Happy Halloween everybody! I love Halloween – what a great day to make sure people lighten up a little every now and then.
I mean really, who first said, “OK, we’re going to have all the kids run around the neighborhood dressed up all weird, and knock on strangers’ doors to get candy!” (Just pretend it didn’t come from All Hallows Eve). The best part though is that it’s a social requirement to give out candy – and good stuff too. If you don’t participate, you’re just a meanie.
There’s a funny post on the NY Times site about the extra hour of daylight for Halloween this year (with Daylight Savings Time being pushed back a week). Apparently the candy lobby is responsible. The author they cite, Michael Downing, is a Tufts professor, but apparently his book is just him railing against Daylight Savings Time.
Andy Pettitte today said that he will either take his player option for another season with the Yankees worth $16 million, or not play at all. This is good news for the team, who really needs him as a solid force in the staff next year. Pettitte and Torre were close, and he is also extremely close with Roger Clemens, so it’s good not to lose him to another team. However, the organization should give him every assurance about the future to make sure he doesn’t retire!
A rotation with Wang, Mussina, and potentially three young arms is very risky. Pettitte would provide a lot of stability in the 2 slot.
Rumors are swirling that Thad Cochran (R-MS) is going to announce his retirement from the Senate after state elections in early November. Doing so would leave another Republican vacancy on the Appropriations Committee, as three Senators are already retiring, and more may do so in the future. This, of course, could lead to “potential GOP infighting to replace him.” On top of this, it would mean another Senate seat for the GOP to defend in 2008!
With Grady Little’s resignation last night, it increasingly looks as though Joe Torre is on his way to LA. Sheesh, I could have sworn he’d have taken a year or two off. And the worst part? No Torre on Baseball Tonight, which means another freaking year of Steve Phillips. Make it stop!
Brazil today was chosen as the hosts of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which was scheduled to be held in South America based on the rotating system that FIFA just got rid of. So, South Korea/Japan 2002, Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, and probably United Kingdom 2018.
Bring it back to the US!
Although, I guess it will be pretty cool to have the World Cup in the home of the game’s greatest players.
With A-Rod presumably gone and not looking back, what do the Yankees do at third next year?
As it stands now, is Wilson Betemit our starting 3B? Don’t get me wrong, I like him, and he had a great beginning with the team. As a friend put it when the Yanks first acquired Betemit, “he’s been a top-tier prospect for the past seven years.” But who knows? Maybe he could really develop into something. I might be willing to give it a shot – if we resign Posada and Abreu, I think we can assume there’s still going to be a ton of offensive production even if Betemit doesn’t end up being an enormous offensive producer.
The other option is Mike Lowell, who despite being World Series MVP is now a free agent. I think the Sox will make every effort to resign him, though I’d love to see them ditch him for A-Rod after all the to-do a few years ago. Lowell’s a very solid hitter, but he’s also getting up there in years – 34 in February.
So that means I’m OK with the starting third baseman…Wilson Betemit??
It seems like Joe Girardi is going to be the 2008 Manager of the Yankees, which I think is a good step for the team.
The latest rumors, however, have Joe Torre going to LA to replace Grady Little, who is apparently going to be fired by the Dodgers. Torre was on Letterman last night and didn’t say anything about this, but the White Plains, NY Journal News is reporting that Torre’s heading out there. The wildcard, though, is that Don Mattingly would probably go with him as hitting instructor.
If I were Joe Torre, I’d want to take some time off and relax. But, I’m not Joe Torre.
On this dark day in Yankeeland comes a ray of hope: the Yanks are going to offer Joe Girardi the team’s next managerial position:
“The Yankees have offered Joe the opportunity to become their next manager.” Steve Mandell, Girardi’s agent, said.
He is probably going to receive a three-year, $6-million deal.
If the manager of the 2008 Yanks isn’t Joe Torre, I’m glad it’s Joe Girardi. As a former Yankee, he knows the organization and the tradition of winning. He’s going to be able to work well with the young pitchers. And he did a hell of a job with the Marlins.
I guess we have to deal with the fact that the Torre era is over. In this vein, I’m happy to see Girardi at the helm this year!
Denver news sources are reporting that Tom Tancredo will leave the House at the end of the term in 2008, regardless of his bid for the Presidency. Tancredo has served 5 terms in the House, and is probably best known for being vocal opponent (that’s putting it really nicely) of illegal immigration. Based on his language and speeches though, you’ve gotta question whether he crosses the line into outright racism. Good riddance.
According to SI, A-Rod is going to opt out of this contract with the Yankees. Booooo. This comes just as the Yanks were prepping to offer him a huge, huge deal. With Boston looking like they’re going to hold on, what a crappy day to be a Yankees fan.
