Matsui Still Hasn't Recovered From Knee Injury

From the Let's Go Yankees Blog, via River Ave. Blues, who was tipped off by My Baseball Bias. (I think that's everyone)

This one is from official Japanese MLB website updated on Jan 17th about Matsui. I asked my Japanese housemate to translate for me.

Matsui is going to go to USA 10 days earlier in order to check his right knee condition with the doctor in New York who help him operate his right knee surgery. He will then go to Tampa to check his right knee condition with Yankee Trainers again. This is not a normal action which go to USA earlier for Matsui. He usually trains with his formal Japanese team and then reports in spring training.

Right now, Matsui doesn't feel pain about his right knee, but he can't run . He is not sure he can run or not when he reports to Tampa. He understands he has to fight with Johnny Damon for left outfielder job and wants to do his best. That's why he decides to go to USA earlier.

Can you say full-time DH?

Knoblauch Issued a Subpoena

From the AFP:

WASHINGTON (AFP) — A House of Representatives committee issued a subpoena to force former New York Yankees slugger Chuck Knoblauch to testify at a deposition on baseball doping after he refused to respond voluntarily.

The lawmakers used their power to compel an appearance from Knoblauch after he failed to contact the US House Oversight committee when asked to give a sworn deposition in connection with hearings of Major League Baseball doping.

"The Committee has taken this step because Mr. Knoblauch failed to respond to the invitation to participate voluntarily in a deposition or transcribed interview and the February 13 hearing," a statement from chairman Henry Waxman and ranking minority member Tom Davis said.

Hey Chuck, when the Government calls, respond. Idiot.

Donnie Baseball Changes Jobs for Dodgers

From the AP:

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Don Mattingly won't be alongside Joe Torre in the Los Angeles Dodgers' dugout every game this year.

Mattingly will be moved from hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers to major league special assignment coach for the 2008 season due to family reasons, the team said Tuesday. Mike Easler will replace Mattingly as hitting coach.

"Donnie is prioritizing his family first," said the former MVP's agent, Ray Schulte. "The Dodgers have been very supportive, creating a position so Don can still make a contribution to the team throughout the year!"

Mattingly will now assist with Dodgers' major league coaching staff during spring training and throughout the season.

"I'm very grateful that the Dodgers have allowed me to take care of these family matters and I hope that everyone can respect our privacy during this time," Mattingly said in a statement issued by the team. "I truly appreciate the support of all Dodger fans since joining the organization and I look forward to helping the team win in 2008 and beyond."

If Donnie was still a Yankee I bet these "family matters" would disappear very quickly. If there is really something serious going on with his family I wish him the best, and hope everything gets worked out quickly so he can return to the dugout.

Could there be a smoking gun in the Clemens/steroid case?

On Sunday my attention was wrapped around that football game in Wisconsin so I didn't notice the article in the Daily News about a 2004 meeting between Brian McNamee and Jim Murray - a representative of Clemens' agents Randy and Alan Hendricks - to discuss Roger Clemens' steroid use. The meeting supposedly took place at an Upper East Side Starbucks near Clemens' apartment.

McNamee claims that he explained, in detail, Clemens past steroid use:

"The meeting coincided with baseball's announcement of testing," said Earl Ward, McNamee's lawyer. "Brian wanted to let them know Roger had some problems. They discussed steroid use, and this was as far back as 2003 or 2004, and Murray took notes."

This is the same Jim Murray that was mentioned in the 17 minute tape that Clemens played at his press conference, when the two were discussing former Mets drug dealer clubhouse attendant, Kirk Radomski.

"I did speak ... I told your guys, man. I told Murray. I told him his name ... I told Murray."

"I asked you point blank," Clemens responds, "I said, 'Do you know who this cat is when we were working?' I said 'There's some rumblings about some guys with the Mets. Do you know who this guy is?' You told me 'no.'"

McNamee then goes on to say, "I told Jim Murray. I told Jim Murray. I told him. I told him. I sat down with him in Starbucks on the corner where you used to live, and I told him the guy's name."

If there is evident that McNamee spoke to Mr. Murray in 2004, years before the Mitchell Report, it will be very, very bad for Clemens, and his fight to save his already tattered reputation.

UPDATE: ESPN had this to say about this story on Sunday:

Rusty Hardin, Clemens' attorney, told the Times on Friday that no one from the Hendricks agency mentioned the alleged conversation between McNamee and Murray in 2004. Hardin added that the agency denied that either Hendricks brother ever received a message from McNamee on the topic.

"McNamee never told Jimmy that Roger or Andy were in any way connected to steroids or human growth hormone," Hardin told The Times.

More he said/she said in a case already full of it. Somebody is definitely lying here, and that somebody is going to be in a lot of trouble.

New Photos of New Yankee Stadium

For the main updates page go here.

Prince Akeem Recaps the Big Game

How about them Giants !?!?!?!

The Giants are going to the Super Bowl!!!

That's right, the New York Football Giants have beaten the Green Bay Packers 23-20 in a classic at Lambeau Field, setting up a rematch of the week-17 battle between the Giants and the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

Bring on the Pats!

Big Guy's Minor League Notes

WINTER LEAGUE NOTES: Alberto Gonzalez (Bravos) and Scott Patterson (Lara) are still playing in the Venezuelan Winter league playoffs. Its a round robin system to pick the teams that play in the title game. Scott Patterson took a month off for the holidays and returned to help Lara in the playoffs. They're currently tied for 1st place in the round robin. He's pitched in relief in 7 games and picked up 1 win in 7.1. innings. He's thrown over 110 innings since the start of the 07 season. He had an excellent year at AA Trenton appearing in 43 games with a 1.04 ERA, .170 BAA. In 74 innings at AA he had 91 K's---15 BB. Alberto Gonzalez is hitting .278 for the Bravos. The slick fielding SS had a very good VWL regular season. In 34 games he hit .341, OBP .394. Patterson will be in the SWB bullpen and Gonzalez will be the SWB starting SS in 08.

SCOUTING REPORT: Brett Gardner

Brett Gardner got promoted to AAA SWB on July 12th and his first game was indicative of his talent. SWB played against the Louisville Bats (Reds). Pitching phenom Homer Bailey is on the mound. Gardner works a walk off Bailey. Gardner is a true base stealing threat and has the best speed in the organization. He takes huge leads off 1st and Bailey throws over about half a dozen times. Bailey is rattled and balks. Gardner moves to 2nd and quickly proceeds to steal 3rd base. He then scores on a single. That's the kind of excitement this young player brings to the game.

Offense: At AA Trenton he hit .300 in 54 games with an OBP of .392, despite missing 5 weeks with a broken hand. At SWB he hit .260 and was a slap hitter with great speed and a very good bunter. He hit a lot of balls to the opposite field. They worked with him in the Arizona Fall League to pull the ball more into the gaps. He had great fall league hitting .343 in 26 games with a OBP of .433.

Defense: Very good defensive centerfielder. His great speed allows him to run down most balls hit in his direction. He's not afraid of the wall either. He missed 10 games after crashing into the wall at SWB last year. He has an average but accurate arm.

Outlook: Gardner is the prototypical leadoff hitter with his speed and ability to bunt. His only question is whether he'll hit enough for average to be a ML starter. If not he'll be a very good 4th outfielder and give the Yankees tools they haven't had in a while. At the very least he'll be a Sept callup if he doesn't make it to NY sooner. This is based on my personal observations.

NOTES: The Yankees invited 26 non-roster players to spring training. Andrew Brackman, 1st round draft pick is at the Tampa facility working out with the rest of the young pitchers. He's recovering from TJ surgery and is supposed to begin a throwing program soon. The SWB team plays an exhibition game at AA Trenton April 1st. SWB opens the season at home against Lehigh Valley (Phillies) on April 3rd.

(as alway I thank "Big Guy" for his great contributions)