I’ll tell you how simple: how are real number 1’s paid ($18-22 mil)? Good number 2’s ($14-16 mil)? The best reliever in the history of baseball ($10.5 mil/07). The numbers tell the story of what teams value most 1s and 2s. If Joba is at best a 3, then maybe he should stay in the pen. If he’s a real 1 or 2, then he has to start.

personally, i think he was just trying to go inside and the pitch got away from him. and i really didn’t think much of it until Kay started making an issue of it.

Kay is horrible this year. to top it off, he’s hosting EVERYTHING the yes network offers now. i’d love to watch YESterdays, but i really can’t stomach that guy any more than i need to. overkill.

You may have rambled but saved me lots of typing. My thoughts exactly.

I read where Farnsworth was pleased with the cheers; well, I guess he’s desperate for those.

Derek Jeter didn’t seem to have a problem: The quote in the Star Ledger: “Close doesn’t hurt. When you get it it hurts. (Rodriguez) got hit. That wasn’t a big question (Wednesday). So I really don’t think it’s that big a story, Manny almost getting hit.”

Manny Ramirez seems to put things in a kind of perspective, as well: “Well, you know, we hit one of the best players (Alex Rodriguez) last night, and I guess they wanted to send a message that they needed to back up the player. They did.”

Now, one for one. Can this please be over????

However, the Star Ledger did go on to say that although the fans seemed pleased with Farnsworth’s actions, he didn’t “earn points” in the clubhouse, probably because it wouldn’t do any good in the long run – perhaps giving Ramirez even more motivation (as if he needs it) to do well against the Yankees. The back-up for this statement was Mussina’s statement that if you make a mistake, of course Ramirez is going to hit it.

I also don’t think calling Mussina a coward, as some did here, is fair. He doesn’t like throwing AT people. I happen to agree with that. However, I do agree he needs to be more aggressive pitching inside.

I know I’m rambling here. Sorry for that. To me, all these so-called “purpose pitches” ruin the game. It’s a distraction. Yet I do realize that for the most part, the Yankees are on the receiving end, with the opposing team usually getting one free shot with the Yankees risking ejections and suspensions if they try to “retaliate.” So, the Yankees took the first shot last night. It’s a condundrum for me: I don’t want the Yankees to be patsies, with their players being targets for every other team if they are hitting well. But I don’t like this game – tit for tat. Maybe if they changed the rules so that if a player gets hit, his pitcher comes in next inning and plunks a guy (softly) – one for one – and it’s over. No carry over into another game or another series. The teams take care of it, the umpires don’t get involved.

I am surprised, if Farnsworth was throwing at Manny’s head, that the umpire did not eject Farnsworth.

Again, sorry for the random sequencing of this post.

BRAVO!! YOU get it!!