I agree that 3/4 of the Yankee infield don’t get to enough balls—the right side of the IF was certainly subpar. But if Cano hit at all in the first half, his defensive shortcomings (and lack of effort out there) wouldn’t have been so pronounced.

But if they’re going to back up the truck, which is what the Yankees appear to be ready to do, why not just go for Tex?

Again, I don’t see this happening at all because I expect to see the Pinstripers making at least one (and probably two) big FA splashes, which will also result in Joba Chamberlain returning to the bullpen.

Honestly, I think for Kotchman to be a part of the next good Braves team, he has to improve some from 2008. If he hits more like the .296/.372/.467 line from 2007 and less like the .272/.328/.410 he hit in 2008, he’s a good player. 830 OPS, OBP-heavy, is a complementary hitter we can work with at first. Less than that, and, well, we saw this year what happens when a premium offensive position just entirely fails to produce.

So how exactly did this columnist say it was in the Yankees’ best interest to trade for Kotchman?

The collapse was bad enough, but I keep going back to the preposterous “Shea Goodbye” celebration that the team insisted on having after the game. Truly, a bizarre sendoff.

My guess, as it has been for the past couple of months, is Donovan Tate. He might not last 6 or 7 picks, though.

It’s too bad MLB didn’t enforce the signing deadline this year. Pedro Alvarez might have been back in the draft with an outside chance to fall to us..

(Stu, Stu, wake up!)

Oh god, what have I done.

“Meet the Melts!”