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News of the Day – 10/31/08

Only 106 days till pitchers and catchers report!

Here is what’s going on:

  • The Post’s George King and Bart Hubbuch state that several “industry sources” have the Yanks making a run at Manny Ramirez to fill the RF spot next season.
  • Yankee free agent filers, day 1: Abreu, Moeller, Pudge and Ponson (as per MLB.COM).
  • Take this trade rumor with a large grain of salt …. Ian Kennedy to the Rockies for Willy Taveras (from a site called bleacherreport.com, which doesn’t specify sources of the rumor)
  • MLB.COM has an article on everyone’s favorite ambidextrous pitcher, Pat Venditte. Venditte earned a Minor League Baseball Yearly award for Best Class A Short-Season Reliever.
  • Feel the desire to carve a Yankee pumpkin? Go here for the stencil.
  • Yankee prospect Humberto Sanchez is the lead writer for an MLB.COM blog following the progress of the Baby Bombers in the Arizona Fall League.
  • You may not be able to afford seats at the new stadium, but you can at least ogle the latest construction photos.
  • Lots of Bomber Birthdays today. Happy 45th birthday to one the Yankees drafted and let get away, the “Crime Dog” … Fred McGriff, and to one the Yankees acquired and should have let get away sooner … Matt Nokes. Mike Gallego turns 48 today. The immortal Paul Zuvella (who went 10 for 82 over two seasons with the Bombers) turns 50. The always humorous Mick the Quick (aka Mickey Rivers) hits the big 6-0.
  • On this date in 2001, a two-out, two-run home run by Tino Martinez in the bottom of the ninth ties Game 4 of the World Series, and Derek Jeter hits a home run in the bottom of the 10th, giving the Yanks a 3 – 2 victory over the D’backs.

Categories:  Diane Firstman  News of the Day

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12 comments

1 rbj   ~  Oct 31, 2008 10:45 am

Um, I'll pass on Manny. Yankees don't need another older star with a contract that would be a liability in year 3 or 4. The Rays are going to be a force for the next few years. Good young, athletic players will beat good, old, no longer athletic players.

2 Mattpat11   ~  Oct 31, 2008 10:58 am

I find the prospect of Willy Taveras more terrifying.

3 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Oct 31, 2008 11:01 am

I was going to try to cut the Tavares thing off at the pass. I'd ignore that one completely.

As for Manny. They need a bat, and Nady ain't gonna be it. I really really want Teixeira, but if they can keep the contract short, there's no harm in Manny. He'd be no worse than Abreu in the field and, well hell, c'mon, the guy's a masher.

4 Just Fair   ~  Oct 31, 2008 11:28 am

Several industry sources are reporting that I will be forever scarred if Manny winds up
in pinstripes. Stay out west, dude.

5 Shaun P.   ~  Oct 31, 2008 11:57 am

I'd get used to the Manny to the Yanks rumors. We're going to hear them every day until Manny signs somewhere. I don't think it will be with the Yanks because I think someone (the Mets?) will happily give Manny the 4 or 5 years he wants. I can't see Cashman doing that.

Speaking of the Rays, rbj, I'd be terrified if they signed Manny. His big bat and OBP at DH (and even in the field on occasion) is exactly what they need. I wonder if the supposed clubhouse issues would make them not go down that road.

I also hold out hope that if the Dodgers don't sign Abreu, the Rays do. =) Draft picks for advanced college hitters, please!

6 3rd gen yankee fan   ~  Oct 31, 2008 12:32 pm

Wow, Mickey Rivers is 60? We *are* getting old.

Manny is a thorny issue. Emotionally, I definitely don't want him on the Yanks, but practically, we sure could use him.

7 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Oct 31, 2008 1:05 pm

Can you imagine a Yankee outfield with both Manny and Damon? Weird.

8 Shaun P.   ~  Oct 31, 2008 1:13 pm

If the Yanks signed Lowe as well (please don't!), it would be downright creepy.

9 ms october   ~  Oct 31, 2008 1:28 pm

[6] i thought that too - how is mickey rivers 60?!?

[7] it would be worth it to me if manny cut damon's throw off again.

i know all the arguments against manny - but i still say his bat could be very useful.

10 rbj   ~  Oct 31, 2008 1:32 pm

"Can you imagine a Yankee outfield with both Manny and Damon? Weird."

That's just it. Recycling the Red Sox outfield from when they won in 2004. That is looking at the past, not the future. The Yankees need to bring up, er, really trade for some good young talent.

I suppose a year or two of Manny wouldn't be that awful, but I doubt Scott Boras would go for such a short contract.

And also, I have to wonder how much of a budget Cashman has to work with. Does anyone know how season ticket sales, especially for the luxury boxes, are going? I can't imagine given the past month that there are many corporations with money to burn on such goodies. Payroll might be "down" to $175 mil or so.

11 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Oct 31, 2008 2:31 pm

That is why they need to sign Teixeira. He's the best, young, all-around free agent available at a position of need since Beltran, and not signing Beltran remains a tremendous mistake.

12 KJC   ~  Nov 2, 2008 12:24 pm

"Can you imagine a Yankee outfield with both Manny and Damon? Weird."

I think Trot Nixon is also available to complete things...

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