The biggest news may be the National League MVP, winning his second, Jose Alberto Pujols.

I think he deserved it, but he didn't seem to get a ton of recognition for his godly season. He hit .357, boosting his career average to .334. He hit 37 homers, surpassing 300 on his 8 year career, and will pass 1,000 RBIs next year. He also scored 1 more run than last year, bouncing back from his first sub-100 run season, with 99 in '07. Is he headed for the Hall Of Fame? Tell me your opinion.

Secondly, apparently there are "nine or 10" teams interested in Rafael Furcal.

As it said on mlb.com, the A's and Giants are after the shortstop. So are the Dodgers (well, yeah) and Cardinals, but those are the only ones specified. So, after his fluky .366 average in 32 games before missing most of the season, do you think the four years and $10 million a year he's asking is too much, or too big a risk.

Third, it was announced today that the Yankees would open the new Yankee Stadium versus the Cubs in a pair of exhibition games on the 3rd and 4th of April.

Since there is nothing really controversial about this (I think it's cool), I don't have a question for you about it.

Finally, I've seen murmurs of a weird trade going down.

Dontrelle Willis for Julio Lugo? Two bad contracts for each other? What do you think of this? It's a terrifying thought the Red Sox are clearing up the shortstop position for Mike Lowell or Kevin Youkilis, so first base is open for M-M-Mark T-T-Te- No! Don't jinx it! Tell me what you think.

Well, who else but the Yankees would be the ones making record offers on the first day of free agent signing? That's right, seemingly disappearing readers. The Yankees have made a reportedly huge offer to the coveted CC. Six years, $140 million, they say, topping the Giants' $126 million contract to (insert snicker) Barry Zito. Soon after I saw this story, one popped up about the Yankees' interest in Peavy. The Braves have drawn out of Peavy talks, and the Mets say they're passing on CC. Speaking of the Amazin's, Omar Minaya should probably be our role model this offseason. Remember when he got Carlos Beltran and Pedro Martinez and rescued Carlos Delgado and Paul Lo Duca from the Marlins' flaming wreckage? In the same offseason? Remember when he got Johan Santana and Ryan Church the year after? He was not shy to spend money and get what he needed. Of course, he had help from two guys named Wright and Reyes. But we have Hughes and Joba to help us out. We've also confirmed interest in AJ Burnett and Derek Lowe. Apparently, the Swisher trade was just to plug a hole so we could spend money on starters. Who do you think the Yankees should get this offseason?

Yes, Yankee fans. I, too, was puzzled in seeing that the Yankees had dismissed Jeff Marquez and Wilson Betemit for Nick Swisher. The man who stated "We were going to spend" has gone out and gotten a cheap first baseman. The stats he puts up are like a worse Jason Giambi: Bad average, good power, high on-base percentage. He could actually be useful in a platoon. He can play the outfield as well, though, so that separates him from Giambi. A first-base-outfield platoon, yeah... But you must remember that Adrian Gonzalez, Mark Teixeira, and other options were out there as well.

My question stands, why? And I send advice to Brian Cashman: Go out and get another first baseman.

Well, folks, I've suggested that the Yankees acquire CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Derek Lowe, Cliff Lee, Manny Ramirez, Mark Teixeira, Carl Crawford, and Jake Peavy in these last few posts, and I have one more that I will be sending to the Yankees mailbag, as well as posting. Adrian Gonzalez, for one thing, is a Padre, which is bad for his job security in the first place. He is also an excellent baseball player who could bring in good trade value, which is attractive for the rebuilding Padres. He is a left-handed hitter, which is attractive to the Yankees and their short porch. He is a first baseman, something the Yankees need. Plus, he has a great glove (a Gold Glove now), something the Yankees haven't been able to boast at that position since Tino Martinez played every day. 

Naturally, for me, a frontline starter is top priority, so once we have that, here is my trade package for the man who had a .279-36-119 season playing half his games in pitcher's haven Petco Park.

Evil Ian Kennedy

Hefty Humberto Sanchez

Krappy Kei Igawa

Eric "We finally dumped him off to somebody" Duncan

Maddening Melky Cabrera

I would consider parting with Awesome Austin Jackson, but that would be very painful. Tell me what you think of this deal.

Congratulations are in order for Mike Mussina, winning his 7th Gold Glove.

                  

Congratulations are in order for these men, winning the rest of the Gold Gloves.

Congratulations are in order for this man, having the huevos to let go of Jason Giambi once and (hopefully) for all. Carl Pavano, too.

Congratulations are in order for this team, giving Philadelphia its first major sports championship in 100 total years.

And finally...

Congratulations are in order for this man, for leading this country head-on into a new era, an era of change, the era of

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA.

 

YES WE DID!

Pitcher Of The Game

Joe Blanton: 6 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, 7 K, 2 BB, HR

Hitter Of The Game

Ryan Howard: 3 for 4, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB

rest of the game:

A 10-2 thumping by the Phillies pushed the Rays to the edge yesterday. Joe Blanton hit a home run, the first of his career. Ryan Howard hit two. Impeccable pitching by the bullpen finished the Rays. Tonight, Young King Cole Hamels versus Scott Kazmir, with the Rays' season on the line. Yep, that pretty much sums it up.

Well, as I said, I do not care who wins this 2008 World Series, but since thus far, it has been a great series, and it's the World Series, I'm reporting.

Pitcher Of The Game

Jamie Moyer: 6.1 innings, 5 hits, 3 runs, 5 K, 1 BB

Hitter Of The Game

Carlos Ruiz: 2 for 3, HR, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB

rest of the game:

A great play by a man who had to wait 3,746 2/3 innings and a barehand pick by his first baseman in the 7th inning started it all. Carl Crawford was called safe, and that helped ignite a Rays rally when they scored two runs, drawing within 1 run, 4-3 Phillies. In the 8th, they scored another run, tying the game.Then came the bottom of the ninth. J.P. Howell hit Eric Bruntlett, putting a runner on first. Then came Grant Balfour, who threw a wild pitch, sending Bruntlett to second. Dioner Navarro made a bad throw into center field, putting a runner on third. Then came an intentional walk, putting runners on the corners. Joe Maddon then employed a five-man infield, moving Ben Zobrist behind second base. Another intentional walk. Then Carlos Ruiz stepped to the plate. A chopper came down the line. Evan Longoria charged the ball, barehanded it and overtossed the ball over Navarro's head, sending Bruntlett home with the Game 3 victory. You know, that ball could have gone foul, on top of everything. That's your basic crazy World Series momentum shifter. So yeah, that's basically what happened.

Well, the World Series brackets are set. Rays-Phillies. I saw this as being a potentially very boring series, but considering the possibilities, it could actually be insanely interesting. So, the World Series won't belong to Big Papi, Manny, Francona, Torre, and the rest of the bunch. I ask you, blogosphere, how many of you said the Series would be in these guys' hands:

The Phillies won the first game, 3-2. The possibilities are so exciting, I will continue to cover this series as if the Yankees were in it, just less biased.

Don't worry, the second part of my Yankee Stadium tribute is coming, there are just a lot of photos to collect. So here is my postseason plan. We first have acquisition considerations.

CC Sabathia. Amazing, overpowering stuff. Pretty good control. Southpaw. But I'm reconsidering the hefty lefty as the Yanks' future. He doesn't seem to hold up well under playoff pressure.

He's only been to two postseasons, but he failed epically in each one. Being a Yankees fan, this is a disturbing sign. The Yankees' whole season always ideally ends with winning the World Series, and if your ace can't pitch on that level, what's a manager to do? Bench him? Keep him on a tight leash? How do you get any value out of that?

Derek Lowe. 36 year old righty sinkerballer. Threw a no-hitter with the Red Sox. His track record would indicate he is a good playoff pitcher, which is one of the main things I look at when considering whether or not the Yankees should acquire someone. A short contract seems like an almost zero downside deal.

 AJ Burnett. Won 18 games, still relatively young, overpowering stuff, threw a no-hitter (with 10 walks) for the Marlins. Huge injury risk, occasional control problems too. He's never played in the postseason. The verdict: Big risk, potentially bigger rewards.

 

Yes, Cliff Lee. He pitched pitched fantastically all year for an awful team. Maybe not technically an offseason acquisition, but Lee may well become a hot commodity come trade season next year. If he keeps pitching well and the Indians keep failing on an epic scale, he'll be moved for the same reason Sabathia went to the Brewers. The Yankees failed to grab CC or Johan Santana when they were available, and that didn't pay off, so expect when another good pitcher is on the block, they'll move. It was only one good year, though, so another big risk with possibly bigger rewards.

Hahaha, yes, the ManRam I so love to hate could be helping open up the new Yankee Stadium next year. A happy Manny is one of the best players in baseball, and he and A-Rod would be a deadly duo in the lineup. Plus, he could back up A-Rod when playoff time comes around, He could make up for A-Rod's failures and then some. Yes, he would look ridiculous without his facial hair and he would be annoying, but there's no denying he would be a great player. Plus, he could smear it in the Red Sox' face. We all thought it would be weird to see Johnny Damon in the 'stripes...

Mark Teixeira. He's been part of the Yankees' talks for quite some time, and expect that drone to become a roar this offseason. Played in his first postseason this year, did pretty well. He has an excellent bat, glove, and let's face it: the guy looks ridiculous in an Angels uniform. He's waaay better and younger than Giambi, and we have the money for him, so I say go for it.

I have another proposition as well, one that I don't think anyone has suggested yet:

Carl Crawford. Contract expires this year, and the Rays may be facing the same problem the Marlins did both times they went to the World Series: they simply don't have enough money to foster a dynasty. Crawford may be asking for more money, and the Yankees can pay. Crawford, yearly, can provide 20 homers, 100 RBIs, and 50 steals. Could be a great move...

Lastly, I have an acquisition proposition that may well shock you to no end.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Jake The Snake Peavy. The Padres seem to be commencing rebuild mode, so young Peavy is ace they can't afford. If the Yankees can pay the price...

That wraps it up for my acquisitions edition. If you have any other suggestions for the Yanks, tell me here.

Thank you and good night.

You know what? I think I'm rooting for the Rays, but it would be kind of cool to see Manny Ramirez, Nomar Garciaparra, and Derek Lowe storm Boston led by Joe Torre.

I hope the Bums sweep the Idiots.