I would like to celebrate my 2005th posting by wishing everyone (especially my fellow Yankee fans) a very happy 2005!. This season could turn out to be the most exciting for the Yankees since the 1998-2000 seasons. It has been a long 2001-2004 stretch for us in which we have watched three wild card teams win the World Series + the 2001 fluke. I have a great feeling that 2005 is going to go much better for us. As we await the finalization of the Randy Johnson deal, and see what happens concerning where Carlos Beltran goes, here is a recap (starting from the most recent) of the Yankees transactions so far during this off-season (courtesy of ESPN.com):

January 1, 2005 - Signed free agent first baseman Tino Martinez to a one-year contract with a club option for 2006.
December 30, 2004 - Signed free agent pitcher Jaret Wright to a three-year contract.
December 23, 2004 - Signed free agent pitcher Carl Pavano to a multi-year contract.
December 22, 2004 - Signed free agent second baseman Tony Womack to a two-year contract.
December 10, 2004 - Named Neil Allen bullpen coach.
December 8, 2004 - Offered arbitration to pitchers Jon Lieber and Orlando Hernandez and outfielder Ruben Sierra; declined to offer arbitration to pitchers Esteban Loaiza and C.J. Nitkowski, first basemen John Olerud, Tony Clark and Travis Lee, second baseman Miguel Cairo and infielder Enrique Wilson.
December 3, 2004 - Re-signed catcher John Flaherty to a one-year contract; acquired pitcher Felix Rodriguez from the Philadelphia Phillies for outfielder Kenny Lofton; acquired pitcher Mike Stanton and cash considerations from the New York Mets for pitcher Felix Heredia.
November 20, 2004 - Purchased the contracts of pitcher Colter Bean and second baseman Robinson Cano from Columbus of the International League (AAA).
November 11, 2004 - Named Joe Girardi bench coach and catching instructor.
November 5, 2004 - Declined to pick up the 2005 contract option on pitcher Jon Lieber.
November 3, 2004 - Named Steve Dauria vice president and chief financial officer; named Tony Bruno chief financial officer of Yankee Global Enterprises.
October 30, 2004 - Declined the 2005 contract option on first baseman Travis Lee; declined the 2006 contract option on pitcher Paul Quantrill.

LET'S GO YANKEES!

[ January 01, 2005, 10:51 AM: Message edited by: Cattledog ]

It's a new year, and I'm looking forward to the 2005 baseball season! The Yankees were very busy in trades and acquisitions. Looks like this season will be exciting again, hoping for a better outcome.

Also looking forward to posting with fellow Yankee fans as the season begins and progresses.

You guys are great! Happy 2005!

I too, am hoping for great things from the Yanks and enjoying posts. It's rather exhilerating to have Tino back in the Bronx. wink

LET'S GO YANKEES!

The Yankees announced that they have re-signed Tanyon Sturtze (remember my favorite anagram: "Trust to any Zen"). The right-handed middle reliever was signed for approximately $850,000 for 2005, and a $1.5 million option for 2006 (with a $150,000 buyout). Sturtze, who was 6-2 last year was actually one of the more reliable relievers for the Yanks, despite his ERA, which stayed between 5.00 and 6.00 most of the season.

The commissioner's office did approve the Randy Johnson deal yesterday. So now the Yankees have 72 hours starting this morning to make the numbers work. Apparently only a few minor things still have to be ironed out (just like the Carl Pavano deal) before anything official can be announced. I see Johnson in pinstripes by Monday or Tuesday of next week.

A very interesting article in today's New York Times suggesting that the Yankees may not be raking in the profits that everyone thinks.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/06/sports/b...yankees.html?th

Just in case you cannot access the above link, I found the following excerpts of the article particularly interesting:

"a closer look at the private finances of baseball's most successful, envied and valuable team reveals that it may not be making money. Whether that is the reason for its seeming disinterest in Carlos Beltran, the prime free agent of the off-season, is not known with certainty, but at some point, even the Yankees may resort to temporary prudence.

Consider that in addition to a 2004 payroll of $187.9 million, Steinbrenner, the Yankees' principal owner, was saddled last year with two other large expenses: $63 million to be paid into Major League Baseball's revenue-sharing fund and $25 million in luxury-tax payments, a penalty that only the Yankees have paid in each of the past two years. That meant that $276 million went to players and less-wealthy teams, from total revenue estimated at $315 million to $350 million, before Manager Joe Torre, the coaches, the front office, the minor league system and the rent were paid."

"The 2005 payroll, which without Beltran is about $200 million, will no doubt exceed the threshold that triggers baseball's luxury tax - which is set at $128 million for next season. That will make the Yankees a three-time offender of the so-called deterrent to profligate spending and, as such, force to them to pay a 40 percent tax on all payroll over $128 million. That tax could end up close to $30 million."

It appears that deal between the Yankees and Randy Johnson is just about finalized now. The Associated Press and ESPN are reporting that Johnson's agents and the Yanks have finalized a extension through 2007. Sources report that Johnson would receive $16 million for 2006 and for 2007. His 2005 contract will reportedly be "reconstructed", in which $6 million of his $16 million dollar salary will be deferred at two-percent interest. All that would be left is Johnson to sign off on his no-trade clause, and for Johnson to pass his physical. Javier Vazquez, Brad Halsey and Dioner Navarro would also need to pass their physicals as well.

In other news, the Yankees non-cable telecasts will move from WCBS Channel 2 to WWOR Channel 9 for the upcoming season. As the article stated, this will be the third time the telecasts have switched in the past four years.

[ January 06, 2005, 03:10 PM: Message edited by: pat125 ]

Really? ...as you know, Channel 9 used to be the team from Flushing's channel when we were growing up. The Yankees were always on WPIX Channel 11 and Flushing's team was shown on WWOR Channel 9. Any news about the replacement for Joe Girardi, who is now a Yankees bench coach, since he did the telecasts with Jim Kaat on Channel 2 last season (when they weren't on YES)?

And the team from Flushing has been on WPIX for the past couple of years. But I haven't seen who Girardi's replacement in the television booth will be.

God, I can't wait for you two to go on vacation and Indy Mike takes over the thread.

* sounds of crickets chirping on a dead thread *

EXACTLY....

BTW, when did the METS become the "Team from Flushing" that cannot be menioned in the same breath as the "Second Place Team" from "Taxachusetts"

It's all jealousy, BPT. We Yankee fans have to put up with you Mets fans bragging about all of your World Series titles and your great players as a result of your high payroll. I wish we had the money to throw at Carlos Beltran. We are just this humble little team from the Bronx that hopes to one day conquer the curse set upon us by that team in New England. In the meantime, we will take a backseat to you Mets in the sports pages of the New York Daily News, New York Times, New York Post, and gulp, New York Newsday until we can one day succeed.

Oh, and leave Indy Mike alone. He doesn't care about my Yankees. They only have minor league in Indianapolis. His energies are completely focused on the Colts right now.

RUN FOR YOUR FRICKIN' LIVES EVERYONE!!!! eek! eek! eek!
CATTLEDOG JUST LET OUT A WHOLE TSUNAMIS WORTH OF BULLSHIT!!!!! eek! eek! eek!
DON'T OPEN YOUR MOUTHS TO SCREAM, JUST RUN!!!! eek! eek!

I have officially entered Bizarro World.

In addition, BPT may have fallen for a NY Rangers fan. Life can be so good sometimes !

Hmmm. I guess you've missed those Eagles Rally threads. eek!

Hey, spring training tickets are on sale now! I'm thinking of going but haven't done it before.

Anyone have any tips about Yankees spring training? Is it the Tampa airport that's the closest to Legends Field? And are there spots where you get close to the players or are they strict like Yankees stadium where you line up and it's only for the kids? How about the practice field, do the players actually run drills on the field and you can watch on the sidelines before the game?

Any tips will help, that'll help me decide whether to go or not. Thanks!

The Yankees agreed to terms with Ruben Sierra with a one year/$1.5 million deal yesterday. The only thing left with Randy Johnson is the physical. I guess Bernie Williams will remain the centerfielder for 2005. I don't blame the Yankees at all for not pursuing Carlos Beltran the way his agent has been pursuing them.

The starting pitching staff has overshadowed the fact that the relievers seem ready to go for 2005. Reliever Paul Quantrill will indeed be returning for a second season with the Yankees. He is expected to once again be pitching in front of the Tom Gordon/Mariano Rivera tandem for this coming season. Steve Karsay will finally be available for an entire season unless he suffers a relapse from his 2003 shoulder surgery. Finally, much is expected from right-handed pitchers, Felix Rodriguez and Tanyon Sturtze, in addition to the return of lefty Mike Stanton. Scott Proctor and Brett Prinz will remain in AAA Columbus, but can be called up if needed.

Randy Johnson: already cracking under the pressure of New York City!

Randy Johnson was just in a bad mood because he found out that he couldn't wear #51 (belonging to Bernie Williams) anymore. Once he realizes that #41 is not such a bad number, he will be much better .

don't count on it! Randy Johnson always have a growl, so it should be a fun couple of years with the New York media!

Speaking of the bullpen, Steve Karsay is due back? Why do I have so much hope for him?

[ January 13, 2005, 10:05 PM: Message edited by: FeverDog ]

Steve Karsay is supposed to be ready for the whole season. Apparently he has fully recoevered from that 2003 surgery, and the Yankees plan to use him extensively for middle relief.

Pat125 and I are leaving soon for vacation. It should be quiet in Yankeeland for the next couple of weeks. But if there is any breaking Yankee news, please post it. Take care, guys!

While you're gone, the non-Yankees are going to change the locks so you can't get back into this thread. wink Have a great trip!

I am keeping an eye on you non-Yankee types . Remember: they do have lots of internet cafes (not to mention other types of cafes ) here in Amsterdam. We are having a blast! Onto Brussels tomorrow...

Glad you're having such a great time...although it's interesting that a certain Mr. 10,000 managed to not post at all for over two weeks while only in Canada, while two other Outsporters who are a greater distance away, and post much less often, and have each other to do much more entertaining things than post to Outsports, have managed to post at least three times already. wink

What can we say? Amsterdam is an incredibly boring city! There is not a damn thing to do here... Okay, Pat, let's log off now, smoke a joint, hire a prostitute, and go get married...

Talk to you later...

Geesh Cattledog, I come into your precious thread to keep an eye on it from interlopers like BPT_336 and what do I find but you can't stay away from it. See what you've made me do? I've posted to it so it will die a quick and painless death. HA!

To keep the thread on topic, according to the official Yankees website, Jason Giambi is still a part of the 2005 Yankees and will report to Spring Training as the first baseman or DH. I will be surprised to see him much after opening day.

[ January 17, 2005, 09:21 AM: Message edited by: Indy Mike ]

another interloper here.

hope the honeymooners are having a ball!

Hookers and smack.... strange that neither of you is a Cowboys fan. Whoops! wrong sport. Glad to hear you're both enjoying the trip!

Interloper?? Me??? More like thread hijacker. If anyone can jack a thread off.... topic, it's me or the ex. :cool: Too bad I posted, because it would have been fun to watch the Yank thread die.

P.S. B BIES!

Thank you for being a very good watchdog, IndyMike. Hopefully your postcard from Amsterdam arrived. I should have warned you that you cannot keep BPT from interloping from anything .

I see that no major Yankee news occurred. However, the Yankees did agree to terms with shortstop, Rey Sanchez for 1 year at $600,000. It's always good to have another utility infielder around.

In the FYI department, Ruben Sierra is going to be wearing a different number this season (#28) in order for the very popular Tino Martinez to get his old number back (#24).

The heated rivalry between the Yankees and the red team in New England has been already getting warmer again this winter. Alex Rodriguez made some comments regarding Curt Schit-head on Friday: "I just hope [Schilling] continues to talk about me and my teammates. It's going to give us great motivation to beat him up in the future." Regarding Schilling's continuous comments about the infamous ALCS Game 6 slap play, A-Rod said "To me it was just odd, because I mean we beat him a couple of times during the year and he was crying on the bench. And then he lost Game 1 and wouldn't talk or anything. And obviously, he wins Game 6 and then he's still talking 'til today. So it's just something as we as players have been accustomed to. But it's something I'm not worried about." While I don't like Schit-head as much as most other Yankee fans, I don't want the Good Guys to use the same trash-talking tactics that the red team has been using for years to try to get into their heads. Unlike many Yankee fans, I was somewhat pleased with A-Rod's (albeit, slow) debut with the Yanks. If this is used as motivation to get the team past the ALCS debacle, then so be it. However, I will be judging A-Rod by how he plays on the field this season, not by what he says. The best way to shut Schit-head up is to hit the ball and win!

The Yankees announced yesterday that they are signing Doug Glanville to a minor league contract. He will also be invited to spring training. The Yankees currently have only two backup outfielders, Ruben Sierra and Bubba Crosby.

In the linked article, the Yankees announce other minor league signings, including Homer Bush, who has been a utility player and pinch runner in the past for the Good Guys.

Nice catch on Doug Glanville, Pat! It is always good to have more experienced back-ups in the outfield. Glanville (who incidentally hails from Hackensack, NJ), is mostly known for his one really good year with the Phillies in 1999 when he had a .325 batting average and .376 on-base percentage. Unfortunately his numbers fell off quite a bit after that season. He is a career .277 hitter who has already had two stints with the Phillies, two stints with the Cubs, and one partial season with the Rangers. He probably won't get much playing time with the very popular Bubba Crosby and Ruben Sierra ahead of him, but it's not a bad signing at half a million.

Very interesting article in today's New York Times titled "The Trials of Jason Giambi":

When Jason Giambi speaks with reporters, he raises his eyebrows and he nods his head, his manner disarming. He often makes a joke and smiles. When he wants to end an interview, he almost always says, "Thanks, guys," and pats someone on the back.

When Giambi plays road games in Oakland, where he grew up as a major leaguer, the fans roast him with jeers during batting practice and games. But he makes a point of signing autographs anyway, grinning and making small talk.

It is Giambi's nature to want to be liked. Even in his testimony to the grand jury investigating the Balco steroids case, as reported in The San Francisco Chronicle eight weeks ago, he seemed especially accommodating. If Barry Bonds was evasive with federal prosecutors, Giambi seemed to tell the truth eagerly.

Giambi plans to meet with members of the news media before spring training for his first public comments since the revelations. He will report to camp in Tampa, Fla., with Yankees position players on Feb. 20. When games start, he will face a season-long test of his mental makeup. Fans will be ruthless, and Giambi will care what they think.

"That's both a strength and a weakness for him," said Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland Athletics. "When you're a major league player, it can be a character flaw. But it's not a character flaw as a human being. He's a good guy, and if it affects him, that's because he does care."

However he presents himself, Giambi will be dogged by his testimony, which was leaked to The Chronicle and was, legally, supposed to be private. According to the article, Giambi admitted to injecting human growth hormone into his stomach and testosterone into his buttocks. He also acknowledged using the steroids known as the clear and the cream, which he said he received from Bonds's personal trainer, who has been indicted in the Balco case.

Because of Giambi's admission, many fans - if not teammates - may be hostile toward him. On baseballreference.com, Giambi's page is sponsored by a fan who wrote, "Apply an asterisk to all numbers you see below, especially the M.V.P. award."

The former Yankee Jim Bouton, who rankled players after writing the landmark book "Ball Four" in 1970, said he did not know how teammates would react to Giambi, who admitted to knowingly using steroids. But Bouton's opinion might be typical for fans.

"I really have no sympathy for the guy," Bouton said. "Guys who take steroids are basically looking to cheat their teammates for the opportunity to play, and cheat the opposing team.

"I see steroids as worse than gambling. They have affected the outcome of far more games than gambling. I just don't see him as a sympathetic character."

The Yankees saw the steroid report as a way to get rid of Giambi, who played in only 80 games last season while battling a variety of illnesses. When the report broke, on Dec. 2, the Yankees issued a statement that said they were keeping their options open.

They met with the commissioner's office that day. Finding little chance of voiding the remaining four years and $82 million on his contract, the Yankees resigned themselves to keeping Giambi.

Another Yankee, Gary Sheffield, was also implicated in the Balco case, but the Yankees showed no signs of wanting to unload him. Sheffield was the runner-up for the American League Most Valuable Player award last season; Giambi batted .208.

The Yankees' feelings are probably obvious to Giambi, who lives in Henderson, Nev., in the winter and has been working out twice a day. He saw his former high school coach, Jim Bastion, at his home two weeks ago. Bastion said Giambi was motivated.

"When you reach that level that he reached, and then you have such a terrible year and health problems, I really think that gives you the added incentive to prove people wrong," said Bastion, who coached Giambi at South Hills High School in West Covina, Calif. "I think he'd really like to prove the Yankees wrong in the lack of faith they seem to be showing."

There have also been numerous rumors about Dougie being a member of the family.

Last night was the annual Thurman Munson awards dinner, and of course, the New York media was out in force. The New York Daily News reported that AL-MVP runner-up, Gary Sheffield, was very available to answer questions about his shoulder, the ALCS disaster, and his present health, but obviously wouldn't discuss the BALCO investigation. Unlike all of the crap that got thrown on Alex Rodriguez during the season and off-season, Sheff has been basically embraced by the Yankee fans and the media. Even George Steinbrenner told Sheff that he was "proud" of his 2004 perfomance. Regarding the ALCS aberration, Sheffield said: "This was probably the hardest time for me to get over a playoff (loss) than ever in the past. There's a lot built up in me right now. My goal right now is just to stay healthy. But the thing is, we have a long road ahead of us. We have some redeeming to do, gotta go out and redeem myself from last year and have a better year."

I am so ready for this redeeming process!

Speaking of Gary Sheffield, he states that his shoulder is feeling great, and is looking forward to a pain-free season. Can't wait for the season to begin!

As Pat125 had alluded to on Jan. 29, the Yankees had made some key minor league signings. It's good to have some reinforcements in Columbus, OH. These contracts have now been finalized.

New York Daily News:
Yankees Finalize 18 Minor League Contracts

NEW YORK (AP) -- Outfielder Doug Glanville, utilityman Damian Rolls and right-hander Brad Voyles were among 18 players who finalized minor league contracts with the New York Yankees on Friday.

Glanville would get a $550,000, one-year contract if he is added to the major league roster, while Rolls would receive $600,000 and Voyles $350,000.

Also agreeing to minor league deals were infielder Homer Bush; left-hander Danny Borrell; right-handers Aaron Small and Marc Valdes; infielders Russ Johnson and Caonabo Cosme; outfielders Mike Vento, Noah Hall and Colin Porter; and catchers David Parrish, Joe Depastino, Ryan Hankins, Irwil Rojas, Omir Santos and Jon-Mark Sprowl.

Glanville, 34, hit .210 with two homers and 14 RBIs in 162 at-bats for the Philadelphia Phillies last season. The nine-year major league veteran, who also has played for the Chicago Cubs and Texas, would compete with Bubba Crosby for a backup outfield job.

Glanville has a .277 career average with 59 homers and 333 RBIs.

The 27-year-old Rolls played six positions for the Devil Rays last season, appearing at first, second, third and all three outfield spots. He hit .162 with no homers, had nine RBIs and 36 strikeouts in 117 at-bats.

In his Tampa Bay career, Rolls hit .248 with nine homers, 73 RBIs and 27 steals.

If I recall correctly, there was speculation here on Outsports that Doug Glanville was the MLB player Brandon Lemon claimed to have ahd an affair with a couple of years back.

If Doug Glanville is the guy to whom Brendan Lemon was referring, I would not exactly call him a well-known player. When this story had made news, Lemon said that he was seeing a guy on an east coast team, and that WAS true because it was the Phillies. However, he also said that he was not the star, but he was a well-known player. While those who follow baseball pretty well are most likely familiar with Glanville, I don't know if he would fall into the "well-known" category. What do you guys think?

[ February 04, 2005, 02:58 PM: Message edited by: Cattledog ]

Besides, I always thought it was more likely that it was someone like Chuck Knoblauch, another handsome guy from Texas A&M. Anyway, he seemed to fit the category of not being the star of the Yankees, but a "well-known" player in the summer of 2001, when this story broke.

[ February 04, 2005, 03:05 PM: Message edited by: pat125 ]

Well, we try our best wink !

Chuck Knoblauch was apparently in one of my classes at Texas A&M. But since he never showed up to any of his classes, I never had the chance to see which team he played for ! We could have studied together and, um...

This is the thread where the Glanville theory was raised.

Another related thread.

Someone started a thread suggesting Derek Jeter eek! was the mystery boyfriend. (Added to give this post some Yankee relevancy. wink )

[ February 04, 2005, 04:15 PM: Message edited by: canmark ]

Me and my friends allways had this theory that it was either Maddux or Leiter. Course, they are married....but ya know that doesn't mean much nowadays.

Fun to speculate.

The New York Post is reporting that the Yankees are in talks with re-signing Ramiro Mendoza after a couple of seasons playing with the red team in Massachusetts. Apparently he had always wanted to come back to New York and never really wanted to leave. Mendoza had off-season shoulder surgery, and probably won't be ready for start of the regular season.

I love the countdown to Spring Training that the official Yankees site is running!

It's a great feeling knowing Opening Day is right around the corner. Bring on those Sox.

Let's Go Yankees!