FanNation

Johan Santana needed to be his own closer

It is July 22, 2038 and Juan Santiago of the New York Mets is approaching the biggest start of his career. He is facing the Atlanta Braves with both teams tied for first place in the revamped National League Atlantic Division. Santiago has been sharp all year, but only sports a 10-7 record to go along with his sparkling 2.46 ERA.

Talk shows and bloggers are reminiscing on the game 30 years earlier when Johan Santana was in a similar circumstance and came through with flying colors. That game 30 years prior saw Santana, when about to be removed from the game against the Philadelphia Phillies, demanded the ball in the 9^th from Met manager Jerry Manuel and proceeded to complete the game, winning that game 5-2.

Sabathia deal clinches playoff spot for Brewers

At first glance I thought the Milwaukee Brewers made a grave mistake in trading for C.C. Sabathia, basically a rental for 3 months plus the possible postseason. It's almost a given Sabathia will test free agency this off season, hoping to reap Johan Santana like money from the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox. But, after seeing what the Brewers gave up - AA stud OF/1B Matt LaPorta (last year's first round pick) and three no names, it appears that Milwaukee GM Doug Melvin got the best of Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro.

End the Darrell Rasner experiment - it's Cutch time now!

Historically, July 4th at Yankee Stadium has seen its share of great moments. In 1939, fans witnessed the greatest moment in baseball history when Lou Gehrig uttered those immortal words "...I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth." In 1983 Dave Righetti threw a no-hitter against the rival Boston Red Sox.

The 2008 July 4th game will only make Yankee highlight reels for Johnny Damon's missed catch on Kevin Youkilis' long fly ball with the ball perched alone on top of the fence for several seconds while Damon lays helplessly on the ground. That long fly ball was served up by Yankee starting pitcher Darrell Rasner.

Yankees should trade for Prince Fielder for the 2009 season

While hitting stalwarts Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Hideki Matsui, Jorge Posada and Johnny Damon are all at least signed through next season, two current Yankees, Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi, can be free agents after this season. Both players produce high OBP's, score a good amount of runs and are instrumental for a deep lineup that prides itself on working the count and the pitcher. Losing both players from the 2009 lineup would take away those high OBP's and considerably shorten the lineup. If both players were to leave, where would the Yankees turn to fill those spots?

The easy one first.  The Yankees need to sign Bobby Abreu for two more years. Abreu should not cost anywhere near the $16 million per season he is earning now. Two years are needed because that is the time frame for top prospect Austin Jackson, currently at AA Trenton, to be ready for the Bronx. Abreu is in a little slump right now, hitting only .191 over his last 12 games with a homer and 5 RBI's, but is a guaranteed run producer who plays every day -averaging 157 games played per season during his 10 full years in the majors.  What better way to get more for your money than to extend Abreu now, while the fire is not hot? At the end of the new two-year deal, Abreu will be 37 and his Bronx tenure will end.

Sidney Ponson? Is that the new Yankee plan?

During October 2006, I met Sidney Ponson one time at a restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, FL. At the restaurant, the owner likens himself to a DJ, constantly spinning tunes, and always announces his "celebrity" clientele. Ponson was drinking water (not alcohol) and he didn't punch me like I was an Aruban judge. Sidney was pleasant, receptive and engaging in conversation. Based upon last month's reports from Texas, he isn't like this all the time.