Hunter likes New York

Free agent-to-be Torii Hunter was quoted in the Daily News saying he likes New York.

"I love Yankee Stadium," Hunter said. "The atmosphere and energy there is great. And the fans know the game. When they get on you it can be pretty personal, but it's always about your baseball game.

"When someone screams, 'You just can't hit that slider,' that's someone who knows what they're talking about. You don't hear that kind of informed (chatter) in Minnesota."

Hunter has been in the Twins organization since he was drafted by Minnesota in 1993. The Twins picked up his $12 million option for this season, but negotiations on a contract extension ended in spring training.

"I want to be with the Twins and that's been my main goal, but I'm human and the silence makes you wonder," Hunter said. . . . I think I'm a decent player. I can't believe there hasn't even been a conversation about it. That's tough to swallow" (source).

Obviously, Hunter is no Orlando Cabrera.

I wouldn't be opposed to signing Hunter. However, as bad as Johnny Damon is in center field, the position is not a priority to me this offseason.

The Yankees are facing the grim possibility of not having Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada and (gasp!) Mariano Rivera. Because all three will command a lot of money ("a lot" is a huge understatement), there may not be enough money to throw around at center fielders as there normally might have been.

Also, I like Melky Cabrera. While I think he's overrated by many Yankee fans, he can be a solid center fielder with regular playing time. If Bobby Abreu keeps playing well, the Yankees may either pick up his $16 million option or sign him to a smaller deal. They would probably have to trade Cabrera at that point.

If they choose to let Abreu leave, they could move Cabrera to right field and maybe sign Hunter for center. That would then make Johnny Damon a first baseman.

That being said, hammering out deals for Posada and Rivera, and preparing for the looming opting-out situation with Rodriguez should remain Brian Cashman's top priority.

I also prefer other free agent Ichiro Suzuki to Hunter.

Orlando Cabrera is a moron

In today's Los Angeles Times (registration required), Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim shortstop Orlando Cabrera ripped into Yankee fans.

"They don't appreciate good baseball," he said. "They just appreciate the Yankees beating up on everybody."

I'm sorry, but what is wrong with appreciating winning? Baseball is based on winning. This reminds me of a famous Ruben Sierra (pictured) quote: "All they (the Yankees) care about is winning." This was said during his first stint with the team.

Cabrera continues to put his foot in his mouth: "In Boston, they admire baseball," he said. "In Anaheim, those fans are some of the best in baseball. They know you care there. They know you can't do it every day. I appreciate that. These people here, they're mean. And they're really mean to the other team."

Nice loser mentality there, Orlando. Fans should expect perfection. I don't know how this makes Yankee fans not appreciate good baseball. When the other team beats your team, are you supposed to be happy that you witnessed a good game? Maybe that works in Kansas City, but it certainly does not work in New York. One pays good money to attend games and watch his or her team win. Anything short of a victory is unacceptable.

I'm sure in Boston, Red Sox fans are "mean" to the other team, especially the Yankees and their fans. This is part of being a fan. In Los Angeles, fans arrive late and leave early. They need thundersticks to generate crowd noise. I'm sure they aren't as knowledgeable as fans in New York or Boston.

Thanks, Orlando, for making me even prouder to be a Yankee fan.

Thanks to Yanks473 at The Yankee Zone for originally posting this article