The NY Post reported that 2B Robinson Cano is working out down in the Dominican Republic and is chiseling up for the 2009 season.

Amazing what some trade rumors and the possible free agent signing of 2B Orlando Hudson can do for a little motivation huh?

After three impressive first years with the Yankees since his rookie year in 2005, Cano’s numbers dropped in just about every major category last year:   

At Bats: 617 to 597
Runs: 93 to 70
Hits: 189 to 162
Doubles: 41 to 35
Triples: 7 to 3
Home Runs: 19 to 14
RBI: 97 to 72
BB: 39 to 26
Steals: 4 to 2
AVG: .306 to .271
OBP: .353 to .305

The only statistical category in which Cano improved was his strikeout total which decreased from 85 to 65.

There is no question, that Cano possesses the hitting ability to become a batting champion as he has good power to all fields and the ability to hit with two strikes. However, if he does …

He is not Mark Teixeira, but the New York Yankees recent trade for Nick Swisher from the Chicago White Sox is a very good trade that the Yankees quietly pulled off.

Not only will the deal allow the Yankees to fill a void at 1B or a possible need in CF, but it also allows the Yankees to allocate the majority of their available money to pitching which is their biggest need.

Additionally, the trade allows the Yankees to bring in three players as opposed to only two if the Yankees were able to sign Teixeira.  Having Swisher, C.C. Sabathia and either A.J. Burnett or Derek Lowe is more valuable than just Teixeira and Sabathia.

This trade also allows the Yankees to not only gain three impact players possibly but also to save money long term due to the current details of Swisher’s contract.  Swisher will be paid $5.3 million in 2009, $6.75 million in 2010 and $9 million in 2011 with a club option for 2012.

Despite Swisher’s manageable …

Despite all of the recent balks by both the New York Mets’ front office and Francisco Rodriguez’s agent Paul Kinzer, when it is all said and done, K-Rod will be a New York Met.

K-Rod’s team is currently looking for a five year contract at $15 million plus per season. And the Mets are said to be offering just a three year deal.

You can understand the Mets front office being a little hesitant in committing a large sum of money and contract years to a closer after Billy Wagner broke down just last season. However, Wagner was 37 when he suffered a possibly career ending injury. K-Rod is only 26 now and will be just 27 at the beginning of the 2009 season.

Rodriguez has averaged 74 innings a year for the last 6 seasons and does have one of the most violent windups in baseball. But his numbers and consistency have been simply staggering as he has not even reached his …

In an article published in the New York Post last week, Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner issued a statement that Joba Chamberlain will be a starter in 2009.

And while every Yankees’ fan dream is to see this scenario come true, it is not in the best well being of Chamberlain nor the organization.  Chamberlain clearly has #1 starter stuff and has showed how dominant he can be, but is this role what he is best suited for?  

Last year the Yankees terribly experimented with Chamberlain’s promising arm when they converted him from a starter to a reliever mid-season.  This resulted in Chamberlain experiencing arm stiffness and tendinitis.  The team was forced to convert him back to a reliever after he missed crucial late season games.

Now less than a month after the Yankees season has ended in disappointment, Steinbrenner is already stirring up the pot.  Hank, all of us share your wishes, but do not pressure Joe Girardi or Brian …

With many baseball fans expecting to see the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, Mets, Dodgers and Angels in the World Series, the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays instead meet in tonight’s opening game of the World Series.

Both have taken different paths to get here, however their paths have been well deserved.  The Phillies are bolstered by an outstanding bullpen led by Brad Lidge who is still perfect in save opportunities this season and an offensive trio of Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.  The Rays on the other hand were backed by an impressive young staff in Scott Kazmir, Andy Sonnanstine, Matt Garza, and James Shields.

Now with the stage becoming even bigger in the World Series, fundamentals will become the single most important aspects in determining this year’s champion.  Starting pitching, bullpen success, defense, and coaching will be the major factors to separate the Phillies and the Rays.

And with a better starting staff especially in games three and four, a coach in Joe Maddon …

It is only fitting that the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays meet to determine who will represent the American League in this year’s World Series.  And having already created a growing rivalry between the teams with a great pennant chase and via a brawl which occurred earlier this summer, this series will surely be eventful.  

Both teams finished under .500 on the road and dominant at home, thus making home field a very important aspect and advantage for the Rays.  The Rays also have advantages in that they are fearless and have possibly destiny on their side.  On the flip side, the Red Sox have the experience in postseason, a better offense and the decisive difference maker in Josh Beckett all on their side.  Consequently, the overall edge goes to the Red Sox in what should be a very competitive ALCS.  

Pitching Matchups:  (First four games listed)

Daisuke Matsuzaka vs James Shields

Josh Beckett vs Scott Kazmir

Matt Garza vs Jon Lester

Andy Sonnanstine vs Tim Wakefield

Season Series: …

Both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies come into the NLCS playing some of their best baseball of the year.  The Dodgers come off an impressive sweep of the Chicago Cubs while the Phillies were equally impressive in beating CC Sabathia and the Milwaukee Brewers.  

Like every postseason matchup this series will come down to starting pitching and bullpen effectiveness. And on paper, one would have to say that the Phillies have the advantage in both categories. Additionally, the Phillies also have an advantage in another important but often overlooked aspect of home field where the Phillies tend to play better.  

In examining just about any aspect of this series, the Phillies and the Dodgers are as even as it gets. But I am going to give the edge to the Dodgers due to what Manny Ramirez brings to their lineup and the experience of Joe Torre in the post-season.  

Pitching Matchups (First four games listed):

Derek Lowe vs Cole Hamels

Chad Billingsley vs Brett Myers

Jamie Moyer …

The Tampa Bay Rays have turned into the feel good story of baseball this year by going from last a year ago to first in 2008.  And not only did the Rays manage to win the division, but they also fought off the Boston Red Sox and New Yankees to do so.  

This has resulted in a Rays team who has gained an edge and confidence as they head into unfamiliar territory this postseason.  While many think that the Rays will be a deer in headlights on the big stage, I feel they will be just the opposite and as loose as can be.  

The Rays will feature great pitching, a scrappy offense, a superb defensive unit, and relievers who simply throw heat.  This formula spells trouble for any opposition.  And while both the Chicago White Sox and Rays play a great deal better at home than they do away, I am giving the edge to the energetic Rays in what should be a wild series.  …

Having dropped two previous playoff series to the Boston Red Sox both in sweeps, the Anaheim Angels hope they can change their luck against the Red Sox in 2008.

With a solid pitching staff, a very good defense, a great bullpen and an underrated offense, the Angels might just have the formula to pull off the feat this time around. 

And with possibly the best postseason pitcher of all time in Josh Beckett not 100%, winning this series for the Red Sox is going to be awfully difficult.

Pitching Matchups (First 3 games listed):

John Lester vs John Lackey

Daisuke Matsuzaka vs Ervin Santana

Joe Saunders vs Josh Beckett

Season Series: Angels won 8 of 9 games.

Prediction: Angels in 5

MLB could not ask for a better matchup between two of the most storied franchises in baseball history.

The Chicago Cubs come into the postseason with the best balance of starting pitching, offense, defense and bullpen of all playoff teams.  However, they carry the biggest weight on their shoulders in not having won a World Series in 100 years. 

This pressure in addition to facing a very solid Los Angeles Dodgers team, will make advancing to the NLCS that much more difficult.  However, the Cubs simply have too much depth.  Specifically, their starting pitching will allow them to separate themselves from the Dodgers and advance to the NLCS.

Pitching Matchups (First 3 games listed):

Derek Lowe vs Ryan Dempster

Chad Billingsley vs Carlos Zambrano

Rich Harden vs Hiroki Kuroda

Season Series: Cubs won 5 of 7 games

Prediction: Cubs in 4 games

In what should be the most exciting series of all the divisional matchups, the Philadelphia Phillies will take on the Milwaukee Brewers.

Plenty of offense will be showcased in this series with the likes of Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins. However, in the end starting pitching and bullpens win postseason games and the Phillies simply have more of it.

CC Sabathia is a horse who will pitch again on short rest, but without Ben Sheets who has been shut down for the year, the Brewers simply do not have the starting pitching depth that they will sorely need. Additionally, with a shaky bullpen of Salomon Torres and Eric Gagne, the Brewers will not be able to rely upon either of them to record a big out nor to slow down the Phillies powerful offense.

In the end, the Phillies offense, adequate pitching, and great bullpen led by Brad Lidge who coverted 41 of 41 saves will be too much for the …

Just like when Babe Ruth opened Yankee Stadium 85 years ago with a homerun, the Yankees provided their fans with a lifetime of memories last Sunday in the “House That Ruth Built”.

Living legends, recently retired players and family members of those deceased gave the Yankee faithful and fans of baseball something that they will never forget.

The Yankees were gritty, energetic, and simply determined to do everything in their power to win this game.

The mystique and aura that has led this storied franchise to 26 world championships was in the air.  And from the start of the game, you just knew that the Yankees were going to win. 

The Yankees played with a sense of urgency and focus that has been missing for years.  An edge that has been the signature motto of this organization.  One which they hope helps them christen the new stadium in the only way the Yankees know; with a world championship.