Scenes from the Yankees Front Office

HANK STEINBRENNER: What is this nonsense? Wang getting his foot hurt? The designated hitter rule was part of the Magna Carta in the 13th century - why are pitchers still hitting?

GENE MICHAEL: Good call, Boss!

GEORGE STEINBRENNER: I'm the boss!

GENE MICHAEL: Um... right, sorry, boss.

GEORGE STEINBRENNER: I like pudding!

HANK STEINBRENNER: Listen, Stick - the important thing is that we have Joba Chamberlain starting now, right? I mean, what's he done so far - won like, forty games, right?

GENE MICHAEL: Well, yeah, he's won a game...
HANK STEINBRENNER: And Hughes and Kennedy, they're tearing it up, right?

GENE MICHAEL: How about that new stadium, Boss?

GEORGE STEINBRENNER: I'm the boss!

GENE MICHAEL: Yeah... right.

GEORGE STEINBRENNER: My shoes taste like cupcakes!

JOE GIRARDI: Hey guys, remember what I did to those young Marlins pitchers in '06?

BRIAN CASHMAN: Yeah...?

JOE GIRARDI: Yeah. Uh... nevermind.

HANK STEINBRENNER: What's up with this team, Cash? I mean, Robinson Cano? More like, Robinson... Can't... Play... No......... More.

GENE MICHAEL: Good one, Boss!

GEORGE STEINBRENNER: I'm the boss!

GENE MICHAEL: Erm...

GEORGE STEINBRENNER: I want Famous Ray's!

HANK STEINBRENNER: And Melky Cabrera - more like... Melky Crap-era!

GENE MICHAEL: Zing!

HANK STEINBRENNER: Where's Torre, anyway?

JOE GIRARDI: Uh... I'm the manager now.

HANK STEINBRENNER: And why isn't Joba Chamberlain a starter yet? He's like a combination of Cy Young, Albert Schweitzer, and Dirk Diggler!

JOE GIRARDI: Actually, we do have him starting...

BRIAN CASHMAN: Hey, lay off the new guy.

HANK STEINBRENNER: You're on thin ice, Cash. Remember when I told you that you should trade every player on the 40-man roster for Johan Santana and you didn't and then we ended up in third place? Yeah... you know what I'm talking about.

BRIAN CASHMAN: But-but-

HANK STEINBRENNER: Shuddup. I've got the solution here - a personal letter to the managing partner's office. It says here, "Put Rickey in, Rickey's ready to play."

Neglect

I fess up, I have been neglecting this blog and baseball overall this year. I have no excuses, only realities like meeting a big deadline at work the last month (it was met) and focusing more energies on a side music career. And now that it's July 1st and been summer, I'm looking at the calendar and half the season is over already--and I haven't been to Nationals Park still...

I'll also admit I haven't been keeping up with the Yankees as much, I know where they stand and see players going on the DL, but it's not something I'm remembering on a daily basis. I haven't watched many games either on my MLB TV.

Okay, but enough of my lameness, here are some notes on the Yanks and baseball all around I wanted to comment on:

Baseball Stuff

• What's with players pushing GMs and other baseball staff around. Shawn Chacon's case was the worst and I'm sure we will see him in an independent league soon if no one picks him up. I was suprised that Manny pushed the head of ticket distribution down the other day because they weren't going to get him enough tickets for some upcoming game.

• The All-Star game is coming up and there's probably going to be some new faces which is good. Also, since it's up at Yankee Stadium, I may have to watch this one.

• The Devil Rays are for real. I'm convinced they will be an above .500 team this year with a good shot at the Wild Card. This is something I admire because they've finally learned how to build a young talented team through the farm and not free agency.

• Willie Randolph getting fired with several other staff was an attempt at slapping the Mets awake. I don't know if it will work, hearing some of those guys talk leads me to think there's no real leadership in the clubhouse and I doubt Jerry Manuel is the guy to change that.

Yankees Stuff

• Well, they finally are having a good run despite the injuries. The offense is letting loose with the likes of Damon, Giambi, Abreu, Matsui and A-Rod all hitting over .300 the last two months and producing well. Joba's doing just fine as a starter, though it'd be nice to see him go deeper into games. I'm wondering if they'll make a move for Sabathia in a trade. If not now, they may go after him hard this offseason unless the Tribe locks him up quickly.

• Kei Igawa's made a couple appearances and they did not go well. $27 million to talk--water under the bridge for the team right?

• Mike Mussina has been unbelieveable. This not only saved him face (he was deemed for the bullpen before the season started), but it helping the Yanks out when the starting rotation is in shambles. I think this is making the Yanks reconsider signing him for another year or two.

• Farnsworth and Hawkins have settled down...somewhat.

Again, my apologies to our readers, I'll do better the second half and try to watch some games every once in a while.