Crazy

No, not the Willie Nelson song, sung so marvelously by Patsy Cline [although that is now going through my mind]. The Yanks and their crazy season and crazy fans.

Last night, 7-6 in twelve over those pesky Twinkies. [Ho ho ho?] Here's the interesting part: Johnny Damon singled and so did the Cap, bringing up Bobby Abreu. Bobby singled, bringing around Johnny D. on those sexy calves to score the winner. Congratulations to all involved. Here's the rub: who have we been talking about mostly these past few weeks?

Well, Mike Mussina, and now Abreu, and let's throw in Pornstache Giambi into the mix. Who's been coming up big for the Yankees, time and again? [Mussina, on track for 24 wins. Abreu, wins it in the 12th and always steady offense. Giambino, leads the club with 11 dingers].

Youth eventually must be served [actually, age eventually kills] but one must make certain. For starters [yes, good pun!] we went with Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. Hindsight being 20-20, they needed more seasoning. Now, Yankees fans are about as impatient a lot as can be imagined, and the tone over the winter was that we should allow Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi to play out their options and leave the Bronx, and that we should send Mike Mussina to Philly or shoot him or something, as though he were in some fashion tainted by Pavanoism.

Let's look at reality: what advantage do the Yankees have, far and above every other team? [Well, 26 rings, a storied history, a hallowed cathedral to play in and really cool uniforms, but besides all that.] Resources. We have the resources to prevail. We should use them instead of relying upon wings and prayers.

For example: Jason Giambi. We could re-sign him for a zillion bux, or we could buy out his 2009 season for five million. Face it: G-Man is not likely to get another long term deal. Like PeteAbe said, maybe we could buy out 2009 for those five mil, and then give him another five to play for us one more time. Fans zero in on the fact that the Yankees roster construction is flawed, and it is, but don't throw the baby out with the bathwater! What is the alternative at first? Betty? Morgan Fairchild? The Place Where Derek Jeter/Jorge Posada's Career Went to Die? Nope. We tried the defense thing, and if that was our most important concept at 1B, Man-Cabbage would still be manning the ground. It's all about the offense, man, and Jason Giambi provides it [when he's not injured]. Like it or not, it's our best option.

Bobby Abreu. Let's be real, now. People seriously talk about letting him escape. Okay, Melky to right, and Brett Gardner or Austin Jackson to CF. Why? What have they ever done for us in the bigs? I want those guys to come up and be world-beaters, and they might be someday, but [and this is the key point] - they are not, right now. If we practice slash and burn, we'll have yet another painful session of growing pains to endure, much as the one we are currently experiencing with Phil and Ian. Bring back Bobby, and even though it may take two or three years, do it.

Moose. We'd have been screwed without his production so far. Wanger and Andy have faltered a bit; thankfully Moose leads the league in wins. Now, if Heckle and Jeckyll can get their shit all in one sock [I am referring to CMW and Andy, not Messrs. Hughes and Kennedy], then we'll make a run for it. Andy's tired of it all. He might just up and retire at the end of the season. Think about it: let's assume Moose and Andy both part company. No way is Pavano coming back. That leaves us a rotation of Wang, Rasner, Hughes, Kennedy, and Chamberlain. Absolutely zero room for error, and if that is our rotation in 2009, we won't be going anywhere in October, except home. Once again, we are all-too-quick to jettison the aged as we hope to catch lightning in a bottle, the lightning of youth. I do not enjoy the growing pains when there is no alternative. Bring back Mike!

Rasner. Darrell Rasner. Give that man the ball, and give him a chance. Not the chance afforded to Tyler Clippard or Matt DeSalvo, or Chase Wright. Doesn't throw the ball through a brick wall, doesn't have the sexy rep. Doesn't matter: He's earned his spot. Let him keep it.

It's crazy. Some of the notions dreamed-up by Yankee fans to keep us on top could not be better-designed to have us fail than if they were straight out of Hollywood [incidentally, Major League was on last night, and didja notice that for the most part, actors throw like girls? Not young, athletic girls, either, but old, great-grandmotherly, arthritic, constipated girls.] [Not to segue, but I could not use grandmotherly as an adjective - my dear Kel has been one for ten years now, yet remains blond{e}, shapely, beautiful, and drives a Benz convertible. Not the kind of granny I remember!! Kudos to Crusty the Crustacean ;-)] Crazy.