Yankees win rights to Igawa for $26,000,194, AP, November 29, 2006

Against the advice of Michael Kay and a few of the YES-Men, the Yanks have already recommitted themselves to Mike Mussina. Considering the market, what else could they do? But now comes word that they have won the rights to Japanese pitcher Kei Igawa. Mussina is, if nothing else, a reliable, above-average talent who can handle pitching in the Bronx. But what is Igawa? Yet another Yankee experiment, an unknown, like Randy Johnson (back surgery + age) and Carl Pavano. Combined, we have the core of a very shaky 2007 pitching rotation already in place.

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Resurfacing on Stephen A. Smith’s show last night, Gary Sheffield had some simple advice for former teammate, Alex Rodriguez:

“I know he’s going to succeed in New York but I would love to see him leave just for his sake. I don’t think it’s going to get any easier for him. …He went through a couple things but I think it’s going to get a lot worse.”

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Minnesota’s Morneau named AL MVP, AP, November 22, 2006
OH MORNEAU! DEREK LOSES, NY Post, November 22, 2006

Derek Jeter famously wants only to win a World Series. The nice thing about that is that he can use the same speech in victory and defeat:

“You’ve heard me say it a thousand times, but winning the World Series for the New York Yankees continues to be my main focus. There is no individual award that can compare with a championship trophy, and I look forward to working towards that challenge again in 2007.”

Others were not so gracious or articulate:

NY Post Headline: “Anti-Yankee Yokels Cheat MVP Derek”

Larry Bowa: “I am shocked….”

Johnny Damon: “Derek definitely deserves it…. It stinks.”

Brian Cashman: “I don’t have any reaction.”

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• Not Opting Out
So A-Rod will not pull a J.D. Drew and opt out of his contract after the 2007 season. “My choice is to play for the New York Yankees,” he says. Fine. But does he actually believe that New Yorkers want to see him struggle? “I think New York wants to see people go through a tough time and kind of come out of it and fight through it.” Wrong. Look at the way fans worship Jeter. It is no coincidence that he is, above everything, consistently and predictably good.

• Sheffield’s Parting Advice
Now that he’s proven himself to be baseball’s most effective agent, outside of Scott Boras, a placid Sheffield is ready to administer a little advice to his former team: “When you’re a team, you’ve got to act like a team. What you lean on your teammates for is that support when you need it.”

• Girardi @ YES
Someone has finally figured out that Joe Girardi may have designs on the potential managerial opening for the Yanks:

Girardi’s career intentions will add intrigue to his analysis - especially if the Yankees get off to a rocky start and fall behind Boston in the AL East. Don’t be naive enough to think Girardi does not have his eye on the Yankees’ job.

And did you ever consider that Yankee brass may have wanted it this way all along?

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Pinstripe Pin-Up, NY Post, November 16, 2006

Just days after the release of Derek Jeter’s perfume, comes this bit of gossip in the New York Post:

The Yankee shortstop went out in L.A. Tuesday night with his new squeeze, Jessica Biel.

How does Jeter do it? Let’s consult with his fragrance partner Avon for the answer:

Ambition, courage, passion. These are the ingredients of success, of goals accomplished and dreams realized. They are also the guiding forces of Derek Jeter.

Well then… It’s all making sense now, isn’t it?

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It appears that after months of anxious anticipation, Derek Jeter’s perfume has finally hit the shelves:

Dear Customer,

Thank you for your interest in Derek Jeter Driven Eau de Toilette Spray by AVON.

We’re pleased to announce that it is now available for sale and invite you to be among the first to experience the winning blend of chilled grapefruit, oakmoss and spices.

Buy today and receive a FREE Toiletries Case with purchase.

Click here to shop now!

AVON Customer Service

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Girardi returning to broadcast booth with Yankees, AP, November 14, 2006

Joe Girardi is a little weird. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But there is something strange about this guy that we can’t quite put a finger on. Here we have a first-time manager who is clearly talented and a Manager of the Year candidate. Despite his excellence, he was fired from his first job and, in fact, barely made it through the year. Blame Jeffery Loria if you’d like. But that is surely a simplified version of events — only half of the story. Then, citing family matters, came his withdrawal from the Washington Nationals managerial vacancy. Even now, there are other positions still out there (Oakland As). Instead, Girardi is coming back to YES as a broadcaster with his own TV show (”Behind The Plate”).

Is he merely biding his time, hanging out in Yankee Land like a vulture, presiding over Joe Torre’s expiring tenancy? Or does he just love working for YES that much? Why is life at YES so much better for his family than managing with the Nationals? We’d really love to know.

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Yankees deal pitcher Jaret Wright to Orioles, AP, November 13, 2006

It’s clear that by trading The Five-Inning-Man for another young arm, Brian Cashman has decided to model the ‘07 Yanks after teams like the Angels and Tigers. Not a bad idea. And Cashman is shrewd enough to cover his tracks, referring to all his new arms as ‘suspects’ rather than ‘prospects’. By lowering expectations on the kids, he is taking pressure off of them and himself (if the moves backfire).

It’s hard to find any fault in moving Wright to another team in the AL East. But if the last few years have shown anything, it’s that ex-Yankee duds thrive in other markets. Reconnecting Wright with Leo Mazzone can’t hurt his chances at all.

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Sheff on the move: Yankees trade Sheffield to Tigers for 3 pitching prospects, AP, November 10, 2006

And just like that, our favorite soap opera in Yankee Land has come to an end. Or has it? Couple this with the stunning defeat in the playoffs and we have the makings of a great NY / Detroit rivalry. The Yankees must really believe in the three arms they acquired in return for Sheff. How else to explain the fact that they may have just handed the Tigers the missing link to a championship?

Now, more importantly, here’s the question that has been on everyone’s mind: Will Sheff see any time at first?

“I have no plans to play him at first base,” Jim Leyland said. “It might get on his mind and affect his hitting.”

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Gary Sheffield #11 2006 Yankees Clubhouse Locker Room Name Plate, Auction.mlb.com, November 10, 2006

He’s not going to be needing it anyway, right? Opening bid is $150. Only six days left! Click here to bid on Sheff’s locker room name plate.

Here’s some other useless Yankee auctions you may enjoy:

• Gary Sheffield’s helmet

• Chien-Ming Wang Dirt

• Scott Proctor Used Pants (Hmm… Have they been washed?)

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