DJ-Nick-Tex-Alex-Curtis-Po-Cano-Swish-Brett

By the way, it was accidental, but also brilliant how Girardi prevented the Torre solution, which likely would have been Granderson leading off and Jeter hitting second. Girardi moves Jeter to leadoff, Jeter has a great year, now there’s no discussion of Jeter hitting second at all despite most of his career at bats coming in the two-hole and most of Granderson’s coming as a leadoff man. If only that had happened before Soriano came up so that he also could have hit in an RBI spot.

So when to the poison payers have to report to camp?

btw, i’m really digging your “itchers & scratchers” et al. a few years back, the Times’ headline of “pitchers & molinas” was hilarious! : )

It begs the larger question of the rigid use of bullpens these days. One guy pitches one inning in virtually every game in which you have a lead of less than 3 runs. Why? I think it makes more sense to use your best reliever when he is needed most. So, for example, I would use Mo in the 6th or 7th in a 1-run game, especially if my starter had put a guy or two on base, because I know he will do a better job of killing that rally than anyone else in the pen. Just because it’s the 9th inning, doesn’t mean it is the most important relief inning.

[2] Don’t even entertain such an idea. Mo is always going to be around. Forever and ever.

That said, I’m rooting for Joba, if he makes it through Spring injury-free (knock on wood) with Phil getting his starts in AAA to adhere to the innings limits they set up for him; especially if Gaudin proves serviceable and Ace up to par. That seems to be a far more manageable scenario than relying on long-duty opportunities and bridging the late innings to Mo; while that’s certainly useful and more than somewhat important in Mo’s advancing stage of his career, is not really prepping him to be the starter they’ve set out for him to be.

On other important matters, I can’t think of anything besides shooting pool as a safe and fun activity for the whole family, unless they have a massive Monopoly or Bingo tournament, Bring In Your Favorite Board Game Nite? An outing at the Bronx Zoo? Sponsor a Pre-Opening Day Wiffle/Stick Ball Tourney Game at Rucker Park, with players making the trip north serving as honorary coaches on several squads? That would be cool… >;)