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Yankees manager Joe Girardi is ready to answer the Yankees one big question this spring. That question is who the fifth starter will be in the Yankees rotation.

"We could talk for hours and we may still not come out and have a decision," Girardi said. "But obviously we're getting to a point where we're going to have to make one."

That point should come sooner than later. Four of these five pitchers will likely fill spots in the bullpen, so you might as well get them ready before the season begins.

The race for the fifth spot is between Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Alfredo Aceves, Chad Gaudin and Sergio Mitre.

Joba Chamberlain -- who many believe will win the job, especially after the Yankees treated him as a future starter last season -- has essentially pitched himself out of the job. In six and two-thirds innings pitched, Chamberlain is pitching to a 16.20 Earned Run Average. It would be very surprising if the Yankees gave him the role, especially considering what they know he can do as a reliever.

Phil Hughes -- who is always part of the conversation for a starting role -- has been one of the bright spots for the Yankees. He started out a bit slow, but has worked up a 2.08 Earned Run Average. He was very successful as a relief pitcher last season.

Alfredo Aceves has essentially put himself as the number one option. He leads the team with fourteen and a third innings pitched. He has a 3.77 Earned Run Average, and has struck out seven batters, while only walking one.

Sergio Mitre and Chad Gaudin have improved dramatically as the spring has progressed. However, the Yankees were never really serious about giving them the job, and they haven’t put up the kind of numbers they would have needed to, to put them in front of any of the other options.

The Yankees find themselves in a very difficult position. Alfredo Aceves is clearly the best option based on spring numbers. But the Yankees will be very hesitant to put Chamberlain or Hughes into the bullpen. Both pitchers have been handled as starters for their entire careers, and putting them in the bullpen would either diminish the plan, or waste a year of their development as a starter.

Either way, Aceves is the best choice, and the Yankees would be making a mistake not to make him their fifth starter. Nobody said this decision would be easy, so the Yankees are just going to have to accept that Chamberlain and Hughes may have to be handled differently than they planned. Aceves has pitched the best and has shown that he can work hard and succeed at something he wants to attain. Passing on that talent and attitude would be the biggest mistake the Yankees could make.

jess.coleman@classactsports.com
twitter.com/nycoleman

ESPN The Magazines Buster Olney reported the other day that there was a possible trade brewing between the defending National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies and the St. Louis Cardinals. The trade was reported to be Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard for Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols.

Naturally, this got much attention. Whenever you put up two players of this caliber, you are going to have much excitement surrounding it. However, all of that excitement should be put to rest. Because, quite simply, nothing is going to happen.

Consider why such an astronomical trade would happen in the first place. Obviously, neither team would like to give up their player, considering how productive they are. So, if a trade were to happen, it would be strictly for economic reasons. In other words, it would be either team dumping a player that was due for a big pay day, in fear that they wouldn't be able to afford them as a free agent.

If either team were to feel they were in economic trouble, picking up Pujols or Howard would obviously not be the way to go. For the Phillies, they would be picking up a player who is due to make more money than anyone in the league, and for the Cardinals, they would be picking up a young player who is set to make a killing as well.

This trade is just not going to happen. Talks of these kinds of trades have surfaced before, and nothing has happened. Not surprisingly.

To make it simple, neither of these teams are dying to give away Howard or Pujols. The fact that Mr. Olney reported this in the first place is a bit puzzling. A reporter such as himself does not make up stories, so that is evidence that some "reliable" source is giving away this info. Whether it happens or not, nobody can be 100% sure. But we can be 100% sure that a trade like this would simply make no sense.

jess.coleman@classactsports.com
twitter.com/nycoleman

Holy smoke, Old Dominion! And Robert Morris very nearly blew my bracket up completely! Villanova escapes, so that the Big East doesn't start 0-2 today. Good heavens, it's going to be a fun 4 days!

What would an infield look like with the best players in the league at each position? Just take a look at the New York Yankees, and appreciate the plethora of talent. The combination of Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, and Robinson Cano have combined for 25 all-star selections, 1,136 home runs and 7,320 hits.

Anchored by Jeter -- the long-time Yankee -- these four men catapulted the Yankees to a championship last year.

Derek Jeter, a future Hall of Famer, is the heart and sole of the infield. In a few years, he has a good chance of becoming just the 28th player in MLB history to get 3,000 hits. As he's aged, he has managed to improve his defense and maintain the swing that has made him one of the most successful players of all time.

Then comes Alex Rodriguez. With 583 home runs, A-Rod is on pace to break the all-time home run record -- he was the youngest to get 500. He is a three-time MVP.  People really don't give him credit for his unselfishness. After coming to New York, does anyone even remember the move from shortstop to third base with no questions asked.

The left side of the Yankee infield is undoubtedly the best of all-time. It is made up of two players that would make it to the Hall of Fame if they retired at this moment, and still both have long ways to go adding to their numbers and legacies. One will accumulate over 3,000 hits, and the other will most likely break the home run record. You can't beat that.

Robinson Cano is the core of the Yankee future. He is a career .306 hitter, including his great season in 2006 when he almost won the batting title with a .342 batting average. At age 27, Cano is an already accomplished player. It wouldn't be surprising if he racked up a few batting titles and MVP's over the course of his career. If he can stay motivated and keep his head on straight, he is primed for an extremely successful career.

One of last year's key Yankee addition, was a power hitting, gold glove first baseman in Mark Teixeira. Teixeira led the league in home runs and RBI's last year with 39 and 122 respectively. His offensive ability is one thing, but his defense is another. Teixeira is one of the best there is holding the fort down at first base. At age 29, Teixeira represents a bright future for the Yankees as well.

The right side of the infield represents the future of this Yankee team. It consists of two players who are already accomplished, but also have the potential to match the accomplishments of their teammates on the other side of the infield. They are both excellent defensive players as well, which makes them even more valuable.

This Yankee infield sure is something to appreciate for baseball fans. Combined, they have a career .307 batting average. Their production and their accomplishments are incredible within themselves. To consider that they are all on the same field, better yet on the same team is something beyond belief. The epitome of an All-Star infield.

jess.coleman@classactsports.com
twitter.com/nycoleman

Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington has reportedly tested positive for using cocaine during the 2009 season. Once the report was released, Washington apologized. What else is new?

Washington's actions are just another case of a sports figure doing something wrong. Tiger Woods, Michael Phelps and Michael Vick are some other recent examples. All apologized, and all have made efforts to make their way back.

Washington -- along with Woods, Phelps and Vick -- was right to apologize. Fans, analysts and writers are always very quick to commend these figures for their apologies, which would seem like the right thing to do. People make mistakes, and we should be able to accept that.

But too often we fail to recognize the reason the apology was needed. There is, in fact, a reason that their actions merited an apology. However, the apology seems to override that.

There's no doubt that an apology doesn't make wrong actions right. But our society has failed to live up to that.

Michael Vick joined an animal protection group, but only after he was responsible for killing pit bulls. Tiger Woods said he "acted irresponisbly," but only after he got caught. Washington said his actions were a "huge mistake," but also only after he got caught.

The key thing here is that these actions are not condemned until they occur. Instead of avoiding these actions, athletes do them with the fact in mind that a simple apology will restore their respect.

It's time that we clean up this mess. It is time that we hold athletes more accountable for their actions. It's fine for them to apologize, it's fine for us to forgive them, and it's fine for them to prevent it in the future. But, it's not fine for us to forget, because that just wipes out all that was done right.

jess.coleman@classactsports.com
twitter.com/nycoleman

All the talks surrounding Derek Jeter were put to rest today when he spoke in front of the press. Quite frankly, Yankee fans heard exactly what they wanted. But they also heard what they expected.

"I've said from Day One, this is the only organization I've ever wanted to play for, and that's still true today," Jeter said.

Surprised? Neither am I. I don't think anyone really doubted that Jeter would be in pinstripes next year. But, it's understandable why people would be nervous when you talk about someone like Jeter.

Jeter went on to gush about the Yankees, and his desire to stay there for life.

Yankees GM, Brian Cashman got in his fair share of gushing as well, saying things like "[Jeter's] been [a] Yankee for life, and that's what we intend to see happen."

Jeter will be on the Yankees in 2011 and 2012 and 2013 and maybe even 2014. You can bet all your money on that.

Something smart did come out of this conference, though. Cashman -- along with Jeter -- made it clear that the talks will not open until after the season starts. That's the way it should be. Right now, Yankee fans don't care about how much Jeter will make, and they shouldn't. All they care about -- and all Jeter cares about -- is whether or not they will be lining up on Broadway for another parade next year.

So, in the end, Yankee fans will get everything they wanted. They won't have to worry about Jeter not being a Yankee in 2011, and they don't have to worry about any contract talks distracting the 2010 Yankees.

However, one thing is still in the air. The next contract will end sooner or later, and Jeter will too. What Yankee fans do not want to see is Derek Jeter tarnish his legacy by sticking around longer than his abilities merit. They want to see Derek Jeter retire as the Class Act and the Champion that he truly is, not as some left fielder who stuck around to get over 3,000 hits. When Jeter is no longer able to play shortstop, he will more than likely walk away from the game that he loves.

jess.coleman@classactsports.com
twitter.com/nycoleman

A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press the Detroit Tigers and Damon have reached a preliminary agreement on an $8 million, one-year contract. The person, who talked Saturday on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn't been announced, says the contract is subject to a physical, which will be some time next week.

New York Mets third baseman, David Wright, told the Daily News that increasing his power numbers will not be his focus in spring training.

Wright -- in the first season of the new Citi Field -- hit a career low 10 home runs after hitting a career high 33 the year before.

At first, this drop off would suggest that Wright had a bad season. Most sluggers would consider a 10 home run season a bad season, right?

Wrong. Wright didn't decline as a player, he changed as a player. It is a situation that is uncommon, and is difficult to identify. But in Wrights case, it is pretty evident by his numbers.

Although he didn't hit a lot of home runs, Wright saw his batting average increase, but not by much. The surprising number is that Wright increased his batting average on balls in play from a .328 in 2008, to a career high .400 in 2009.

At first glance, luck may be to blame. However, it is unlikely that a stat would increase .72 points, not to mention to a career high.

It seems that hitting in a considerably bigger park has changed Wright as a player. Changing as a player should also change how he is used as a player.

For the duration of his career, Wright has been a middle of the lineup player, but he is not that player anymore. A middle of the lineup player hits a lot of home runs and gets a lot of extra base hits, which Wright used to do.

But not anymore. The high batting average on balls in play shows that Wright is now the kind of player that is going to shoot the ball around the field and get on base a lot. That is not the profile of a middle of the lineup player.

The Mets are going to need to make a change to get the most out of their lineup. Wright will most likely no longer hit 30+ home runs spending half of his season in a pitchers park like Citi Field. Putting Wright back in the middle of the lineup is going to strip the Mets of a lot of runs.

With Bay -- a slugger -- coming onto the team, this is a perfect time to move Wright into the two hole, or possibly even the three hole. The Mets need a change, and sometimes the biggest difference can be made in a very small way.

jess.coleman@classactsports.com
twitter.com/nycoleman

One of the biggest question's of the past decade has been: what is going to happen to the Yankees once Derek Jeter is gone. About a week ago, we may have obtained that answer.

The Yankees are looking into Cuban shortstop Adeiny Hechevarria. The Angels are also intrigued by the 19 year-old, and many other teams are likely to enter the bidding shortly.

If the Yankees do end up signing Hechevarria, or plan to in the future, it will be interesting to see how that affects the amount Jeter gets offered next season. It will also be interesting to see how Jeter is affected once Hechevarria is ready to advance to the majors.

If Hechevarria is ready to play in the majors and Jeter is still a Yankee, don't expect the Yankees to prolong Hechevarria's growth just to keep Jeter at shortstop. If Hechevarria is ready, he will be playing shortstop.

So then what happens to Jeter? He can either (a) retire or (b) switch postions.

Sorry to tell all of you Yankee fans, but (a) is the likely answer. Derek Jeter has been a Class Act throughout his entire career. He will not stick around at some other position just to stay in the majors or pad his stats, and also won't want do change teams. Derek Jeter will leave the Majors with pride, with pinstripes, and with a number "2" on his back.

jess.coleman@classactsports.com
twitter.com/nycoleman

We are now just a bit over seven days away from pitchers and catchers reporting to camp. If you had guessed that Johnny Damon would still be on the market, you would have been right on.

Before the deal for Javier Vazquez, the Yankees reportedly offered Johnny Damon two-years at $7 million per year. If you ask me, that is a lot for a 37 year old outfielder. But considering the Yanks did not re-sign Hideki Matsui, they were looking to bring back at least one of the clutch lefty bats.

It just hasn't worked out for Damon. Many teams -- including the Yankees -- are waiting out for next years market, which is much more talented than this one. Signing a 37 year old, sub-par outfielder to a multi year deal doesn't seem to be in the cards for Damon and agent Scott Boras. The team that does sign Damon will look to invest in the intangibles that he offers, such as his winning pedigree, timely hitting, and locker room presence.

The Tigers, Braves and Rays are the only teams who are left for Damon. You can bet that come mid-season, Damon will be kicking himself that he didn't take the Yankees offer. He is going to sign for less than the Yankees proposed $7 million, and it will be in a city that is not New York. A nightmare for Damon.

jess.coleman@classactsports.com

The Braves have increased their interest in Johnny Damon. Initially, the Braves offered Damon a one-year deal, and even had Chipper Jones contact him.

This reported interest could be a great thing for Damon. We all know he wanted two things when the off season started: (a) to go back to New York and (b) to get at least a two-year deal.

We already know that (a) will not happen, but the new interest in Damon puts more pressure on the Tigers, who have expressed interest in Damon as well.

Competition of teams bidding against each other is the one reason Damon might actually get a multi-year deal at this point. He already blew his chances at New York, but if either the Braves or Tigers really want Damon, they will need to compete for Damon's services, ultimately resulting in more $ for the veteran outfielder. All of a sudden, there is a shed of light for Damon.

jess.coleman@classactsports.com

New York Mets fans have been upset all off season after hearing their front office make promises to rebuild the teams starting rotation. Aside from Johan Santana, the Mets do not have a clear cut # 2 starter. Entering the season with Mike Pelfrey, John Maine, and Oliver Perez in the starting roation sure does make Mets fans uneasy.

FINALLY, there has been some good news for the Mets faithful... The Mustache is Back! Keith Hernandez will be working with young first baseman Daniel Murphy on his defensive skills molding him into a more complete first baseman.

If this is the most exciting news going into spring training, the Mets could be in serious trouble. Hopefully, some of Keith's swagger will rub off on Murphy, the same swagger that helped the 1986 Mets win a world series.

On a side note, how in the world is Hernandez not being elected into the Mets Hall of Fame in the same year as Doc Gooden and Darryl Strawberry?

Payton has a set. Peyton doesn't. Going for it on 4th down an goal from the one and a half yard line, to an onside kick, and trick plays. Head coach of the Saints, Sean Payton, let it all hang out and helped the Saints come through. Peyton Manning was unable to sustain drives and made a Favre like mistake with an interception that was returned to the house for 74 yards. That play sealed the Colts fate and Peyton Manning continues to have troubles in big games. He is now 9-9 in his playoff career, and is still inconsistent in the post season. Sure he won a championship once, but even a blind squirrel finds a nut.

The Colts got the ball back down one score and had were looking to get in the end zone down seven points. Peyton appeared to have things on track moving the ball nicely drilling Pierre Garcon for a pair of first downs. However, a crucial 3rd down, Peyton made an untimely mistake attempting to hit Garcon on the inside shoulder. Saints defensive back Tracy Porter jumped the route and picked the ball off taking it to the house putting the Saints up two touchdowns making it 31-17.

In a game where special teams are considered part of the intangibles and x-factor, the Saints young kicker is outkicking the Colts veteran kicker Matt Stover. Stover is the oldest kicker to play in the Super Bowl at 42 years of age. The Colts drive stopped short on the opposing 34 yard line, and Peyton decided to go deep rather than checking down for at least 5 yards making it a more reasonable field goal than a 51 yarder. As a result, Stover misses wide left and the Colts leave points on the board. The Saints defense is doing a great job of bending but not breaking.

Drew Brees and company take over at the 35 yard line down 17-13.  After moving the chains with a check down to Bush and a hitch to Henderson, the Saints were comfortable with the way they were moving the ball. Rookie kicker 23 years of age, Garrett Hartley, kicked another through the uprights from 40+. These days you can't take any distance for granted when it comes to kickers. But this kid seems to be the real deal under pressure on the big stage. Saints cut the lead to one point making it 17-16.

What a brilliant and gutsy playcall by Sean Payton for the Saints to go for an onside kick.  The Saints caught the Colts by surprise and recovered the kick. Drew Brees engineered a drive and capped the drive with one of the best play calls in the playbook. Playaction to the running back and a delay screen to the back. Pierre Thomas followed his blockers and ripped it off for a touchdown putting the Saints up 13-10. 

Capitals win 14th in row, beat Penguins 5-4 in OT