The Journal News has learned."

The Journal News is reporting that Joe Torre will be hired as manager of the Dodgers. The announcement could come as soon as today.''

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"DENVER -- Alex Rodriguez notified the Yankees on Sunday that he's opting out of his record $252 million contract, SI.com has learned."

However, Boras said in an interview with SI.com Sunday that Rodriguez couldn't even consider any pre-opt-out deadline offers from the Yankees until they settled several situations, specifically mentioning the impending free agency of Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada and uncertainty surrounding Andy Pettitte. Boras specifically mentioned Yankees partner Hank Steinbrenner's comment the Yankees are in a "transitional'' phase as a concern. "There really was no way he could make a decision (to stay) until much later in the month of November,'' Boras said. "There are no deadlines. We clearly needed more time to understand what 'transitional'' meant, what the new owners intend, and what's going to happen to Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte.'' Don't let the door hit you on the ass.

[editor's note, by John Amato] If we assume that ARod is being honest about his feelings on the way upper management has handled Torre and the idiotic approach they took with Posada and Rivera are primary reasons for him leaving. Nice going Tampa! We all know that Mariano isn't happy with the way they treated him. I don't believe Jorge ever was quoted on that. Pettitte has always been cryptic on his future. If it's just a cover to go free agent then he won't be missed. Oh, and by the way...didn't AROD have 10 days after the World Series to make a decision? More Boras garbage. The Yanks would have named a manager and dealt with Mo and Jorge before that deadline.

Roger Clemens could make his first start this season for the New York Yankees next Monday night in Toronto, the New York Post reported.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18729407/

If he comes through that game looking healthy, he could make his first major-league start of the season against the Blue Jays on Monday, the Post said.

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NEW YORK -- Andy Pettitte's Bronx return will have to wait one more day, as Wednesday's scheduled game between the Yankees and the Devil Rays was postponed due to poor weather conditions.
No makeup date has been scheduled. The official announcement was made shortly before 11 a.m. ET.

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The last I heard negotiations were extended until yesterday and supposedly the talks were serious.

"Another source said the parties hoped to wrap up a deal by Monday but that there were "no assurances."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3id1c3d218198539cbc254fb984436f 4b0

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"Igawa will join Pettitte, Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina, Randy Johnson and Carl Pavano as starters on the Yankees, with Igawa and Pavano likely to battle for the fifth starter's spot. Johnson is recovering from back surgery, so both pitchers could open the year in the rotation if the Big Unit isn't ready by Opening Day."

http://www.tiny.cc/Kx0cM

Something jumped out at me from this paragraph. It says "with Igawa and Pavano likely to battle for the fifth starter's spot. "

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To win in the post season, do you really need good pitchers? Or do you just need your shitty pitchers to pitch well?

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There has been a lot of talk amongst all the hand wringing that pitching, pitching and pitching were the Yankees main problem this season and post season. Obviously there can be no discussion of Randy Johnson's and Jaret Wright's starts against Detroit that do not include the word "suck." Wang pitched well enough to win and Moose just bad enough to lose. That Game 2 loss I think turned the tide in the series because it was a team loss. Yes, Moose could have shut down the Tigers after the Yanks took the lead, and the Yanks blew several opportunites to score runs.

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Yankees:

BALTIMORE -- Hideki Matsui will rejoin the Yankees on Sunday and could be back in New York's lineup on Monday night.
Matsui played his fourth and final game for Double-A Trenton on Saturday, as the Thunder fell to Portland, losing the first-round playoff series three games to one. With Jason Giambi out until Tuesday after getting a second cortisone shot in his injured left wrist, Matsui could find himself starting Monday as the Yankees' designated hitter.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/31/sports/31pins.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Mariano Rivera and Jason Giambi played in yesterday's doubleheader, so their health status is not alarming to the Yankees. But the team was concerned enough about them to schedule magnetic resonance imaging exams.

Rivera has experienced inflammation in his right elbow and will have a precautionary M.R.I. on the elbow soon, perhaps today. He earned the save in the first game yesterday but did not pitch in the second.

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