John, I agree, we root for the laundry.  Manny is not my ideal of what a Yankee should be, but keeping it in perspective it is a temporary situation it will not be a long term deal.  I am only worried about throwing him in the mix with Girardi – Girardi’s personality doesn’t lend itself to Manny’s “style” and I see a potential clash there.  Unfortunately, Girardi is going to realize that when you’re the first manager to not make the playoffs since 1993 – your leverage is nonexistent.  Still, I feel Manny will be motivated (at least in the first year) that second year could get scary.  Not running out ground balls would be the least of our worries, showboating out of the box too. 

John, I’m more intrigued by your mentioning the possibility of Berkman.  Where did you see that he was available?  Are there rumors that the Yanks and Astros are talking?  I was always under the impression that the Astros would never, ever trade Berkman.  But he is the perfect fit.  A switch – hitting first baseman with serious power.  I’ve followed Berkman’s career since he played at Rice University where he hit like .360.  He’s a good ballplayer and a good guy.  Yankee fans would enjoy watching him play and he could protect A-Rod and with his switch hitting ability, would fit the lineup like a glove, in much the same way Bernie did.

If Cashman could pull that off……   see – you’ve got my hopes up, here!  Don’t do that!