In the words of Scooter ——Holy Cow!  I’m sitting here watching “White Christmas” with Bing Crosby to get in the mood and Holy Cow!  So much for operating ”under budget.” 

Holy Cow!  White did you say that the Yanks signed Sabathia, Burnett and Teixeria?  Holy Cow! 

Let me just say this.  This is a masterful job by Cashman.  This is the “under the radar” move that has worked in the past.  Interesting that it does not exceed the 189 given to Jeter years ago.  It exceeds Sabathia’s money in total amounts but it’s for more years and a definite statement by Teixeria that he wants to be a Yankee.  It’s a long contract and I hope I’m wrong about the back end of it.  But obviousl the Yankees feel they can afford it.  Again my only issue here is the length of the contract, not so much on Teixeria’s ability as a ballplayer.  What an offseason.  We all knew that there was a lot of money coming off the books and the Yankees would spend int he words of Mike as “drunken sailors” with his picture of Cashman holding two fist fulls of cash a few weeks ago.  This is crazy.  But I don’t feel guilty about it and I don’t care what the so-called “Yankee haters” say – spending money guarantees nothing.  Nothing.  But it’s about acquiring good players, having good pitching and trying to infuse your club with your own young talent.  

I thought signing Manny would have been good for the short term.  But obviously Teixeria is a good player.  A real good player and although he may never approach Manny’s offensive prowess, he’s a good player.  Having said that, the Yankees have to create some room.  They need to move Matsui, Nady or Swisher.  I say keep Damon because his value is as a leadoff guy.  I’m mildly disappointed that they did not solve the CF problem although I’m not going to quibble too much.  Gardener is acceptable as a “go get the ball” type of player.   Although I’d like to see Swisher in Cf, as I must admit I haven’t seen too much of him there and I don’t want to assume that he can’t do it.  

Enough of that.  We all know that this game revolves around pitching.  Pitching, pitching, pitching.  And here the club is strong.  Tampa had good pitching last season.  We have to match that.  Kazmir, Garza, Shields. Sonnastine and Jackson.  Sabathia, Wang, Burnett, Chamberlain and Pettitte.  It’s very close at the top three, as far as depth goes – the Yankees probably have better depth.  The bullpen was actually a strength last year so I look for that to be solid again.  

Make no mistake.  This is a good club.    What remains to be seen is how it all meshes together.  Divisions aren’t won in December.  They are won with consistency from the pitching staff, staying healthy and playing together as a group.  Man, the pressure is on Girardi.  The Yankees have spent a bundle and Girardi is the beneficiary of that.  What incredible pressure on him but that comes with the territory.  He was given a free pass last season and now there are no excuses.  And, as far as I can tell, Girardi has that “business like” group of players that we’ve had in the past.  Gone are the Sheffields, the Farnsworths, no steroid distractions from Giambi, no sour puss faces like Randy Johnson, no punching the wall Kevin Brown.   And no Manny, Joe.  I’m sure you’re happy about that.  To be honest, I’m quietly happy that I don’t have to cross my fingers and hope that he wasn’t going to be a problem.  The core can still run the clubhouse, Jeter, Posada and Mariano.  I don’t know what Andy is waiting for.   The club is also better defensively – Teixeria at first is an upgrade.  Nady in right field is an upgrade over Abreu.  A full season of Gardener or Melky is good.  Molina behing the dish on days that Posada doesn’t catch I think gives this team a certain confidence defensively.  I didn’t even get into how this is also a “double win” because it takes away from the Red Sox as well, but you guys have read enough. 

So, in the words of our beloved Scooter….. Holy Cow!  White, pinch me I think I’m dreaming.