Courtesy of the NY Post.

"It was like, you know, I had killed somebody. ... I never knew that this was going to escalate that high."

Obviously he didn't; otherwise, he never would have gone on the public airwaves to denounce gays and say that he hated them. Setting aside the hatred and prejudice in those words - there's nothing for me to add to what's already been said - it's pretty naive to think you can slam a minority group and get away with it. How else do you think people would react? It's like saying, "I hate African-Americans" or "I hate Chinese people." People are going to react negatively to such blatant and hateful bigotry. Tim Hardaway should just shut up and crawl away to the same hovel that Jimmy the Greek, Al Campanis, and Mel Gibson had to crawl into after their own bigoted rants. If I never hear the words Tim Hardaway again, I'll be happy.

Name this pup:

You saw me standing alone/Without a dream in my heart/Without a love of my own

Remember, don't blurt, be subtle, leave a clue.

Part of me doesn't fault the Yankees. Their mission is to put the best product on the field and to win. If they don't feel that a player is part of the equation, their prerogative is to move on and use players who they feel can contribute the most.

But Bernie Williams gave the Yankees so much during his 16-year tenure. He was a star performer for most of his career and a linchpin when they won four titles in five years. He is one of the teams legends, ranking high in the club's record books. More to the point is his class. Bernie played with a quiet, dignified air, never once acting the part of a star, even though he was one and had every right to. After all he has meant to the team and to New York, combined with the fact he can still play, he should be allowed to leave on his terms, when he is ready. The Yankees owe him more than a minor league contract and only the thread of a chance to make the team.

I can understand carrying twelve pitchers on the team, but I can't understand putting three first basemen on the roster at the expense of Bernie. The Yankees are choosing Josh Phelps, Andy Phillips, and Doug Mientkiewicz over him. Maybe Bernie deserves a shot at the right-handed component of the first base job. Neither Phelps nor Phillips are anything special. Nor, for that matter, is Mientkiewicz.

Last year, Bernie showed he can still be a productive player, more productive than Phillips. He helped keep the Yankees afloat when they were decimated by injuries. The Yankees could have and should have found a way to keep him on the team for one more year or even two if that's what Bernie wanted. There is also the practical matter that they really should carry five outfielders and give up one of the first basemen. All around it is a bad, heartless decision.

All I can hope for at this point is that Bernie retires. He should only be a Yankee. To seem him finishing his career in some other uniform would be sadly wrong. A retirement, no matter how forced, seems to be the best choice now that his time here is over.

Cross posted on Plum Crazy.

Thus, I am sure that most Yankees fans are like me pumped that Andy Pettitte is coming back. Not only was he a key cog during the 1996-2003 run of excellence - he pitched the game of a lifetime in Game 5 of the 1996 World Series - but he was an easy guy to like. A good citizen, hardworking, and humble. There was a period early in his career when the sentiment was that he lost it, but he rebounded and showed a heart of stone as he came through time and time again during the regular season and big playoff moments. Sure, he had his clunkers in the post-season, but he came up big in several clutch situations.

Bringing Pettitte back brings back someone who is beloved and someone who should round out the rotation nicely. He still seems to have plenty left, even if there is a question mark about his elbow. He should slot in nicely behind Chien-Ming Wang in the rotation and give them another arm they can count on in the playoffs. With a front three of Wang, Pettitte, and Mussina, they have the type of staff good enough to carry them through post-season series. Pettitte also gives the Yankees depth. They now can keep Jeff Karstens, Daryl Rasner, and the not-quite-ready-yet Philip Hughes at Triple A, along with newly acquired Humberto Sanchez, giving the Yankees numerous options if someone - hello Randy Johnson and Carl Pavano - is hurt.

The Yankees made a good off season potentially great with the signing of Pettitte. Welcome back Andy!

For the first 990 games of his career, a period from 1986-94, McGwire was an injury-prone first baseman who produced an offensive performance roughly equivalent to that of [Jay] Buhner. . . Then, suddenly, McGwire's career swerved toward greatness. His body broadened and his success soared.

Sherman has a compelling point. From 1996-1999, McGwire's batting average spiked to .289 and his median number of homeruns was 62. Contrast that to the pre-1995 McGwire. Tossing out 1993-1995, in which he missed considerable time, leaves us with dramatically different numbers for McGwire earlier in his career. His batting average was .248 and median number of homeruns was 36 between 1987 and 1992.

Granted, neither Sherman nor I have proof that McGwire started injecting steroids after 1994, but the circumstantial evidence is hard to ignore. Based on these numbers, I'd have to agree with Sherman that McGwire does not belong in the Hall of Fame.

Cross posted on Plum Crazy.

$10 million a year for 5 years for a journeyman who's had but one decent season in his career. Who is 32 and will be 37 when the contract is up. Tori Hunter dough for a guy who's not even in the same hemisphere as Hunter as a player.

The Angels will rue the day, probably starting next season.