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I am not one of those Yankee fans that despises the Red Sox and wish total ruin for the team. I was not depressed when they won it all in 2004 (more depressed the Yankees choked big time) or last year.

But this year, I have grown to dislike the team. From Papelbon’s antics on the mound and the stupid dances he does. Way too arrogant for me. Then Youkulis (sp?) who thinks he is the greatest player ever. I admire him for his hard work and he is a good ballplayer but I just do not like him.

I am rooting for the Rays in this series because Papelbon, Ortiz, Yuke, and others need a reality check. GO RAYS!!!!!

Juan Miranda is tearing the cover off the ball in the Arizona Fall League. 3 doubles, a couple triples, batting around .800.

He is a former Cuban defector that missed about a year and a half of baseball as he made his way to the states. He is listed as 25/26 but rumblings are he may be a little older than that. Either way he has a sweet lefty swing.

He had a decent year at AAA in 2007 and a decent year in AAA last year. He hits right handed pitching great but has some trouble against lefties. He is not Donnie baseball at first with the glove but is more than an adequate defender.

The Yankees should really give him a shot to at least platoon at first in 2009. He struck out more than he walked this year but has a good eye at the plate which the Yankees need. Pitch selection was a big weakness for the team this year.

Other Notes:
Humberto Sanchez got knocked around but that is not a huge deal. He is rusty and probably over aggressive. The fall league is good for him to work on things after coming back from TJ surgery.

Kevin Russo went 1-5 and played left field. He is being groomed to be a super-sub.

Jackson has cooled off after starting strong. Again, not a huge deal as he continues to develop.

Whelan went 1.1 innings and struck out 3. He is a big decision for the 40 man roster this year. The Yankees have a lot of good young arms and he may not get a spot on the 40 man roster.

Jeff Marquez went a couple scoreless innings yesterday. He is mainly a starter but will be used in relief in Arizona because Hughes is in the Peoria rotation. He projects as a Wang type pitcher. Heavey sinker and pitches to contact. Had a so-so year last year and projects as a #3 starter in the bigs. He is around 23/24 so he could help in 2009. Ideally he grows at AAA in 2009 and gets a chance in 2010 for a full time rotation spot.

Action Jackson went 1-4 with an RBI yesterday. He did have 3 K’s. Pitch selection is a major weakness for him and a major reason why he needs to spend 2009 in AAA. With Gardner, Damon, Melky, Nady, a little bit of Matsui and a free agent signing (whether that is Abreu or someone else), there is no need to rush Jackson to the big show.

The lesses known Hawaiin fall league is also playing ball. Damon Sublett is hitting great and Brackman is getting healthy. Brackman may be a force in the rotation in 2010. He needs a full year at AA/AAA to come back from TJ surgery.

There are some new photos available on yankees.com of the construction of the new stadium.

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/nyy/ballpark/new_stadium_community.jsp

The new stadium looks great.

Is it me or will the freeze block the views for the people sitting up in the cheapt seats on fly balls? It seems to me that for people like me that will only be able to afford bleacher seats or nose-bleed seats, the issue of the freeze hanging over will obstruct some views? It will be interesting to hear the feedback once the stadium opens and games are played.

Hughes had a pretty good start yesterday. 1 hit and 7 K’s over 5 innings. He did walk 5 batters.

Jackson kept rolling along. 2-4 with 4 RBI batting in the 3 hole. Hopefully the Yankees learned not to rush guys and will let Jackson develop and grow at AAA in 2009.

Russo started at third and went 0-3.

Good subscription site for minor league news: yankees.scout.com

Why do the playoffs go on for so long??? I hope it snows and the weather is terrible the end of this month during the world series. There is no reason the playoffs need to go on until Halloween. Both leagues finished the divisional playoffs Sunday and no baseball for FOUR days. Stop letting money run the sport and do what makes sense.

It will be interesting with the economy and attanedance next years, Attendance fell 1.1% in 2008. The best way for fans to say they are fed up with $8 beers and overpriced players is to stop going to games.

I cannot believe the Angels choked so bad. Win 100 games and lose to a beat up Sawx team. That is why they play the games and the Sawx deserve to be in the ALCS.

The Rays may be too young to be nervous but the Sawx have an edge of been there, done that experience. With Lowell out, that really hurts the Sawx.

Should be a very good series. I predict Sawx in 6.

Dodgers versus the Sawx would be a fun world series. Dodgers win in 6 and Torre then can then thumb his nose at the Steinbrenner brats.

I was not against moving on and getting a new manager but the way Torre was treated was crap.

The Arizona Fall League starts today. Chad Jennings on his blog has a very good analysis of the 7 players the Yankees are sending.

http://emedia.thetimes-tribune.com/Blogs/SWBYankees/tabid/552/Default.aspx

Hopefully 2009 will be the year Hughes puts it together. It takes a while for most pithcers to develop and Hughes should be ready to put it together after a couple years of growing.

Action Jackson also can hopefully continue to grow. He will start 2009 in AAA but might knock on the door if he continues to improve and the Yanks need a CF in June/July.

Bullpen depth is something the Yanks have at the minor league level and Sanchez could develop into a 8th inning setup guy. Problem is he needs to get healthy. He will probably start 2009 in AA and get innings in 2009. Should be ready for 2010.

Well, it will be the Dodgers versus the Phillies in the NLCS. I am happy for Mr. Torre.

My prediction is Dodgers in 6. The Dodgers have the pitching to get them to the World Series. Since the Angels are choking as bad as the Cubbies it looks like the Sawx have the inside track to win the ALCS. I cannot see the Rays or White Sox beating the Sawx.

Dodgers versus Sawx would be a great series.

MO has surgery set for Tuesday. Not much else going on. Fall leagues are moving along. Counting down the days till pitchers and catchers in February.

Not too much going on with the Yankees. Organization meetings in a couple weeks. Lots of time to plan for the offseason.

I feel bad for cubbies fans. Great season, now on the brink of being swept by the Dodgers. I am happy for Torre. The Dodgers have a good chance to make the world series.

I wonder if Moose will retire after winning 20 games? Will be tough to walk away. 1 year, 12 million would be a nice contract. If he can stay healthy, he can give the Yankees 200 innings and 15 wins.

Between Pettite and Moose, if they both leave, that would be a loss of 34 wins and 400+ innings. I cannot imagine losing them both.

Unless there is some big news, I will probably not post until Monday.

Have a good weekend.