Hillary Clinton's been in the news a lot lately, and it hasn't been for what she would have hoped it would be. Her healthcare plan from 1993 is causing a big stink and her campaign is planting questions during public appearances. I really want to touch on both of these, but I may run out of time.
First, the healthcare thing. You probably know that Mrs. Clinton proposed a governmental healthcare system in 1993. So you'd think that the proposal would be completely available for people to peruse before making a decision on it. The federal agents assigned to handling the proposal (and cronies of Hillary, nonetheless) are slow in releasing the information. Bill Clinton even sent them a letter in 2002, giving them permission to open up material. But not everything...not any material that contains "negative" or "derogatory" information. Any information centered on "sensitive policy, personal or political matters." Or information involving communications directly between Bill and Hillary. So we don't get everything.
Topics like "Positioning ourselves on healthcare" and "General targeting strategy." Both not available.
The bottom line is that both Bill and Hillary will do everything in their power to keep the public unaware of her failed attempt at national healthcare from 1993. I still haven't been convinced that a national healthcare system would benefit the country, and this certainly doesn't help.
The one thing that we do know for certain about the 1993 attempt is that if a citizen wanted to take his or her own money and find a private doctor and pay for their own healthcare...it would have been a crime and they would have gone to jail. A great definition of "freedom" from Hillary Clinton.
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Secondly, planting questions in public appearances. It's not technically illegal, but it's low and underhanded. It's like rigging a game or stealing a test beforehand. The only difference is that the second two are illegal.
Clinton says she knows nothing about the planted questions, and while it's perfectly clear that Hillary that there are a lot of issues that Hillary Clinton knows nothing about (illegal immigration, healthcare and Social Security being among the ever-growing list) I'd be more inclined to believe this isn't one of those issues.
This comes at a convenient time when the negative press started to really crop up about her. Rehearsed answers would show a solid front and make her seem like she knew what she was doing.
Hillary Clinton would be absolutely atrocious for this country. I've started hoping for a huge snowstorm on Election Day that would keep many of the single Clinton women out of the polls. I generally assume for the better when it comes to American people, but when a high school accumulates 150 female signatures to "End Women's Suffrage" I really start to wonder.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Today's Idiot: Jose Guadalupe Flores
Here's a link to the entertaining article that discusses today's Idiot
The other day, police in McAllen Texas received a phone call from a man who claimed that his house had been broken into he had been robbed at gunpoint.
Pretty legitimate 911 call, right? Wrong.
The deputies arrived at the house and found 15 pounds of marijuana scattered around the floor. Flores complained to the deputies that the gunmen had stolen nearly 150 pounds of the drugs that he was preparing to ship out.
Good move, Mr. Flores. And the kicker? Guy's an illegal criminal immigrant from Mexico. He's going to stay in jail until his trial comes up. Here's to an unpleasant deportation!
The other day, police in McAllen Texas received a phone call from a man who claimed that his house had been broken into he had been robbed at gunpoint.
Pretty legitimate 911 call, right? Wrong.
The deputies arrived at the house and found 15 pounds of marijuana scattered around the floor. Flores complained to the deputies that the gunmen had stolen nearly 150 pounds of the drugs that he was preparing to ship out.
Good move, Mr. Flores. And the kicker? Guy's an illegal criminal immigrant from Mexico. He's going to stay in jail until his trial comes up. Here's to an unpleasant deportation!
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Today's Idiot: Zaid Jilani
This will be the beginning of an ongoing series. I'm decent at predicting the future, so I can say with a good amount of certainty that Hillary Clinton will appear here with regularity. UGA students will probably frequent this forum as well.
Today's culprit is a sophomore from the "esteemed" University of Georgia majoring in International Studies.
Inaugural Idiot, Zaid Jilani
Sketchy major nonwithstanding, UGA let him write for the student paper for some reason. Apparently there's no screening process for aspiring journalists there. Anyone that can write (or repeat what he's heard from other ignorant liberals) is welcome.
Jilani's Opinion Article in the "Red and Black" student newspaper.
He begins his article by saying that he noticed that his University Union had invited a conservative talk radio host, Neal Boortz to speak at his University. Then he continues with the following line: "Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge defender of free speech..." and then he proceeds to list reasons why the aforementioned talk show host should NOT be allowed to speak. So he's a huge defender of free speech, as long as that speech is something he agrees with. Typical foreign liberal.
He goes on to incorrectly claim that Boortz "doesn't have to actually research what he says, or make logical arguments, or maintain academic decorum." Ooooh...someone discovered his laptop had a thesaurus feature. Since most of what he said about Boortz was wrong, I guess Mr. Jilani doesn't actually have to research what he writes.
He calls Boortz's favorite targets "defenseless" targets. Such as "mothers on welfare, the homeless, Muslims and immigrants." Convince me that Muslims are defenseless. Convince me they don't strap bombs to themselves and blow things up in the name of religion. Convince me they don't advocate beating their wives. By "defenseless" I must assume that Zaid means "not intelligent enough to make a cognitive argument against Neal Boortz."
After a veiled death threat, (I thought Muslim death threats were rarely veiled?) he calls himself an "over-educated, socialist liberal." The last part I agree with. The over-educated part however, makes me laugh. Grow up kid, and realize that you have no Constitutional right not to be offended. Mr. Boortz in fact does have the right to say what he likes.
Today's culprit is a sophomore from the "esteemed" University of Georgia majoring in International Studies.
Inaugural Idiot, Zaid Jilani
Sketchy major nonwithstanding, UGA let him write for the student paper for some reason. Apparently there's no screening process for aspiring journalists there. Anyone that can write (or repeat what he's heard from other ignorant liberals) is welcome.
Jilani's Opinion Article in the "Red and Black" student newspaper.
He begins his article by saying that he noticed that his University Union had invited a conservative talk radio host, Neal Boortz to speak at his University. Then he continues with the following line: "Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge defender of free speech..." and then he proceeds to list reasons why the aforementioned talk show host should NOT be allowed to speak. So he's a huge defender of free speech, as long as that speech is something he agrees with. Typical foreign liberal.
He goes on to incorrectly claim that Boortz "doesn't have to actually research what he says, or make logical arguments, or maintain academic decorum." Ooooh...someone discovered his laptop had a thesaurus feature. Since most of what he said about Boortz was wrong, I guess Mr. Jilani doesn't actually have to research what he writes.
He calls Boortz's favorite targets "defenseless" targets. Such as "mothers on welfare, the homeless, Muslims and immigrants." Convince me that Muslims are defenseless. Convince me they don't strap bombs to themselves and blow things up in the name of religion. Convince me they don't advocate beating their wives. By "defenseless" I must assume that Zaid means "not intelligent enough to make a cognitive argument against Neal Boortz."
After a veiled death threat, (I thought Muslim death threats were rarely veiled?) he calls himself an "over-educated, socialist liberal." The last part I agree with. The over-educated part however, makes me laugh. Grow up kid, and realize that you have no Constitutional right not to be offended. Mr. Boortz in fact does have the right to say what he likes.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Friends
'll save the Hillary Clinton sex scandal for another time, because it's too good to fully and thoroughly research this late at night. So I'll address the contradiction that is the Friends theme song.
So no one told you life was going to be this way.
Your job's a joke, you're broke, you're love life's DOA.
It's like you're always stuck in second gear,
Well, it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year.
But, I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour.
I'll be there for you, like I've been there before.
I'll be there for you, cause you're there for me too.
You're still in bed at ten, the work began at eight.
You've burned your breakfast, so far, things are going great.
Your mother warned you there'd be days like these,
But she didn't tell you when the world has brought you down to your knees.
That, I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour.
I'll be there for you, like I've been there before.
I'll be there for you, cause you're there for me too.
No one could ever know me, no one could ever see me.
Seems like you're the only one who knows what it's like to be me.
Someone to face the day with, make it through all the rest with,
Someone I'll always laugh with, even at my worst, I'm best with you.
It's like you're always stuck in second gear,
Well, it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year.
But, I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour.
I'll be there for you, like I've been there before.
I'll be there for you, cause you're there for me too
Now, I know it's catchy and you can't help but clapping, but it's also the most contradictory song in the history of TV theme songs. Did you catch it? Probably not. So here's the questionable excerpt. Try again.
So no one told you life was going to be this way.
Your job's a joke, you're broke, you're love life's DOA.
It's like you're always stuck in second gear,
Well, it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year.
But, I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour.
I'll be there for you, like I've been there before.
I'll be there for you, cause you're there for me too.
You're still in bed at ten, the work began at eight.
You've burned your breakfast, so far, things are going great.
Your mother warned you there'd be days like these
For your convenience, I've bolded the two lines that will be needed for the test. I lied, there won't be a test, but now you can see the problem. No one told you life was going to be this way...except your mother. Apparently, to Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer, your mom doesn't count. That's it, that's what Friends teaches it's viewers...what your mother says doesn't mean anything. That she's a "no one."
So no one told you life was going to be this way.
Your job's a joke, you're broke, you're love life's DOA.
It's like you're always stuck in second gear,
Well, it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year.
But, I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour.
I'll be there for you, like I've been there before.
I'll be there for you, cause you're there for me too.
You're still in bed at ten, the work began at eight.
You've burned your breakfast, so far, things are going great.
Your mother warned you there'd be days like these,
But she didn't tell you when the world has brought you down to your knees.
That, I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour.
I'll be there for you, like I've been there before.
I'll be there for you, cause you're there for me too.
No one could ever know me, no one could ever see me.
Seems like you're the only one who knows what it's like to be me.
Someone to face the day with, make it through all the rest with,
Someone I'll always laugh with, even at my worst, I'm best with you.
It's like you're always stuck in second gear,
Well, it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year.
But, I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour.
I'll be there for you, like I've been there before.
I'll be there for you, cause you're there for me too
Now, I know it's catchy and you can't help but clapping, but it's also the most contradictory song in the history of TV theme songs. Did you catch it? Probably not. So here's the questionable excerpt. Try again.
So no one told you life was going to be this way.
Your job's a joke, you're broke, you're love life's DOA.
It's like you're always stuck in second gear,
Well, it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year.
But, I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour.
I'll be there for you, like I've been there before.
I'll be there for you, cause you're there for me too.
You're still in bed at ten, the work began at eight.
You've burned your breakfast, so far, things are going great.
Your mother warned you there'd be days like these
For your convenience, I've bolded the two lines that will be needed for the test. I lied, there won't be a test, but now you can see the problem. No one told you life was going to be this way...except your mother. Apparently, to Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer, your mom doesn't count. That's it, that's what Friends teaches it's viewers...what your mother says doesn't mean anything. That she's a "no one."
You Think You Want Government Healthcare?
Edmund Crane is a British citizen who's healthcare is covered under the British National Health Service. After putting up with pain in his hip for years, Crane had private x-rays taken which showed he had almost no hip joint. The British National Health Service kept cancelling his medical consultations. Eventually, Mr. Crane had enough of the pain and cashed his life savings and paid $18,000 for the surgery from a private doctor.
This is your future in for the U.S. if Hillary gets her way with national healthcare. But remember, under Hillary's first healthcare plan, Ed Crane would have been thrown in jail if he had pulled that little stunt in this country. You're asking for it people. You want someone else to be responsible for your healthcare...anyone but you. Again, you want healthcare, pay for it yourself. What if I want a 60 foot yacht? Will the government buy that for me?
This is your future in for the U.S. if Hillary gets her way with national healthcare. But remember, under Hillary's first healthcare plan, Ed Crane would have been thrown in jail if he had pulled that little stunt in this country. You're asking for it people. You want someone else to be responsible for your healthcare...anyone but you. Again, you want healthcare, pay for it yourself. What if I want a 60 foot yacht? Will the government buy that for me?
My CFB Top 9
New week, new top 9? That's right, 9 teams. Last week, I questioned the credibility of Arizona State and Boston College. I pointed out the fact that neither team had an overly impressive win. I entertained the two in my top 10 since they were undefeated, but wanted to see how each performed this week against tough opponents. Both lost, and when I ran out of teams I would rank ahead of them, I had nine teams. Since I won't acknowledge either of them, I am forced to publish a Top 9 instead of the more traditional Top 10. So here they are.
1. LSU Tigers
Went into Bryant Denney Stadium and came out with another tough win. LSU has played six teams ranked #17 or better this year. Out of nine games! You want schedule strength? Look no further than Baton Rouge, LA.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
10-0 now after finishing off Wisconsin late. Beanie Wells runs like a beast and the defense is still punishing. Still the class of the Big 10 and only an up-and-coming Illinois team and Michigan stand between the Buckeyes and their second straight national championship game.
3. Oregon Ducks
One of my new favorite teams. The combination of Dennis Dixon and Jonathan Stewart are almost unstoppable. And they proved me right about the Sun Devils of ASU. They opened up the game with perfect back to back touchdown drives and never looked back. USC's time is over in the Pac-10 for now.
4. Oklahoma Sooners
No more Boston College. A week after surviving a determined Iowa State team, the Sooners laid a beating on Texas A&M. Bradford looked good again and the Sooners seem to be cruising to a date in the Big 12 championship game.
5. kansas jayhawks
I still think the kansas quarter should be worth less than a real quarter, but 76 points against any team is sick. I know Nebraska's down, but seriously? 76 points? And people say New England runs up the score. But they still fall under the same label ASU and BC did. kansas took advantage of a schedule with one ranked team (#24). Arrowhead awaits you, filthy jayhawks.
6. Missouri Tigers
kansas won 19-14 in boulder. Missouri won 55-10. Just sayin'. Colorado focused too much on shutting down Martin Rucker that they forgot Chase Coffman's really good too. Daniel picked apart a really good defense by spreading the wealth. Missouri won their opening November game for the first time under Gary Pinkel.
7. West Virginia Mountaineers
I won't fault them for not playing, but they're going to need to win some games big too impress me any further. The Big East just isn't a powerhouse football conference.
8. Georgia Bulldogs
Here pretty much by default. Slipped by Troy after an emotional win against the Gators. Knowshon Moreno looks like a game-changing back, but outside that there's really not anything that stands out.
9. Michigan Wolverines
Welcome back Wolverines. And eight-game winning streak has put UM in control of it's own Big 10 (11) destiny. After the Appalachain State debacle, who woulda thought?
Just Missed: BC Eagles, ASU Sun Devils, Hawaii
One last special shout out. Notre Dame. You're absolutely awful this year. One of college football's rules is that Notre Dame beats Navy. You broke this rule today. Which might have been acceptable had Navy been the national championship powerhouse they once were. But they're not. They're a "lose to a Div. II school by allowing 59 points" Navy team
1. LSU Tigers
Went into Bryant Denney Stadium and came out with another tough win. LSU has played six teams ranked #17 or better this year. Out of nine games! You want schedule strength? Look no further than Baton Rouge, LA.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
10-0 now after finishing off Wisconsin late. Beanie Wells runs like a beast and the defense is still punishing. Still the class of the Big 10 and only an up-and-coming Illinois team and Michigan stand between the Buckeyes and their second straight national championship game.
3. Oregon Ducks
One of my new favorite teams. The combination of Dennis Dixon and Jonathan Stewart are almost unstoppable. And they proved me right about the Sun Devils of ASU. They opened up the game with perfect back to back touchdown drives and never looked back. USC's time is over in the Pac-10 for now.
4. Oklahoma Sooners
No more Boston College. A week after surviving a determined Iowa State team, the Sooners laid a beating on Texas A&M. Bradford looked good again and the Sooners seem to be cruising to a date in the Big 12 championship game.
5. kansas jayhawks
I still think the kansas quarter should be worth less than a real quarter, but 76 points against any team is sick. I know Nebraska's down, but seriously? 76 points? And people say New England runs up the score. But they still fall under the same label ASU and BC did. kansas took advantage of a schedule with one ranked team (#24). Arrowhead awaits you, filthy jayhawks.
6. Missouri Tigers
kansas won 19-14 in boulder. Missouri won 55-10. Just sayin'. Colorado focused too much on shutting down Martin Rucker that they forgot Chase Coffman's really good too. Daniel picked apart a really good defense by spreading the wealth. Missouri won their opening November game for the first time under Gary Pinkel.
7. West Virginia Mountaineers
I won't fault them for not playing, but they're going to need to win some games big too impress me any further. The Big East just isn't a powerhouse football conference.
8. Georgia Bulldogs
Here pretty much by default. Slipped by Troy after an emotional win against the Gators. Knowshon Moreno looks like a game-changing back, but outside that there's really not anything that stands out.
9. Michigan Wolverines
Welcome back Wolverines. And eight-game winning streak has put UM in control of it's own Big 10 (11) destiny. After the Appalachain State debacle, who woulda thought?
Just Missed: BC Eagles, ASU Sun Devils, Hawaii
One last special shout out. Notre Dame. You're absolutely awful this year. One of college football's rules is that Notre Dame beats Navy. You broke this rule today. Which might have been acceptable had Navy been the national championship powerhouse they once were. But they're not. They're a "lose to a Div. II school by allowing 59 points" Navy team
Thursday, November 1, 2007
State Of The Yankees
First off, I offer my sincerest congratulations to the 2007 Boston Red Sox. And I'm serious. I never thought this would be the case, but I prefer Boston as World Series champions than the St. Louis Cardinals. Boston's a legitimate winner. They won 96 games in the toughest league and in a tough division. They beat two teams that would have swept the Rockies. I think the league disparity is greater now than ever. A team that won 21 out of 22 games against National League opponents gets swept by the AL pennant winner. The Red Sox looked better in every facet of the game. They won blowouts (13-1, 10-5) and won the close games (4-3, 2-1). They swept at home and on the road. Had an ERA of 2.50 and hit .338 in the series. Even Eric Gagne threw a scoreless inning. So congratulations to them, and they'll be my World Series favorite again next year no matter what transpires this off-season.
Now on to important things.
ALEX RODRIGUEZ DRAMA
Alex Rodriguez opted out of his contract yesterday. This is devastating for the Yankees. There's no way to replace the best player in the game, but the Yankees will have to try. I firmly believe that they will not enter any bidding wars over him. Perhaps it's poetic justice that Rodriguez spurred the Yankees after the Yankees had done the same to Torre. But I don't think so.
Rodriguez gave his reason for opting out as the uncertainty surrounding the contract statuses of Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada. But if that was the case, why not wait the 10 days to see what transpired between those players and the Yankees. It's hard for me to believe that the Yankees won't offer Posada and Rivera the best deals.
No, the reason is simple. Alex Rodriguez (and agent Scott Boras) thinks he is bigger than the game. And it's no coincidence that he announced his decision to opt out maybe an hour before the World Series was over. The news was reported during the game. We can now assume everything Alex Rodriguez says is a lie. New York never "felt like home" and it certainly wasn't "where [he] wanted to be." His multi-million dollar mansion feels like home and wherever the most money is is where he wants to be.
He'll still get a mega-deal, biggest in sports. But the Yankees were supposedly working on a 5-year, $150 million extension. Added to his remaining contract, that's 8-years, $231 million, nearly $29 million a season. He's still the best talent in the game, but this quick opt-out shows he never had any intention of staying in New York and never had or will have the balls to play under pressure.
So where will he go? He's still going to command the most money baseball has ever seen, so that severely limits his options. Both Los Angeles teams make sense and Boston has been mentioned as a possible destination. Both LA teams have gaping power holes and third base available. Boston has neither, but that wouldn't stop Theo Epstein from continuing to dole out foolish contracts. I believe Alex Rodriguez is far too heavy and immobile to make a successful transition back to shortstop, so any team that courts him would need to do so as a third baseman.
I've also heard Florida and San Francisco as possible landing places for A-Rod. Personally, I'd think it'd be a perfect ending to have him end up on one of those last place teams. He'd probably love it in Florida where there's 375 fans at his home games and the most prolific journalist there is the idiot Dan LeBetard. He'd probably pass 74 homers, especially facing the NL East teams five or six series each year.
I've also heard Chicago. That one would be sweet. The Cubs could celebrate 100 years of utter failure with the most prolific active player not to play in a World Series. Let's face it. A huge spending spree last off-season (and an in-season resigning of one of the more overrated pitchers) won them a division, but no playoff games. They were swept by a better team that was swept by a better team that was swept by a better team.
My prediction? A-Rod will end up with a 12-year, $360 million deal with a National League team. A-Rod knows he has become public enemy number one in New York City. And if his response last year (as a Yankee) to New York fans was bad, imagine an A-Rod return to New York. He'll go to a National League team and hope to avoid a trip to the Bronx.
Short-term, this kills the Yankees. A-Rod will collect his third MVP award and a Silver Slugger in the coming weeks. He was the one consistent bat that the Yankees counted on (April-September) this season. Possible replacements aren't very attractive.
Wilson Betemit: Hit .224 with four homers after being traded from the Dodgers. Decent fielder and switch-hitter but hasn't really ever been a full time player. Highly-touted prospect that hasn't amounted to much.
Robinson Cano: Always easier to find a second baseman than a third baseman. Cano's got the arm and hands to make the switch, but I like this only as a last resort.
Mike Lowell: I think Boston would be stupid to let this guy go, but if they do I'm all for bringing him back to the Yankees. People mock me for welcoming Boston players, but I don't view Lowell as a typical Red Sox player. He's too clean-cut and professional.
Joe Crede: The White Sox may not offer him a contract after his 2007 debacle, and the Yankees could probably get his relatively cheaply. He did hit 30 home runs just a year ago and averages .260/25/85 with a good glove. Not bad, but certainly not A-Rod numbers.
Garrett Atkins: Has matured nicely in Colorado. But that's about it. His home/away splits are insane. Coors Field helps this guy exponentially, and his asking price is about as high as it'll get now. I'd shy away from this guy.
Miguel Cabrera: The Fish could be enticed to trade their stud hitting machine. But he's refused to stay in shape and the Yankees would end up with yet another DH before 2009 was done.
Adrian Beltre: No, he won't put up his 2004 numbers anymore, but he's steadily improved since a shaky AL debut season with Seattle. The Mariners could be looking to clear payroll and at $12 million, Beltre's actually a bargain on this market.
Of those, I'd probably inquire how much Beltre would cost the Yankees farm system and if the Yankees could get Beltre for a B-level prospect plus the financial relieve, I'd go with him. I'd also watch the Mike Lowell developments out of Boston and the Joe Crede negotiations in Chicago. I'd stay away from Cabrera (too costly, lazy) Betemit (inconsistant) Cano (rather not make a switch) and Atkins (below average offensively away from Coors). Beltre and Lowell are probably my 1a and 1b, but I'd settle for Crede.
THE FREE-AGENT YANKEES
Andy Pettitte holds a $16 million player option for 2008. He was the Yankees most reliable pitcher in the second half and pitched a gem in the playoffs (damn bugs!). He's already considered retirement once, and probably isn't too thrilled with the recent Yankee turmoil.
Nate's prediction: Pettitte exercises the option
Mariano Rivera is a free agent. He's just off a big deal and looking for another one. He had 30 saves again this season and was dynamite in the playoffs. A couple of big innings led to a bloated ERA, but he had a decent season nonetheless. The Yankees need him more than just about anyone. They have an unsettled bullpen and Joba Chamberlain is moving to the starting rotation.
Nate's Prediction: The Yankees make the most lucrative offer and Rivera returns on a 3-year/$40 million deal.
Jorge Posada finished his option year with his best year every. He hit .338, 50 points higher than his previous career best and over 60 points better than his career average. He hit 20 homers and drove in 90 runs behind a guy who drove in 154. He's still a capable handler and game-caller and has a calming influence of young pitchers. He's more likely to leave than Rivera, but I also doubt that.
Nate's Prediction: The Yankees lock Posada up with a 3-year/$45 million deal with a mutual fourth year option.
Bobby Abreu: The Yankees hold a $16 million option on Abreu for 2007. They should definitely pick it up and keep him around. He's a solid all around player, and there aren't too many other options for the Yankees. Melky Cabrera will patrol centerfield and Matsui and Damon will keep leftfield warm while Giambi DHs. Unless one of the three is traded (which probably would be a good idea).
Nate's Prediction: The Yankees exercise the option and bat him third.
STARTING PITCHING
Here's a list of possible starting pitchers for the Yankees going into Spring Training.
Mike Mussina
Chien-Ming Wang
Phil Hughes
Ian Kennedy
Joba Chamberlain
Andy Pettitte*
Three of those guys haven't thrown 75 innings in the Majors and one isn't even assured to be back. So there's a lot of questions within the rotation. All three young guys have the potential to be top of the rotation starters. But they're young and shouldn't have to be relied on. Mussina needs to be an effective starter and Wang needs to calm down and bury his sinker.
The fact that Rodriguez left $30 million on the Yankees table bodes well for the future of the Yankees pitching situation. That's money the Yankees can spend on Johan Santana after the 2008 season and stick him on the mound for Opening Day 2009 (assuming he isn't dealt and signed long-term somewhere). The Yankees aren't going to cut payroll. That's just not in the Steinbrenner plans. They have money and they will spend it, but here's to hoping they spend it wisely this time around. Invest in up-and-coming pitchers and use the two first rounders you'll get from A-Rod on absurd talent
Now on to important things.
ALEX RODRIGUEZ DRAMA
Alex Rodriguez opted out of his contract yesterday. This is devastating for the Yankees. There's no way to replace the best player in the game, but the Yankees will have to try. I firmly believe that they will not enter any bidding wars over him. Perhaps it's poetic justice that Rodriguez spurred the Yankees after the Yankees had done the same to Torre. But I don't think so.
Rodriguez gave his reason for opting out as the uncertainty surrounding the contract statuses of Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada. But if that was the case, why not wait the 10 days to see what transpired between those players and the Yankees. It's hard for me to believe that the Yankees won't offer Posada and Rivera the best deals.
No, the reason is simple. Alex Rodriguez (and agent Scott Boras) thinks he is bigger than the game. And it's no coincidence that he announced his decision to opt out maybe an hour before the World Series was over. The news was reported during the game. We can now assume everything Alex Rodriguez says is a lie. New York never "felt like home" and it certainly wasn't "where [he] wanted to be." His multi-million dollar mansion feels like home and wherever the most money is is where he wants to be.
He'll still get a mega-deal, biggest in sports. But the Yankees were supposedly working on a 5-year, $150 million extension. Added to his remaining contract, that's 8-years, $231 million, nearly $29 million a season. He's still the best talent in the game, but this quick opt-out shows he never had any intention of staying in New York and never had or will have the balls to play under pressure.
So where will he go? He's still going to command the most money baseball has ever seen, so that severely limits his options. Both Los Angeles teams make sense and Boston has been mentioned as a possible destination. Both LA teams have gaping power holes and third base available. Boston has neither, but that wouldn't stop Theo Epstein from continuing to dole out foolish contracts. I believe Alex Rodriguez is far too heavy and immobile to make a successful transition back to shortstop, so any team that courts him would need to do so as a third baseman.
I've also heard Florida and San Francisco as possible landing places for A-Rod. Personally, I'd think it'd be a perfect ending to have him end up on one of those last place teams. He'd probably love it in Florida where there's 375 fans at his home games and the most prolific journalist there is the idiot Dan LeBetard. He'd probably pass 74 homers, especially facing the NL East teams five or six series each year.
I've also heard Chicago. That one would be sweet. The Cubs could celebrate 100 years of utter failure with the most prolific active player not to play in a World Series. Let's face it. A huge spending spree last off-season (and an in-season resigning of one of the more overrated pitchers) won them a division, but no playoff games. They were swept by a better team that was swept by a better team that was swept by a better team.
My prediction? A-Rod will end up with a 12-year, $360 million deal with a National League team. A-Rod knows he has become public enemy number one in New York City. And if his response last year (as a Yankee) to New York fans was bad, imagine an A-Rod return to New York. He'll go to a National League team and hope to avoid a trip to the Bronx.
Short-term, this kills the Yankees. A-Rod will collect his third MVP award and a Silver Slugger in the coming weeks. He was the one consistent bat that the Yankees counted on (April-September) this season. Possible replacements aren't very attractive.
Wilson Betemit: Hit .224 with four homers after being traded from the Dodgers. Decent fielder and switch-hitter but hasn't really ever been a full time player. Highly-touted prospect that hasn't amounted to much.
Robinson Cano: Always easier to find a second baseman than a third baseman. Cano's got the arm and hands to make the switch, but I like this only as a last resort.
Mike Lowell: I think Boston would be stupid to let this guy go, but if they do I'm all for bringing him back to the Yankees. People mock me for welcoming Boston players, but I don't view Lowell as a typical Red Sox player. He's too clean-cut and professional.
Joe Crede: The White Sox may not offer him a contract after his 2007 debacle, and the Yankees could probably get his relatively cheaply. He did hit 30 home runs just a year ago and averages .260/25/85 with a good glove. Not bad, but certainly not A-Rod numbers.
Garrett Atkins: Has matured nicely in Colorado. But that's about it. His home/away splits are insane. Coors Field helps this guy exponentially, and his asking price is about as high as it'll get now. I'd shy away from this guy.
Miguel Cabrera: The Fish could be enticed to trade their stud hitting machine. But he's refused to stay in shape and the Yankees would end up with yet another DH before 2009 was done.
Adrian Beltre: No, he won't put up his 2004 numbers anymore, but he's steadily improved since a shaky AL debut season with Seattle. The Mariners could be looking to clear payroll and at $12 million, Beltre's actually a bargain on this market.
Of those, I'd probably inquire how much Beltre would cost the Yankees farm system and if the Yankees could get Beltre for a B-level prospect plus the financial relieve, I'd go with him. I'd also watch the Mike Lowell developments out of Boston and the Joe Crede negotiations in Chicago. I'd stay away from Cabrera (too costly, lazy) Betemit (inconsistant) Cano (rather not make a switch) and Atkins (below average offensively away from Coors). Beltre and Lowell are probably my 1a and 1b, but I'd settle for Crede.
THE FREE-AGENT YANKEES
Andy Pettitte holds a $16 million player option for 2008. He was the Yankees most reliable pitcher in the second half and pitched a gem in the playoffs (damn bugs!). He's already considered retirement once, and probably isn't too thrilled with the recent Yankee turmoil.
Nate's prediction: Pettitte exercises the option
Mariano Rivera is a free agent. He's just off a big deal and looking for another one. He had 30 saves again this season and was dynamite in the playoffs. A couple of big innings led to a bloated ERA, but he had a decent season nonetheless. The Yankees need him more than just about anyone. They have an unsettled bullpen and Joba Chamberlain is moving to the starting rotation.
Nate's Prediction: The Yankees make the most lucrative offer and Rivera returns on a 3-year/$40 million deal.
Jorge Posada finished his option year with his best year every. He hit .338, 50 points higher than his previous career best and over 60 points better than his career average. He hit 20 homers and drove in 90 runs behind a guy who drove in 154. He's still a capable handler and game-caller and has a calming influence of young pitchers. He's more likely to leave than Rivera, but I also doubt that.
Nate's Prediction: The Yankees lock Posada up with a 3-year/$45 million deal with a mutual fourth year option.
Bobby Abreu: The Yankees hold a $16 million option on Abreu for 2007. They should definitely pick it up and keep him around. He's a solid all around player, and there aren't too many other options for the Yankees. Melky Cabrera will patrol centerfield and Matsui and Damon will keep leftfield warm while Giambi DHs. Unless one of the three is traded (which probably would be a good idea).
Nate's Prediction: The Yankees exercise the option and bat him third.
STARTING PITCHING
Here's a list of possible starting pitchers for the Yankees going into Spring Training.
Mike Mussina
Chien-Ming Wang
Phil Hughes
Ian Kennedy
Joba Chamberlain
Andy Pettitte*
Three of those guys haven't thrown 75 innings in the Majors and one isn't even assured to be back. So there's a lot of questions within the rotation. All three young guys have the potential to be top of the rotation starters. But they're young and shouldn't have to be relied on. Mussina needs to be an effective starter and Wang needs to calm down and bury his sinker.
The fact that Rodriguez left $30 million on the Yankees table bodes well for the future of the Yankees pitching situation. That's money the Yankees can spend on Johan Santana after the 2008 season and stick him on the mound for Opening Day 2009 (assuming he isn't dealt and signed long-term somewhere). The Yankees aren't going to cut payroll. That's just not in the Steinbrenner plans. They have money and they will spend it, but here's to hoping they spend it wisely this time around. Invest in up-and-coming pitchers and use the two first rounders you'll get from A-Rod on absurd talent
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