Dave James

It's not jazz, but I've always been a sucker for the song and the film.

Don't get me started on that. If every flat brimmed hat on the planet disappeared tomorrow, it wouldn't be soon enough for me. And how about guys who wear their hats crooked?

Neither Roy Halladay nor Mike Mussina will have cap logos on their HOF plaques. If it was up to me, I'd have a player who was torn between two teams put both in a hat and pick one or the other. That way, no one could accuse them of deliberately dissing the home town of one of their teams. FWIW, the first player to choose to go logo-less was Catfish Hunter.

Let's play two. My work here is through.

YANKS SIGN HARPER !!! Just kidding. I was trying to get the conversation back on track.

Sonny just wasn't cut out for life on a bigger stage. Now that he's in a more Sonny sized environment, I wouldn't be surprised to see him win 12-15 games.

The question is, can Paxton stay healthy?

I've heard people who should know better argue that if guys like Walter Johnson, Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth weren't voted into the Hall unanimously, it should never happen...like perpetuating a mistake is the right thing to do. Total B.S.

I never heard of the guy, but good for him.

Dan, You're right. I stand corrected.

I had heard that there was one curmudgeon who still believes that relievers are overrated, so instead of voting, he just didn't turn in his ballot. As silly as it sounds, that eliminates the possibility of unanimous election. I'm surprised about Edgar as well. He played some third base, but he was basically a DH. I thought those guys would always struggle to make the cut. I think Mussina's election was the one that surprised me the most.

Good point.

Given the potential clubhouse downside associated with Machado, I'd still take Arenado. Stats from last season are almost identical. Arenado slashed .297/37/110 and Machado, ,297/37/107. Arenado is 27 and Machado, 26. I'm sure if the Yankees decide to move in that direction, they'd be pretty sure they could lock him up beyond 2019.

The Yankees may be interested in adding Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado. He wiil be a free agent after next season so the question is, are they willing to pay the freight now for what could wind up being a rental.

FOR THE RECORD, A PERSON BORN IN 33 WAS 45 IN 78.

FWIW, Manny Machado's father said the Yankees, Phillies, White Sox and the Dodgers are still in the mix.

Speaking of Maddux, most of you have probably seen the Kris Bryant prank, but if you haven't, I think you'll enjoy it.

I've thought about this for years. instead of starters, middle relief, set up guys and closers, you just have pitchers. You rotate starters among all the pitchers on your roster. Each pitcher goes just long enough to go through the other team's line-up one time. Then you bring in the next pitcher and he does the same thing. If you've ever read statistics on how an opposing team's batting average increases significantly the second or even third time it faces the same pitcher, you eliminate that advantage. You also rotate the kind of pitchers you use. Think about facing a flamethrower, followed by a junk ball pitcher followed by, if you have one, a knuckleballer. The hitters would be pulling their hair out. Needless to say, if someone gets lit up, you have to adjust more quickly, but that scenario is equally manageable. And while we're at it, can someone explain to me why runners on first base never tag up on long fly balls to to the power alleys?

His agent is contesting this, but there are reports circulating that the White Sox offer to Manny Machado is for seven years and $175 million. That's a far cry from the ten years and $300 million it was thought Machado might command. If this is true, it could open the door for several other teams although I still don't see New York as a player..

HALL OF FAME UPDATE: With 42% of the vote counted, the following players are in the running (close to 75% or above): Mariano Rivera - 100%. Roy Halladay - 94.2% Edgar Martinez - 90.1% Mike Mussina - 81.4% Roger Clemons - 73.3% Curt Shilling - 73.8% Barry Bonds - 72.7% Larry Walker - 65.7%

Unfortunately for Mel, the Yankee's record during the nine seasons he pitched for them was just above .500. With a career ERA of 2.93, his personal W-L record might have been substantially better had he pitched for the team either earlier or later.

Old school good guy universally respected by his teammates, those he coached and those he played against.