For once, my optimism is tempered

Not only have the Yankees pulled into a tie for first place with the Ex-Rays, but ESPN has them toppling them in the Power Rankings, and Lord knows how important that is. But don't all run to your online betting sites and bet your mortgage on the Yankees just yet.

Before we all start tickling each other's taints, let's be realistic about one thing: the most irreplaceable Yankees (non-Rivera category) has not played since Thursday. When Alex Rodriguez left Thursday's game, I almost threw up. Say what you will about his perceived lack of power this year, but there is not a single everyday player on the Yankees that is more valuable than Alex Rodriguez.

After clawing back to pull even with Tampa, the Yankees are in need of the going-into-the-All-Star-break push that allows them to ride their typically-strong second half to October (hyphen much?). With Ramiro "Powerhouse" Pena at the bottom of the lineup, that just doesn't seem realistic.

Not all doom and gloom, though. Alex Rodriguez could return to the lineup, and the Yankees could take a struggling Phillies team behind the woodshed in a three game set. But keep an eye on A-Rod, because the Yankees' fate in 2010 may be more attached to his groin than Cameron Diaz ( I am so topical! Fuck Perez Hilton!).

Thanks, we needed that

After watching Ramiro Pena, Cody Ransom and Angel Berroa form a three-headed suck monster over the first five weeks of the season, Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez returned on Friday night. The picture above is A-Rod going deep on the first pitch he saw, officially hitting more homeruns in one at bat than Pena, Berroa, and Ransom hit this season COMBINED.

Girardi Screws the Pooch

According to the Daily News, Joe Girardi named Ramiro Pena the utility infielder to begin the 2009 season. This move will leave the Yankees no choice but to DFA Angel Berroa after a Spring Training campaign that included an impressive .371 batting average.

As I noted April 3rd, this move really has little to no bearing on the team's success in 2009. Whomever was chosen to be the 25th man would only be on the roster for a short time, pending the return of Alex Rodriguez. The position will not see many at bats (if any), and it will be a cold day in hell before the slick fielding Pena serves as a late inning defensive replacement for Derek Jeter.

However, I have to say that I was hoping to see then Yankees send Pena to Scranton to get at bats rather than serve as dead weight on the end of the bench.

The Final Roster Spot

There has been much talk on various blogs about what the Yankees should do with the final spot on their roster. Angel Berroa, the wiley veteran who looks about ten years older than he should has had an excellent spring training, and Ramiro Pena, the slick fielding youngster, has opened a lot of eyes. Some authors will depict theirs as a heated battle for the final spot on the Opening Day roster and a chance to shine at the big league level. Unfortnately, this story means about as much to the success of the Yankees as my blog posting.

We are talking about a player who will be on the big league squad for roughly 3-5 weeks before Alex Rodriguez comes back. When that happens, Cody Ransom will become the utility infielder and Berroa or Pena would be gone. Berroa would have to be DFA'd as he is out of options while Pena could be sent to the minors.

My pick is Berroa, because I feel that Pena could get more use out of minor league at bats than rotting on the bench at the New Stadium. I reiterate, though, that this means absolutely nothing. Whether it is Pena or Berroa, they will see about as much burn as I will.

Editor's Note - By the way, the player pictured above is Ramiro Pena. Don't act like you knew.