Interesting that Joe would bring this up. Why? Is the conspiracy theory that players were booting the first half of last season? - I swear it occured to me but it still fell in that too ubelievable to conceive category.

In any case by the sounds of things the team seems in shape and ready to come out gunning. Maybe this will be a good April for once.

I think one of the things that makes baseball so unique is the personal relationships that are formed. Whether it is members of the media for certain players or fans for their team or a particular player, there are strong feelings for individuals in this game. Possibly more so than in any other sport. It’s a game where there is one pitcher versus one batter who hits the ball to one player to throws it to another one player. You get the drift. Although we may not “know” players, we do think that we do. And we do individualize a lot more in baseball than we do for other sports.

So, anyway, that’s my very convoluted way of saying that when the steroids problem first started to be noticed, it was kind of easy to say, well, the guy’s a good guy - he couldn’t be; or, the guy’s a good guy, let’s see where this leads before we say anything. Or, perhaps it just made it easier to turn one’s head. You know in your personal life it’s a lot easier to justify an indiscretion for someone you know and love (including yourself) than it is to do the same for a stranger. Not only that, but you kind of go into denial, just a little, when it’s someone you care about (of course not always, and depending on the severity of the issue).

So, while we all share in some of the blame for allowing the steroid scandal to grow, it certainly is understandable on a human level how it all transpired.

Fay Vincent insists baseball can withstand a steroids/peds scandal. However, he believes that baseball would never survive a gambling scandal. Of course, Vincent is the man most responsible for banning Pete Rose from the Hall of Fame.

Costas took the opposite argument.He feels the widespread steroid scandal damages baseball’s credibility. He also said that he’s as guilty as anyone for not being more hardnosed about steroids in ‘98. He mentioned steroids when hebroadcasted the ‘96 All Star Game, but allowed his warm feelings for Mark McGuirre to get in the way when he covered the ‘98 home run record. Costas said he appreciated the way McGuirre went out of his way to include Roger Maris’ family during the chase and the repect he gave them.

It was a very interesting night. Vincent and Costas are both eloquent men.

No on Sexson. He strikes out too much and bats under 250. If all else fails call up Miranda midseason.

The Yanks take on an extra $1M of salary this year (Sexson’s $14M to Matsui’s $13M), but clear $12M (Matsui’s remaining $26M through ‘09 - Sexson’s $14 for ‘08 only), could free up another $14M by letting go of Sexson after ‘08, and in effect shed $26M across 2008-09 while getting use out of Sexson. Damon would have LF all to himself. Cabrera would have CF all to himself. Giambi stays at DH where he belongs. Sexson takes over 1B and becomes the biggest righthanded power-threat after A-Rod. Ensberg could be his backup and insurance. They’d also have $12M more to put towards signing Mark Texiera for 1B if he goes free agent after this year.
Also, this means the end of Shelley Duncan as anything more than reserve 1B in AAA tradebait. The bench should be Molina (backup C), Ensberg (backup 1B/3B), Betemit (2B/SS who can play a little 1B and 3B), and Brett Gardner (#4 OF).

I think 33-year old Sexson (who turns 34 on 12/29) could rebound from his bad 2007 in lieu of his solid career before
‘07 save his injury-shortened ‘04. He still has a solid glove and power. Matsui had a solid 2007, but who knows how much he has left? Last year might’ve been his last hurrah as a productive player. He is too streaky and his days of playing the field are over, so he’s half a player now. The Yanks have to see what Giambi has left at DH for the $26M total he’s making this year if they buy him out ($21M if they don’t) and what Damon can do in LF since he’s signed through ‘09.