In token West Coast news, my schizoid mariners are giant killers (well actually Tiger killers) on the road, but can't win at home.......

That was surprising and the Tigers come to NY this weekend. The Yankees can beat the Orioles and the Red Sox but not the Texas Rangers so maybe they will have better luck against the Tigers.

And even stranger, the 3 guys that everyone including myself have been calling for their heads (or at least their release) all came through today: Figgins, Olivo & Smoak.

Let's hurry up and get Andy Pettitte back on the Yankee roster so we can get Phil Hughes out of the starting rotation.

Not a good week for the Yankees as they lose Pineda for the year and Hughes still struggles after all this time. Depending on Pettite to save the season is not a good thing (he didn't even pitch in baseball last year).

Now 6-13.


ANGELS SALARIES
RANK PLAYER SALARY (US$)
1 Vernon Wells $24,187,500
2 Torii Hunter $18,500,000
3 Jered Weaver $14,200,000
4 Dan Haren $12,750,000
5 Albert Pujols $12,000,000
6 Ervin Santana $11,200,000
7 C.J. Wilson $10,500,000
8 Bobby Abreu $9,000,000
9 Erick Aybar $5,075,000
10 Scott Downs $5,000,000
11 Howie Kendrick $4,850,000
12 Hisanori Takahashi $4,200,000
13 Maicer Izturis $3,966,666
14 Chris Iannetta $3,550,000
15 Alberto Callaspo $3,150,000
16 LaTroy Hawkins $3,000,000
17 Kendrys Morales $2,975,000
18 Jerome Williams $820,000
19 Jason Isringhausen $650,000
20 Kevin Jepsen $501,000
21 Peter Bourjos $500,000
21 Mark Trumbo $500,000
23 Jordan Walden $495,000
24 Bobby Cassevah $490,000
25 Bobby Wilson $487,500
26 Michael Kohn $481,500
27 Alexi Amarista $481,000
28 Jeremy Moore $480,000

When you have 17 guys making at least $100,000 a week, you need to win some games.

They've been making me look clueless. I complained quite a bit that the Mariner's didn't have a chance with the payrolls of Anaheim & Texas. I actually don't have a clue how they can spend that much & be this bad.

It can happen.....the Mets have had quite a few big payrolls and lousy teams.

The early 90's Bobby Boo-nilla/Vince Coleman teams were referred to at "the worst team money could buy."

Let the Angels release Izzy as part of a shake-up. I'd love for the Mets to take him back.

The two biggest spenders during the offseason are now 7-11, and 6-13.

But unfortunately Texas is doing quite well. I'm still trying to figure out how they went from Bankruptcy straight to having one of the top 4 highest payrolls in baseball.

This upcoming series against the Dodgers will be a test on how good the Nats really are.

Someone needs to stop the Nats before they run away with the East.

BTW, the Nats have had some injuries lately so they're calling somebody up from Syracuse. Some nobody you've never heard of, and I can't remember his name but it rhymes with "Nice Carper." I think his number is "34." He'll be playing on Saturday.

Obscure rookie nobody has ever heard of to make MLB debut on Saturday for Washington Nationals

Another boyhood hero is gone

The Mickey Mantle-era Yankees have lost another member of their storied fraternity with the passing last night of Bill "Moose" Skowron.

The New York Daily News reports Skowron died last night in Chicago from congestive heart failure after a long battle with lung cancer. He was 81.

Besides having one of the game's great nicknames, Skowron was a power-hitting first baseman and six-time All-Star.

The 1956 World Series is best known for Don Larsen's perfect game, but it was Skowron who broke open the Yankees' Game 7 victory over Brooklyn with a grand slam.

He also had the decisive hit of the 1958 World Series, a three-run homer in another Game 7.

In his career total of eight World Series, Skowron hit .293 and had 8 home runs and 29 RBI in 39 games. He was with the Yankees from 1955-62 and ended his career with 211 homers and 888 RBI. He played on four World Series championship teams with the Yankees, and on a fifth with the Dodgers.

Skowron went to Purdue on a football scholarship as a fullback and punter but left after his freshman year and signed with the Yankees.

Said Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner in a statement:

"Moose will always be remembered as being one of the key members of the Yankees' dynasties in the 50's and early 60's. He was a winner in every sense of the word, and someone the Yankees family cared deeply for. Baseball lost one of its finest ambassadors, and on behalf of the entire organization, I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, Cookie, and his entire family."

RIP, Moose, a great Yankee.

MOOOOOOOOOSE!

Yanks win a see-saw battle against the Tigers, Jeter scores the winning run on a passed ball in the 9th. Verlander and Nova started but neither got a decision.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox appear to have found their footing, about to win their 5th in a row.

The Twins are good at helping other teams find their footing.

It looks like a dose of AL Central was just the medicine the Red Sox needed.