Gab Session – Yankee Scarf

Is it time to throw dirt on them?

I know it’s the first week of May, and I know the New York Yankees started the 2006 season 11-19 before they clinched their millionth straight AL East crown. But even the rose-tinted Yankees fan has to admit at this point that 2007 is shaping up to be a little different.

I mean, Mike Mussina and Chien-Ming Wang both injured hamstrings the first week of the season and basically miss April. Mariano Rivera blows his first two save opportunities and ends April with exactly one save. Kei Igawa is a mess and Carl Pavano is a coward. Jeff Karstens is hit by a line drive against the Red Sox and breaks his leg. Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon can’t stay healthy.

And now Philip Hughes, their can’t-miss bonus baby prodigy, is called up to fill in the depleted rotation, pitches in six no-hitter innings against Texas and then injures a hamstring. This rookie literally had to give up a no-hitter because he got hurt, and now he’ll miss more than a month because of his own problem.

Don’t get me wrong: This is still an incredibly fearsome lineup, the best in baseball. They are going to score an ungodly number of runs. But will the team be able to get someone out? Do you really think this ragtag band of 80-year-olds and 25-year-olds with 80-year-old body parts is going to survive a full year, or that six-inning maestro Roger Clemens is going to cure everything that ails them? Hughes’ injury is especially brutal because this boy was the embodiment of hope. I know he’ll be back on All-Star Break at the latest and that, in the long run, removing the temptation to throw Hughes all year is probably in the best interest of the guy. But still, it’s a walking metaphor.

Listen, New York won’t finish last. I’m just not 100% convinced that they finish first anymore.

Which teams impressed you the most in this weekend’s NFL Draft? And who got hurt the most with the way they chose?

BoDog Bookmakers, BoDog.com: The Browns passed Brady Quinn at No. 3 only to trade next year’s pick to Dallas for the right to take Quinn at No. 22. This also saves the Browns $33 million in guarantees that would have gone to Quinn. Joe Thomas was the best offensive lineman in the country and will provide top-tier blocking to Quinn and newly acquired Jamal Lewis. The Raiders made a good pick in the fourth round by selecting Michael Bush. Bush could be the steal of the draft if he properly recovers from his broken leg. The Dolphins made a surprising move by drafting Ted Ginn Jr. Sure, he’s an exciting player, but when they had so many more obvious needs, one wonders what some GMs think. All of that said, the New England Patriots are the biggest winners thus far in this year’s offseason, simply because of the moves they made.

What do you think of Randy Moss going to the Patriots? Does this make New England an even stronger bet to go to the Super Bowl in 2008, or will Moss shut down?

BDB, BoDog.com: It goes without saying that Randy Moss can be the best receiver in the game when he’s motivated. Moss plays best when his team is winning, which is a cheat 22 because his recent teams couldn’t win unless he was playing well. This is the perfect situation for him to come back and re-establish himself as the best WR in the league. Belichick and Brady are unlikely to take Moss’s grumpiness, and I predict we’ll see a Cory-Dillon-like turnaround in Moss’ attitude, where Randy just comes to work and puts up big numbers. The trade is already evident, with Moss agreeing to renegotiate his contract to come to the Patriots. Hey, Tom Brady came within a run of the Super Bowl last year and did it without a 1,000-yard receiver. The Patriots have beefed up their receiving team to the point where Brady could and should have multiple 1,000 yards in the 2007 season.

The first Saturday of May is coming up. Can you give us a quick rundown of your personal favorites for the Kentucky Derby?

BDB, BoDog.com: My personal favorite is Street Sense. I think this is the year that history is made with Street Sense winning the Breeders Cup Juvenile in November and the Kentucky Derby on May 5th. Although he placed second in the Blue Grass Stakes, this horse deserves his Eclipse award. Curlin, likely to become a postseason favorite, is also among my top picks. He is the only horse currently undefeated, but with only three career races and no two-year races to his credit, I’m not totally convinced this horse can win the big race. I think Nobiz Like Shobiz has a chance if he can keep his cool. Although he had new equipment in his last preparation, he was able to pull out the victory.

The Bulls sweeping the Heat out of the playoffs certainly took me by surprise. Do you think Chicago is a better bet now to reach the NBA Finals? How would they fare against the Pistons?

BDB, BoDog.com: The sweep was definitely unexpected, but the Bulls taking the series wasn’t a huge surprise to me. Wade was less than terrific after returning from his shoulder injury. The Bulls are a good team and with their shooting combination, Ben Wallace playing deep inside and Luol Deng coming out party this year, they have a better chance of beating the Pistons than their Eastern Conference counterparts. Coach Skiles has his team playing the best it can be, and as a result, he’s definitely a good pick to come out of the East.