Hello again,

The mock draft on minor league ball is tomorrow and I just wanted to add a poll on who YOU think we should take in the first round, seeing as the one actually at minor league ball is in a deadlock. Make sure if you choose "other" that you express who in the comment section.

ALSO, please post guys that you think would be good to take in the "later" (really only a five round mock draft) rounds of the draft.

Thank you for your participation.

PS: I will post the mock draft results after it happens maybe tomorrow night, or Sunday. Or Monday: I have a busy weekend.

It is now time to pick a first round draft pick choice. I have narrowed it down to Buster Posey, Tim Beckham, and Pedro Alvarez . . . but one option is other, and if you choose other, please make sure you comment on WHO you believe it should be.

My personal favorite right now is Tim Beckham, but I also like Pedro Alvarez as my second choice.

Please discuss, and give some reasons why you like each player/player you choose. Also, I ask that you use this for generals Rays mock draft discussion.

Hello, and thank you for clicking.

I am your Organization Director for the 2008 Minor League Ball mock Amateur Draft, which will occur on Saturday, May 31st. Please pardon the goyankees-ness: I am completely devoted, now, to the Tampa Bay Rays and their minor league system.

The mock draft will be 5 rounds + supplemental rounds. We pick first in all five rounds, with no supplementals.

So, what I am asking for now is your basic opinion for the draft: First of all, what are our ppositions, if any, do we pursue, or do we simply go after the best available?

OK, Let's get started . . .

For now, I'm just going to ask for general suggestions (what positions will we go after) but tomorrow I will post a list of our picks and a list of players who I think would be good to fit the spots.

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Lineup (Courtesy of LoHud):

YANKEES (1-0)
Johnny Damon DH
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jason Giambi 1B
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Jason Lane LF
Melky Cabrera CF

Pitching
Andy Pettitte (2 innings)
Steven White (1-2 innings)
LaTroy Hawkins
Kyle Farnsworth
Brian Bruney
Sean Henn
Jose Veras

He doesn't have the Phillies lineup.

I'm interested to see how Henn does--I think he could be a viable relief option for the year. Same with Veras.

Jose Canseco, he just never gets bored.

His newest person he accuses of steroid use, according to the Daily News, is none other than A-Rod.

'"All I can say is the Mitchell Report is incomplete," Canseco said. "I could not believe that (Rodriguez's) name was not in the report."'

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2007/12/14/2007-12-14_jose_canseco_arod_got_off_h ook-3.html

All I can say is, if A-Rod is using steroids, I'm not mad at him, for the momement. I'm just pissed at Canseco, I just don't understand why he feels that he needs to snitch on everyone that is using steroids. That being said,  just because Canseco says it doesn't mean it's true.

I just wanna know if there is anyone else here the collects autographs--I am a decent collector myself. I do ttm (through the mail) and in person (at ballgames) autos. My collection includes:

Brian Bruney, Pat Neshek, Jesse Crain, Manny Sanguillen, Mike MacDougal, Bob Feller, Duke Snider, Don Larsen, Ian Snell, Bronson Arroyo, Pedro Feliciano, Bob Horner, Bobby Doerr, Bobby Richardson (one of the few things I purchased), Jose Canseco/Gary Carter cosigned (the other thing I purchased), Chris Volstad, Radhames Liz, Brent Lillibridge, Todd Jones, John Danks, Charlie Haegar, Jerry Owens, Magglio Ordonez, Ron Blomberg, Rob Fick, and Mike O'Flaherty.

What about you guys?

You may have noticed that I haven't posted for about two weeks. I'm sure that none of you care, but I thought that I might share with you why I am gone...

I have been on a ballpark tour all across the northeast and the midwest!!!!!! I am currently in Boston, getting ready to cheer on the Orioles tonight at Fenway Park. I have been (in this order) to see: NY (Mets), Baltimore, D.C., Pittsburgh, Detroit, Milwaukee, Chicago (Cubs), Chicago (White Sox), Cleveland, Cooperstown (I went to the HOF Induction--it was awesome!), and now Boston. Tomorrow I leave to go to Yankee Stadium for 2 games. I hope that A-Rod doesn't hit Homer number 500 tonight so I can see it tomorrow or the day after. Anyway, this trip has been awesome, I've gotten so many autographs and my first MLB baseball, thrown to me during BP by Tigers player Chad Durbin. So it's been great. Go Yankees!!!!

The Yankees needed a streak like this (currently at 6 wins, including todays game, I believe), and we've found it. We could use more wins, and we're well on our way. But now, after sweeping the Pirates, I think this could be the turning point of the season, unless you like to think of last weekends series against Boston as the turning point. I'm not setting this in stone, but if we play .625 ball the rest of the year, we should be able to at least win the wildcard. Now, let's just pray that they Sux have there characteristic mid-August breakdown. It doesn't even have to be in the form of a five game sweep.

...and the winners are, Cal Ripken, Jr. and Tony Gwynn! That's not much of a suprise. They both were mentioned on more than 95% of all ballots.

I do believe, personally, that McGuire should be in. I also think that the Hall of Fame should have some sort of standard for this: They have to decide: should we let guys who "supposedly" (although we're sure he did) used steroids into the Hall of Fame.