Without A Pot To Pitch In

The Cardinals will be letting Sidney Ponson use their facilities on Thursday to show scouts what he has. Tony LaRussa wants to "keep an open mind," so Cardinals scouts will also be taking a look at Ponson, who has slimmed down to 245 pounds. My guess is that unless Ponson's changed his attitude and work ethic, it'll be a big waste of time.

Ponson's not the only pitcher hoping for a chance in 2008. Get a load of these names:

Tony Armas, Jr
Freddy Garcia
Kyle Lohse
Jose Mesa
Eric Milton
Jeff Weaver
Jay Witasick
Ron Villone

Do any of these hurlers deserve a pot to pitch in? Most of them don't but I'll bet they'll all get their chance somewhere at some point this season. Good luck, guys.

The Lady

Will Bonds Play In 2008?

I can't believe there are teams out there that are actually interested in signing Barry Bonds. The Rays admitted they were interested and at least one late-night talkshow host thinks he'd be a good fit with the Mets.

Bonds in Tampa Bay sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Bonds in Flushing sounds like World War III.

The Tampa Bay Rays are a team on the come. With pitchers like Scott Kazmir and James Shields, along with other up-and-coming young players, I think they'll have a better record than Baltimore this season. Barry Bonds would only be a distraction to them.

That late-night talkshow host was Gordon Damer, and he thinks the Mets need Bonds because there are question marks in their lineup. The question marks may very well be there and he probably could help the Mets. But then there's the New York Media. For me, Barry Bonds and the New York Media add up to nothing but trouble.

In fact, Barry Bonds and any city's media add up to nothing but trouble. Even if he ends up playing in Kansas City, you can rest assured that all the major media outlets will suddenly have beat reporters in Kansas City.

The best thing for Bonds is to retire, so we can all say, "Bye, bye, Barry!"

The Lady

Busy Days Ahead

Well readers, posting to this blog has been a little difficult lately. Between setting up and managing a corporate blog and preparing to launch a new site of my own, I've been a very busy lady. Now, with Spring Training a little less than a month away, things are going to get even busier.

In fact, for baseball fans it's been one of the busiest and craziest off-seasons in years. Contrary to the worries of a close friend of mine, I knew that I'd have plenty to blog about once the 2007 season ended. But little did I know I'd be posting as much as I have been! Johan Santana, The Mitchell Report, Joe Torre, Hank Steinbrenner...the list goes on. It's like the season never ended.

I'll have more to say about the new site in the next couple of weeks. Until then, keep visiting to find out the latest news and views by a woman who loves the game.

The Lady

A-Rod's Attempt At Damage Control

During Alex Rodriguez's appearance on "60 Minutes" last night he revealed that he and agent Scott Boras haven't spoken since The Opt Out.

According to A-Rod, Boras really had nothing to do with negotiating the new contract. However, "60 Minutes" reported that he'll get his $15 million commision and will stay on as the third baseman's agent.

So, let me get this straight: Boras had nothing to do with the new deal. Boras and A-Rod are not speaking. Boras is still getting paid. Boras will continue to be A-Rod's agent. What does it spell: Damage Control. A-Rod tried his best last night to separate himself from Boras and the opt out debacle, but he didn't do it as far as I'm concerned. I know that someone else in Scott Boras Corporation could have negotiated the deal, but why should they have? If A-Rod was really upset he could have gotten any number of competent people to help him out. Instead, he stuck with the Boras Camp.

The damage is still out of control.

The Lady

LaTroy Hawkins? Lol!

It looks as if veteran pitcher LaTroy Hawkins will sign a one-year $3.75 million deal with the Yankees. Well, at least it's only one year.

Except for this past year, I don't ever remember being impressed with LaTroy Hawkins. In fact, every time I've heard his name mentioned, I've laughed out loud. Every time. I think it goes back to that perfect game pitched by David Wells. Hawkins was the opposing pitcher for the Twins in that game and I remember the defeated look on his face as his offense failed to get anything started against Boomer.

Hopefully Yankee fans won't see that look on his face too often in 2008. Good luck, Mr Hawkins.

The Lady

[Photo: Pensinger/Getty]

Tiger Mauling At Winter Meetings

So while everyone else was focusing on Johan Santana and where he'll play in 2008, the Detroit Tigers swooped in at Nashville late yesterday and completed a deal with Florida that brings highly coveted 3B Miguel Cabrera to Detroit along with The D-train, Dontrelle Willis.

If you didn't think the Tigers should be taken seriously before this trade, you'd better start changing your thinking. They already have a great lineup and Cabrera puts them closer to the top. I'm not sure how Willis will do in the American League, but being part of a solid Tigers rotation shouldn't hurt him any.

The American League is now even stronger. This move just brings more truth to what I said back in September: Those weaker sisters in the Senior Circuit can't hold a candle to the American League. Teams in the AL continue to work on being competitive because they know the Yankees and the Red Sox are that much better. Perhaps the day will soon come when everyone will be adding a third or even a fourth team to that list. We might be saying, "...they know the Yankees, the Red Sox, the Tigers and the Angels are that much better."

The Lady

Pettitte Coming Back

Andy Pettitte's agent told the Houston Chronicle that the lefthander will be back to pitch for the Yankees in 2008. That's great news for Yankees Universe.

Does this mean the deal for Johan Santana is off? (I certainly hope so.) If Hank Steinbrenner stays true to his word, all interested parties should find out tonight for sure whether or not Pettitte will be the Yankee's only lefthanded starter in 2008. Tonight's deadline will definitely be easier to stick to with Dandy Andy back in the mix.

The Lady

Upheaval In The Hughes Corporation?

The Yankees are now willing to include Phil Hughes in a trade for Johan Santana. I guess I haven't been paying close enough attention, because I thought Hughes was already included. Can you blame me? All this media speculation was bound to confuse someone out there. Might as well be me.

I said earlier that I liked the idea of the Yankees getting Johan Santana. But, the more I mull this whole Santana trade thing over in my head, the less I like it:

Santana's coming off a bad year (for him, at least). Who's to say he won't have an even worse year in 2008? Also, who's to say that Hughes won't prove to be just as good as, if not better than, Santana?

His agents are pushing for a six-year deal to go along with the trade. Pitchers really shouldn't get more than three-year deals, even if they're as good as Johan Santana. Though he's never been hurt, he's obviously going to get older during the contract and that means possible injuries.

Hughes didn't live up to all the hype in 2007, but that doesn't scare me. What scares me is that he'll come into his own in a Minnesota Twins uniform, around the same time Johan Santana will go on the decline. If all that's being written is true, Hank Steinbrenner doesn't care if this happens. Does he want to un-do all the hard work Brian Cashman did developing young players? Cashman's been quiet since Joe Torre left town. Hank's been doing all the talking. I don't think I like where things appear to be heading.

The Lady

Goodbye Torii, Hello Melky?

Now that Torii Hunter has packed his bags for LA, the Twins need a solid replacement for him in centerfield. Could Melky Cabrera be the answer?

Cabrera's name has come up as a possible component in a deal that could send Johan Santana to the Yankees. The Twins are excellent evaluators of talent and wanting Melky shows just how true that is.

Melky Cabrera is widely considered to be the spark that ignited the Yankee Youth Movement during the 2007 season. His antics like the one in the picture above are what helped keep a team that was in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time in 12 years, stay loose and just play their game.

I remember listening to a radio show shortly after the All Star Break, during which one announcer, a Yankee fan, teased his co-host, a Met fan, saying something like, "What, you're all bummed out because Melky Cabrera's doing cartwheels in the Yankee dugout and no one's doing them in the Met dugout?"

Getting Johan Santana would be a major triumph for the Yankees. I'd welcome him with open arms, but I'd still miss seeing Melky's "cartwheels" in the Yankee dugout.

The Lady

The Patriarch: An Enlarged Heart?

Yankee announcer Michael Kay often referred to journeyman pitcher Joe Kennedy as The Patriarch. I don't remember Kay ever explaining that he gave the pitcher this nickname because JFK's father was also named Joe Kennedy. Each time he said The Patriarch was on the mound I would ask myself: "How many young viewers is Kay alienating this time?"

As reported several days ago, Kennedy, 28, passed away at his in laws home early Friday morning, the day after Thanksgiving. Now comes the news that he may have had an enlarged heart. I'm not a doctor or any kind of health care professional, but if he did have an enlarged heart, a heavy Thanksgiving meal certainly could not have helped him any.

Sadly, this Patriarch won't get the chance to be the father of his own clan. He leaves behind a wife and a one-year-old child. My heartfelt condolences go out to them.

The Lady

Two Stars Going In Opposite Directions

Barry Bonds is going down, as fast as a juiced-up water balloon. Alex Rodriguez is going up, as fast as his private jet will allow him to. Two men whose names will be forever linked to home-run chases could not have had days more different from each other yesterday.

Bonds has been the victim of a witch hunt, but I could care less. He brought it on himself. Barry, this is what happens to you when you have the attitude you have. People don't like you and they'll do anything and everything to bring you down. You're a modern day Al Capone. They couldn't get Capone on racketeering but they got him on tax evasion. They couldn't indict you on steroids use but they did indict you on perjury and obstruction. So there.

The best thing Alex Rodriguez did this week was crawl back to the Yankees. The Yankees and their stage are the best place to break the all-time career home run record. Assuming that he'll stay healthy, he'll definitely break it in a Yankee uniform.

In other postseason news:

• The Yankees are apparently also looking to sign 2007 World Series MVP Mike Lowell. The experts are saying this is a bad move and I agree. Lowell is a Fenway Park hitter, and you have to stop and wonder why the Red Sox aren't willing to pay Lowell as much as the Yankees would pay him. What do they know that the Yankees don't? Is this Johnny Damon all over again?
• Does the Yankee Captain owe back taxes? The New York State Division of Taxation and Finance is arguing that Derek Jeter had a residence in the state during 2001-03 and, as such, should have paid taxes. He's fighting it, of course. This news comes out now, when no one is likely to notice it? Wow, what a charmed life that guy leads.

The Lady

A-Rod Reaches Out

It's official: Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees are negotiating.

Here's the statement he posted on Arod.com:

"After spending time with Cynthia and my family over these last few weeks, it became clear to me that I needed to make an attempt to engage the Yankees regarding my future with the organization.

"Prior to entering into serious negotiations with other clubs, I wanted the opportunity to share my thoughts directly with Yankees' ownership. We know there are other opportunities for us, but Cynthia and I have a foundation with the club that has brought us comfort, stability and happiness.

"As a result, I reached out to the Yankees through mutual friends and conveyed that message. I also understand that I had to respond to certain Yankees concerns, and I was receptive and understanding of that situation.

"Cynthia and I have since spoken directly with the Steinbrenner family. During these healthy discussions, both sides were able to share honest feelings and hopes with one another, and we expect to continue this dialogue with the Yankees over the next few days."

What does the italicized portion mean? It means that Scott Boras is not allowed to participate in the negotiations. However, Darren Heitner, who writes the very well-done I Want To Be a Sports Agent blog, thinks this doesn't necessarily mean Boras is out in the cold.

It'll be interesting to see what happens!

The Lady

The Market Is Officially Open

Jorge Posada is off the market, having just signed a four-year deal that will likely keep him with the Yankees until he hangs up his Tools Of Ignorance for good. That leaves 143 free agents that are now on the open market as of midnight last night.

Yahoo Sports has ranked all 143 remaining FAs, "based on a number of variables, including history, age and potential...determined after talking to executives, scouts and agents."

A-Rod, Andruw Jones, Torri Hunter and Barry Bonds are ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively. I don't have a problem with that.

Lefty reliever Mike Myers is ranked 110th. The comment next to his entry says, "The quintessential one-out lefty." Please. If that were true the Yankees would never have released him during the season.

Jeff Weaver is ranked 39th? Why that high? Can someone please explain that one to me?

Yahoo Sports will update the page as the offseason progresses. It might be a good idea to bookmark it, if you're so inclined.

The Lady