Tuesday, February 17, 2004
CHANGE ONE THING, CHANGE EVERYTHING
Remember when I called Aaron Boone's injury a blessing? I basically said it might force the Yankees to finally start thinking about different options that should have been apparent to them long ago. (I'm willing to believe Cashman had already contemplated these things long ago, but that it'd force Big Stein to actually listen to what Cashman has to say. Reading Gammons, however, I'm glad to see Cashman at least tried to get Pujols. So I take that part back.)
Now, I was talking about that maybe they'd finally realise that Jeter would do less harm at 3B than SS, but acquiring A-Rod is an example of a similar kind of lateral thinking. Because as great as this deal is right now for Yankeeland, acquiring A-Rod months ago, in the immediate aftermath of the Red Sox negotiations or even beforehand, would have made even more sense.
I mean, why didn't they just trade Soriano for A-Rod back in December, and move a still healthy Boone to 2B? Hell, Boone might have gone on to injure his knee anyways (or maybe not), but now, as Neyer points out, the Yankees are left shopping for a replacement All-Star 2B.
I don't see Vidro in pinstripes, however. Not at least until July.
Regardless of who plays 2B, who wants to put money on the 2004 Yankees becoming the 8th team in history to top 1,000 runs?
Who wants to bet they'll top their own 73 year-old record of 1,067 runs?
