WBC rosters up

Check them out, here. Most of the Yankees involved will play for the Dominican Republic (A-Rod, Cano, Melky, Veras, Marte, Edwar). Jeter will play for the U.S., while Alfredo Aceves will suit up for Mexico. Some of the teams are like fantasy lineups. The DR team will feature A-Rod, Albert Pujols, Jose Reyes and Alfonso Soriano. How cool is that?

Contest: Win a Dark Knight DVD

The first person to email me the correct answer wins. Remember to include your name in the email (you can provide me with an address once I inform you that you’ve won). My email is i-yankees@hotmail.com (please send your answer there).

Here’s the question:

What type of grip does Ian Kennedy prefer to use when throwing a changeup?

Good luck. I’ll actually be creative with the 2nd contest, I promise. I’ll announce the winner early tomorrow.

Pettitte’s image tarnished?

From Richard Justice (SportingNews):

Atta boy, Andy Pettitte. Hold your ground, son. If you’re worth $16 million, don’t settle for one Dr Pepper less.

How dare they offer you a measly $10 million. I get mad every time I think about it. It’s time someone draw a line in the sand with these people.

This country was built on the backs of men willing to stand up for something. That means you, Andy. So wait right there by the telephone until the knuckleheads come to their senses.You’ve got, what, a couple of months until spring training? What’s that? Only 3 1/2 weeks? Isn’t it amazing how the off-season flies by when you’re playing hardball in negotiations? If the phone doesn’t ring, it’ll be a great summer anyway.

You’re always talking about how you can’t wait to spend the rest of your life in car-pool lines and watching kids throw fries at each other in the backseat.

This season might be your chance. In fact, it’s definitely going to be your chance if you continue to fail to understand that baseball’s free-agent market has collapsed.

This is the winter when the real world has collided with baseball’s fantasy world. Payrolls are going down. Prominent free agents are unsigned.

If Ben Sheets, Adam Dunn, Randy Wolf, Jon Garland and Bobby Abreu can’t get a sniff of a contract, there’s not much hope for a 36-year-old pitcher with a sore elbow coming off a mediocre season.

Sure, this offseason has been kind to CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe. It was kind to Francisco Rodriguez, too, but not nearly as kind as he’d hoped. He signed with the Mets for about half the money he thought he’d get in free agency.

Now is the time to understand that the clock has run out. If teams were going to spend big money in free agency, they would have spent it by now.

With an amazing number of free agents still out there, it’s time to be smart:

First, take your best offer. In Andy Pettitte’s case, that’s a $10-million deal from the Yankees. Pick up the phone and pray Brian Cashman is still interested.

Is it just me or will Yankee fans never look at Andy Pettitte the same way after this winter? Even if he does return, his offseason antics have been extremely frustrating. It’s funny because when we found out about Andy’s HGH use, we all went to bat for him. Now, when he’s playing contractual hardball, we’re pissed.

Do yourself a favor, Andy. Pick up the phone and make the call.

Cano a fantasy king?

Derek Carty at THT checks in on Robinson Cano’s fantasy value this year. Carty, like many of us, believes that Cano will rebound after a disappointing 2007. Carty also believes that he could produce a 20-HR campaign and while I think that’s a slightly optimistic number, it’s certainly attainable. In every mock draft that I’ve participated in, Cano has gone pretty late, so if you’re waiting to fill your 2B void, pick him up in a later round and wait for the rebound.

(Props to RAB).

Bernie still hopes to play in WBC

Christian Red at the Daily News has a great read out on Bernie Williams. Bernie still seems eager to play for Puerto Rico in the WBC and, according to Red, he’ll probably be on the 45-man roster (although getting on the 28-man roster will be difficult given his level of play during winter ball). Apparently, that quad injury wasn’t as bad as we had originally thought. Bernie also expressed a desire to maybe continue playing after the WBC (MLB bound), however, he admits that it would be a tough process (and maybe an unrealistic goal).

Zimmer doing well

Don Zimmer, who is recovering from a minor stroke, spoke briefly with Anthony McCarron of the Daily News. According to Zim, he lost his ability to speak directly after the stroke had occured, but now it seems as though he’s doing a lot better. Again, best of luck to DZ.

Mock Fantasy Drafts

Quick tidbit, I love fantasy baseball, as many of you know. Recently, I discovered mock fantasy drafts, which are fun yet easy to dominate (at least that’s what I think). If you’re interested in a mock draft (practice), please check out the following website. If anyone is interested in an iYankees fantasy league (mid Feb.), please respond so that I can plan accordingly (I’ll have either a money or gift prize at the end).