Subtraction By Subtraction.

"Intrepid Ed Price of the Star-Ledger is reporting the Yankees are talking to the Diamondbacks about sending Randy Johnson back to Arizona.

What a Christmas present that would be for the Yankees, who are on the hook for $16 million for their 43-year-old No. 4 starter."

I'm amused by the fact that Abraham has just moved Pettitte ahead of Johnson on the depth chart. Based on not a damn thing besides the fact that Abraham thinks Pettitte is a nicer guy.

Pettitte is younger than Johnson and that's why Pettitte may be slightly more valuable in the long run.

Pettitte, however, has not outpitched Johnson over the past two seasons.

For the 2006 Yankee depth chart, it's a toss up.


"The Unit is 34-19 and has pitched 430.2 innings in his two seasons with the Yankees. His ERA isn't pretty (4.37) but he has largely done what they expected. It's not a stretch to think he could win 17 or 18 in the National League even coming off the surgery."

Exactly.

So how are the Yankees going to easily replace him?

Why is this a Christmas present?


Maybe Dave-n-Aziz at the nj.com Yankees blog can explain:

"It would rid the Yanks of the question mark of whether or not Johnson could really be counted on anymore."

Yes, and replace it with an even bigger question mark: Ummm, who's pitching?


"We wouldn't have those silly stories about Johnson's mood swings."

No more silly stories on the sports pages.

Check.

It's addition by subtraction.

Ummm, but who's pitching?

There's a game today vs. the Cleveland Indians and, though the NY newspapers are devoid of silly stories about Randy Johnson's mood swings, the Indians are starting C.C. Sabathia and the umpires won't start the game until the Yankees put a pitcher on the mound.

It's in the rules and stuff.


"We'd be rid of caring about whether or not he can handle the NY media."

First of all, speak for yourself. I never cared about whether or not Randy Johnson can handle the NY media and their silly little stories about his mood swings.

Johnson has been a bust, but a minor bust. He has been a major bust in two playoff starts, but a minor bust in the regular season.

Secondly, I'm sure Dave-n-Aziz would suddenly care about whether or not Johnson's replacement, the mysterious Player X, could handle the NY media.

Since the NY media is completely infatuated with the notion of whether or not a player can handle the NY media.


"This would be a great deal, no matter whom the Yanks would get in return."

Especially if No Matter Whom is a pitcher.

So the Yankees' battery is not constantly Posada and TBA.