Yanks can accelerate transition

Converting a major league roster from faded veterans to inconsistent youth while competing for a pennant is a tough job. The Yankees don't have the luxury of shifting to full rebuild mode and building from the ground up. TV ratings, merchandising and attendance considerations demand marquee names and headline splashing transactions.

As the 2008 season evolves, prudent decision making and decisive action by the Bomber's brass becomes vital. Picking the right prospect for a roster spot and showing the exit to an underachieving veteran takes skill and strength. The older players have the big contracts, cutting them loose early will acknowledge judgement issues from seasons past. A tough job but somebody has to do it.

So, lets get started: 1) Cut Kyle Farnsworth or find some deluded GM to take a chance. The recent charade of reincarnation was a bad April Fools joke. The Farns is finished and it's not Torre's fault. Girardi and Eiland have their hands full without this time wasting distraction. Give the job to a young, live arm that is producing now. Potential takes a back seat to production in a pennant race. Albadejo gets 1ST shot based on a strong debut and the ability to pitch multiple innings. The boys on the farm will know if they produce their time will be sooner rather than later. 2) Giambi gets 60 days to produce, if the anemic production continues, cut the chord. Shelly Duncan, marginal scouting report and all, gets the nod based on eye of the tiger demeanor and the fact that he has done the job whenever given a shot. When is the last time anyone could say that about Giambi? 3) Say bye-bye to Betemit. Action speaks louder than words; the Yanks recent promotion of Gonzalez to take the Captain's place spoke volumes. Let the Attorney General flash his leather supporting Jeter and Cano, they will be grateful in September. 4) Continue to work hard developing Hughes and Kennedy, but suggest in a supportive way that hyped headlines aren't a season-long pass to a roster spot. If they perpetually drain the bullpen while maturing, let them do it in Scranton and bring up the strongest current producer (unless his name is Igawa.)

Rebuilding a dynasty, on the fly, is a monumental undertaking. Prioritizing production rather than seniority and taking decisive action will expedite the process.