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This position is a tough one to gauge for 2009. Do the Yankees throw a lot of money on the table and sign Texeira to a 7-8 year contract? Do they take that risk again like they did with Giambi?

Matsui said he can learn and play first but with his bum knees could probably only play 40 games there. If the I-rod scenario under the Catcher- 2009 post works out, he could play 40 games at first. The Yankees also have Shelly Duncan who would come very cheap.

The problem is the Yankees need first base to provide power. The Yankees get a lot of their power from first and third. Cano, Jeter, Damon, Abreu, Matsui are not big bats. Posada is a power hitting catcher too but would A-rod and Posada bee enough power? The Yankees were a very good team when they did not have guys hitting 40 HR’s a year so maybe a lack of power is not a huge issue?

In the minors, it is pretty thin with first base prospects. They have a Cuban defector, Juan Miranda but he sat out a year a couple years ago and had an up and down season this year with a shoulder injury. Not sure if he is ready for a 150 game season at first. He may be a solution later in the season.

I think it all depends on a bidding war for Tex. The Yankees should not overpay for him and get desperate.

A lower level free agent signing, a first base by committee (Matsui, Damon, Posada, Duncan, etc.) or Miranda could be enough.

Throwing 20+ million a year at Tex would not be a good move in my opinion.

Tomorrow, the trade Cano post.

Hopefully Posada will be 100% for spring training 2009. He should be the everyday catcher next year and start 120 games.

If I-rod is willing to take a little pay cut and sign a one-year deal with another option year it may make sense to bring him back as insurance. This would mean letting Molina go and lose some money and a good backup catcher. I-rod can play some first and DH so he should be able to get 400 AB’s. Matsui will most likely be the full time DH but has also said he can play some 1B. Maybe platoon Matsui, I-rod and Posada as C, 1B, DH? Each guy getting 500 AB’s? Probably will not happen but a thought.

If the I-rod scenario does not work out, the Yankees still have Molina as a good backup catcher.

In the minors, it looks like Cervelli is healed and ready for AAA. The Yankees also have a couple young and very good catching prospects deep in the minors. Montero and Romine. Both will not see the big show until about 2011 but are good insurance when Posada’s contract runs out. Both are also 19 so will only be 22-23 when they get their chance. Hopefully they can stay healthy and grow in ML catchers. Montero has a great bat.

The Yankees also have a scrappy player named Anson. More of Jason Kendall/Paul Loduca type hitter but a cannon for an arm. He could be the backup catcher in 2010. He is slated for AA next year.

There are also plenty of organizational fillers out there like Stewart or Moeller.

I am not extremely concerned about the catching position in 2009. Posada should be 100% by February because he had the surgery during the season.

It is hard to pinpoint when the Yankees season was lost. Was it when Wang hurt his foot? Joba had a bum shoulder? Jeter was hurt, A-rod went on the DL? Too many loses to too many bad teams?

Whenever it was, this season cannot come to an end soon enough. Was it the new manager? Too many overpaid stars? Too much, her we are the Yankees, of course we will make the playoffs mentality?

Well, 2009 will be a new year. A new stadium and many new faces.

I will examine each position for 2009 starting tomorrow with catcher but first I want to look at the coaching staff.

Girardo definitely had some growing pains this year. He definitely needs to adjust a little to grow as a manager. I gave him a B- a few weeks back and I give him a B- today. Hopefully he learned a lot this year and will be a better manager next year. Managing any team in NY is much much different than any other city. Hopefully Mr. Girardi discovered that and will grow.

Peter Abraham over of LoHud Yankees blog has mentioned bringing in a guy like Bowa next year. An ornery guy that will get on players when they are slacking, i.e. Cano. Not sure who that guy is but the team needs a coach like that. Girardi is not going ot be the chair throwing tantrum managers some might thought he would be. This is why the Yankees need a coach to fill that void. The coaching staff seemed too nice this year, too comfortable. They are a young group of guys so hopefully they have all learned something this year.

If as coach has to go, I say it needs to be Long. He unfortunately would be the scapegoat. Of course he is not the guy that choked so often in the clutch but he will take the blame. That leaves an opportunity to bring in Paul O’neill as a possible hitting coach. He has that fire and he learned to become a good hitter as his career went on.

Eiland will probably stay because he works well with the young guys. Pena may get a managers job someplace else. Meachem has some learning to do at 3rd but was adequate. Thompson seemed to be a good bench coach.

It will be an interesting offseason as it always is. Take solace in the fact the Yankees look to be building something as opposed to just buying a bunch of pieces and hoping for the best.

2 hits and 1 run off a kid making his first major league start against a bad Mariners team. I have just about officially lost the faith with about 20 games to go. The magic number for the Yanks to make the playoffs is 14 and the Sawx are not going to pull a Mets and blow a 7 game lead with 17 to go.

It is just about time to start evaluating for 2009.

The AAA and AA team are doing well in the playoffs so that is a good sign.

Time to start sitting some veterans and seeing what the kids can do. Giambi needs to be benched, he never lived up to his lofty contract. Rest Mo and give some kids a chance to close. Bring up Cervelli when the playoffs are over and give him some ML time. He deserves it after breaking his wrist in spring training.

I will start evaluating each position this week looking towards 2009.

Hopefully Hanna will blow away the bad taste of 2008 in the Bronx.

It is always easier to second guess after the fact but why did Rasner start last night??? He has been awful since July. There has to be other, better options or this team really does not deserve to be in the playoffs.

Why is Ponson still in the rotation?

I was listening to the FAN this mroning with Boomer and Carton and the Yankees magic number for the playoffs is 16. That means any 16 Red Sox wins and/or Yankees losses means the Yankees will miss the playoffs for the first time in 13 years.

Gardner struck out 3 times looking last night. The kid needs to swing the bat. I think he can be a pretty good CF but looks very overmatched right now. It will be interesting to see if Melky comes back strong and makes a statement for 2009. Hopefully he learned that major league jobs are a lot of work to keep. Cano also needs that message. Back in the day when the leagues were smaller guys felt a lot of pressure to succeed because 5 guys were ready to take their spot.

No updates on Wang so he is definately done until 2009. Kennedy and Hughes will also be protected until 2009. Hopefully 1 of them will reach their potential next year.

Aceves looks like a potential good starter. Not a #1 but a good #3. If Wang comes back healthy. Moose is signed for 1 year. They sign a good starter and 2 out of the bucket of young talent works out, the Yanks shoud be in good shape for 2009.

Lots of shakeup this year as contracts come off the books and the team transitions to a new stadium. Hopefully their will not be any panic moves like signing Texiera to a 8 year 200 million contract.

Another good win by the Yankees last night. May be a little too late though as the Saxw came back and beat a bad Orioles team.

23 games left in the season and the Yankees are 7 games out. If they can go 20-3 the rest of the way, the Sawx would have to go 13-10. It ain’t over yet Johnny.

The Sawx are going to be playing the Rays soon so hopefully they can beat up on each other while the Yankees sweep the Mariners. 5 games out by Monday would be real nice.

I do not want to look to 2009 yet but there are positive signs for next year. Lots of bad contracts off the book. Injured players returning. Some youth injected into the team. Girardi with a year under his belt managing in a tough environment (I would give him a B- grade this year so far). 2009 looks like a very good year.

OK, back to 2008. The Sawx need a nice losing streak so the Yankees can pick up 3-4 games quickly. That summer swoon by the Sawx should come soon.

Believe.

Another Yankees win last night.

Unfortunately the Sawx keep winning and the Yankees are still 7 games out of a playoff spot.

The scary thing is IF the Yankees win their next 18, the Sawx would have to go 11-7 for the wild card to be all tied up with 6 games to play.

Somehow, some way the Yankees need to be a game or 2 out going into the final weekend series against the Sawx.

There are 21 games left before that. The Yankees need to go 18-3 and the Sawx 11-10.

Wow, the numbers as it gets late in the season get tougher and tougher.

Any football fans out there? Redskins versus the Giants tomorrow night to kick off the NFL season.

Bottom of 4, men on 1st and 2nd, hard grounder to A-rod at third. At first he tries to tag Hinske, then awkwardly throws to Cano to start a double play. How can he NOT know that is an easy 5-4-3 double play??? I have seen him confused man other times with plays at third. Very good baseball player, not a great baseball player.

OK, the first win in the streak of 20 is out of the way. Ugly game but a win is a win.

Joba is back today but will be in the pen. Tough decision on what to do with him in 2009. He will only have about 100 innings pitched this year. If he is a strater next year he would have to go about 200. That is a very big jump for a 23-24 y/o. Maybe a trip to a summer league is needed?

Ponson is still in the rotation. Why oh why? He is a terrible pitcher. I rather see Igawa out there.

Moose goes for #17 tonight. He should have about 19 by now.

Let’s GO YANKEES.

I wonder if Nady should not be brought back? In my opinion he strikes out too much. He strikes out every 4-5 at bats. We already have a rally killer in A-rod with his high level of strikeouts. That is 2 righty’s in the lineup with a high strikeout total. The Yankees need to move forward with guys that can put the ball into play. Damon, Matsui, Jeter, Cano are guys that do not strike out too much. I also do not think they should bring back Abreu. The Yankees need to get back to taking pitches and getting on base.

Just a thought as I was watching the game today.

Also, Ponson needs to go. Start Aceves, Igawa, Kennedy, Hughes, anyone but Ponson.