That source of course was the NY Daily News.

As always, ESPN, great job at getting the scoop.

I bet Torre ends up with the Dodgers so he can pitch Scott Proctor in 147 games next year.

I don't want to hate the Yankees but it's getting harder and harder to avoid. Girardi is like Joe Torre, except without any of the good parts.

Does Girardi have a sister who is a nun?

@Kid Canada:

All reports* point to Torre returning to the Atlanta Braves and leading them to multiple championships.

*reports may or may not occur only in my brain.

I wouldn't feel good about booing Joe Girardi either. The only person I want to boo is A-Rod when he comes back to the stadium in his Red Sox uniform. Playing shortstop of course. If this was still the '70s, I'd lob a cherry bomb down at his douchebag ass from the cheap seats.

After last night I'm thinking of going out on high note and just following Japanese baseball from now on.

This offseason has the potential to be the most annoying few months of speculation and bullshit ever.

@tuffgirl:

Vince Coleman?

@Rob Iracane:
With A-Rod, gone, shouldn't this even you out back to say Friday's level of affinity toward the Yanks?

Buster Olney is now furiously masterbating in the ESPN bathroom stall.

We hope Girardi has an idea as to who will play third base

Scott Brosius to the rescue!

I must say, getting Girardi was the perfect man for the job. I was getting worried that it was going to be Donnie getting the job. I love Donnie, but I didn't want him managing the team, and it has nothing to do with booing him or not.

@Old No.7: The phrase "Furiously masturbating" is never not funny. It's just such a vivid image.

@tuffgirl: Hi.

Girardi was in the Denver for the World Series

He was looking the most, too.

@Old No.7: Yes, I saw the result on the front page of ESPN.com this morning.

@Jefferson DArcy: I thought his first name was Joe.

The Yankees run out and sign Mike Lowell. Then because the Red Sox are rumored to be bidding on ARod, the Yankees go over the top and drop $45MM/year on him. Then realizing they have to move Lowell, the Yankees trade him for Jose Contrares and Hideki Irabu (who surprisingly is rumored to have an amazing Gyroball).

There's a loud squeal and pop as every Yankee fan's head explodes from the misery.

@Tuffy: Hello.

Sawx win it all, Yankees everything else all the time.

I'm so glad baseball season is over. I just can't wait for all the suspense of Post-op(t out) A-Rod.

It's gonna be so great to watch the Yankee empire crumble. Buwahahaha!!!!

@lavaughn: Sadly, no.

And so the Yankees continue the tradition of having Italian-American catchers coach the team. Tony Peña had no chance, while Mike Piazza is still an active player (I think).

@MasCowbell: There will be no crumbling. Just you wait: within the next few years you'll watch as a Cy Young Award goes to Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain or Ian Kennedy.

...we ran into one of those aggressively hardcore Yankees fans who are perfectly friendly until they've had a bit to drink.

I don't remember ever meeting Our Fearless Leader, but apparently I must have.

@Kid Canada: That's what's currently in the works. Grady Little gets bought out, and Torre manages the Dodgers. Scott Proctor weeps.

@OchentaYcinco: Amen. At least you're a Phils fan. In Baltimore, the exciting Hot Stove talk is the search for a first base coach. Ooh, I hope it's Chris Hoiles!

@tuffgirl: So you're hoping Santana is traded to the NL?

Christ. Santana in the NL may produce the first ever negative ERA.

@tuffgirl: just like Alex Rodriguez's MVP with the Texas Rangers.

@Innings Eater: Will Lasorda let anyone manage the Dodgers that might possibly usurp his power base?

@tuffgirl: after they traded the 3 of them to the Marlins for Miguel Cabrera? Big Stein is back in charge now!

@Innings Eater: Your name is ironic in that we're discussing Scott Proctor.

@Tuffy: The fact that Tommy Lasorda still has any influence is a source of great pain for Dodgers fans. Stick to the prostitutes, Tommy.

But the McCourts desperately need a PR coup, and Torre would do it.

@MasCowbell: Destroy and rebuild, just like Nasir Jones says. The Empire will be just fine.

@Tuffy: If Pettitte re-signs do they even need Santana? They'd have Andy, Wang, Hughes, Chamberlain, Kennedy, and, unfortunately, Mussina.

@Innings Eater: Oh, he will; he sweats like he's trapped in a sauna every time he walks to the fridge.

@Old No.7: Whereas Boras practices master baiting.

@tuffgirl: Not an ace in the group. 2 possible future aces in Joba and Phil. A frontline starter, but not an ace, in Wang, a near-ace in Pettitte... a good pitcher in IPK, and a walking yeast infection in Mussina.

I'll take Santana over all of them.

@tuffgirl: The Phillies made quite the case this year that you can never have enough pitching. Also, the Yankees would be exceptionally lucky if all three younguns avoid the knife. You should be quite frightened of Girardi's offer; he shredded three arms in one season in Florida.

@tuffgirl:
Move Chamberlain to setup man, and let him work his way to closer. Move Mussina in as long-man (he ain't got that many innings left in his arm anyway). Then you have: Santana, Wang, Pettitte, Highes, and Kennedy.

@Chad Sexington: Santana has also been known to play a mean guitar.

@Tuffy: Yeah, but you know Cashman will be all over Girardi's ass when it comes to the young arms.

Ah yes, the sure bets of Hughes, Chamberlain, and Kennedy. How many big league innings has Joba pitched? And as a starter now?

I'm still not sold on Bucholtz or Lester for the Sox, and they are far more proven than the three that the Yanks are betting their future on.

The current featured comment on ESPN.com:

"Congrats Sox! Once again you are the champs, and what a way to win!" -DMONMCD33

These things must be computer-generated.

@Dr. Jonas Venture, Jr.: Hank Steinbrenner and Cashman already made it clear that Joba would be moved into the rotation next season. It was one of their first pronouncements after the team lost the ALDS. I agree Mussina should go to the bullpen.

For once, the pitching isn't what I am worried about on this team. At least not the starters anyway. They basically have 6 DH's on the team, with not much to speak of in terms of Offensive prospects.

Oh, and the bullpen is awful. I hear Scot Shields is a free agent. I know he fell apart at the end of the year, but if I am Cashman I hand him a piece of paper and say "Name Your Price."

@tuffgirl: Sox did the same thing with Papelbon. After he hurt his arm last September, they announced he'd be a starter. It wasn't until Spring Training, when they realized that they didn't have a quality closer, that Papelbon's name went into the hat again.

So if they don't keep Rivera, who then?

@Dr. Jonas Venture, Jr.: How do you propose the Yankees get Santana? In your scenario, they have Santana plus all of their current young arms, which is almost an impossibility. Unless you are talking about when he becomes a free agent.

@tuffgirl: As the old maxim goes - "you can't have too much pitching." And Mussina's gone after '08 (thank God).

My question is -- will Hank and Hal Steinbrenner hire Howard Spira Jr. to further discredit A-Rod?

@MrShiz: Zumaya will shred him.

@BubbaCJ24: I believe the Yankees will address their defensive woes by implementing the "close one field" method of pickup baseball.

@tuffgirl:
They did, but with the big gaping hole in their budget, they can sign a 3rd baseman (or do some shuffling in-house). Which leaves plenty of money to sign Santana. I can't believe they'd be stupid enough to pass that up. Which (if Pettitte is signed) gives us 7 pitchers. Someone needs to go somewhere, and Kennedy and Chamberlain showed too much promise to start the season in SWiB.

Congratulations, Joe Girardi, you poor dumb bastard. Rotsa ruck.

@ArmansCopyOfSwank: Joel Piniero will be back! You'll see!

bwahahaha.

I am a little stunned to see that someone actually said the Yankees dont need Santana. Everyone needs him, even the Sox. I would give the Twins whatever they ask for that guy. The Red Sox made it this far because Beckett just shuts down teams, and Santana might be better.

"Girardi was in the Denver for the World Series"

Caitlin Upton approves of this grammar.

@tuffgirl: There will be no crumbling.

Remember. Joe Girardi is your new skipper. Kiss those fresh young arms goodbye.

@BubbaCJ24:
Yeah, my bad.

See: @crazyjoedavola.

@tuffgirl: Amen, sister...

@crazyjoedavola: Might be? How about "every day and twice on Game 7"?

I just read on ESPN "Sportscenter: Special on the Yankees, Live" and kind of laughed. The day after a World Series victory and they still get top billing on the WWL. Who'd a thunk it

Joe Girardi looks a little like Detective McNulty...will he start stirring the shit in New York like he did in Ballmer?