The time has long since past when I have been interested in reading articles about whether or not Johan Santana will be traded to the Yankees.
READ: More Entries in the 10th Inning Journal 
Because of over saturation, I have vowed not to write anything about this non-event unless something actually happened.
So I am a hypocrite. Here I am breaking my vow. I could only last until late January. Friends, I fell off the wagon.
My take is: of course Santana would do a fine job of anchoring the rotation. He's the best pitcher in baseball and he's in his prime. What's not to like?
However, it really boils down to a philosophical question. We've heard so much about the young pitching and have devoured all the statistical evidence about the litany of "diaper dandies:" Chamberlain, Hughes, Kennedy, Horne, Marquez, Sanchez, perhaps even Edwar and Ohelndorf…on and on goes the march of youthful, promising arms.
You define a culture by what it aspires to be, not necessarily what it is. The Yanks are at the crossroads now….Does the organization stick to its guns and let the young arms develop?
Or do the Yanks blink first, acquire Santana, and shell out a lengthy and costly contract that further drives up their luxury tax threshold and makes them less nimble for future moves?
I am firmly in the "don't get Santana" camp. $218 million is enough per year.
As we all know, Gene Michael helped to orchestrate the resurgence of the Yanks in the 90s by NOT trading away youngsters like Jeter, Pettitte, Rivera, Williams, Posada and others.
Brian Cashman is at the same place now that Michael and later Bob Watson were 10-15 years ago. The young talent is so good, it must be protected. Although the pitching is at the forefront, the Yanks also have some position players of merit, such as Austin Jackson, Juan Miranda, Jose Tabata. (Brett Gardner is expendable because he has no power; he projects to be no more than a 4th outfielder, although he may sport an acceptable OBP.)
At this point, the best bet seems to be that Santana will stay put. Clearly, Twins' GM Bill Smith is afraid to pull the trigger. He doesn't want to make a mistake. If he doesn't get a fruitful package back for the best pitcher of his generation, his legacy will be sealed.
On another note, an announcement came last week hat Bud Selig has once again been extended as commissioner -- this time until 2012 (The year the world is scheduled to end.)
This is bad news for all who want to uphold the integrity of baseball.
Selig's extension is so undeserved, it's really hard to know where to begin. Not only has he emerged unscathed from the steroid era--an era that he helped to usher in by allowing it to grow unfettered throughout his tenure, but he is actually gaining more power and prestige among Congress and the owners.
This is astonishing…and very disturbing.
Here is a man who tried desperately to orchestrate the trade of A-Rod to the Red Sox, a man who appointed an employee of the Red Sox to compile a steroid report based largely on hearsay from a few unreliable sources, a man who conspired with John Henry to be sure Henry could purchase the Red Sox while lower bids were turned down, a man who was an owner while serving as commissioner and tried to contract his competition in Minnesota.
Of all the sins Selig has committed, perhaps his most egregious is his forced income distribution from the astute and thriving franchises to the bumbling and inept. Yes, friend, the Bolsheviks are alive and well in the Commissioner's Office.
It's bad enough that the Kansas City Royals and the Tampa Bay Rays are allowed to "compete" with the Yankees' money-but there are no checks and balances to be sure they are using the money properly. The Yanks' hard-won money is simply lining the pockets of disreputable owners.
Well, I can't wait until Spring Training starts….How many times can I watch Jeannie Reilly sing "Harper Valley PTA" on YouTube?
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