Yankees get a little Randy

The Yankees reportedly filled one of their needs Wednesday afternoon when they came to an agreement with outfielder Randy Winn on a one year deal worth about $2 million. The 12-yr veteran spent the last five seasons with the San Francisco Giants.

The signing of the 35-yr old switch-hitter effectively ends the possibility of Johnny Damon returning to the Bronx this season. It is, however, a curious choice made by Brian Cashman and the Yankees’ front office.

Winn is an obvious defensive upgrade over Damon, but his offense leaves something to be desired. The Yankees could use a right-handed bat to complement lefty hitters Curtis Granderson and Brett Gardner, but Winn isn’t the answer. At least not based on his 2009 season when he hit just .158 against left-handers. Couple that with Granderson’s .190 average and lefties and the Yankees could be hurting against southpaws.

As for Damon, Yankees manager Joe Girardi didn’t see a deal happening even before Winn’s signing. Speaking at the Baseball Assistance Team dinner, Girardi expressed doubt that the Yankees budget would fit Damon’s contract demands. The skipper accepted the Bobby Murcer award for Yankees. It is given to the team that raises the most money for B.A.T..

Colts - Vikings is the Pick

The Jets and their fans have had a great run. The regular season was up and down, and it took some good luck to the make the playoffs. Once there though, "Gang Green" (or "Gag Green" as we Giants prefer to say) has taken full advantage of their situation. They've posted impressive back to back wins against the Bengals and Chargers.

Today, I feel their run comes to an end as they play their third straight road game. I do feel though that they will play a close game today - Colts 20 Jets 17 - that's my pick.

A lot of this run of course reminds you of the Giants Super Bowl victory course two seasons ago. There's a notable exception, however, and that is the inexperience of Mark Sanchez compared to that of Eli Manning. The running game is the key for the Jets today. Stopping the Colts weak run game and using Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene to pound the ball at Indianapolis.

While I think the 'D' will be successful in stopping the Colts ground game, stopping Peyton Manning is another story. A story, I believe, that will provide for an unhappy ending for the Jets.

The Saints-Vikings NFC championship should be a great one. Brett Favre has won the big one before , or in this case, the second biggest one. Drew Brees is still trying to get to the next hurdle after losing to the Bears in 2006. That Bears team, of course, lost to the Peyton Colts in the Super Bowl.

I see Brees watching at home again this year due to the Vikings defense and enough bursts by Adrian Peterson to give Minnesota the win over N'Oleans. Vikings 27 Saints 21

NFL Round 2 Predictions

I was 3 out of 4 last week, just missing out on the Ravens victory. Though I did point out that I thought that they could pull off the upset. This week I don't see any upsets occurring.

The Jets magical mystery tour comes into an end in San Diego. The Chargers' Phillip Rivers will be the difference in this one. Chargers by 10.

The Cowboys could very well upset the Vikings. I see this game much like the Ravens-Pats last week. But I see the Vikings winning it on a late field goal.

The Ravens played an inspired game last week and will be fired up this week for the Colts. But despite the Colts lack of a running game, Peyton Manning and Indy will be the victor in this one by 7-8 points.

The Saints lost their last three regular season games entering the playoffs. Granted, they were going at it on all cylinders. The Cardinals survived that wild and wacky game with Green Bay last week when a record 96 points were scored. I like a high scoring affair with Drew Brees passing the Saints to a 10 point victory.

I'll Take a Big Mac with a Side of 'Roids

Mark McGwire taking steroids is no shock to anyone. What is shocking is that Big Mac finally admitted it today. With McGwire's new job as St. Louis Cardinals hitting coach looming on the horizon, McGwire knew he had to set the record straight. Maybe it was even a stipulation of him taking the job. Reporters constantly bombarding him with questions would have been a distraction. Whatever the reason McGwire decided it was time to release a statement.

"I used steroids during my playing career, and I apologize," McGwire said in the release. "I remember trying steroids very briefly in the 1989-90 offseason and then after I was injured in 1993, I used steroids again.

I used them on occasion throughout the '90s, including during the 1998 season. I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era."

McGwire will expound further on his steroid use when he sits down shortly with Bob Costas for a 7 p.m. EST interview on the MLB Network.

The statement also comes mere days after the announcement of the 2010 baseball hall of fame class. McGwire has suffered in the voting due to his apperance before Congress and the suspicion that he abused PEDs. The Baseball Writers Association of America will now have to decide if McGwire's coming forward will or will not affect his voting status.

NFL Round 1 Predictions

I didn't make weekly picks this season, but here's my look at the NFL playoffs this weekend.


Jets over the Bengals - It's not that I think that much of the Jets, the Bengals are one of the worst 10-win teams ever.

Cowboys over Eagles - It's hard to beat a team three times in a season, but the Cowboys, the worst 11-win team ever, have the Eagles number.

Patriots over Ravens - This is going to be a close one. The Ravens could even win it, but we'll go with the more experienced Brady at QB.

Cardinals over Packers - I'm not impressed by the Packers rout of the Cardinals last week. Kurt Warner will be playing a full game and the Cards' defense is vastly underrated.

Dawson Lone Electee to Hall

In a stunning surprise, Andre Dawson is the only former baseball player elected to the Hall of Fame in this year's balloting. Dawson was the only player to reached the required 75% total with 77.9%.

Bert Blyleven, despite 287 wins, missed by just .8%. Roberto Alomar, in his first year of eligibility, inexplicably fell short with 73.7%.

To make matters worse, five ballots from the Baseball Writers Association of America (BWAA) were returned completely blank.

Congrats to "The Hawk", but bad job by the BWAA.

The Big Fugly Calls it a Career

Randy Johnson's time in New York wasn't a pleasant one for him or Yankees fans, but the "Big Unit" had a Hall of Fame career with stops in Montreal, Seattle, Houston, Arizona (twice), and San Francisco. Today, after 22 seasons, the left-hander called it a career.

Johnson, who should be a first ballot Hall of Fame entrant in 2014, finished his career with 303 wins and 4,875 strikeouts (tops among left-handers). Among Johnson's accomplishments was five Cy Young awards, 10 All-Star appearances, two no-hitters (one of which was a perfect game), a 20-strikeout game, and he was a three-time 20-game winner.

And despite his bad back, bad attitude, and really bad hair, he was a 2-time 17-game winner in the Bronx (2005-2006).

Holliday Gets Big Gift

SI's Jon Heyman reported earlier this evening that the St. Louis Cardinals and free agent outfielder Matt Holliday have agreed to a seven year deal.

Holliday, who tore up NL pitching after his trade from Oakland to St. Louis on July 24, gets a mulligan for the costly error he made in this past season's playoffs. And he'll be be paid handsomely to do so. The Cards gave Holliday $120 million reasons to stay in St. Louis.

Red Sox: Yo Adrian

Yahoo Sports' Tim Brown has confirmed tonight that the Boston Red Sox and free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre have agreed on a contract. Buster Olney reported earlier that Beltre's deal is for one year and will be for $10 or $10.5 million annually. There is also thought to be an option for 2011.

The Red Sox had tried to move incumbent third baseman Mike Lowell in a deal earlier this off-season, but it fell through when it was determined Lowell would need thumb surgery. It's possible the deal with the Texas Rangers will be revisited during Lowell's recuperation.

Happy New Year

A big Happy and Healthy New Year to the readers of My Pinstripes and their families. New Year's eve is an important date in New York Yankees history. It was 35 years ago tonight, December 31, 1974, that the Yankees changed the make up of the ball club for the better.

That night the Yankees announced their first big free agent signing in the George Steinbrenner Era. Jim "Catfish" Hunter was a winner. The three time world champion (with the Oakland A's) was a money pitcher. He had won 20 games four times and was a six time All-Star before arriving in New York. More importantly, he was a positive influence on the field and in the clubhouse, and an even better person than he was a ball player.

The Yankees were in the midst of the "declinasty", a period that began in 1964. Since their loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Seris that year, the Yankees hadn't won anything. Not a championship, not a pennant, or the newly formed divisions that came into existance in 1969. But Hunter was the first piece towards changing all that.

Catfish would win 25 games in his first year as a Yankee. And he completed 30 games. Those of you under the age of 25 read that correctly. Starters finished games back then. One year later the Yankees would win the pennant and two years later, the first of back to back championships. It might not have been possible at the Yankees not signed the future Hall of Famer.

Yankees Continue Prep for New Decade

We're down to the final two days of 2009 and the Yankees continue to ready themselves for defense of their 27th world championship.

The left field spot is still up for grab, with no firm commitment to Brett Gardner, who would play either left or center (with Curtis Granderson shifting to left). The Yankees grabbed Jamie Hoffman in the Rule V draft, but I really don't see the Yankees going with an inexperienced player for that spot on their 25 man roster. Hoffman will likely be offered back to the Dodgers.
Jason Bay, though he was never seriously considered by the Yankees, has been removed from contention with his signing by the Mets. The Cardinals are said to be trying to work a long term deal, possibly as long as eight years, to keep Matt Holliday in St. Louis. The amount is thought to be around $100 million, well beyond what the Yankees would spend at this point.

So what's "left" out there. One Johnny Damon. But that will only occur if Damon and his agent Scott Boras considerably lower their demands.

Xavier Nady, whom the Yankees acquired from Pittsburgh in '07, missed basically all of last year with elbow surgery. His asking price is said to be too high, plus there is a question as to whether he'd be able to play the outfield this season.

Another option that I, as well as some other readers have wondered, is what about Marlon Byrd. Byrd was once a top prospect in the Phillies organization, but flopped. He became a serviceable part time player at the age of 30 in 2007. Last season Byrd played in a career high 146 games for the Texas Rangers and posted career highs with 20 HR and 89 RBI. Byrd was also give the Yankees another right-handed bat.

Rick Ankiel had a bust out season in 2008, but injured his shoulder last season and didn't produce. He might come cheaper, but his shoulder is a major question mark. Another problem is Scott Boras is his agent. He most likely won't have Ankiel agree to a deal until Damon does in order to set his asking price.

Former A's prospect Javier Herrera was signed to a minor league contract on 12/22. He was highly touted in the A's organization, but injuries and less than adequate output has kept him from fulfilling his promise. He's not likely an option.

Clearly I was way off base with my thoughts that Cashman was still lurking for Bay or Holliday. So now maybe he's lurking for Damon.

So where does that leave us? Nowhere at the moment. It's still Brett Gardner's job for now.

UPDATE - 12/31
You can scratch Marlon Byrd from the list as well. The Cubs and Byrd have reportedly agreed to a three year deal.

A Giant Disgrace

Football season is effectively over me. There is still one game to go in the regular season, plus the playoffs and Super Bowl. But it's done. When the clock read 00:00, the Giants season was done. Oh and that was the end of the first half, not the game.

The Giants, in their final home game at Giants Stadium, didn't bother to show up. A disgraceful display on both sides of the ball led to a 41-9 blowout at the hands of the Carolina Panthers. The loss, combined with the Cowboys and Packers wins, eliminated the Giants from a possible playoff appearance.

The entire game changed on one series in the first quarter and the Giants never recovered. ,It appeared the Giants were headed for a 7-0 lead when they marched right down the field on the game's first possession. But an Eli Manning TD pass to Steve Smith was negated by a Madison Hedgecock hold and a couple of plays later Mario Manningham fumbled away the football and the season. The Panthers completely dominated from that moment on.

The Giants defense which finally showed up last week against the woeful Redskins, reverted back to their "can't stop anyone" form. Jonathan Stewart rushed for the third highest (206) total yardage by any opponent in Giants' history.

It was a sad finish for the fans, especially those long time season ticket holders who can't afford the exorbitant prices at the new stadium.

As for next year, Tom Coughlin will likely be back. He's only two years removed from a SB championship. But defensive coordinator Brian Sheridan is likely gone. It's obviously not all his fault. The players did not get the job done. This was a defense that was supposed to better than last year's. Some heads will probably roll among the players as well.

O-Coordinator Kevin Gilbride's job is most likely safe, though he will probably look for a head coaching job. And what happened to this team's vaunted running game? Brandon Jacobs has played every game and maybe that's the problem. He's been very ordinary - yesterday he had six carries for one yard before leaving with a banged up knee.

Giants Stadium Will Not Be Missed

Don't get me wrong. A lot of great things have happened at Giants Stadium. There has been the road to three Giants' Super Bowl wins and four SB appearances. There was one near SB appearance for the Jets.

Countless Bruce Springsteen concerts. A great Billy Joel show back in '92, and countless other musical performances.

The Cosmos showed off Pele and Giorgio Chinaglia. On and on it goes. But like I said Giants Stadium will not be missed. It's a nothing facility. Not spectacular looking. No amazingly huge video screens. No out of the ordinary food areas or bathroom facilities. It's serviceable.

So while the memories of events will remain in tact, the place itself will not.

My favorite GS attended memories

12/23/86 - Giants defeat Broncos 19-16 in a Super Bowl preview. The Giants improved to 10-2 as the home crowd got revved up in anticipation of their first legitimate Super Bowl run. George Martin picked off a John Elway and returned it 78 yards for a touchdown. He was finally tackled by Lawrence Taylor in the end zone.

Billy Joel "Storm Front" Tour - July, 1992. Great show. Joel was young and full of energy. (I've only seen Springsteen in the arena)

12/10/00 - The Giants crush the Steelers 30-10 in a surprising run to the Super Bowl year. (Unfortunately, not all the games are good. I've also seen the Giants get crushed by the Deadskins and Ravens.)

Damon Needs to Make a Living

Johnny Damon is really working it this holiday season. A much publicized appearance on WWE Raw and a little known appearance on a Best Buy commercial (okay it's not really him, but this dude creepily looks like him.