Well gang:
Call this the hot stove edition of my blog.
What a crazy couple of days in the world of baseball -- and it's only the beginning of December.
First, the Yankees were the front-runners to land Johan Santana. Then the World Series-champion Red Sox were the leaders after the talks between the Yanks and Minnesota stalled over the third Yankee in the package.
Now, the hot rumor making the internet is the Angels and Dodgers might make a run at the two-time Cy Young award winner.
With them primed to acquire Santana, the Red Sox looked like they had a lock on the World Series for many years to come. Then the news breaks that the Tigers acquired Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis from the Marlins and now they look like they might be the team to beat.
Where does all this leave the Yankees and Mets.
For the Yankees-sake, they better hope Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy are everything they're supposed to be. If not, it could be a looooooooooooong season in the Bronx.
As far as the Mets, I know GM Omar Minaya said he is comfortable with his team as is. But when you have an aging Pedro Martinez and the even-more aging Orlando Hernandez making up 40 percent of your rotation, an upgrade is in order.
Problem is, from everything I've read on the internet and seen on television, the one prize most teams want from the Mets they can't get -- Jose Reyes.
The good news for Mets fans is the National League has been pathetic for the last few years, so they would still be -- in my book -- the odds on favorite to get to the World Series.
But it's only December 4, maybe both New York teams will look dramatically different in a few days.
Either way, isn't it nice as the weather gets colder, the hot stove continues to heat up?
Until next time, take care and God bless.