Braves cooling on Nady

According to Ken Rosenthal, Xavier Nady remains safe for now.

A trade remains a possibility, but the Braves are unwilling to meet the Yankees' price for outfielder Xavier Nady, knowing they might get better deals in July.

I like the sound of that. The Yankees aren't just going to trade Nady away for nothing. The only thing here is that we once again don't know exactly what the Yankees hope to obtain.

I guess that's a good thing in the long run. Hank Steinbrenner was essentially negotiating through the media during the 2007-08 offseason, but we all know he's irrelevant now.

I really hope Nady and Nick Swisher stay. This team is better with both in the lineup.

Boras called Yankees about Teixeira

We learned yesterday that the Yankees were back to talking Mark Teixeira. However, as Kat O'Brien reported this morning, it was Scott Boras who initiated the talks.

One source said Boras gave Cashman an estimate of what it would cost to land Teixeira, a superb defensive and offensive first baseman. The ballpark figure reportedly was about $22 million to $23 million per year on an eight-year contract, for a total of $180 million to $185 million.

The source said Boras wanted to give the Yankees an opportunity to make an offer. The Yankees currently do not have an offer on the table for Teixeira.
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Cashman met personally with Teixeira and Boras before the winter meetings but reportedly made no offer. A source said the Yankees have not ruled out making an offer for Teixeira, saying: "We're debating it. Some in the organization want to do it."

"Some in the organization want to do it."

My guess is that should read: "Hank and Hal Steinbrenner want to do it."

O'Brien goes on to suggest the Yankees will remain on the sideline of these talks. She also said Brian Cashman said earlier this week that the Yankees plan to have a lower payroll this year.

So there you have it. The Yankees are debating offering Teixeira a contract.

Post: Hank still in charge

The Steinbrenner brothers (not only Hal) are still the go-to guys when it comes to making decisions, according to the Post's George King.

"There is one very important point here," Steinbrenner told The Post during an exclusive half-hour session. "The most important thing to remember is this: If you didn't get it from me or my brother [Hal], it doesn't mean [anything]. I don't care about some piss-ant employee. If you don't get it from me or Hal, it's meaningless. I have a lot of things [in Tampa] and Hal is in New York, which is good."

Asked if he has taken a step back, Steinbrenner emphatically said, "No."

First off, I hate when newspapers call their interviews "exclusives." Hank talks to anyone who has a microphone or recorder and is willing to listen.

Now that that's out of my system, let's discuss this quote. Usually the stuff that comes out of Hank's mouth is meaningless. Also, is Brian Cashman considered a "piss-ant employee?" He does a lot of speaking on organizational matters. Because Hank said this, I'll just take it with a grain of salt.

Yankees don't want to play fair: Brewers owner

Apparently the Milwaukee Brewers owner feels that the Yankees don't want to play fair when it comes to revenue sharing.

From today's Daily News:

Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, seeking a “fair fight,” said high-revenue clubs like the Yankees should share more with the other teams.

“It’s always amusing to me to hear the Yankees, they can’t get into the playoffs with $200 million, and they say, ‘well, we’ve done enough,”’ Attanasio, the chief investment officer at money management firm TCW Group Inc., said in an interview with Bloomberg Radio’s “On the Ball” program that will air Saturday. “The advantages that you’re given in the bigger market teams - if they really wanted to have a fair fight they would do more revenue sharing, but I guess the obvious battle lines are drawn on that.”

In other news, Attanasio supports the reincarnation of the Soviet Union.

Meanwhile, Hank Steinbrenner's thoughts on revenue sharing from Sept. 23:

“That’s a system I don’t particularly like. It’s a socialist system, and I don’t agree with it. Does it work? It depends on your point of view. But is it right? Is it even American? I’d argue no on both of those points.”

That's one of the only times I'll agree with Hank.

Cashman signs three-year contract extension

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has signed a three-year contract extension to remain with the team through the 2011 season.

Peter Abraham has a statement from Cashman himself:

“I know I’ve said it before, but it’s an incredible opportunity and honor to hold the title of general manager for the New York Yankees. With it comes a great responsibility to ownership, the people who wear the uniform and our fan base. I’ve got a job to finish here. That’s the bottom line.

“I consider coming off a season where we didn’t reach the playoffs for the first time since 1993 as a personal challenge. I’ve never been one to run from a challenge, and I look forward to having the chance to go after this thing again.”

Cashman apparently can stand working for Hank Steinbrenner after all.

He has his own philosophy on how to run a team and will certainly be a level-headed voice in the front office to go along with Hal Steinbrenner. With a lot of money coming off the payroll at the end of this season, Cashman can fill up many of the holes that plagued the 2008 team. Whether or not he makes the right decisions, however, remains to be seen.

What are your thoughts on Cashman's return?

Hank puts his foot in his mouth yet again

Neil Best has excerpts of Hank Steinbrenner's latest column:

— On revenue sharing: “That’s a system I don’t particularly like. It’s a socialist system, and I don’t agree with it. Does it work? It depends on your point of view. But is it right? Is it even American? I’d argue no on both of those points.”

— On the divisional setup: “… If you want to talk about things that infuriate me about the game today, revenue sharing doesn’t top the list. The biggest problem is the divisional setup in major league baseball. I didn’t like it in the 1970s, and I hate it now. Baseball went to a multidivision setup to create more races, rivalries and excitement. But it isn’t fair. You see it this season, with plenty of people in the media pointing out that Joe Torre and the Dodgers are going to the playoffs while we’re not. This is by no means a knock on Torre — let me make that clear—but look at the division they’re in. If L.A. were in the A.L. East, it wouldn’t be in the playoff discussion. The A.L. East is never weak.”

— On Joe Torre: “I’m happy for Joe, but you have to compare the divisions and the competition. What if the Yankees finish the season with more wins than the Dodgers but the Dodgers make the playoffs? Does that make the Dodgers a better team? No.”

— On his case for the divisional setup not being good for the game: “Go back to the 2006 season. St. Louis winning the World Series — that was ridiculous. The Cardinals won their division with 83 wins — two fewer than the Phillies, who missed the postseason. People will say the Cardinals were the best team because they won the World Series. Well, no, they weren’t. They just got hot at the right time. They didn’t even belong in the playoffs. And neither does a team from the N.L. West this season.”

— On the media: “The divisional setup is not right by any definition of logic. But the sports media rarely deals with logic —so you never read about this.”

This is coming from a man who had "better things to do" than to attend the last game in Yankee Stadium. That alone ruins any credibility Steinbrenner had. It's obvious that Hal is the one who is really in charge and that the media shouldn't run to Hank for answers.

I'll let the words speak for themselves and not try to analyze whatever point he's trying to make.

Update - 9:00 p.m.: Apparently, Hank watched the final game with his father in Tampa. That excuse will suffice. I still believe that Hal is really the one who is in charge.

Hank speaks, blames injuries

Hank Steinbrenner decided to open his mouth for the first time in a while. In this article, he blames injuries for the team's lack of success recently.

“I’m not writing off this season,” the team’s co-chairman said Tuesday. “They’re trying hard to win. There’s only so much you can do. They’re not supermen.”

“I think it’s very simple, we’ve been devastated by injuries. No team I’ve ever seen in baseball has been decimated like this. It would kill any team,” Steinbrenner said. “Imagine the Red Sox without (Josh) Beckett and (Jon) Lester. Pitching is 70 percent of the game. Wang won 19 games two straight years. Chamberlain became the most dominating pitcher in baseball. You can’t lose two guys like that.”

Pitching is 70 percent of the game, the other half is offense.

Hank shoots his mouth off, and I agree with him

Hank Steinbrenner spoke to Ben Walker, an AP reporter, and told him how he felt about the National League's rules possibly ending Chien-Ming Wang's season:

“My only message is simple. The National League needs to join the 21st century,” Steinbrenner said in Tampa, Fla. “They need to grow up and join the 21st century.

“Am I (mad) about it? Yes,” Steinbrenner added. “I’ve got my pitchers running the bases, and one of them gets hurt. He’s going to be out. I don’t like that, and it’s about time they address it. That was a rule from the 1800s.”

“This is always a concern of American League teams when their pitchers have to run the bases and they’re not used to doing it,” Steinbrenner said. “It’s not just us. It’s everybody. It probably should be a concern for National League owners, general managers and managers when their pitchers run the bases. Pitchers have enough to do without having to do that.”

Part of this could be out of frustration, but he is right. If the American League didn't have the DH rule, this wouldn't be an issue. But they do, and their pitchers aren't used to doing batting activities.

Pitchers should be able to run around the bases without injury, but they don't have to in the American League.

Cashman to discuss contract with ownership

According to Ed Price, Brian Cashman and Hank Steinbrenner are set to discuss a new contract while Cashman is in Tampa for the draft.

"We're going to be talking about it," said Steinbrenner, the team's co-chairperson.

Cashman flew to Tampa yesterday for MLB's First-Year Player Draft, which begins today. Asked if he wants to keep Cashman and if Cashman wants to stay, Steinbrenner said, "That's the impression I get."

Cashman should be back next year. While it's easy to disagree with the way he's built the bullpen, I feel he's been a fine general manager. He has a lot of money to play around with, so he can make more mistakes than the average GM, but overall he has done a solid job of building up the farm system.

Cashman has seemed to smooth things over with the organization since his last contract negotiation, so this may not be as difficult a process as it was three years ago.

Hank excited about Joba, optimistic about season

As we all know, Joba Chamberlain makes his much-anticipated starting debut tonight.

Pete Caldera has Hank Steinbrenner's reaction to this event, as well as thoughts on the rest of the season.

"This is about what Joba can do for us over the next 10 years. That's what we're going to look at in a lot of way, with the new dynasty, hopefully, we can build.''

And he's buying into tonight's hype. "I know the media live day by day,'' Steinbrenner said of events such as these. "That's not my problem and that's not Brian's (Cashman) problem. That's your guys (media's) problem.

"We just have to build what the Yankees should be for now...and also for the future,'' Hank said. "I really think we'll still go on a tear.''

I really don't get what the big deal is. Chamberlain will be out of the game by the fifth inning at the latest, and it will take two or more starts like these to finally build up his necessary arm strength.

Tonight will only be a tease of what the future could hold.

Hank speaks, and I don't really care

Mt. Hank Steinbrenner blew following last night's rough loss to the first-place (!) Tampa Bay Rays last night.

Kevin Kernan of the Post had all of the quotes.

Let's try to tackle this piece-by-piece.

"We've got to forget about all the injuries and start playing our butts off," Steinbrenner told The Post. The Yankees were buried by the Rays on Monday. These are difficult days for Joe Girardi's club.

"The bottom line is that the team is not playing the way it is capable of playing," Steinbrenner said. "These players are being paid a lot of money and they had better decide for themselves to earn that money."

Well, with guys like Jose Molina, Morgan Ensberg and Alberto Gonzalez playing every night, I believe the team is playing the way it is capable of playing. There is a reason why they were expected to be role players and not everyday players. There is also a reason why Alex Rodriguez is being paid $275 million over 10 years and why Jorge Posada got a huge contract.

"We have good professional hitters and I have a lot of faith in them," Steinbrenner said from Tampa. As for the team in general, he noted, "I'm not saying they are not giving the effort, but they need to be playing harder."

Again, two of the best and professional hitters have been out since April. Also, Jason Giambi and Robinson Cano, while showing signs of coming out of their respective slumps, have been dreadful. I also don't doubt that the team is playing hard. They are failing in the clutch, but that is not because they don't care.

"There's no question we need to turn it around and we have the talent to turn it around. We've got the team in place, and now they just have to go out and do it.

"This is going to get turned around," Steinbrenner said. "If it's not turned around this year, then it will be turned around next year, by force if we have too."

This is my favorite part. I'd actually like to see him use force next year, because I'm curious as to what he means.

His next quote is about Joba Chamberlain, but that issue is so ridiculous that it doesn't need to be mentioned in this space.

"We'll add whoever we have to add," he said. "We're missing two big pieces, but this is basically the same lineup as last year. I have great faith in all of them."

Yes, it's the same lineup as last year when Posada and Rodriguez are playing. However, when Giambi is playing everyday and Cano is still inept, the lineup is much worse than it was last year. It's also a problem that this is the same lineup last year. At least last year they'd bully bad pitchers. So far this year, they can't hit anyone.


Regarding the Rays: "I'm happy for them, but I wish they were in the National League. They only had 13,000 there (Monday) night," Steinbrenner said. "That place should be packed. They're an exciting young team."

This I actually agree with. I know Florida Marlins' fans always jumped on the bandwagon, but the Rays have a legitimate good, young team that should be around for years.

Steinbrenner needs to just be quiet and let the players play. Does he really think speaking to some reporter from the Post will motivate the team? There is a reason why he was never involved with the team until this past off-season. They are only 40 games into the season and are remarkably only two games under .500. If things get much worse from here, then you can speak. Until then, just keep your mouth shut, please.

The Renaissance continues

Mike Mussina is finally starting realize that he can't use his fastball to blow people away, and it's working to his advantage.

After four starts this season, Mussina was 1-3 with a 5.75 ERA. Many were talking about how he was done and he was even called out by Hank Steinbrenner, saying he should pitch more like Jamie Moyer.

Since then, Mussina has rebounded. He has been working with Dave Eiland, who has told him to pitch inside to batters and change their eye level. Apparently it's been working.

In his last three starts (all victories), Mussina has pitched 18 innings, allowing 18 hits and five earned runs. He has also struck out 10 batters and walked two.

The Yankees are 7-0 in Chien-Ming Wang's starts, and they are 3-3 in Andy Pettitte's starts. With both Phil Hughes being out for a while and Ian Kennedy struggling, it's even more important for Mussina to give the team quality innings. His last three starts have proven that he is not done and that he still can be successful at this point in his career.

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Hank wants Joba starting now

Hank Steinbrenner is getting cranky at the starters' slow start to the season. He told The Times that he wants Joba Chamberlain in the rotation as soon as possible.

“I want him as a starter and so does everyone else, including him, and that is what we are working toward and we need him there now,” Steinbrenner said Sunday by telephone. “There is no question about it, you don’t have a guy with a 100-mile-per-hour fastball and keep him as a setup guy. You just don’t do that. You have to be an idiot to do that.”
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“The mistake was already made last year switching him to the bullpen out of panic or whatever,” Steinbrenner said. “I had no say in it last year and I wouldn’t have allowed it. That was done last year, so now we have to catch up. It has to be done on a schedule so we don’t rush him.”
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“The starting rotation is not what I would have chosen at the beginning of the year, but that is not a big news flash to anyone,” Steinbrenner said.

The fact that this is coming out isn't a big news flash either.

I think Hank will get his wish pretty soon. The first step in improving the rotation was made yesterday by switching the order. The next step will be transitioning Chamberlain from a reliever into a starter.

All about Hank

So the rain wasn't the reason why yesterday's game was postponed.

According to the Post's Mike Puma, Hank Steinbrenner was still in Tampa and is very happy that they will be playing tonight.

It wasn't ESPN and it wasn't a faulty weather forecast. It was because Hank was not around.

The next quote of the moment

On Feb. 29, Hank Steinbrenner ranted about Red Sox Nation. Today, he responded to Jonathan Papelbon's criticism.

"Being insulted by Papelbon is like being attacked by a mouse," Steinbrenner told The Post.

"John Henry and I traded a couple of jabs good-naturedly," he added. "So now, all of a sudden, this player, this 20-something kid who really doesn't know his way in the world, comes out with a personal insult. There's no excuse for that."

Hilarious, just hilarious.

Picture from NoMaas.org

Quote of the moment

Enjoy the following from Hank Steinbrenner, from The New York Times via iYankees:

"Red Sox Nation?" Hank says. "What a bunch of [expletive] that is. That was a creation of the Red Sox and ESPN, which is filled with Red Sox fans. Go anywhere in America and you won't see Red Sox hats and jackets, you'll see Yankee hats and jackets. This is a Yankee country. We're going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order."

Oh, Hank.

Hank plans to talk deal with Cashman

Hank Steinbrenner said today the he plans to talk to Brian Cashman about a new contract during the season.

From the AP via ESPN.com:

"I want to concentrate on the season, and he does, too," Hank Steinbrenner said Monday. "But during the course of the season, we will talk. It will just happen. We'll be sitting together at the game, and we'll start talking about it. It's just that simple."

Cashman joined the Yankees as a 19-year-old intern in June 1986. He succeeded Bob Watson as general manager after the 1997 season.

"I've known Cash for a long time," Steinbrenner said. "He's been with our family for a long, long time. I think the big thing is with Brian is the organization he put in place. You know, it's not based on just one decision as far as do a trade or don't do a trade, or sign a free agent or don't."

Cashman has done a great job the last few seasons in rebuilding the farm system and straying away from throwing money at free agents. He has had a few blunders (Carl Pavano), but there were a lot of suitors for him anyway, so it's hard to blame Cashman on that.

Earlier this off-season, it seemed as if there was a power struggle between Steinbrenner and Cashman, but it looks like that has cooled since. It is important for Cashman to return to balance out Steinbrenner's irrational thoughts.

Position players reported today

The position players reported to camp and took their physicals today. The first full-squad workout will be tomorrow.

Johnny Damon was a subject of attention today. According to Bryan Hoch, Damon wants to prove that he is a still an elite leadoff man. He also has no problem with left field, and will play center field when Melky Cabrera needs a rest.

From Peter Abraham, Joe Girardi hopes that Damon will get at least 600 at-bats.

Giambi also "looks great" and would like to play beyond next year (the final year of his Yankee contract). I feel that even if he has a decent year, this will be his last as a Yankee. Giambi is a station-to-station guy on the bases, and the Yankees are trying to get younger and more athletic.

Mussina is throwing well. He needs to be on a mission to prove his worth, as he is also in the last year of his contract. He's been on the decline the last few years, so he doesn't want to fall out of favor with the higher-ups in the organization. It also helps that he has been mentoring Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy.

Hank Steinbrenner signed many autographs this afternoon, and there was also a Carl Pavano sighting (pictured here with Humberto Sanchez).

The news has been rather slow today, so I don't see anything happening for the rest of today. But if there is anything, I'll be here. Enjoy the rest of your day.

In the meantime, Hal Steinbrenner did an interview for GQ Magazine.

Photos by REUTERS/Scott Audette

Pettitte to throw tomorrow

Despite being allowed to report on Monday, Andy Pettitte will throw a bullpen session tomorrow in Houston, according to Ronald Blum.

Here are some Yankees' reactions on the Pettitte situation:

"I think to be a little bit concerned is natural, but my instinct is that he will handle it well," Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner said.
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"As soon as he gets on the baseball field, I think he's able to forget it real quick and concentrate on baseball," catcher Jorge Posada said. "We've got a lot of guys here that are going to support him and give him everything, all the support that he needs."
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"He's doing good. Obviously, he's been through a pretty traumatic offseason," [Joe] Girardi said. "You'll take his temperature to see where he's at, but I expect Andy to be Andy and ready to go and to come out and do his work and be prepared when the season starts. I don't have any reason to think he won't be prepared March 31."

Good to see that Pettitte is trying to prepare. The Yankees have been concerned about Pettitte since he was named in the Mitchell Report, so this shows that Pettitte is still committed.

Hank: There was no offer to withdraw

Apparently, the ESPN report from earlier today was incorrect.

Here are the latest Hank Steinbrenner quotes regarding the Johan Santana front from SI.com:

"It's still in the deciding process," Steinbrenner said Monday night outside Legends Field at the Yankees' spring training complex. "We're still discussing it. There's still a little talk back and forth."
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"There wasn't an official offer anyway. You can't withdraw something that wasn't there," Steinbrenner said. "There was no official offer on the table at this time."

And the beat goes on.

Steinbrenner also confirmed that Joba Chamberlain will have an innings limit this season. One of the options is to use him in the bullpen in the early part of the season when they only need four starters anyway.

Steinbrenner also said that Joe Girardi and pitching coach Dave Eiland will decide how to handle the star prospect. This contradicts with what Brian Cashman said on Sunday. Cashman said that he and Girardi will work it out, yet Steinbrenner makes no mention of the general manager.

Is Cashman's authority being undermined by the new mouthpiece? Only time will tell.