INSURANCE-ROD

Jorge Posada was scratched from Saturday's spring training game against the Twins because of soreness in his surgically repaired shoulder.

Yankees shouldn't waste any time. They should get on the phone with Ivan Rodriguez and get him in camp as an insurance policy.

The idea of Jose Molina and Kevin Cash does not thrill me.

(Thanks to Scott Proctors Arm for the tip)

Follow NYYU on TWITTER. Click Here.

GET MANNY NOW!

Now is the time for the Yankees to get Manny Ramirez. Give him what he wants along with a ticket to Tampa.

Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez could be facing federal drug trafficking charges. That could be the Yankees window to void his contract.

Who would replace "A" in the line up?

With Manny, they could bat 3,4,5 Tex, "A" and Manny.

If "A" is gone, Tex, Manny and __?__, still is not bad.

YANKS VP SON HAD ROID RAP

From MSNBC:

TAMPA, Fla. - The son of Yankees senior vice president Felix Lopez was told to stop hanging out at the team’s minor league complex after senior management became aware he was arrested on a steroids possession charge in September 2002.

Felix Manuel Lopez III was seen by reporters working as a trainer with players at the Yankees minor league complex this month, performing tasks such as putting down cones for running drills in the outfield. The Yankees say he never was employed by the team and he was told by his father to stop showing up at the minor league complex.

He was charged with trafficking in illegal drugs and possession of controlled substance, according to a Hillsborough (Fla.) County Jail report that is available online. The substance was approximately 10 vials of liquid steroids, the report said.

According to the arrest record filed with the Tampa Police Department, police obtained several bottles and vials of unspecified liquid steroids as well as two boxes with six bottles of the drug GBL when they raided Lopez III’s Tampa apartment on Sept. 18, 2002.

Newsday, on its Web site Friday, reported that Lopez agreed to a plea deal in which he received three years of probation for pleading guilty to possession with intent.

The senior Lopez is married to Jessica Steinbrenner, the daughter of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. He is in his fifth season as a team senior VP, and is in charge of operations at Steinbrenner Field and the Himes minor league complex.

FOLLOW UP: SEASON TIX HOLDER GIVEN THE SHAFT

This is to follow up on my friend who is getting the shaft from the Yankees "Relocation Office".

From 2002-2008 her 2 seats were Loge, Section 484, Row D.

The Yankees relocated her to Outfield Section 238, Row 22.

More details, including a map of before and after can be seen on her blog "Yes, I'm a Yankee Fan"

Anyone else out there with a similar issue?

FOLLOW NYYU ON TWITTER

I am going to try this Twitter thing.

I will post a "tweet" with Yankees headlines on Twitter as I hear them.


If you have a Twitter account, click here to follow me.

HOLI BOLI! WHAT IS IT?

What is it that Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez had his cousin inject into him?

Most likely is was a product called Dimetabol.

Dimetabol is a mixture of vitamins and the steroid Nandrolone. This mix is very popular because the vitamins are meant to mask the steroid agent. It is also popular because users can say they thought they were taking a vitamin shot if they are ever caught during doping tests.

This particular substance is manufactured by a Mexican veterinary supply company and is intended for use on cattle and horses during periods of stress or after birth to aid recovery and weight gain.

The vitamins in the mix provide the "energy boost" that "A" was referring to.

Nandrolone is an anabolic steroid. It works by increasing the growth of certain tissues in the body and has been shown to improve the oxygen-carrying ability of blood by increasing hemoglobin and the size of red blood cells.

So the steroid also will help in the energy and stamina department by aiding in the flow of oxygen while increasing muscle growth.

Nandrolone may cause liver tumors or bloody cysts in the liver and spleen. It also causes a decrease in good cholesterol (HDL) and an increase in bad cholesterol (LDL), seriously increasing the risk of developing hardening of the arteries and heart disease.

Dimetabol very popular drug among Dominican baseball players because it is cheap and readily available.

A-MESS ON YES

The "A-Rod" dog and pony show can be seen live on YES / YES-HD today.

WFAN will also carry it. Click here to listen live.

Coverage starts at 1:30 EST, preempting "Mike w/o The Mad Dog" (AKA "Mike'd Up") on both networks.

Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez reportedly will have a "thick pinstriped wall of New York Yankees looking on during his news conference Tuesday, with teammates coalescing around..."

This "pinstriped wall" will consist of teammates old, new and recycled.

Fellow roider Andy Pettitte will be there and so will new Yank 1st sacker Mark Teixeira, who teamed with "A" on the 2003 Texas Rangers team.

"When I see him.... I'm going to give him a big hug and just tell him I'm there for him. I'm going to be a teammate and a friend if he needs one," Teixeira said.

Barf.

SPRING RADIO SCHEDULE

This is the 2009 spring training games scheduled for the Yankees Radio Network:

Saturday	28-Feb	1:15 PM	vs. Minnesota
Saturday	7-Mar	1:15 PM	vs. Atlanta
Saturday	14-Mar	1:15 PM	vs. Houston
Sunday	15-Mar	1:15 PM	vs. Minnesota
Saturday	21-Mar	1:15 PM	vs. Detroit
Tuesday	24-Mar	7:15 PM	vs. Boston
Friday	27-Mar	7:15 PM	vs. Cincinnati
Sunday	29-Mar	1:15 PM	vs. Pittsburgh
Friday	3-Apr	7:05 PM	vs. Chicago (NL)
			(New Yankee Stadium)
Saturday	4-Apr	1:05 PM	vs. Chicago (NL)
			(New Yankee Stadium)

CLICK HERE for a list of stations on the Yankees Radio Network.

"Sliding Into Home" has the spring TV schedule.

NEW DOC IN THE NEW HOUSE

Brian Cashman has announced that Dr. Christopher Ahmad has taken over from Dr. Stuart Hershon as the Yankees' team physician.

Hershon, who spent 21 years with the Yankees, will stay on with the team as a senior advisor of orthopedics.

Dr. Ahmad is a member of the Major League Baseball Team Physicians Association. He is also the head team physician for The City College of New York, local high schools, and serves as consultant to local gymnastics and swim teams.

A-ROD COMES CLEAN: "I DID IT"

Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez has admitted to using steroids to Peter Gammons during an interview to be aired on ESPN tonight.

"I did take a banned substance. For that I'm very sorry and deeply regretful," he said.

More info as it occurs.

A-FRAUD TO A-ROID IN 1 WEEK

Sports Illustrated reports that Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez failed a steroid test in 2003. "A" would not comment on the report today.

That would be his last season in Texas and BEFORE he became a Yankee. I only concern myself with events that happen while wearing Yankee pinstripes.

Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, Chuck Knoblach and Jason Giambi..."The Sultan of Shot", were Yankees at the time of their alleged use of the juice.

This is all the Yankees need...another distraction for "A".

UPDATE: There are 2 sports media outlets that when they "break" a story I question their credibility. One is ESPN and the other is SI. I highly recommend reading the post on "The Bronx Daily" about SI's "anonymous source" that provided the info.

SEASON TIX HOLDERS GETTING THE SHAFT

It seems that some loyal season ticket holders are being offered lesser plans for the new stadium than they had for the old place, unless you beg them.

The following is an email I received from a friend telling me about what the Yankees are doing and the email trail between her and the Yankees.

Names and numbers have been deleted for privacy.

Mike,

As you know, (see my blog), last Fall I got “the don’t call us, we will invoice you” phone call from the Yankees. According to that I would be invoiced in January and that would be how I would know where my seats were and how much they cost.

I made friends on Facebook with another season ticket holder, ***********, She had a 48 game plan and was trying to get a full season. They Yankees offered her 20 games. She had to call the ticket office to end up with a 41 game plan.

See email trailer below:

-----Original Message-----
From: ******* [mailto:******@verizon.net]
Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 10:23 PM
To: Relocation
Subject: 41 Game Plan

I am a season ticket holder since 2002. I have selected a 41 game plan for 2009, I have not heard anything to date since a phone call last October. Consequently I am somewhat concerned, as typically by now I have been invoiced.

Please advise as to whether you have forgotten about me or the process is just delayed.

My account # is **-*****

Regards,

*************

From: "*****, ******"
Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2009 09:54:35 -0500
To: ********** <********@verizon.net>
Subject: RE: 41 Game Plan

*****,

There was very high demand for 81 game plans this year so 41 game plans took a hit in inventory. You'll most likely receive an invoice for a 20 game plan within the next two weeks. Thank you.

XXXXX XXXXXXXX
Ticket Operations
New York Yankees
Yankee Stadium Ticket Office
161st Street and River Ave.
Bronx, NY 10451
XXXXXXX@yankees.com
718.XXX.XXXX

-----Original Message-----
From: ********@verizon.net [mailto:********@verizon.net]
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 10:27 AM
To: ******, ******
Subject: Re: 41 Game Plan

Will I still get tickets for opening day? - If not would like my original request honored.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

From:******, ****** [mailto:*******@YANKEES.COM]
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 11:00 AM
To:*********@verizon.net
Subject: RE: 41 Game Plan

No, unfortunately you won't get opening day. You're original request will be honored though. Thank you.

XXXXX XXXXXXX
Ticket Operations
New York Yankees
Yankee Stadium Ticket Office
161st Street and River Ave.
Bronx, NY 10451
XXXXXXX@yankees.com
718.XXX.XXXX

From: ******* ***** [mailto:********@verizon.net]
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 7:58 PM
To: '*********'
Subject: RE: 41 Game Plan

Dear Mr. Xxxxxxx,

I do want you to know that as a fan , I was like many others fans distressed when the Yankees changed all the ticket plans. Also that premium seats were created. Many fans are experiencing hardships due to the economy, and personally I thought it was very disloyal for the NY Yankees to cater to the wealthy patron.

Most ticket holders do not have incomes over $100,000 per year and like myself set aside their ticket money throughout the year. As I said, I appreciate that my 41 game seat request will be honored, as a that is what I budgeted for the 2009 season.

As a long time season ticket holder I have made associations with other season ticket holders. They like myself, make up the middle class patron. Many are distressed with the Yankees lack of rewarding these long time fans for their patronage; but courting of the big dollar ticket seat. I would hope that you would bring this to Yankee management. Many fans like myself feel they are being squeezed out of season plans in favor of the wealthy patron.

Thank you for your response. I assume this means that my original request for a 41 game plan will be honored. I look forward to hearing from the ticket office.

Regards,

XXXXX XXXXXXX

The Yankees can do better than this.