The other teams all voted for the WBC and the Player's Union okayed it, so what's left to say. Nothing in my book. Putting up that sign is a bit like an 8 year old kid storming off to his room and hanging a "I Hate You" sign on the door because mommy and daddy didn't let him go to Chuck-E-Cheese with Jimmy's family even though Ralph's parents thought it was a cool idea.

Get over it Yankees brass. This will be good for the sport in the long run and what the hell is the difference if the guys are playing for Team USA or the Yankees in March? Either way they are going to be playing themselves into shape and toughening up for the season ahead. It may actually benefit these guys to play 5 or 6 games that mean something before the season starts instead of loafing around Legends' Country Club for a month.

http://tinyurl.com/qf9f7

My co-workers, many of whom love Korea to the point that they cook Korean foods, learn Korean language, and watch Korean tv dramas were upset about the big loss. Despite changing attitudes on both sides of the Sea of Japan, losing to the other country is still the equivalent of Red Sox vs. Yankees.

I blogged about the game at Canyon of Heroes and one of the first links will take anyone who is interested to a wikipedia article about Korean/Japanese Relations. Interesting for history or sociology buffs....if there are any around these here parts.

http://canyonofheroes.blogspot.com/2006/03/korea-asian-champions.html

http://tinyurl.com/g6pz7

I get the feeling that the Japanese may be trying to protect their national hero in the wake of a humiliating loss by spinning the comments onto someone less likely to be injured by them.....hmmmm......

Apparently the Commish wasn't too pleased, and the sign has come down:

http://tinyurl.com/e5p9j

The article goes on to say that the sign was the ticket office's idea, and that George had nothing to do with it. I'm sure.

I do think the WBC is probably a worthwhile thing, and the first go through will have its bugs, but I can see where Steinbrenner is coming from too.

No problem with hearing names I don't know. Sad I cannot watch them.

Think that the WBC should be stopped in its bud. MLB should not participate if the goal is to promote baseball. Baseball is a team sport. The game comes alive when played over the course of a season. It is not the DAVIS Cup.

oh wait!! this isn't 7th grade?!?!?

Did Torre tell him he's got a spot?

And for what it's worth, I think Jen 11 has it right on Leiter. Recall my diary of Thursday's game, Torre didn't mention Sen. Al when discussing the bullpen.

I know this is warmed over sentiment, but the WBC is an exhibition, pure and simple. And I don't appreciate Bud Selig's dissembling about how it's for the "good of the game." No, it's so kids in Seoul will purchase more A-Rod jerseys.

Also, I fail to find the logic in the belief that eschewing spring training in favor of playing in an intensive international tournament has no detrimental physical impact on a player. Then why have spring training to begin with?

If I were Stein, I'd be irritated as well (though I'm not too sure about the sign). He's shelling out millions to his players to play for the Yankees, not in some bogus international tourney - where the likelihood of injury is at least as high as during a regular season MLB game.

But the real reason why I tuned in was the Yankees opening day lineup in 1996: Boggs, Girardi, O'Neill, Leyritz, Martinez, B. Williams, Mariano Duncan, Gerald Williams, Jeter.

That was the opening day lineup? Girardi (OPS .667 year before) batting 2nd? Leyritz cleanup (OPS .768 w/7 HR year before) instead of Tino?

That year, the Yanks best pitcher was Pettitte with 21 wins. The next best starter won 12 games!!!

It is amazing to see how that team won the World Series.

And how nuts would our saber crowd go over that lineup construction?

Better than the Jeter-into-the-stands-head-first Yanks/Sox game of the same season? I'm just sayin'...

I'll go out on a limb and predict there might be one or two more of these before it bites the dust or re-emerges in a completely different form.

I caught Game 1 1996 ALCS. Yes that was the Jeff M. game. It's crazy that's what it's known as, because I had forgotten:

1) Mo pitched two shut-out innings with 3 K(10 & 11), after Wettland had departed, getting the W.

2) Bernie hit a walk-off in the bottom of the 11th to win it.

Good times!

I caught part of that one. It was interesting to see Jeter hit what is remembered as a home run, but was really a fly out to right, then in the next half inning waive off Tim Raines on a Brady Anderson blooper to shallow left only to let the ball fall for a double, puting the go-ahead run in scoring position with one out in the ninth. One tends to wonder if Jeter's career turned a corner when fate smiled on him in two consecutive half innings (Anderson didn't score). Certainly the Raines gaffe is one he'd not make now (though it's notable just how far into left he ranged after that ball--sigh, what could have been in centerfield . . .).

For me, the Game 7 was it. Not to mention playoff baseball, extra innings and vs. the Sox, but I had just turned 21 and was watching the game in a packed bar with a Phillie-phan phriend (therefore an anti-NY'er)in Scranton PA. It was a mixed crowd of Yankee supporters and haters, and just a galvanizing baseball experience. Not to take away anything from the games you, Cliff or Rob mentioned.

I don't think it makes that much sense to bring up Thompson and/or Cabrera so they can sit on the bench. They would be better off at Columbus where they will get more experience and playing time.

You know, I don't remember much from those three weeks - I think I was enjoying myself too dman to remember anything.

The kicker: Stood in line for 23 hours to get 1996 Serious tix (got 6 and 7). After we lost the first two at the stadium, I had dreams all week we come back and win. I took my dad to Game 6 and the only thing I remember: pop-out to Charlie Hayes seals the deal. Last October I watched the replay for the first time and even then had trouble remembering the game. No alcohol or drugs involved, I was just high on life and in the moment. I remember more about standing in line (rampant drug use, people having sex, riots, fights, fires) than the actual game - un-freakin' believable.

Lesgo YANK-ees!