I think it's a fair comparison.

Both managers have proven that they can win when given great teams. For Torre, it's been the $200 million Yankees loaded with stars for the past decade. For Mack, it was guys like Home Run Baker, Eddie Collins, Eddie Plank and Chief Bender, then studs like Mickey Cochrane and Jimmie Foxx.

Both have proven that, given a crappy team, they can also lose. Mack has a career losing record because of the seasons that the A's would inevitably suffer whenever they sold off their players. Joe Torre had a losing record in his pre-Yankee career because he, too, wasn't working with his current group of Yankee superstars.

I don't think either is a bad manager, but I think that they both point towards the fact that a manager can only do so much, and that it comes down to the players on the field.

I don't really care whether we win or lose, but it's always nicer if we win. The walk back to my car after a winning game is a lot more fun. When we lose, just about everyone is down in the dumps, and it's hard to engage any fans in conversation after a loss.

What I like about going to an Orioles game is being at the ballpark. I look forward to buying my peanuts, sodas, and other munchies for the game from the outside vendors. Outside the ballpark you can get a soda for one or two bucks, but inside you're looking at four bucks for a soft drink.

Same thing with peanuts. Outside you'll spend a couple of bucks. Inside, a small bag will cost you three bucks or more. It's not that I can't afford the extra money inside. But I know the vendors outside the park are trying to make a living and working hard. I usually buy from the same people each time.

I'm one of those score-keeping fans. I used to pay $5 or so for a program, but Outside Pitch sells their newsletter outside the ballpark for only $2, and that includes a stapled-in scorecard and a pencil. I regularly buy the newsletter for the articles, but I don't like their scorecard, so I print out a few before I leave for the ballpark and use my own.

After the ballgame I look forward to a couple of musicians who always play outside the game. Yes, they're looking for some money ... the hat is always out front when they're playing. The trumpet player, though, is good enough that I'll stand and watch/listen to him play for ten minutes before I walk away. Both my son and I generally add a buck or so to the pile in the hat.

We used to have a drummer outside the park who played upbeat rhythms as we walked to our cars. I haven't seen him for about a year. I hope he's back this year. He was worth a buck or two for the entertainment. Instead of a drum set, he was using upturned plastic tubs. And he was good at it. He usually drew a crowd. Again, I hope he's back this year.

I also have a favorite place to park. It's a few blocks away, but by the time I get to my car, all the traffic is gone and I never have a wait in traffic (except maybe a wait to get out of the parking lot). Once I leave the lot, I'm home in 20 minutes (I live about 10 miles away).

Oh, yeah, I enjoy the game too. Keeping score means I don't worry so much whether we win or lose. I'm keeping score on my scorecard. That's the important part of the game for me. I hope that there's more high numbers on the Orioles' side of the card. But just keeping score alone keeps me interested in the game, no matter what happens.

Hope to see you at the game.

Wayne Stoler is head of Letter Perfect Mailing Services, a company that handles mailings for over 2,000 companies. Letter Perfect also sells mailing lists, and specializes in small to medium size mailings. Wayne's clients keep coming back because he has years of experience in getting mailers read, and even more years in dealing with postal regulations. He can be contacted by email at wstoler@us.net or call him directly at 800.397.8973. You can read about his Orioles obsession in his blog at http://baltimore-orioles.topsitenow.com

I'm not sure what to think anymore. When I heard he opted out...I lost it. I thought he was gone. I just gave up on the thought of him as a Yankee in general. Now he's back, that's donedeal. Hopefully, I'm not the only one thinking, "WOAH!" I did not see that coming at all. I don't know what to think of him anymore. Do I believe what comes out of his mouth? Possibly. Do I believe what comes out of the mouths of the NY media? Hell NO!
Either, he'll be playing season, no matter what my opinion is. The most I can say is that I'm glad his talents are available for the Yanks.

2008...I'm thinking it's gonna be a loooooong season.

Yankees Love. <3

He was George Steinbrenner's 1st Warrior. Even before Paul O'Neill ever got the title of Warrior that was Thurman Munson. Don't sell that card at all. That man was one of the best ever not only as a ballplayer but as a man. He is still spoken about by Yankee fans in our Empire.

Thank goodness the Yankees have him.

Big Daddy, George Steinbrenner, is a Yankee fan's delight. As a Yankee fan I love that so many other fans hate what George has done and continues to do. He gets the players that he needs. He pushes forward to get another championship for his Yankees. I can visualize George sitting in his office making calls to see if the superstar that he so highly touts is close to signing a Yankee contract.

When the Yankees have been in need of a pitcher they get Roger Clemens, or Mike Mussina, or Catfish Hunter, or Randy Johnson. Some of the top pitchers in the game. If it's a slugger they need George brings the best to New York. Reggie Jackson, Dave Winfield, Gary Sheffield, or Alex Rodriguez will don the Yankee pinstripes. Having the best for the Yankees and their fans makes all the difference. We know as fans that our team is doing whatever it can to bring in a championship. And when all is said and done - what more can we ask for?

George is relentless. He wants another World Series ring for the Bronx Bombers. Six is not enough for him. Arriving at the playoffs 14 times is not the name of this game. Winning the World Series is the only game in town. I have to admire that kind of pursuit. I have always felt funny when I see a player or an owner in a TV interview rejoice when his team comes in second. Something feels off. Second place is not a prize worth having At least not with George.

I love his spirit. I love his attitude about winning. I love winning it all in the fall. Has there been another owner in any sport, in the last 25 years that has operated with the same intensity that George has had? In any sport? I think not.

Say what you will about the big guy. He is money hungry, he has an ego problem, he stops at nothing, he plays unfair. I do not think he cares. what others are saying He has a cause and a mission. Bring championships to New York.

So I salute you George Steinbrenner, principal owner of my New York Yankees. Thanks for taking the team on your back and going for it all the time. While I may not agree with all your tactics I am fascinated with your ongoing will to win.

Imagine what it must have been like playing dominoes, or marbles or any other game with George when he was a kid. Do you think he had to win?

If Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, or Yogi Berra were playing on another team other than the Yankees and became available through free agency, do you think George would try and get him? What do you think?

Aron Wallad has been a baseball lover for over 45 years. His passions have included; playing, watching, reading, evaluating, and coaching the game he adores. Do you love inspiring quotes, unusual statistics and most of all, heartwarming baseball stories? If you love baseball you will love his baseball ezine.

Go here right now http://www.baseballsprideandjoy.com/index.php?tag=ezart

Contact Aron at aron@baseballsprideandjoy.com

should the yankees sign jim edmonds or gary sheffield?

so the yankees address their pitching woes by adding oft injured one year wonders cc sabathia and aj burnett. brought back andy pettitte on the cheap, oft-injured phenom joba chamberlain, and playoff choker chien ming wang
but the once imposing lineups look very vulnerable right now. jason giambi is gone, leaving matsui (no power) at dh. career minor leaguer cody ransom is filling in for a-rod at 3rd. brett garnder (who?) is the starter at center field. derek jeter's power is declining. mark texeira is a consistent hitter in the mold of jim thome in his prime (with better defense, slightly less power) but not exactly an impact player in the mold of a-rod, manny, barry bonds, and vladimir guerrero. robinson cano was a bust last year. he's a question mark.
sign jim edmonds to play centerfield or at least split duty with damon. or move damon to centerfield and sign sheffield.

Edmonds would be the more likely of the two, but if they were to sign him by now, it would have happened already. I don't think Jim wants to play for a minor league deal. Maybe if Andruw Jones comes back on the market, they'll give him a chance. I see them giving the spot to Gardner or Melky though, or occasionally using Damon or Swisher in CF. There's no way Gary Sheffield ends up a Yankee though. He couldn't even ended on worst ties with them. At this point, I think Gary wants to play in his native Tampa, where it's warm, and nice and cool playing indoors.

What is "Babe" George Herman Ruth first team?

Not the New York Yankees

Ruth's first professional team was the Baltimore Orioles (a minor league team at the time). After only a few months with the Orioles his contract was sold to the Boston Red Sox.

One side of the baseball has the commissioner of baseball's imprinted signature. A. Bartlett Giomatti was the comissioner of the National League from 1986- April 1989. I was probably in that time period

Pay for the package where you can watch any yankees game on your computer get it on verizon .net if you have verizon, or optimum.net if you have optimum.

What 5 Players are these?

I've done 5 drawings of Hall of Fame Players. Guess the 5.

Williams
Ruth
Puckett
Ryan
Mays

Yay! Another college hockey fan! That's not exactly the best comparison.... at least not for college hockey in general. In the WCHA specifically maybe. Although WCHA championships seem to be almost equally divided b/w Denver and the Gophers.

The Gophers have a successful hockey history and most players usually hail right from Minnesota (Not Vanek though! ) I think it's fair to say that because of its history and reputation most talent from Minnesota choose play for the Gophers and the rest of the Minnesotan schools get the leftovers, so they usually stink. So, if you and your friend are from Minnesota, I can see why you might compare the Gophers to the Yankees... even if it is still a little ridiculous.

Just so you know... I like the Gophers too. Not as much as my Spartans though. I have the 05'-06' and 06'-07' Gopher team posters above my desk in my room. It's a shame about Ryan Stoa this year though, eh?

For me......priceless.
First Cardinals World Series. First World Series in St. Louis since 1888.
Ruth nailed at 2nd trying to steal for final out.
Pete Alexander pitches scoreless 8th and 9th after complete game win the day before.
Rogers Hornsby, Chick Haffey, Jim Bottomly, Billy Southworth, Flint Rhem.

As far as market value, I have no idea.