It is absolutely clear, however, that the negotiations -- which never really got started last month -- are now on-going, and agent Scott Boras is not part of the dialogue.

"Alex reached out to the Yankees, and he made it clear he wants to be a Yankee," said one source. "He understands what has to be done."

Rodriguez released the following statement on his Web site.

"After spending time with Cynthia and my family over these last few weeks, it became clear to me that I needed to make an attempt to engage the Yankees regarding my future with the organization.

Meanwhile, friends of Rodriguez say he has been embarrassed by what has taken place. Last week, one high-ranking official with an AL team made this prediction: "I think A-Rod will go back to the Yankees himself and make a deal without Scott involved," said the executive. "This way, he can get back into the good graces of the fans, and still get the biggest contract he can get."

Bronx Banter must be going crazy.

149. dzzrtRatt
139 I'm not sure if I'm getting your point. Sojo was another bench player. His busiest season for Torre, he only played 77 games, and though I don't follow the Yankees close enough to know, I assume some of those games he was a pinch-something or late-inning defensive replacement.

What did Torre do when his GM handed him a starting player who didn't produce? If he kept playing him regardless, then he's just like Little. But my sense is Torre doesn't do that.

As a manager, I could see Torre taking the position that you can't motivate your players to improve if one guy gets to start every game no matter how little he contributes.

I mean... If Luis Gonzalez had complained about why he had to sit while Pierre plays, he'd have had a legitimate point.

Anyway, it's just a "hopeful hypothesis." Maybe Torre is from the old school that sees Pierre as a great on-base guy, a sparkplug, a catalyst, a great distracter of pitchers, a guy who "creates" runs, plus a good American and a soul bound for glory. Maybe he'll think 162 games isn't even enough of a reward for a player of Pierre's superlative merits. If so, I'll be grumpy. But, to me, the Dodgers have needed a manager who doesn't suffer fools gladly, and I see Torre-Mattingly-Bowa as a tough-minded trio.

With that in mind, here's a thought: that A-Rod reaching out to the Henrys Steinbrenner might be orchestrated by Boras. Isn't that a way of making it seem like the Yankees are involved and a contender for A-Rod's services? At the end of the day, A-Rod can still go wherever the most money is and say, "I wanted to stay a Yankee, and Boras wasn't involved, but the Yankees still couldn't get it done."

Who's playing who here?

Take that, horse!! [Whack! Whack!]

vr, Xei

I'm not sure if it makes me happy or not. If Boras is truly getting dissed and is losing money and/or credibility, then I like it.

I think some of these other teams were anticipating a potential "discount" on ARod due to the Yanks non-involvement. Boras just needs a number from the Yanks to get things moving.

http://arod.mlb.com/players/rodriguez_alex/article.jsp?story=111407

Thing is, if it's a ploy, he's going to come out looking seroiusly sleazy, isn't he? Does he care? Is Cynthia on board with a big hoax? I don't pretend I can understand how his mind works, but, you know, "it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world... but for $35M, Alex, for $35M?"

Jeter will be looking hard for something he can do to measure up. I mean, what a performance. Getting the biggest contract in baseball and making it look like he's made a sacrifice!? Cue Sinatra!

Leia also said that too.

As well. In addition.

"huhuhuhuhu"

2008 - 28M
2009 - 28M
2010 - 29M
2011 - 29M
2012 - 30M
2013 - 30M
2014 - 31M
2015 - 27M plus 4M in incentives based on HRs, RBIs, etc
2016 - 27M plus...
2017 - 27M plus...

But the last three years would also be a Dodger option to buy him out for non performance or not being able to play enough games.

Arod is guarenteed 205K for 7 years ($29K+/yr), plus another 27M-30M for an additional 3 years if he continues to perform.

If the Ds negotiate for MCab, they will have to give up 3-4 top rookies with no assurance he will stay. I would much rather pay a little more for Arod and keep the kids.

I was hoping there was.

Nor is there an AROD or ODOG stock. Also there is no stock that is HU.

Lowe's Company uses the ticker symbol of LOW.

There is a penny stock called WEBB. It's only listed on the Pink Sheets.

Cabrera will turn 25 at the start of next season. Any extension will cover Cabrera's age 27-32(ish) seasons.

Mon Gm Avg/OBP/SLP/OPS
Apr 26 307/351/416/767
May 26 268/317/289/606
Jun 23 247/261/306/567
Jul 24 308/382/423/805
Aug 11 250/289/417/706
Sep 11 324/361/471/832

A decent 11 game streak in September, with the club in 4th place, does not offset the very poor Apr/May/June/Aug. Nomar is indeed done. Give him his $11M and stick a fork in him.

"Joining us now is Jon Weisman of SI.com and Dodger Thoughts, a very excellent blog and website a very very excellent site."

I'll enjoy watching Cabrera on the Angels. Maybe they'll take Kent off our hands to plug the hole they'll create for themselves at second base.

(Oh relax, Jamie. I like Kent! I'm sure he'll send your ear back one of these days.)

PLEASE have the Yanks deal fall apart. Pretty please?

I'd pay him 300 mil for 10 years. Instantly.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=BTIM.OB&t=my

Or we could set a place for Elijah...Dukes, that is.

He has outscored Minnesota's Mark Madsen, who is recovering from shoulder surgery following a summer jet-ski accident. Amazingly, he's still on the roster.

I remember the one time I went waterskiing, they assured me I couldn't get hurt, but I sprained my shoulder.

It's possible of course that Boras will parachute in like he did when Eric Gagne started talking about a "hometown discount" and slap Arod around a little bit.

Who was the guy who stepped in and claimed he represented Hochevar for 24 hours? Maybe Boras can bring that buy back into the picture and blame him.

Yes, as is "ARod dumping Boras".

This little tidbit from the following ESPN article:

http://tinyurl.com/359s66

Might lend credence to the "negotiation."

Before the 2002 season, the Atlanta Braves bypassed Boras and negotiated a six-year, $75 million contract with Andruw Jones and his father.

Concentrate and ask again. Or concetrate and ask again.

Girl 1: That A-Rod is hot! Somebody is going to give him $300 million, for sure!

Girl 2: No way! Cabrera is even hotter! And younger! I'd give up Billingsley, Kemp, and LaRoche to have him on my team!

Girl 1: A-Rod is in much better shape! Look how buff he is! Cabrera is fat. Ewww!

Girl 2: But I want Cabrera now! Daddy! Tell them to throw in Kershaw.

Girl 3: Guys! You won't believe this! A-Rod is down the street talking to George! Without his agent!!!

Girl 1 and Girl 2: OMG! Let's go!

"Dodger Thoughts, most excellent Dodgers website!"

Andrew and Brian Kamenetzky, Los Angeles Times

My general experience was that I got the big gift on the first night. Later in the week, it falls off to the middle relievers and utility infielders of Hannukah gifts.

What night does Hannukah start this year anyway?

What if all 30 owners said "We won't negotiate with Scott Boras, just his players"? Interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Hmr5YOewww

Yes, it's safe for work!

I'm really confused.

For those fasting at home, Ash Wednesday is February 6 and Easter Sunday is a mighty early March 23.

Easter has not occurred as early as March 23 since 1913. And it will not be that early again until long after all of us are dead.

Or beyond the chart I'm looking at.

Basically, competitors, especially in a closed market, just cannot talk about any type of group actions. Period.

I wish the Dodgers would just keep their ALAR stock, since analysts say that one is sure to skyrocket in value, while other similar 3B stocks are overpriced at the moment.

What do you mean, "Those types" of dates? What are you trying to say?

Hand Held football game, socks, van halen fair warning tape, van halen diver down tape, rush moving pictures, rolling stones tatoo you, velor v-neck sweater vest, easton black magic baseball bat, and the topper was a fila full sweatsuit(navy)..circa 1983

Unfortunately, it does not tell me when the Rule 5 draft takes place or at what point does Jeff Kent finally have to tell us what he is doing.

And who remmembers Intellivision, anyone, anyone?

Yeah I think it was a later version of this one. Mine was Brown.

Mattel handheld football was the balls. The evolution from Mattel to 10 Yard Fight to Tecmo Bowl was glorious.

Tecmo Super Bowl was another plane of existence. Stats!

A man's got to compete with the big boys.

http://www.handheldmuseum.com/Mattel/FB2.htm

It featured that incredible football innovation - the forward pass.

Any suggestions?

Mattel Hand Held Games = Things My Kids Will Never Understand

Trying to line things up for the 70 year pass . . .

And shaking free of tackles.

Anyone remember Picwood bowl?

Even if you don't, you can figure out where it was.

Ah memories.. I still have a pic, with my mom in her koufax jersey on hanuka(lol, my mom fits George's mom on Seinfield to a tee) trying to give me a kiss with my head down and totally into my football game.

I very much recall Intellevison. Those were rare, like betamax! They had those funky controllers)

I was way to into jumping over alligators on pitfall though to concern myself with trying to get my parents to get me Intellevison.

Yeah, no kidding.