterson is still out there.

  15. Fernando Alejandro (Respect Jeter's Gangster)

    Corey Patterson would be a good 4th outfielder to have. He is one fast dude.

  16. whozat

    ‘He could be that speedy backup OF we are looking for.”

    Are we really looking for one of those? Damon backs up CF, Matsui, Melky and Duncan all back up LF, Duncan backs up RF.

    Frankly, I’d rather have a slick-fielding, fast SS/2B as my 25th man.

  17. RangerRob

    how about a minor league deal for Kris Benson? Some insurance in case of injuries. or better yet they should sign Anna Benson to a minor league deal:)

  18. EYT

    all i know is that doug m brought a lot of intensity to the game and saved about a dozen errors for our ‘captain” last year. i also think that he played a large role both on the field and in the clubhouse for arod to relax and perform. finally, i was at the game at fenway on sunday night when clemens pitched at the end of the year and doug m made two of the sickest defensive plays of the year that easily led to the win. the idea that giambi will even get to bring a glove to camp is a joke. they should put betemit to the minors and platoon shelley and minky at 1B. ensberg as backup for arod when he dhs or to play 1B when shelley is in RF and abreu is the dh v s a leftie. people forget that doug tore the cover off the ball down the stretch and received zero support from torre (shock)

  19. Old Goat

    I wonder who will work to sign Doug Mientkiewicz to some kind of deal. I liked his defense, even if he didn’t have much of a bat.

  20. jennifer- Hip Hip Jorge

    Can this be right? http://store.majesticathletic......ughes.html

    Phil Hughes # 34???

  21. Kevin P

    Pete,

    I too got super involved with Thomas the Train this Xmas. I probably love it as much as my daughter does.

    Couple quick words of advice:

    Thomas branded stuff can be alot more expensive than the other wooden trains set, but it is of better quality. The BEST place to purchase the Thomas stuff IMHO is AC Moore. They are an arts/crafts type store like Michaels or Jo Ann fabrics, BUT those stores don’t carry the Thomas stuff. And like Michaels & Jo Ann Fabrics, they have a 40% OFF coupon almost every week.

    Buying all the Thomas stuff at 40% off makes it reasonable and getting better quality stuff than having to go with the “off brand” route.

    P.S. – Sir Topham Hat is a bit of a schmuck, kinda like the old Tom Coughlin. LOL

  22. Marc

    http://www.rbk.com/us/perfectville/

  23. S.o.S.27

    Heres a thought. Why not sign Wells and see if he can be a lefty from the pen. He cant be worse than the lefties we’ve ran out there last year.

    Some fans think that the Giants should have kicked a field goal in the final second to do to the Pats what they have been doing to others all year long.

  24. Ratachewy - Year of the Rat - Happy New Year !

    From yesterday, we see that NY Rookies can get it done afterall. So let’s go Ian, Phil, and Joba!

  25. MikeEff - Shelley at First

    jennifer, what’s up with that. can it be that he has just changed his # today?

    or is it just a mistake?

  26. MikeEff - Shelley at First

    i just checked phil’s blog. no mention of 34

  27. keith

    Too bad Bonds is such a poisonous character. Put him and Arod 3-4 and watch them score 1000 runs.

  28. MikeEff - Shelley at First

    if we didn’t already have a logjam at DH i wouldn’t mind watching bonds knock 40 or so onto the porch

  29. jennifer- Hip Hip Jorge

    Marc -LOVE IT!!

    MikeEff – Shelley at First

    That is what is so strange, plus I always thought he wanted a number ending in 5. Maybe he wore it at some point?

  30. Old Goat

    A lot of ball players are superstitious, I wonder if Phil is thinking that maybe he needs a fresh start.

  31. Fleas

    Jennifer:

    [QUOTE] I wonder if the Yankees will try to steal the Mets spot light and cnnounce Chris’s signing the same day they announce Johans? [/QUOTE]

    Good one :-)

    Not sure if the quote tags will work, but let’s see..

  32. Fleas

    didn’t think it would work.

  33. Fleas

    Phil Hughe’s blog seems to be broken. I mean he has not posted very much this week…

    I hope his arm isn’t sore!!

  34. MikeEff - Shelley at First

    jennifer now that you mention it, i believe he wore that # at the futures game

  35. mel

    Fleas,

    It’s current. I think Phil’s blocked you. He knows that you were trying to run him out of town to get your Santana! ;)

  36. jennifer- Hip Hip Jorge

    MikeEff

    Yeah your right!! So I guess it must be true!

  37. TurnTwo

    I think that just means Phil has better and more important things to do than entertain us.

  38. MikeEff - Shelley at First

    jennifer:

    i’m glad he didn’t take 45. it is poison.they need to give it to some utility player in a year or two and then it can be recycled. kinda like laundering drug money :)

  39. jennifer- Hip Hip Jorge

    Yeah me too!! Pavano soiled #45.

  40. mel

    Isn’t Pavano still technically #45? His body’s not even cold yet, and you guys are trying to rip the uni off him. lol.

  41. OldYanksFans

    I’ll bet as a DH, Bonds is good for MORE then 40 at the Stadium. He could headbutt HRs to RF.
    I suggested it before: Dave Wells on the cheap -or-
    Josh Fogg (who is about AL League average NOT at Coors).
    I think we need another (as close to) league average (as possible) innings eater SP.. in case of injury, long man in blowouts, and to make sure we don’t over work the kids.

  42. jennifer- Hip Hip Jorge

    I believe the Yankees painted over his spot last year. :lol: And is body has been long cold!

  43. S.o.S.27

    OldYanksFan,
    Do you agree on trying Wells out in the pen? I wouldnt put him in the startin rotation. In case of an injury i would go with Horne,Karstens(who pitched well in the tournament this winter)or maybe Rasner.

  44. Ranting Guy

    Whoinaheck is Chris Woodward?

    Pete – Classy post-game post last night, you took the Pats’ loss well. Other NE/Boston fans couldn’t do that so gracefully.

    People shouldn’t give Pete a hard time for that. He’s a proud Pats fan but not an obnoxious one, so he didn’t deserve to be ragged on as if he were.

    That reminds me … I have some e-mails to write to a few friends who grew up in Boston and are sometimes more of the latter than the former. They deserve a little lemon juice rubbed into their wounds for all the Sox/Yanks trash talk and all the talk of a potential Sox-Pats-Celtics championship hat trick.

    Well maybe some of them deserve a lot more lemon juice than others. I keep track. Time to start writing.

    Way to go Giants (coming from a sympathetic Steelers fan in NYC) that was a HUGE win.

    Dougko – you hear a peep out of the big fella yet?????

  45. jennifer- Hip Hip Jorge

    Was David healthy all last year? I don’t know, I’ll always remember seeing him walk off the moound when his team needed him most. :(

  46. Old Goat

    I really wouldn’t want to see Bonds in a Yankee uniform. Bad enough having all the talk of the Mitchell Report that we will hear throughout the year, do you want to hear that added to by bringing in Bonds?

    Also, why make it that much harder for A-Rod to pass his record?

  47. mel

    jennifer,

    The parking thing was cold. And yes, his body’s been cold a long time. Cryogenically frozen, you might say.

  48. Ranting Guy

    OldYanksFans:

    “I’ll bet as a DH, Bonds is good for MORE then 40 at the Stadium. He could headbutt HRs to RF.”

    LOL!!!

    I don’t think they can sign him with Giambi already being the highly overpaid, no defense, slow running, swing-for-the-fences lefty bat. Then there’s his ‘personality’ as we’re presented with it by the media. Although with his (chemically enhanced) swing he could probably set a season record for most upper deck HRs in the history of the stadium.

  49. Ranting Guy

    No Wells, no Bonds, no Sosa, no Lofton, no Clark, no Livan. Unless one of the Steinbrenners just goes and signs one of them against (what I hope is) the thinking of the rest of the front office.

  50. Fleas

    mel:

    Phil has not blocked me from his website *yet*, but his security guard already has since I was trying to crash his superbowl party!

  51. mel

    Wait. Are you the one that got Joba’s number?

  52. Phil

    Wells is a head case with a history of a bad back. He needs an inordinate amount of time to warm up and get his back loose. Plus why would you want to saddle Girardi with a negative clubhouse influence during his first year of managing the Yankees?

  53. Phil

    Here in the Baltimore papers, Corey Patterson’s agent is quoted as holding out for a multi-year deal for his client.

  54. Fleas

    mel:

    Joba’s number? Nope.

  55. Fleas

    That was also a joke about crashing his superbowl party.

  56. jennifer- Hip Hip Jorge

    Holding out? Is he stupid? St is starting very soon.

  57. Ranting Guy

    Especially at his age, Wells would pull up lame more than half the time he’d be expected to pitch.

    He’d put together 4 decent but not great outings, then he’d miss 2 starts doe to some sort of ache, then he’d have 1 start where he goes 8 innings, strikes out 10 gives up no walks. He’d be off his game for his next start due to exhaustion, then he’d go on a 3-game stretch where he’s practically unhittable like when he was in is prime. Then he’ll miss a few games due to gout or a bad back, and struggle to regain form for a couple weeks. Then he’d have two semi-good 5-inning outings followed by either a 3 game stinkfest or a trip to the DL. That would bring us to the All Star break. Any guesses on what on his second half would be like?

    Hank, Hal & Brian – Please don’t sign Wells.

  58. mel

    Sorry, Flea. Had a kid in here that *met* Joba. So I thought you had the inside track to Phil’s party. :)

  59. S.o.S.27

    Ok. I dont know what i was thinking about wanting a distraction like Wells.

    Changing the subject.
    What were the best Super Bowl commercials yesterday.
    I liked the Pepsi bobbing one. Where their falling asleep until they have one. Also the lizards dancing to thriller.

  60. S.o.S.27

    One more the Audi commercial where the guy wakes up with a old audi grill in his bed.

  61. jennifer- Hip Hip Jorge

    I liked the wine and cheese party one. And the badger in the Camry.

  62. sunny615

    Good News:

    Shelley Duncan’s ready for Spring Training

  63. sunny615

    ps – that’s a link.

  64. S.o.S.27

    Barkley calling Wade non stop.

  65. Doreen

    Barkley commercial hands-down!

    But I also like the Richard Simmons (Bridgestone Tires) one and the Budweiser one with the Rocky theme.

  66. Doreen

    Jennifer –

    Yeah! Wine and cheese was good, too.

    Most of them were ho-hum. A few I really hated. The gecko one I had no idea it was for water. I thought Geico had the copyright on geckos!

  67. mel

    SoS,

    The one with the kid doing online trading was funny. The Coke commercial with Stewie was good. I saw a preview for one with human garden gnomes stealing beer, but didn’t see it during the game. Doritos (guy set the mouse trap) was funny.

    Worst commercials (they had two)Career Builder.

    Those are off the top of my head. Here’s a link to all the commercials: http://www.myspace.com/superbowlads

  68. S.o.S.27

    How about the Cavemen trying to carry beer and then trying to open it with a rock.

  69. Yanksgal07

    I was just on Phil Hughes blog and he said he spoke to Sean Henn about taking his number (didn’t give a reason why #34). He said it wasn’t official yet so either majestic jumped the gun or the Yankees made it official and didn’t inform Phil …

    Go Yankees 2008 !!!

  70. jennifer- Hip Hip Jorge

    Doreen, I thought as a whole they were lame. I also thought the gecko one was for Geico too!

  71. Yanksgal07

    I like 34 …3 + 4 – 7. My all time fav …The Mick. Good choice Phil (although I thought he would look cool in Rags old number 19)

    So much for the theory he wanted a 5 in his number…lol

    Go Yankees 2008 !!!!

  72. The Dude

    I think the Yanks are interested in Kevin Mench to be a 5th OF. Corey Patterson is holding out for a multi-year deal. Mench is willing to sign a minor leauge deal.

  73. jennifer- Hip Hip Jorge

    Career Builder used to have the best commercials. They were the ones with the monkeys right? They must have changed Advertising companies.

  74. S.o.S.27

    Dog drinking gatorade.

  75. Doreen

    Mel -

    I spent about 15 minutes this morning, give or take, watching the commercials I missed last night.

    The baby doing online trading was okay, until he spit up on the key board. So obvious — no imagination.

  76. Big Apple Salute

    Honk your horns if you think Eli Manning should throw the 1st pitch on Opening Day at 161st & River Ave in The Bronx.

    HONK !!! :-)

  77. jennifer- Hip Hip Jorge

    Oh great so we get Menche and we hear everyday from Kay that he has the biggest head in baseball. :lol:

  78. whozat

    “didn’t give a reason why #34″

    He just said that 7 is his mom’s favorite number (3+4), and that it was Nolan Ryan’s number.

  79. S.o.S.27

    Doreen,
    I have to agree. The Barkley stalking Wade is the best. They make a good team. The one when they are eating and the waitress asks Wade if Barkley is his dad is a classic.

  80. S.o.S.27

    Werent we trying to get Mench a couple years ago?

  81. mel

    I kind of like the prison break at the 50 yard line.

  82. Yanksgal07

    I just read that whozat …good enough reasons to be sure. Best of luck to Phil in the new number …I don’t think we will mistake him for Sean Henn when he pitches ..lol

    Go Yankees 2008 !!!

  83. S.o.S.27

    mel,
    I thought it was a preview of the next prison break. Had me fooled.

    Good pickup for the Lakers. A viable threat now to my Spurs.

  84. mel

    Movies want to see: Ironman, Semi-Pro, Don’t Mess with Zohan.

  85. mel

    SoS,

    Thanks. It was karmic payback. We’ve been suffering at the hands of Shaq for 3 years now.

    Tough, not knowing how long TP will be out.

  86. Doreen

    sos27

    They DO make a good team. I don’t know basketball very well, but I do know (about) Charles Barkeley and he’s quite a character. The two of them really make that commercial work. I crack up just thinking about it. The other one you mentioned is a great one, too.

    Someone on radio this morning brought up the fact that the Manning brothers should be in line for a lot of commercial spots. Indeed!

  87. rodg12

    Best Commercials:

    1) Dalmation training the Clydesdale.
    2) Barkley calling DWade non-stop
    3) Wine and Cheese Party

  88. jk

    Pete,

    Since you are out of town, let me tell you, no one in NYC is talking Yankees today. It is all Giants and the amazing Patriots choke. Very soon, Belichick, Brady and all the rest will be paraded in front of Congress to explain all of the cheating. Mitchell will not be able to save them. Meanwhile, the parade is tomorrow. I just got back from Modells with champoinship hoodies and t-shirts in hand.

  89. raymagnetic â„¢

    “People shouldn’t give Pete a hard time for that. He’s a proud Pats fan but not an obnoxious one, so he didn’t deserve to be ragged on as if he were.”

    You must have missed Pete’s previous super bowl posts. Pete was the definition of an obnoxious Pats fan and he deserves to take all the ribbing he gets so long as it’s respectful.

  90. Doreen

    Ribbing is fine, but the problem is in a written medium like this, it’s not always easy to tell what’s all-in-fun ribbing, and what’s more mean-spirited.

  91. Alan

    Phil Hughes will be wearing No. 34 this year

    http://bronx-bomberz.blogspot.com/

  92. S.o.S.27

    I mentioned this in an earlier thread. What happens if the Patriots were in fact video taping the walk through of the Rams in the Super Bowl? Can they take the championship away and award the Rams like they do in the Olympics?

  93. S.o.S.27

    mel,
    Who’s tp?

  94. mel

    Tony Parker!

  95. S.o.S.27

    Duh. Sorry thought you were still talking about your team not mine. They signed Staudamire this weekend. Hope he and Vahn can hold the fort till he comes back. Still wouldnt mind trading for Artest though.

  96. mel

    SoS,

    Sorry about that. I think you’ll see some movement in the west in response to the Pau trade. Lot of unhappy GMs right now.

    In other news, it was priceless watching Mark Cuban behind the bench as the Pistons mopped the floor with his team.

    That just might push him to do something immediately. Kidd?

  97. Buddy Biancalana

    mel-

    The Joba phone # was connected to flam, remember the whole flim flam 10 round boxing match.

  98. mel

    Buddy,

    That’s right! That was a good day.

    Sorry about blabbing about basketball. It’s just that I’m still smiling about the trade.

    Back to baseball. No to any new faces. We’ve got plenty to choose from.

    Also, any idea on how Andy did on the Hill?

  99. S.o.S.27

    I for one am hoping Cuban makes a move for Kidd. I think iv had enough of Harris burning our defense everytime we face them. The rumor is Harris,Stackhouse for Kidd. Be my guest.
    As for the Spurs. They have nothing to give. They wont part with the big 3 and the rest are either old or useless. They traded Udrah and now hes scoring 12 points per game. All i can hope for is that they go into the playoffs healthy. I believe we have one or two more championships in us. Window is closing fast.

  100. S.o.S.27

    Buddy,
    Wasnt that when one of the two had the odd time 11:37(or something like that) meeting to go to?

  101. OldYanksFans

    In terms of Wells or anyone on that list, they are so cheap, it is a no lose proposition. I would prefer Josh Fogg, but I just want an innings eater with a prayer of being average.

    Anyone we pick up for 750K can be released if they stink. If they are willing to do a MiLB contract, we can store them on the farm until/if we need them.

    We have some quality kids, but if would be nice to give then another year on the farm, or test them in the BP.
    e have 6 SPs, but only 5 SPs worth of innings. We need another arm.

  102. S.o.S.27

    OldYankFan,
    Good point. Keep in mind that we had Carlos Pena signed to a minor league contract because noone wanted to sign him. Look how that turned out. Is there someone on that list that can be the next Pena or come close to contributing for our team. Therefore helping us get to our goal.

  103. OldYanksFans

    SOS – I’m not really concerned about our position players. We are well stocked with a decent bench. Gardner or even AJax could come up if really necessary, but it would take a lot of injuries for us to be short in the field.

    However, we already have an IPs issue with our SPs. My guess is Cashman will get someone decent mid-season, but I still think we need a SP body in the wings.

  104. S.o.S.27

    How about Colon for the 7th or if he does good an 8th inning guy. He throws hard and maybe if he knows hes in for just an inning of two, he can just blow by people. With less innings in the pen than starter, he can stay healthy. I have always been against him joining our rotation. He was more a batting practice pitcher to Arod. But if he can bring it at 97+ like in the past and it doesnt cost us much. Why not try him in Joba’s 07 spot or see if he can work his way there. Not too confident in Farns or Hawkins.

  105. whozat

    “However, we already have an IPs issue with our SPs.”

    Like it or not, Moose is under contract. That means Kennedy will almost certainly start in the pen or the minors

    Also, Karstens and Rasner are perfectly acceptable fill-in starters. Igawa and Horne might very well be as well. I really don’t think that SP depth is a problem the Yankees have.

  106. whozat

    “He throws hard and maybe if he knows hes in for just an inning of two”

    Actually, he’s not throwing hard any more. That’s why he remains unsigned. It’s been all over mlbtraderumors.com that he’s not even cracking 90 these days.

  107. Whitey Fraud

    The CareerBuilder “Follow Your Heart” spot was gruesome enough to get MY attention.

    http://video.yahoo.com/video/p.....id=3371855

  108. mel

    Are Colon (injuries) and Well (age) at the point where they’re no longer viable SP candidates? Do they hang up the cleats or convert to relievers?

  109. whozat

    “Do they hang up the cleats or convert to relievers?”

    I don’t think Colon has the stuff to compete in the majors anymore, regardless of role, based on the reports out of winter ball.

  110. Buddy Biancalana

    That means Kennedy will almost certainly start in the pen or the minors
    ——————————————————————-

    That would be true assuming Joba is in the rotation, we still don’t know for sure if that’s the case unless you have heard otherwise.

  111. Buddy Biancalana

    SoS-

    Yes, the flim flam incident had to do with the 145 meeting etc…

  112. S.o.S.27

    After Patterson comes back to earth and realizes that he is not getting a multi year contract. Maybe we can sign him to a minor league deal and when the innevitable happens(an injury)to one of our outfielders or d.h. We can call him up to be our guy from the bench who swipes bases like Roberts did for the Sox in 04. That would keep Gardner in the minors with more playing time.

  113. S.o.S.27

    buddy,
    That was one of the funniest arguements on this blog ever. They were asking what the security guard was wearing and if he was behind the christmas tree. I miss those “your a liar” arguements.

  114. Buddy Biancalana

    Kevin Mench may sign a minor league deal with the Yanks. Michael Kay will happy to to hear of this.

  115. whozat

    “That would be true assuming Joba is in the rotation, we still don’t know for sure if that’s the case unless you have heard otherwise.”

    I haven’t, no. But, given that transitioning from reliever to starter requires a “stretching out” period, and going the other way requires no such transition time, it seems to make a lot more sense to have Joba move to the pen later in the season — especially since that would also give a guy like Horne a chance to show he can start at AAA and maybe push his way into the MLB rotation as well.

  116. Buddy Biancalana

    Neither flim nor flam have been heard from since, coincidence?

  117. S.o.S.27

    In other news.
    “FBI officials this week are expected to announce a $1 billion contract for the creation of a massive database of people’s characteristics — from eye patterns to palm prints.”

    How about using the 1 billion to feed the homeless or helping our economy.

  118. Buddy Biancalana

    tru dat whozat!

  119. S.o.S.27

    “February 4th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
    Kevin Mench may sign a minor league deal with the Yanks. Michael Kay will happy to to hear of this.”

    I wonder if Matsui can lend him a batting helmet till he gets his own.

  120. McLovin

    S.o.S.27-

    But that will help society but wouldn’t help the Government.

  121. S.o.S.27

    whozat,
    Iv heard over the last few weeks that they might start Joba in the pen. So that they will have him starting in the second half of the year without innings issues. I would think that having him start in the end of the season with playoffs and all. Would help us more.

  122. whozat

    “How about using the 1 billion to feed the homeless or helping our economy.”

    But this does help the economy! Some big company gets the money, and then…um…their execs outsource all the programming jobs and pocket the extra. Which they use to stimulate their local yachting industry.

  123. whozat

    “Iv heard over the last few weeks that they might start Joba in the pen.”

    Have you actually heard any quotes from anyone in the organization to support that? Or just journalists speculating? There was that article with a title like “Joba to start season in the pen?” that then quoted Dave Eiland saying nothing that indicated in any way that the Yankees were considering starting Joba in the pen. But, he didn’t deny it, so the paper wrote the headline in as attention-grabbing a way as possible.

  124. S.o.S.27

    whozat,
    Cant recall. It might have been just speculation. I think it might have been the Eiland article.

    Just reading SI.COM has the top 14 biggest playoff upsets. Yesterdays game was on there. I would have to say yesterday was a bigger upset than the Rams/Pats. Just because of the undefeated record and the Giants being a 5th seed. They had the 90 world series of Cincy beating A’s. Can anyone think of a worst upset than yesterdays?

  125. whozat

    “Can anyone think of a worst upset than yesterdays?”

    What about super bowl III? The one where Namath guaranteed the win?

  126. Clay Bellinger

    I don’t really think that this can be considered the worst upset in Super Bowl history. The Giants have been playing really well lately and a mere 5 weeks ago, the Pats only won by 3 and needed a 4th quarter comeback to do it. I would say Super Bowl 3 ranks higher than this one in terms of upsets.

  127. cupaJOBA

    Shelley Duncan is at early spring training workouts, healthy and looking forward to the season following offseason treatment for a blood clot.

    “It was a roller coaster,” Duncan said Monday. “Any time you have health problems that are not the norm with playing baseball, it’s something to worry about, especially when you get to the point you don’t know what’s wrong with you. It’s pretty scary. Fortunately, the doctors that we have took care of me, and I’m able to do what I’m doing now.”

    Duncan spent more than six years in the minor leagues before being called up by the Yankees last July and became a fan favorite after hitting three homers during his first weekend in the majors.

    He put on a power display during batting practice Monday before working out at first base with new Yankees bench coach Rob Thomson.

    “Fortunately, all the little health problems I had to deal with, they were timed perfectly enough where it didn’t affect what I normally do in the offseason,” Duncan said. “So I got to get on my normal offseason regiment. I’m just happy to be down here now so I can get focused.”

    Duncan will be competing for time at first base with Morgan Ensberg, Wilson Betemit, Jason Lane and Jason Giambi, who is heading into the final season of his $120 million, seven-year contract.

    Duncan also played both corner outfield positions last season along with first base.

    “If they need me to focus more on one, we’ll get it done. I’m not afraid of working hard,” Duncan said.

    Giambi played only 18 games at first base last year and 53 at designated hitter, hobbled for much of the season by a foot injury.

    Notes: Duncan took BP with C Jorge Posada. … RHPs Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Jeff Karstens started their third week throwing off the mound. … Other pitchers working out include RHP Brian Bruney, and LHPs Chase Wright, Sean Henn, Billy Traber and Heath Phillips.

  128. S.o.S.27

    Good to here Duncan ready to go. I also like it that Bruney is working out early. I think he can be a wild card in the pen if he reverts back to 06. Maybe Eiland can fix his control problems.

    Colts were 17 point favorites in super bowl 3. So as far as an upset by what they were supposed to lose by. Then Yes,that is the biggest. Rams/Pats and Pats/Giants were both 14 points. I just thought with all the Pats accomplished this year and the point differential in victories, that it was worst. Maybe im being a bias Colts fan though.

  129. Fran

    I agree that Super Bowl III was a bigger upset. The Jets weren’t given any chance to win. The win also gave validity to the AFL.

  130. Kj

    G-MEN!!!!!!!!

  131. pat

    Colts may have had the largest point differential but this years Pats had more to lose. A perfect 19-0 season would have been infamous. Instead they are known now as the first 18-1 team to never win a Superbowl.

  132. sharp shooter

    David Letterman says “you know your teams in trouble when the head coach heads for the parking lot before the game is over.”

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New York Yankees baseball fans cheer during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) New York Yankees baseball player  Mariano Rivera, bottom, waves during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.  (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) Floats carrying the New York Yankees baseball team make their way along Broadway during a ticker-tape parade celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.  (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) New York Yankees baseball players Alex Rodriguez, second from left,  Francisco Cervelli, third from right, and entertainer Jay-Z, left, celebrate on a float  during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) New York Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez, right, and entertainer Jay-Z celebrate on a float during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) Floats carrying the New York Yankees baseball team make their way along Broadway during a ticker-tape parade celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.  (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) New York Yankees' Hideki Matsui, the World Series MVP, celebrates from a float during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) Baseball fans cheers as the New York Yankees were honored along Broadway in New York on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, with a ticker-tape parade celebrating their 27th World Series championship. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
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Chad JenningsChad Jennings joined the The Journal News in October 2009, having spent the better part of seven years covering baseball in Scranton, PA. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri and an award-winning beat reporter and features writer. E-mail me at cjennings@lohud.com
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Sam BordenSam Borden is an award-winning journalist who joined The Journal News and LoHud.com in January 2008. He covered the Yankees for the New York Daily News from 2004-06, and has also worked as a columnist for the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville. E-mail me at sborden@lohud.com
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Sam BordenJosh Thomson has done some of everything since joining The Journal News in March 2003. He began working for the Gannett weeklies during the winter of 2002 as a freelance writer. He joined the daily staff soon after and has since covered various high school and pro sports. E-mail me at jthomson@lohud.com
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