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?

One yellow light and one blue light

Found this hilarious video at The Launching Pad this morning. The Yankees should add him to the booth next year. He can't be any worse than Michael Kay, can he?

And so the Hot Stove Season begins

Above you can see what CC Sabathia, Manny Ramirez, Mark Teixeira and A.J. Burnett would look like as Yankees (I'm so smart!).

The 2008 Yankees cleaned out their lockers today, and at least a few of them will not be on the 2009 squad. I would not be shocked if, for better or worse, we see at least two of the above on the team next year.

Which free agents would you like to see here next year?

The next Carl Pavano

Did anyone see the St. Louis Cardinals re-up Kyle Lohse for four years and $41 million (plus a no-trade clause) this afternoon and shake their head? Talk about cashing in after a career year.

The 30-year-old right-hander (in five days) went 15-6 with a 3.78 ERA. The wins and ERA were both career highs, and he has not won more than nine games in a season since 2005. He will make $7.125 million next year, $8.875 million in 20010 $11.875 million in 2011 and 2012.

This seems very similar to Carl Pavano's free-agent contract with the Yankees. Pavano won 18 games and had a 3.00 ERA with the 2004 Florida Marlins. He had not won more than 12 games in a season prior to that, and obviously hasn't since. He's actually recorded nine wins in five years.

Buyer beware.

Rivera to have surgery next week

Mariano Rivera will undergo shoulder surgery on Oct. 6.

The 39-year-old closer didn't pitch much in September, but he was able to pitch the final three outs in Yankee Stadium's history and was able to preserve Mike Mussina's 20th win this season.

He pitched 70 2/3 innings this season, notching 39 saves, striking out 77 and walking six.

Thank you

I saw Patrick at YanksBlog thank his readers, and I'd be remiss if I didn't do the same.

I wouldn't keep doing this if people weren't reading, so I'd like to thank everyone from the bottom of my blogging heart.

This year didn't go as planned as far as the Yankees' play on the field is concerned, but it doesn't mean that the blogging year was bad. I can't wait for the hot stove season to begin, and hopefully we'll be telling a different story next Sept. 29.

And with that, 2008 comes to a close

With the Yankees 4-3 extra-innings loss tonight in Boston, the 2008 comes to a close. It's fitting, in a way, that this wasted season ended in a loss. That is now eight straight seasons that have ended in a loss, but who's counting?

The final record is 89-73, eight games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East and six games behind the Boston Red Sox in the wild-card. I predicted the Yankees would go 90-72 and make the playoffs as wild-card winners. Oops. I also predicted Jason Giambi would have under 15 home runs. Oops again. At least I said Melky Cabrera would hit under .280 and Robinson Cano would have less than 50 walks.

One thing I'm sure of is that there is always baseball news in this city even in the dead of winter. That's good news for you and me. So keep checking in. This off-season could be the most eventful one in recent memory.

Mussina wins 20th

For the first time in his 18-year career, Mike Mussina won his 20th game of the season. he pitched six shutout innings, leaving his season ERA at 3.37 at the age of 39.

This removes an "almost" from Mussina's career, as he had won 19 games on two previous occasions.

It seemed that Joe Girardi and the Yankees badly wanted this game. After the bullpen allowed two runs in the eighth inning, Girardi brought in Mariano Rivera with two outs. Rivera, as you know, will probably have surgery done on his shoulder.

Congratulations, Mr. Mussina. It's been a heck of a season.

AP Photo

Goodbye(?) to Shea

While we don't know if today will be the last day of Shea's existence, I figured I'd talk about my memories (unlike Andrew Vazzano) of the blue monstrosity that is on the way to Kennedy Airport.

Believe it or not, I actually attended my first baseball game there. I was young, didn't pay attention to the game, was distracted by all of the airplanes and wanted food from every vendor that passed by. I'm sure my parents were thrilled.

I'd say I've been to seven or eight games there. While it's not my team's ballpark, it will be missed. Unlike Yankee Stadium, however, this is a necessary move.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned Vazzano will be liveblogging away during today's pivotal game. Check it out and be nice. He knows where I sleep.

Post: Cashman wants to return

From George King:

While Brian Cashman remained mum about his future, the buzz smothering the Yankees' universe yesterday focused on the GM telling the Steinbrenner family he wants to return.

An announcement could come as soon as tomorrow.

"Sooner than later," Cashman said with a smile when asked about reaching a decision.

Hopefully Cashman has learned from his mistakes of last off-season. He'll have a lot of money to play with once the season ends.

I'm sure he's a disappointed as anyone with the way this season has panned out. He was very much invested in the success of Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. While no one could have predicted their failures and injuries this year, the fact that Johan Santana is pitching complete game shutouts for the Mets will always loom over his head.

Rookies dress up as Village People

Update - 6:55 p.m.: Cervelli, Miranda, Sanchez, Aceves

The Yankees hazed their rookies after today's scheduled game was rained out. They made them dress up as the Village People on the way back to the team hotel, according to Bryan Hoch.

Brett Gardner donned a construction vest and jeans, Alfredo Aceves became a screaming Indian chief and Francisco Cervelli was the leather-clad biker. Juan Miranda (police officer) and Humberto Sanchez (sailor) found different uniforms, and David Robertson was a cowboy -- six-shooter and all.

It doesn't seem like the Yankees tortured their rookies as much as the White Sox tortured Lance Broadway, for example.

I haven't found any pictures yet, but I'll add them to this post once I do.

AP Photo

Day-night doubleheader tomorrow in Fenway

The Yankees and Red Sox will close out the regular season with a day-night doubleheader tomorrow, beginning at 1:35 p.m.. The night game is scheduled to begin at 7:35 p.m., weather permitting.

Mike Mussina, who is going for his 20th win, will pitch the day game. Sidney Ponson will then close out the Yankees season in Game 2.

Jeter to be shut down

Derek Jeter will not play in the final two games of the season due to a sore hand.

Jeter finishes his season with an even .300 batting average. Compared to his last few years, his numbers were down in every major offensive category. He didn't score 100 runs for the first time since 2003 when he only played in 119 games (though that its a product of the rest of the lineup's inconsistency).

His season seemed to take a turn for the worse after getting hit by the Orioles Daniel Cabrera in May. Though Jeter won't admit to it, it certainly had a negative effect on his performance.

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Familiar score

Oct. 16, 2004: A date which will live in infamy

When I got back to my room last night and saw the Yankees won 19-8 against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in the fall, I was spooked.

19-8.

That terrible score.

Kevin Kernan stole my thunder (I don't want to be accused of plagiarism), saying the Red Sox have won two world championships and the Rays have won the division since. Congratulations are in order for the latter. With the Red Sox loss, the Rays clinched the division. The Yankees, on the other hand, have not gotten out of the first round of the playoffs and will even miss the playoffs altogether this year. Soon after, they announced plans to build a new Yankee Stadium.

Since then, the world has flipped on its axis. Hopefully with this meaningless September victory against garbage pitching, the world will flipped back.

Photographed by: Damian Strohmeyer

Mariano update: Leaning toward surgery

From Peter Abraham:

Just spoke to Mariano Rivera. He has been been pitching with a sore shoulder all season. There is inflammation and calcification. He has been given two options: a series of injections and rehab or surgery. He has not made a decision but seems to be leaning toward the surgery.

It's interested that he's been pitching with a sore shoulder all season. He's had one of his finest years at the age of 38.

If he goes through with the surgery, it's expected to be minor surgery to remove bone chips. Anything involving the shoulder, however, could be cause for concern.

New links at the end of each post

If you view my posts on the homepage and not on an RSS reader, you may have noticed the addition of links underneath the tags on each post (BallHype, StumbleUpon and Digg).

If you are a member of any of those three sites and you enjoy a specific post, don't be afraid to submit it. People who may not know about my site could be interested in something I write (shocking, I know).

Also, if you're a member of any of those sites, send friend requests my way! I'm ajfletcher on BallHype, scottproctorsarm on StumbleUpon and ajfletcher on Digg.

Girardi lied?

That's what the beat writers seem to think.

Here's the deal: Joe Girardi told the writers before yesterday's game that Mariano Rivera went home for his annual physical at the end of the season. That seems suspicious because it was in the middle of a road trip. The writers then called Brian Cashman, who said that Rivera had been complaining of soreness and went home to get an MRI done.

Is this really a big deal? I don't think so.

The way I look at it is simple: The man wanted to appear in the final games at Yankee Stadium and didn't want to tell anyone of his injuries for fear of being shut down. This is the same situation as Andy Pettitte's. He wanted to pitch the final game at Yankee Stadium also, and now his season is over.

Despite being mathematically alive in the playoff race for most of September, the Yankees haven't had much to play for since losing the home series against Boston at the end of August. Rivera and Pettitte both wanted to go out there and battle, despite whatever injuries they may or may not have had.

Isn't medical information supposed to be private, after all?

Thanks once again, Carl

3 2/3 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HRA

Unlike Phil Hughes, Carl Pavano did not leave a good last impression.

In total, Pavano pitched 145 2/3 in four years as a Yankee.

Mariano gets shoulder examined

Mariano Rivera was sent home today to get an MRI done on his pitching shoulder. He had been complaining about soreness, according to Ed Price.

"It doesn't seem like it's major," Cashman said. "Just because of who it is and where we are in the standings, we said, 'Let's get it looked at.' "

Rivera waited until the Yankees were eliminated before he brought it to the team's attention. What a team player.

Results from the MRI won't be known until sometime tomorrow. Rivera is expected to rejoin the team in Boston, also tomorrow.

Carl Pavano: Thanks for the memories

Carl Pavano will make his final start of the season tonight, presumably signaling the end of his tumultuous time in New York. Pavano, pitching for a contract (he has a $13 million option (Ed. note: HAHA!)), is 4-1 with a 4.99 ERA in six starts. I doubt the Yankees will bring him back.

Pavano signed a four-year, $39.95 million deal in December 2004. I'll spare you the gory details because we all know what happened after. I do think that it's amazing that Pavano will not make one postseason appearance with the Yankees, however.

The deal cannot be looked at as a mistake. Hindsight is 20/20 (maybe 20/15 if you have superior vision), and there's no way of knowing that this situation would happen. Many teams were interested in Pavano's services that off-season, after all.

If anything, this situation is unfortunate and symbolic of the Yankees organization since 2000. You obviously have to fault him for the concealed rib injury stemming from a car accident, but things could have been different if he had his elbow surgery sooner, as stated in an ESPN the Magazine article a few weeks back.

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)