It took two unofficial years, but Bob Sheppard is finally calling it a career as the Voice of the Yankees.And what a career it was.Sheppard's first game was on April 17th, 1951 and he announced this lineup (courtesy of LoHud)Jackie Jensen LF Phil Rizzuto SS Mickey Mantle RF Joe DiMaggio CF Yogi Berra C Johnny Mize 1B Billy Johnson 3B Jerry Coleman 2B Vic Raschi P....Not a bad way to start your career with four Hall of Famers playing.Sheppard is perhaps the most underrated hero of the Yankees'... Read Full Story

Until the announcement is made that a player has officially signed on the dotted line, Hot Stove League banter is nothing but speculation. That said, it is now highly likely that Marco Scutaro will be the shortstop for the Red Sox in 2010. The reason? Multiple media outlets are reporting that Alex Gonzalez has signed a one-year deal with Toronto, which also holds a 2011 option. Gonzalez is beter defensively than Scutaro, but Scutaro is a stronger all-around player. He has a dependable glove a... Read Full Story

Happy Thanksgiving to veteran Sox and Pinstripes readers, and rookies getting acclimated to this rivalry illustrated on the blogosphere! The winter meetings are a couple weeks away, and few free agents have signed, so this is a perfect time to play the You're the GM game. The rules are easy to follow. You have a bankroll like the New York Yankees, so money is no object. You have a 25-man roster - American League style - so you need a DH and you must determine whether you will carry seven reli... Read Full Story

The winter meetings are drawing closer, so the wild speculation about trades and free agent deals are swirling. In recent days, media reports have indicated that the Red Sox are targeting a free agent deal with John Lackey and a trade with Toronto for Roy Halladay. Both rumored transactions have one common theme - Clay Buchholz. If Boston signs John Lackey, that would give the team an impressive rotation that would feature the right-hander along with Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsu... Read Full Story

The Yankees aren't getting Josh Johnson. Johnson is on the Marlins and while they have publicly announced they won't be signing him long-term, he is essentially Felix Hernandez of the NL. The only difference is he's slightly older and had Tommy John two years ago. Oh, and he's in the NL. It's one thing to offer a prospect package to the Mariners and hope they don't pan out enough not to justify the trade. It's another thing to offer a package to the Marlins. This is a franchise built upon ob... Read Full Story

Something tells me Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter won't be too torn up about not winning the American League MVP award this season. When a team doesn't win the World Series, personal achievements take center stage on accomplishments for that year. I would know, I was deeply caught up in the MVP award during the 2006 and 2005 seasons. When a team wins the World Series, I would venture to guess the hardware not identical to a World Series ring or trophy just doesn't matter as much.Besides, when ... Read Full Story

The Yankees are a walking time bomb right now. It’s not because their future is in any sort of danger, or because the team could change locations or ownership. In fact, with youthful owners compared to their father, with a manager who has won it all recently, and with a new stadium, the Yankees’ franchise is in better hands than it has been since well before the dynasty years of the 90’s.   No, the Yankees are a walking time bomb because if they open the check book for any player from anothe... Read Full Story

This is the worst time of the year to be a baseball fan. The season is long enough over where you miss actual games, if your team won the World Series, the DVD isn't out yet and you can't inject yourself with baseball nicotine by watching it 47 times in a row, and the hot stove is nothing more than speculation. Add to that the element of having a blog you need to update and the whole situation is pretty awful, particularly this off season. Unlike last year, the Yankees don't have many holes t... Read Full Story

If the Yankees' plan is to get younger and compete for years on end, there are only two real blockbuster deals I would entertain. Trade for Felix Hernandez (who has often been mentioned with the Red Sox but never the Yankees) or trade for Curtis Granderson (who is said to be available from the Tigers) The Yankees seem to have issues making deals with Seattle, but Hernandez is about the only pitcher I'd open the farm for (I'm talking Montero and Chamberlain in a package). Roy Halladay is just ... Read Full Story

When you're a defending champion and you're also the most affluent franchise in the game, rumors will run rampant around a team. The Yankees will be linked to every player involved in any trade or as a Free Agent regardless of if New York has any interest whatsoever or if the deal would make sense.It is the job of a good agent to get the Yankees, Red Sox and other teams with deep pockets in the bidding for its players. The connections don't need to be genuine or true, they just have to exist.... Read Full Story