“Don’t get so caught up in the [Spring Training] stats, because we’re asking guys to work on certain things,” Girardi said. “It’s not fair if you ask them to work on something and then say we’re going by stats.”

A huge hat-tip to Steve Lombardi for pointing out this column from Kevin Kernan in the Post today. Classic:
The bond of winning a championship together has created a tighter bond between Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter.
They drove here together yesterday from Tampa for the Yankees’ split-squad 6-0 win over the Pirates. And they left together. [...]

I read the print edition Daily News every day on my commute into Manhattan. I realize, of course, that I could get all of it online on my iPhone, but I like the effect of seeing the front and back pages, plus I don’t think reading on such a tiny screen is good for my [...]

Former Cy Young Award winner and alternative rock guitarist Jack McDowell’s one year in Yankee pinstripes was marked by 15 wins, 157 strikeouts and one extended middle finger.
His was the disillusioned, Kurt Cobain variety of the gesture, the depressed grunge-rocker wildly and ineffectively firing back at a world he felt could never truly understand him.
But [...]

You might have heard that Randy Johnson retired last night, giving me as good a reason as any to link up this guy. This might be the craziest thing that’s ever happened:

That moment has honestly been the subject of as many late-night debates amongst me and my friends as any in history.
One of my buddies [...]

The inimitable John Harper on the Javier Vazquez deal, in this morning’s Daily News:
Isn’t this the type of creative dealing the Mets should be doing?
Or is it simply that they are in denial about their need to upgrade their pitching to have any real chance at contending next season?
It could be that, yes.
It could also [...]

Alex Belth from BronxBanterBlog.com breaks down the Yankees’ acquisition of Javier Vazquez while some handsome guy sits next to him and emphasizes Mark DeRosa’s heart:

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Steve Lombardi at WasWatching passes along Baseball America’s Top 10 prospects for the Yankees, and four of the top eight are catchers.
Maybe the Yankees really heavily scout catchers, or maybe that’s just a weird fluke. There’s only one other position player on the list.
Granted, the top guy is Jesus Montero, who, as Steve points out, [...]

Here’s a really interesting read from Full Count Pitch, courtesy of the Baseball Think Factory.
Billy Campione, the writer, attended a WFAN-organized question and answer session with Brian Cashman in which Cashman details the process that led him to hire Joe Girardi as manager.
According to Campione, the interview process took eight hours per candidate and included [...]

Doin’ my duty:
SNY cover the Yankees’ parade live tomorrow beginning at 11 a.m.
Jonas Schwartz will host the coverage. Jon Heyman, Mark Feinsand, Marty Appel and friend of TedQuarters Alex Belth from Bronx Banter will be in studio to weigh in.