As January is coming to an end soon, we can only anticipate and yes, "smell" a new baseball season just around the corner. Once pitchers and catchers report, it just starts snowballing into the start of ST games, ultimatelly, the new 2010 season. I have often said that after THAT last out in the WS, we somehow realize that all the joy in the world for winning it, especially us Yankee fans, turns into a rude reality; no more baseball for four or so months, which to us is miserable. Yes, we applaud and cheer That last out, we celebrate and feel the pleasure of winning another WS, but then, the lights are turned off, until ST arrives and as the new flowers and trees bloom in Spring, Baseball does also. Gone will be the College Football season, the NFL's and even March Madness will also be on its way out. Old Winter man will slowly disappear, giving way to the wonderful Spring weather, the sound and "smell" of Baseball. Yes, Baseball has it's own 'smell," only that you have to be a true fan in order to smell it. As Spring comes, bringing with it a new birth, the sound of birds and the beauty of it all, so does it also bring life into us Baseball fans, with the anticipation of another Championship, only to forget that with That last out of the WS, we will again enter another long Winter.

In managing the Yankees, his challenge was quite immense, win in 2009 or in all probability adios, goodbye, for although the Front Office never did utter this threat, we all knew, and Girardi also, that had he also failed in his second year as Yankee Manager, somebody else would be the manager for the 2010 season. Instead, Joe Girardi did not become another "Joe," for he did what the other Yankee Joes, McCarthy and Torre did, win a World Series as a Yankee manager.

The YES HOT STOVE is on the air with Bob Lorenz hosting Jack Curry, Kevin Kernan and Hal

Curry on Granderson -best team in baseball got a little better, Ks a lot but will be good fit. Good deal for Tigers - Granderson loves the spotlight and attention, shoulder responsiblity. Kevin Long will work with him to shorten stroke. Tigers looking for AJax to start in center. Young players not sure it will help them next year.

Still room for Damon - Yankees in power position - probably 2 years around $20 mil. Borass will look for another team with longer deal. What about Melky - could he be traded - if not he is versatile. Melky better than Gardner. Word on Matsui will drag out - Curry doesn't expect him back,

Halliday possiblity -Jays are in trouble here. Yankees are in great position.

Great resigning of Andy - terrible poker face, everyone knew he only wanted to pitch for the Yankees.

Pen: loss of Bruney & Coke. Robertson will see more action.

(remember these are thoughts and ideas from sports writers and not necessarily based on more than feelings)

Signing & Trades: Chone Figgins to Mariners. fits nicely with Seattle-get on base and score runs. Bargain price - best fit of the winter. Weaken the Angels
FA signings discussed - Pudge Rodriguez signed with Nationals, maybe to teach the younger catcher and develop pitchers.

Penney to Cards: feel Duncan can work and help him - but a lot money.

Wolf to Brewers surprised by $30 mil - Dodgers didn't offer arb so no draft picks.

After being fed Tiger news for over a week now, all of a sudden we get a different kind of Tiger news. It has nothing to do with his mother-in-law, thank God! The Yankees, maybe having heard, read and listened to all this Tiger crap, decided to start some Tiger news themselves. Today, pending physicals of all players involved, a bona-fide Centerfielder, a guy who hit 30 homers last season for the, yes, Tigers, will put on Pinstripes, wear the proud Yankee Logo on his chest and cap, and patrol Centerfield at Yankee Stadium for the next few years. He is a guy with very excellent speed, so he will add speed to the lineup, and with that, he can also go get them when hit his way. I truly like this acquisition, especially if Damon leaves, because this guy can hit, even if he cannot hit lefties as well as Johnny does, but maybe with a few lessons he may make some adjustments and be a better hitter. He can also field, and with his speed, get a whole lot of triples. So he brings many good things to an already great Yankee lineup. This will make Johnny re-think about his demands, as now the Yankees can put Curtis in CF, move Melkey to Left and Swisher to Right. I would like for the Yankees to re-sign "The Emperor," Hideki Matsui to a two year contract, or Damon to be the DH, he having demonstrated that he can hit lefties as well as righties, and with power. I guess that one of the two will be re-signed.

Bob Lorenz returns to host HOT STOVE on YES following a Thanksgiving break just in time to speculate on the Winter meetings in Indianapolis next week. Jack Curry and Kevin Kernan are tonight's guests sharing their ideas/opinions and thoughts on what could and has transpired this offseason.

Yankees arb players - none offered arb. Yankees don't feel any deserve same money they got in 09. Curry feels we should get the Pettitte deal done soon - Kernan thought if Yankees go after Halliday there might not be room for Andy.

Damon not offered because that would fall into Borass plan. Other teams - not lobbying for Johnny or Matsui. Hoped something would get done early. Kernan thinks he is still important leader - wants to play on winning team. Could work if a $$$$ deal can be worked - $7 plus incentitives .

Matsui still producer but Curry thinks Yankees got everything out him in 09 - get rid of player a year early rather than a year late. If cheap price everyone loves Matsui. Or go to revolving door DH to rest players like Alex, Tex, Jorge. Matsui will not go to Seattle because he doesn't like Ichiro. Curry & Kernan disagree on whether he will be back in pinstripes.

Yes, the Cathedral is being dismembered slowly, little by little. To those of us that have heard Frank Sinatra's beautiful song, "There used to be a ball park, right here, " we cannot but to feel sadness, nostalgia, at what once was, the greatest park on Earth. No, there has never been, with much respect for Ebbets, Field, The Polo Grounds, Candlestick Park, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, not any other park like that Yankee Stadium where the greatest players, from Ruth to Jeter, not to mention other greats from other teams, played the game of Baseball. Where three Perfect games out of the 18 that have been tossed in the history of the game including Larsen's WS one against the Dodgers in 1955, have taken place, and where so many thrills, WS victories, where Ruth's and Gehrig's farewell speeches will forever live in our memories, in our hearts.
Today, all that is left is a shadow of what it once was, a beautiful, magical park, where the fans went out to watch the greatest players, the greatest Yankee teams throughout history. Sure, we have cloned another right accross the street from it, and although it has taken a life of itself in just one year, it will take many years, many championships, many thrills, before it can match the Catheral's. It is simply too much at this time to make a comparisson, to even imagine it coming close to what the Cathedral became, but just to think that there will never be another Ruth, Gehrig, Joe D., Mickey,
and other greats in this new version, is enough to believe that the Catheral will always be unique, special, as great as this new one will be.

The results will be announced later today - and Joe Girardi will receive consideration but because of a handicap probably will not win the AL MOY award. I for one don't hold it against him that the Yankees can afford a $200 mill payroll - that's not his fault nor as we well know does it assure a team of winning. Many were critical of Joe in 2008, his first year managing the high profile, media endowed New York Yankees, but consider that his past managerial experience consisted of less than a complete season with a group of youngsters still formulating as a team in the Florida Marlins - Joe did a good job with the Yankees and the injuries they endured last year.

This year we saw a reinvented Joe Girardi beginning with spring training. A day off from field activities with a field trip to a local pool hall where veterans and rookies bonded in an afternoon of friendly competition - the tournament was won by the team of Mariano & Phil Coke. The bonding carried through to team support during Alex's PC after the 'leak' that his name was on "The List". Joe adapted to his role as he became from vocal with the NY media; his methods might have come under criticism but the bottom line he managed the Yankees to a MLB best 103 wins, followed by the ALDS in 3 straight, beating the Halos 4/2 in ALCS and then bringing home our 27th World Championship over the Phillies. He stuck to his guns going with the three-man rotation throughout the playoffs - it worked because Andy Pettitte was able to endure, winning all three clinchers. A strong wisely used bull pen came up huge.

Statement from George M. Steinbrenner
11/05/2009 3:26 PM ET
MLB.com


"The Steinbrenner Family and the Yankees Organization are extremely proud of the members of the 2009 New York Yankees for bringing a 27th World Championship to New York City and our fans, the greatest fans in the world. Every World Series victory is special, but this one is especially sweet coming in the first year in our new home.

November 4, 2009 the New York Yankees continued to add to their incredible history. This franchise dominates sports with the most titles - the 27th World Series with a 7-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Oh by the way we give Jimmy Rollins credit for his prediction we won it in 6 because we felt generous :) . Congratulations to the players, coaches, Manager Joe Girardi and their fans - and a very special thank you to George M. Steinbrenner and the Steinbrenner Family for supporting this team with their finances and backing and to GM Brian Cashman for going into the FA market last winter and bringing in CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher - with these four the Core Four might not been enjoying their 5th Championship together.