I am counting down the days until the 2008 baseball season.  The Yankees are trying to figure out who’s in and who is out.  One thing is certain…. Mariano Rivera is back.

     Chills run down my spine as Rivera enters the game, for the bottom of the 9th, in a sold-out Yankee Stadium.  Fifty-five thousand strong stand to the tune of "Enter Sandman," as he trots in from left field.

     Although Rivera had a rocky season last year, he’s still dubbed one of the best relievers ever.  The thought of him not returning made me nervous.  Rivera is a cruicial part of this team.  With the signing of a new 3-year $45M deal  I expect good things from Rivera in years to come.

     Performance enhancing steroids have played a role in sports throughout the years.  Many athletes have set records that were disputed.  Steroids played a role in the abilities of athletes, such as Mark McGuire and Jason Giambi.  Most recently, Barry Bonds passed Hank Aaron’s All-time homerun record.  Currently, Bonds’ homerun total is at 762 long balls.

     Bonds is facing possible legal trouble.  He faces perjury charges and, if Bonds is convicted, could face thirty years behind bars.  Commisioner Bud Selig is watching the legal procedings very carefully.  Many people, including Commisioner Selig, want New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez to pass Bonds’ homerun total.  This past season A-Rod became, at 31, the youngest player to join the 500 homerun club.  Rodriguez resigned, with the Yankees, for an additional 10 years worth $275M.

     It frustrates me to see athletes use performance enhancing drugs to set records.  Other greats never reach these plateaus.  It seems like they get punished for playing by the rules.

     I can only hope that Major League Baseball continues to enforce the rules more strictlt, so more athletes that set records truly deserve them.

     As an avid New York Yankees fan, I’m watching every move the team makes during the off-season.  It can be nailbiting at times.  I fear big name players jumping ship, because they’re not happy about having a new manager at the helm in 2008.

     Starting Catcher Jorge Posada announced that he will accept a deal worth $52.4M over the next four years.  He’s one of the best catchers in the game and not too many players compare.  In the past, Posada has established himself, as aS an american league all-star, who is a clutch hitter batting over .300, and very effective at throwing runners out stealing. 

     Without Posada, the team would suffer. I’m excited, because Posada is back in pinstripes where he belongs.

     Ever since Joe Torre signed his $13M deal with the Dodgers, there have been Yankee players that don’t have the same enthusiasm, as they have in the past, to wear the pinstripes next season.  Veteran Left-Handed Pitcher Andy Pettitte recently opted out of his contract, worth $16M, for 2008.

     Before announcing his free agency, Pettitte stated, "If I play baseball in 2008, it would only be for the Yankees."  He continues to say, "If I don’t play for the Yankees, I will retire.  Pettitte has been a very instrumental role in the Yankees most recent championships.

     Now, the Yankees need to decide who they should sign to fill the vaccant spot in the starting rotation.  I fear that with Pettitte leaving it’s a recipe for disaster.  I hope he reconsiders, because he means so much to all New York Yankee fans and it’s dificult to find a player that even comes close to the athleticism  and sportsmanship of Pettitte.  With all of the money that the team is saving on A-Rod opting out, they better not settle for anything less than the best…. Pettitte.

     There has been a lot of buzz about the past, present, and future of the New York Yankees over this past week.  A beloved manager leaves the team, while a familiar face takes over the reigns.

     Joe Girardi agreed to become the new skipper of the Yankees.  He signed a three-year deal worth six million dollars.  Girardi played catcher and coached for the Yankees.  He has also spent time in the broadcast booth.  Girardi got fired by the Florida Marlins during the first year as their manager.  When Girardi played for the Bronx Bombers, he wore number 25.  As their manager, he’s going to sport number 27, which signifies his confidence of ending the long history in the current Yankee Stadium by winning their twenty-seventh championship.

     I am hoping for a Dodgers-Yankees world series next year, which would be the first time since the Dodgers defeated the Yankees 4-2 in 1981.  I would like to see Joe Torre return to New York, because he meant so much to everybody.  After declining the Yankees offer of $5M to manager next season, he accepted thirteen million over three years to manage the Los Angeles Dodgers.

     As emotions run high, Yankee fans are counting down the days until spring training 2008.