Via Pete Abe over at LoHud:

Bobby Abreu made $16 million, Andy Pettitte made $16 million and Pudge Rodriguez made $13 million. All three would have been in a position to get at least as much via arbitration and likely some sort of raise.

Meanwhile, if Mike Mussina suddenly decides to play for somebody else, the Yankees get nothing in return. Sure, that’s extremely unlikely. But that was supposedly the case for Roger Clemens, too.

Cashman said the Yankees remain engaged with Pettitte and Abreu. To what degree isn’t certain. Today’s decision certainly indicates they want Andy back only at a pay cut and the same would be true of Abreu.

Seems a little strange to me, splitting hairs. They want Pettitte and Abreu to take pay cuts if they come back, sure- but just how much of a cut are they thinking? $3-4 M? More? Abreu for one year in the neighborhood of $16M ain't so bad IMO, especially when the downside is getting a draft pick if he goes elsewhere. And is Pudge really going to accept arbitration from the Yanks?

In a later post by Pete, he says Cashman explains it was all about spending control. If so, the Yankees really seem to balking at spending at spending maybe an extra $4-5M on one year deals? Used to be chump change... is this a new era beginning in the Bronx?

From ESPN.com:

Major League Baseball owners have approved the shift of control of the New York Yankees from George Steinbrenner to his son, Hal.
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Hal Steinbrenner calls his father "a tough act to follow."

Not a surprise, but now now it is official.

words words words words words words words words words words words words words Yankees words words words words words words Yankees words words words words words words words words words words.

75 words.

For any of you interested - Pete Abe has posted today's conference call with Nick Swisher

Pete's thoughts:

Nick Swisher seems like a good guy based on his just-concluded conference call.
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He made it very clear that he wants to play first base, saying it’s his best position and that he would like to see what he can do if he finally gets a chance to play one position instead of hopping around. … He didn’t go into detail about last season beyond saying hitting leadoff wasn’t a good fit and that he learned a lot and was humbled by it.
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In general, he seems thrilled to be with the Yankees.

The sound quality's pretty brutal (Ithink Pete probably just has his tape recorder running next to the speaker phone), but it was fun to hear. I agree with Pete that he seems like a good guy who is genuinely excited to be putting on the Pinstripes. Let's hope he can turn that enthusiasm into a productive season at first (or wherever he winds up).

I am sure most have you have seen this already, but for those who haven't I think it's worth a read. In this week's SI, Tom Verducci gives a sentimental goodbye to the Stadium, in a first person account- as if the Stadium itself had written it.

I don't like to blow smoke, but my death is unlike any loss seen before in America. I am tangible Americana, like Independence Hall, the Alamo or Graceland. I have been about more than baseball. The first papal mass ever celebrated in the Western Hemisphere? That was me. The first overtime game in NFL history? Me. The birthplace of the "DEE-fense! DEE-fense!" chant? Of the Bronx cheer? Of the triple-decker ballpark in this country? The electronic scoreboard, the replay video board, the "Win one for the Gipper" aphorism, what it means to get Wally Pipped, the standing applause on two-strike counts, the running leap onto home plate to punctuate a walk-off homer? Me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me and me.

A little sappy, some may say, but I read this article yesterday on the day of my last trip to Yankee Stadium- and it certainly hit the right buttons for me. I am looking forward to the new Stadium, but will miss the old one too on many levels.

Side note: My brother in law, Carl- who had tickets to last night's game but wound up not being able to make it- found it fitting that when he brought his son to his very first game at the Stadium this year, it would wind up being Carl's last.

Here's to new memories, and to 26 more at the new Stadium!

Yesterday, for the first time, I actually watched the Joe Girardi Show on YES. I had seen it advertised, and caught bits here and there but never took in a whole show. And this week especially piqued my interest, being that it was such a rough week for the Yanks.

Now I am far from a Girardi apologist, and have scratched my head countless times this year wondering where he was coming from- but I have to say I was impressed. I liked his direct answers to a lot of "What were you thinking?" questions from PA favorite Michael Kay, and emails from the viewers.

At the end of the show, Kay basically asked of the Yankees were out of it, to which Girardi very succinctly said no they weren't. And waking up this morning 5 games out of the wild card, after all that's happened this season, I think you'd be a fool not to believe him.

Although I definitely believe his job is safe, this next month and a half will certainly go a long way as to deciding where Joe G stands in the eyes of Yankee fans.

As Natalya comented in this thread: Why so much love for John Beck? I gotta agree with that sentiment.

As much as I would love to give Beck the benefit of the doubt, he has done nothing to engender any feelings of attachment on my part. Be that because of how he was handled last year, or because of the current regime's opinions of him- it's how it is.

If Parcells & Co. do not feel he is the guy, better off to cut ties now- rather than keep running Beck out there to see if just maybe he can change their mind. They have a guy in Henne that they seem to think is the future at QB. I am no Pennington fan, but  he actually gives the Fins the best chance to have a consistent starting QB for the whole season- barring injury of course (And I know that's a big if.).

This gives the Fins the opportunity plug Henne into the 3rd spot and have McCown ready to go if Pennington goes down. I think it is important to keep Henne off the field as much as possible this year. And I actually think this scenario gives them the best chance to do this. Then next year, Henne can start the year as the number 2, and we'll see how the season transpires.

I truly believe that McCown is at best a back up- as shown by the multiple chances he has had in his career to grab a starter's role. And Penninton is a veteran starter- one whom Parcells has a certain amount of trust for. I joked when Favre landed in NY that I hoped the Fins didn't go after Pennington. After thinking about it though, it seems to make more sense to me than going into the season with the three guys they had. Unfortunately for Beck, that leaves him the odd man out (sorry Matty...ha). I wish him the best, but I've got no attachments to sever there to let him go. 

Many of us knew it would happen.

Buster Olney is reporting the Yankees and Richie Sexson have reached a tentative agreement.

Sexson fits in New York because the Yankees needed a right-handed slugger to match up against left-handed pitching -- and Sexson had a .344 average against lefties this year.

Assuming the deal is completed, he'll be in the lineup Saturday against Oakland.

I have said all along I think this a low risk, no lose situation. Worse thing that happens is he stinks and they cut him. A little more right handed pop should help though.

Did people see this? There will be a Hard Rock Cafe at the new Stadium.

The [Yankees] announced Wednesday that they have agreed to enter into a long-term agreement to open a 7,000 square-foot Hard Rock Cafe at the new Yankee Stadium.  

Now I am part of the faction that is actually looking forward to the new Stadium next year. But this rubs me the wrong way. Feels like they are turning it into a tourist draw rather than a cathedral of baseball. Now I understand everyone wants to make money here, but Hard Rock Cafe? It's cliche, and it's been done before.

I will say the thing I am looking forward to most about next year is the more wide-open concourses, and not taking forever to get in and out of the Stadium. But it looks like there's a bit of selling of the soul in order to get it.

ESPN.com's James Walker has written a great article  about this year's incoming class of rookies getting a chance to tour the Hall of Fame in Canton.

This offseason, the NFL is sending every incoming player for a special tour of the Hall of Fame. Former Dallas Cowboys receiver and 2007 Hall of Fame inductee Michael Irvin came up with the idea last summer to increase rookies' awareness and help them recognize the value of their opportunity.

With all the negative press about NFL players these days, it's nice to read an article about these guys coming in, humbled and feeling privileged. Our boys Jake Long and Chad Henne both get a nice mention in the article. 

That's it. Every once and awhile, it's nice to post something we can all agree on.

The Jayfiss Report