There's two different arguments going on here. First 1 is that there's disappointment in the amount of posts in general, the other is the amount of posts by Sox fans. The first argument I can work on and most definitely have control over. I will make more of an effort (even though my season begins tomorrow) to post more, especially when there are such huge milestones reached like 3000 hits. As for the second argument I can only say that knowing Paul and SF, I highly doubt they are ducking. They might be disappointed or disenchanted with the their team but I'd put money on the fact they aren't skipping past YFSF because they have their tails between their legs. When they return they can address this, until then just let it go.

James, leave SF and Paul out of your comments. You want to troll the people that are here, we can defend ourselves but no reason to include them. And again, they aren't avoiding YFSF, they have other things going on. There's no correlation. Just talk baseball with those that are here.

Krueg, don't start hating them again, not yet at least. This is Valentine's way of deflecting from last year's debacle, his ban on alcohol in the clubhouse and his ace's quest to find find last year's snitch in the clubhouse. His comments had nothing to do with the Yankees and all to do with him trying to change the focus. It's the beginnings of a Boston Rex Ryan, minus the boastful guarantees. Big picture he should be focused on his lack of a SS, the platoon situation in RF and the back end of their rotation but for now he's deflecting. Not to mention he's replacing a very well liked and respected manager among the players. By the way can you tell he hasn't managed in a long time? He picks the flip and Tek fighting with his mask on to comment about? Next up Bucky Dent's HR. On topic: Tek is probably my LFRS of all time. I really, really dislike him as a player. I am sure he's probably a great guy, but as a player him and Papi are tops on my list. I will not miss him one bit. In my dream scenario someone would have plunked him in one the final yankee/sox games last season then A-Rod charge in and whisper in his ear "We don't throw at .221 hitters"...To his credit his teammates loved him, pitchers loved throwing to him and he was (for a time) one of the games best offensive catchers. He has a career he should certainly be proud of.

The are many reasons why things have been slow around here, none of which should be or will be blamed on Sox fans or Paul or SF. For as long as I've been here the off-season has always been slower than the regular season. We are not RAB or TYA. I can't speak for the other authors, but I know as a 36 year old I and father of 2, I just don't have the time to write something on a daily basis anymore. Trust me I'd rather be commenting or putting up a post. The regulars here are great: Ath, DC, SW, Devine, Krueg and so on. There is never a lack of conversation in season. Check back in June, this place will be more crowded than the new Shannon Rose that opened up down the road from me. My only advice is if you don't understand the dynamic or can't appreciate what's done here, don't stop by. Otherwise stick around you might actually come to like it here. 10 days until baseball season for me, chomping at the bit!

Yeah that's the feeling I get as well. I do think however they should bring in a Vet just to see what he has. My vote is for Branyan. I guess Fielder, Pena, etc would be just too expensive at this point.

You are right Krueg there is value in that for sure. Between you and me, the real issue is I have never been a fan of Damon or Matsui. They were terrific parts of some very good teams here in NY, but I was happy when we moved on. No disrespect to them, sometimes I can't see past my own personal opinions. Seriously though I'd rather them (and the idea is not original, came from RAB) go after Branyan than Damon/Matsui. I think having the option to platoon at DH will help keep Alex fresh. Branyan is the same case as Pena, he kills RHP, stinks against LHP. Big difference is Branyan can't play the field.

The good thing is that they have options. Here's a few I think would work: 1. Sign Pena, platoon L/R with Jones. I think you can also platoon the LHP side with Alex at DH and Noonie (channeling my inner Girardi)at 3B. I think the problem with guys like Andruw Jones is that they get over exposed. Barring injury this could lessen Jones' exposure, capitalize on both his and Pena's ability to hit the opposite side pitcher AND give Alex a chance to rest regularly. 2. Dangle Hughes or Burnett. I would however roll the dice and see how spring training goes 1st. Burnett has little to no trade value and in Hughes case we might get slightly more IF he can prove his velocity is back and that he's in shape. Ideally though I really don't want to move Hughes, I just hate giving up. 3. Play JoVa and see what happens. Offense isn't a weakness. Maybe they catch lightning in a bottle. It's not like he's going to tarnish his trade value, teams know what he is and he's not a prospect. Worst case he stinks and they make a trade at or before the trade deadline. Teams are always looking to dump overpriced DH types. Forget Damon, forget Matsui. Unless we can get a time machine in the deal let them decline further with another team. No disrespect of course, I just don't like investing in the hope that this won't be the year they forget how to hit and father time catches up.

Nick, I am torn. I guess if the Yankees could get a young guy like Butler it's a risk worth taking. Here it is Krueg: http://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-royals/2012/1/15/2709464/mlb-rumors-yankees-royals-trade-could-involve-billy-butler-for-phil Count me out of that crowd. I want no part of Damon or Matsui. No offense Krueg.

Next move: Sign Carlos Pena. It's not ideal from a position flexibility standpoint but the offense it could generate should erase all that. It's simple math really: Pena mashes RHP. Andruw Jones mashes LHP. Together they equal a very good DH combo. Add to that the short porch in right and this could be a match made in heaven. Pena's defense is also a plus as if he needed to fill in for Tex 1-2 a week we'd lose nothing defensively. In addition Jones doesn't always have to be the RHB in this DH platoon that could be Jeter and Alex. Against LHP either of those guys could DH and Nunez would move to SS/3B. I've yet to find any downside in a move like this other than $ and Pena only plays 1B.

Don't get me wrong, as I said make this trade everyday of the week, etc...but it certainly comes with some risk. It boils down to being able to manage his youth/growth that's all. The more I look at Kuroda the more I think he's the buffer for Pineda. He should take the necessary pressure off him in '12.

I agree with most everything you've said Nick, although I do have some concerns. I tried to compose a post this morning but my kids obviously do not appreciate the magnitude of this trade. I am concerned with how the Yankees will handle Pineda innings wise. He's a young man that has thrown just 170 (or so) innings in the big leagues. The Mariners not being in the playoff hunt last year and the fact that they were invested long term allowed for Pineda's innings to be limited and controlled. What happens now that he's being thrown into the middle of the AL East and hopefully a playoff run? Do the Yankees institute the Pineda Rules? (I hope not) How does Girardi balance the future and the present? Pineda turns 23 in four days and by all accounts he should have an extremely bright future barring injury. Unfortunately for Pineda Yankee fans have been craving that #2/support pitcher for CC for quite some time. Patience and long term thinking is not always a strong point of ours. Added to that the core of this team is built for the now. Pineda is not a CC Sabathia or Roy Halladay type horse(yet!). He is a (soon to be) 23 year old pitcher still developing and growing. He's going to take some time to build up his innings and refine some of his skills. He may very well end up being that type of horse, but right now the Yankees will need to tread lightly and let this kid continue developing. I just hope that we as fans and the Yankees as a team allow for that to happen. Secondly, his Pineda's struggles with LHB's is a little concerning. Not something that would be a deal breaker but certainly something to pay attention to. LHB's hit 50 points higher and his K/9 drops just about from 10.44 to 7.77. He's young so there's room for this to change for sure, it's just something to keep an eye on. Third, Pineda is a fly ball pitcher in a park that doesn't really support fly balls all that well. My hopes are that Kuroda can be that support that CC needs innings wise and the Yankees can walk the fine line between contention and development with Pineda. At first glance I wasn't ecstatic, but after really looking at it I think if he's handled properly this is a trade you make everyday of the week and twice on Sunday. The key will be not to put too much pressure on the kid right away...Seems like an easy task in NY, on the Yankees and in the AL East, no? PS: I am glad we as Yankee fans can finally stop trying to defend Jesus and his ability to catch. It was exhausting. ;)

This was clearly a win for the Sox, on paper at least. Head is a 5ft10-ish power hitting converted 1Bman with raw power and Alcantara is 19 with a live arm. Neither was helping the Sox anytime soon. So there are a few theories as to why the A's would take this trade. 1, is that the market is so saturated with good closers this was the best deal they could get. 2, is that the A's are concerned with Andrew Baileys knee and arm/elbow. 3, the A's are now being run by Rachel Phelps. Theory 1 makes little to no sense as Bailey is under team control for 3 more seasons. There was no real reason to move this kid unless they were blown away by a trade offer. Josh Reddick is a 4th OF'r, Head is a gamble at best (PS the A's have roughly 70 1Bman with the same "upside") and Alcantara ends up as the wild card. Reading a lot of good things about him, but enough to trade an All-Star closer? Not that I'd ever wish injury on the kid, but it just seems like maybe the A's were concerned about his health and wanted to capitalize while they still could. The Sweeney thing doesn't excite me. He's a singles hitter that plays Defense. He's a 4th OF at best, but I'd be super excited if he was the starting RF for the Sox in 2012. Imagine Brett Gardner type power, OBP and BA minus the ability to steal bases and run. Bailey is a Jersey kid, went to Wagner and already has a working relationship with Bobby V. I wish him all the best, except when he's playing us or the division is on the line.

I am really lost re: Cashman's approach to the 2012 team. Part of me says OK, maybe he's just planning a calculated strike. The sensible part of me says he really believes that lightning can strike twice and that Freddy Garcia and other retreads can pitch us to an AL East title. I am the FIRST to say I was wrong and that his approach worked (somewhat) last season, but to think it's going to work twice is lunacy. I don't need the big name signings, throwing money at everyone approach, but when you see other teams around you getting better day by day you have to start to wonder. This 2012 team is built to win NOW, not in 2 years, NOW. So while it's great that we aren't trading the farm for guys like Ken Phelps anymore, we still need some guys for this year. Betances, Banuelos, etc... are not 2012 impact players like it or not. Cashman and the Yankees need to find a happy medium. We go from free wheeling, throwing money at and trading for anything that throws 90 and hits 25+ HR's to what we have now...Jeter, Tex, A-Rod, Mo, they are all running out of chances, strike now! That said the 2 best options free agent SP wise are Edwin Jackson and Hiroki Kuroda. I'd pass on Jackson and if they couldn't upgrade via trade I'd take the chance on Kuroda. I won't pretend to know anything about him other than his numbers and by all accounts there he's solid. The best options are all available via trade. Let's see what unfolds, I am certainly hoping we make at least one impact move SP wise...please! Happy Holidays to everyone. All the best!

Thanks Bill. Not to be that guy, but Bobby V attended one of our HS games last year. Spoke with our players, took pictures, etc...seemed like a nice guy. I don't recall him mentioning his hatred for the Yankees back then. ;)

Pujols to the Angels. 10 years 250-260 full no trade. Should be a good deal for at least 5-6 of those years, what about years 7-10? Best hitter in the game hands down, but how many guys are worth that money at 38-42? Now the Angels have 3 legit 1Bman. Rumor is they will non-tender Kendry Morales.

He also made a comment about speaking to Beckett but not being allowed to disclose what was discussed only that "After he got through telling me how pissed off he was, we had a really good conversation." Then he went on to say "I told (Beckett), I’ll be in Texas,” Valentine said earlier this week, “so if you want me to just scoot down and say hello and allow him to put his cowboy boot on my butt and start fresh, I’m ready any time." So maybe it's just me being a cynical Yankees fan but doesn't it sound like Beckett isn't happy about Valentine coming aboard? Is there a history between the two that I am not remembering?

Looks like Madson to the Sox is also close to happening as well. Keep reading that Nakajima wanted/wants to play on West Coast...I guess signing him may be more difficult than simply winning the bid. Krueg, I think as much as it pains us in order to get one of those guys (Danks/Gio) we'd have to part with something more than Nunez and crud.

Yankees win the bid on Nakajima according to Rosenthal. Does this mean they are trading Nunez? Braves...Hmmmmm.

I think it's a solid hire. Bobby V's act wears thin super fast by all accounts, so this isn't a long term hiring, but in short spurts his message and style can be very successful. Heck any manager that can get the Mets (with that lineup) to a World Series has to be some kind of good :) Seriously though with the veterans this team has it will be a good fit.

What about that is "wow" worthy or of that meds comment? The Yankees didn't have another player with a WAR above 6 other than Granderson, the Sox had 2. Granderson was the Yankees offense for long stretches this season. Like I said, I'll give Verlander his due, he was superb this season, but Granderson was far more valuable to his team than was Ellsbury. I don't think there is anything crazy about that.

They need to change the name of the award. Most Valuable Player to Player of the Year. To me, the MVP should be the player with the most overall value to his teams success. In this case Verlander was a great choice, but Ellsbury as the runner up? So without Ells the Sox would have finished where? I can't believe I am as upset about this as I am, being that I support the winner, but #2 should have been Granderson. He carried the Yankees for stretches this season, all by himself. His value to the Yankees, a playoff team, far outweighs the value that Ellsbury brought to the Sox, a non-playoff team. Take Granderson off the Yankees and they do not win the AL East. Take "Valuable" out of the name of the award and I will agree with how 1-4 broke out. Keep "Valuable" in and I believe they got it wrong.

I think Cashman needs to call the Braves. Obviously Vizcaino is out, but they have a ton of young pitching. I really like Minor, not a star but a very good young pitcher. As for Buehrle, depending on the price sure. I don't think Yankee Stadium is the right fit for him, but if all other options were exhausted why not. I think he'd be better suited with the Mets, but that's just my take.

Glad to have CC back. The contract is nuts, but the alternative was even nuttier! Not much not to like about this team other than age and AJ Burnett. Cashman gets GM of the decade if he can find a suitor for AJ...The age thing we are stuck with.

I know you weren't referring to me IBM, but just to clarify my statements above: I don't think Lackey would "fake" arm surgery, nor do I doubt the legitimacy of the injury. I have a pretty good understanding of TJ surgery and what a player can/cannot do with an injury like this. As I said above they are not all "Strasburg" TJ surgeries. Some people can need TJ surgery and play for quite some time before they ever do anything about it. Some people, like Strasburg blow that thing up and it needs immediate repair. After reading PA's piece all of the signs most certainly lead me to believe he already tried the play through it route and ended up where he is now. The forearm tightness is a big red flag.

Yes. Just seems oddly timed. As I have mentioned before one of my pitchers could have TJ if he elected to, but instead he has chose to play through it and strengthen and get treatments. So I do completely understand that TJ doesn't always present in the "Strasburg" way, but this just seems too perfect, timing wise. Maybe I am just a cynic, who knows. Blue Jays apparently will not allow Farrell to go to the Sox ESPN is reporting. I met the man, he's a brilliant mind pitching wise, but he's definitely not a (head) NY/Boston guy in my opinion. What about Ryne Sandberg? What's he doing these days? He wanted a shot right? Maybe he'd be a good fit. Brings credibility of being a player, fits the "new start" movement...