The following is a list of my opinions about the New York Yankees, specifically on what remains of the season, and the postseason, should the Yankees make it there.

• Providing Eric Chavez stays healthy and continues to play at the level he is now, he is superior to Alex Rodriguez (at this time). In the postseason, Chavez should be starting at third instead of Rodriguez—unless Chavez starts at DH, of course.
• If he continues to play at the level he is now, David Phelps should take over Ivan Nova's spot in the rotation. Moreover, Nova should not start in the postseason and, frankly, does not deserve a spot on the postseason roster—again, assuming he continues on the bad track he is on now, and that Pettitte/Sabathia return and stay healthy.
• Further to that, if Sabathia, Kuroda and Pettitte start Games 1, 2, and 3 in the postseason, then Phelps should start Game 4 (assuming the Yankees go with a four-man rotation).
• Freddy Garcia appears to have returned to form, and I have no problem with him in the 4 or 5 spot, though as a matter of course I would rather not have him make a postseason start.
• Although it can be ugly at times, I have no real problems with Ibanez playing the outfield, especially if that allows Chavez to be the DH upon Alex's return.
• Mark Teixeira is having a good year. Though it's anecdotal, I can't recall too many strikeouts via the changeup low and away, nor too many pop-up foul-outs.
• I think Ichiro could be a good utility infielder—because why not?—and, to be frank, would like to see him make a start at short. I would wager that he would be a defensive upgrade at that position, though certainly not an offensive upgrade. If I could fake short for a few games in high school then without a doubt Ichiro could do much better—perhaps even better than Mr. Range.
• As a rule Nicholas should be batting second. Anecdotally, he moves runners along (as opposed to striking out, which Granderson is unfortunately prone to) and isn't too bad on the bases. By contrast, Granderson should lead off against right-handed pitchers.
• Though I like Jayson Nix, and have been impressed by both his bat and his defense, I look at his defensive metrics and I am frightened by what I see.
• A general list of players that are stinking it up right now: Ivan Nova, Joba Chamberlain.
• A general list of players that have surprised me: Clay Rapada, Jayson Nix, Cody Eppley.
• While Joe Girardi is not a good manager, he is not a bad manager either—he is, in a word, average, which makes him one of the best managers in the Majors. That is not a reflection on him. That is a reflection on the sad state of the managerial position today. To his credit, Girardi is especially good at managing player workloads, and though he is often maligned for giving players days off, apparently all baseball players are made of glass (Eric Chavez is made of Kit Kat wafer), so Girardi is doing the right thing.
• I don't like people mocking the binder. I would rather have an intellectual manager than a dullard like... well, most of the other managers in the Majors. According to Dusty Baker, walks just "clog up the bases" and Don Mattingly doesn't know what's wrong with bunting.
• I am frightened by the idea that Don Mattingly might be managing the Yankees one day.
• Top pitches: Boone Logan's slider; David Phelps' two-seamer; Hiroki Kuroda's splitter.

Thank you, and good times.