Lo siento, Russell NY. My bad indeed.

Fair enough. I beat it into the ground and shouldn’t have.

I’m just glad Cashman realized he needed a fifth outfielder with pop more than two utility infielders.

I’m a little disappointed though. It means Shelly isn’t getting another chance in the Bronx.

I was at two of Slam’s games in ’07 when he hit home runs. The second was that day game when he threw out a runner at home and hit a 3-run dinger with two outs in the 9th to tie the game. (I think it was against the O’s, maybe the Rays. I can’t recall.) The place went ape doo-doo.

I liked him because he always gave the Yankees a pinch-hit power threat. I hope some other team signs him this off season or whenever he become a minor league FA and he gets another chance in the majors.

By the way, for all you who were whining in Sunday nights thread about Robbie hitting into DPs, Yankees Republic has a good article today about yanking Robbie from the 5th spot. Long but well argued.

http://theyankeesrepublic.blog.....to-go.html

He wants to put Damon five? I don’t like that option, but he’s right. A-Rod needs better protection in the lineup.

Wait, Hinkse can play 3B? Is this true?

Alas, Senor Jerkface. Do you forget the utlimate Papelbon weapon? Si, it is The Death Stare! That is why I prefer to call him El Matador.

Papelbon gets the ball back from the catcher, he looks down at the ground and then, without warning, he lifts his head up and fixes the batter with his penetrating, steely gaze, turning the most powerful hitters’ spines to mint jelly. (Dios! Tengo miedo!) And then, my friends, like a matador, he puts in that last knife, ball smacks catcher’s glove and “Adios muchacho.”

Yes, senor Jerkface, when Jonathan “El Matador” Papelbon is on the mound for Red Sox Nation, we are in the presence of Greatness!

(OK, jeez, I’m just kidding)

You aren’t being fair to Mo. All he originally said was that Swisher was having a better season than Markakis – not that Swisher is a better player than Markakis, or that Swisher will end up with a better season than Markakis.

And, it’s very arguable that our Nick is in fact having a better season this year than their Nick. I know their Nick is really looking awful so far against lefties this year.

Live chat with Tex at 3.

http://mlb.mlb.com/fan_forum/chat.jsp

Eric Hinske is an AL East specialist. This is a player who knows his way around Toronto and Boston Tampa. And he knows the visitors’ locker room in Baltimore *very* well.

His baseball-reference.com page is sponsored by Scott E. and says “The Orioles missed out on a great player. Good luck in Pittsuburgh!” I know what you’re thinking. Scott E.? Must be Scott Erickson, who knows of what he speaks!

Welcome to New York, Eric Hinske!