[0:00]" Mustard and Johnson in for Dennis and Callahan. While the Red Sox were beating up on the overwhelmed Tampa bay D rays at Fenway Park Yankee stadium. A virtual rarity. The Yankees actually took three out of four from a contending team and are creep ever closer to that coveted 500 Mark -- even though we think they're kind of irrelevant as far as the AL east is concerned well some people have the Yankees still on their radar screens -- here to talk about that in all things pinstripes the baseball writer for the New York Post Joel Sherman joining us good morning jolt. It well let me ask you this Red Sox fans are still analysts scared but the vision of the Yankees in the rearview -- is getting smaller and smaller and smaller is there. Any hope down in New York the Yankees are going to be back where they they usually are in October this point"

[1:01]" I would think that the division is gone and that wild card is -- long I think that they've got major problem that it just. But we could play with the games behind it and how he gave last. It all comes down to that these guys they just haven't played well and it's hard to make the playoffs when I haven't played well. And I keep telling everybody just asking -- soul -- when they actually have an extended period playing on -- will start to talk about how much they have the winning comedy. And you know what magic numbers -- like out sustained period not just to be like -- recently bought. You know six weeks eight weeks and you know it's just irrelevant to talk about you know the playoffs. It seems don't make the playoffs and right now they're close to a bat in as a."

[1:48]" I've always said that with the AL east basically out of the equation certainly the wildcard it's getting. A little bit more hopeless two at least with a wildcard or you really have to do his thing about playing welcome the two -- other teams that think about. In the old days in the AL east was the consideration -- you can look at one team and you want to match up with the Red Sox to win but the Yankees at this stage really you're absolutely right just have to put some good baseball together. Is there any signs at all what you saw against the twins with three out of four this week that indicates that perhaps they are headed that direction."

[2:23]" Well there were better side but I think one of the things about all of 2007. Guys is you know -- aren't enough there's been mindful walk away. Followed quickly by -- terrible play. Org period we use sit there and go play these players should be better than they are it to a looking for more encouragement. This -- the you know let spring training and be given was supposed to be that they were going to have a top flight -- and they just -- not the opposite. Very very gold -- very very up and down. Are -- this series summit secondary guys beyond. Or -- beside Derek Jeter as Alex Rodriguez at them better sustained it pat Robinson Cano Hideki Matsui in. And they're not winning. Without that opposite story to be -- you know battery. And that's going to be opera out sort Regis is out for buried essentially this team. Alex Rodriguez away from being at Tampa Bay Devil Rays he's you know he's won a lot of single handedly and so without and that becomes all the that Topper but there with a sign that. Some of the more secondary guys who were supposed to be. You know supporting cast helped the erotic that's waking up here these setup men were a little better in the in this series -- that have been terrible I. You know subtract Mario repair from the equation -- walk this. God is they've struck out if that was horrible you know and you know they're it they're starting rotation as in. It's well they're they are what they are -- made it included bad that the 500 even when you wake it is essentially a 500."

[4:08]" Yeah and really not a whole lot lot of hope on the horizon one of the pieces you have a couple of days ago journal and certainly we've discussed it with. There's certain names like maybe zambrano in Chicago. You say the Yankees need Alex Rodriguez to be there Herschel walker of course alluding to that great trade. The cowboys may would Minnesota back in the 1980s has stockpiled -- Super Bowl championships for Jimmy Johnson later on in the 90s where the possibilities of that happening"

[4:39]" you know I would say I don't expect him to waive his no trade clause. Okay there's -- shot. He's going to do that. His greatest leverage. Is Being. Ian -- he's in when he'll be able -- at Scott Boras that it needs in Scott Boras never gives up leopard. But I bought the game. He's owed it to themselves to go to war and rodriquez and say hey there's been a lot of things that out about our weaknesses now that situation with and then usually that -- the game. And if another three -- played in this is essentially the Yankees. We want to think seriously about trading them and I think if we we weren't the Yankees. Between the opening of the second half in the trade that the first 19 games are against teams with losing records I think eat at them -- in. Spain has -- The last few days you could believe that there should be a lot there should be a lot of wins and that. Yankees and so maybe by July 20 -- when he six point seven was in the air. Bear it out seven to ten games over 500 they're in better shooting it and the wildcard in that are being fired is solid but they continue to be the same. Slightly below -- under our country I think. By the end of July they need to say what that we move you know a lot of people in New York that John David but -- where you will look. Tree court also and also picked up two nothing. Return I mean I eloquent and I'll -- all get rid of this kind of like okay a hundred the other general manager you want this guy here. You know Vietnam really about -- you want to get -- up its people we. And I just think. In the midst of this season you know re injury that column was written you know let the who anybody is when the second. Up against -- re entry there's no player in baseball potentially if you -- in a trade and the Yankees have no position prospects count. Probably can take -- that read it and get to -- the reason you're ready already in the Italy yet that you met all of them proud of -- would be stupid trade for. But -- probably free agent. In -- not about just moving around you know the chips on the people it's about getting. You know calling up the angels and saying did you like out of -- it. I'm -- Guerrero and essentially at the one missing. He's in your uncle okay we want it out Howie Kendrick okay you don't want to do that all the doctors and they. You want him hitting you know you don't have any home run hitters in the middle like you're up at home run hitter in baseball gonna cost you you know Mack have been came on and and if you don't hear what you want just click and finished the but if you hear what you want and you're 500. And now I think you have to estimate Tokyo and it he'll go you've got to try to pick the best -- possibly get something or am. But the reality is he's going -- He's going up out cup or Sydney in very strongly that he. That he can get -- policy Europe for a player and you know. You could let it ended at eight thing there's only one player people from close in 30 1000000 dollars it. A rod and he's going to opt out to it yet."

[7:51]" My question is not a jolt if he's so eager to leave after this year which you know everybody seems to agree with you why wouldn't he be eager to go to a contending team like Anaheim halfway through the season."

[8:03]" Yet because like. About money. And wondered what -- upwards of about money keeping George Steinbrenner -- by showing him exactly what it looked like every day. Would be you know he's he's part of the adoption you know it always is that Aaron on the string. Also like be invited desperate that it legacy. New York is not that of running the way you know he's a guy -- sport -- like to try to get some level -- except in in this city and I think in his mind. That the trade it will look like running -- and what is the third thing and you guys probably intimate with -- up there is. I mean I've heard all kinds of stories deputy Yankees swept. All in five straight games late let these in August I believe it was that the ratings war as good dot net then. In the -- and that the folks fair or not -- like that and part of the decision to spend a lot of money you'll see them by the -- are. This at all -- it was about that were the Yankees on their own stationing yet. Alex Rodriguez thought -- even -- I don't winning in the -- It is bad bad held. And they are ratings are going to. It is likely that the Yankees would unity as it is. It is it was like being able long term because of how bad it would look in the -- and the Yankees. Essentially on the George Steinbrenner never surrender I think that they're never going to. Open -- ignorant but you know what we're not very good."

[9:33]" Joe where do you see -- and Cashman. Next year the Yankees have a 195 million dollar payroll adjustment and two guys Damon embrace you alone combined make 28 million where do you see these guys next year. I would hit it out. -- but all of them"

[9:52]" well I I think this is Joe Torre is last year and I. This is still toward last year even at 888 spectacular unexpected charge and make the playoffs in -- And I think it being as one site called there's been in now. I think indications that the older doesn't want this guy managing out over the years certainly want to fire him after the first round or the Detroit last year. Yet again and am right essence that it but the the train. And -- they've -- job so. You don't mean talking -- I I think we -- is done manager no matter what happens I think they're going to go in the direction I think at the end of the day you know you could Don mattingly or Joe Girardi will be managing. Beginning in -- and I think Brian Cashman has probably hit it. Keeping his job regardless of what happens because -- in. That George -- British children have been in the 84 -- accusing it happens where it would it bothered they're more in -- in organization. And I tend to. That what they're going to view it -- you -- do this which you need to let a couple of real peaceful people up front office. You know it's gotten worse -- the league war and if they've got younger guys and I think they'll want he. Gene Michael type guy sitting at the Cashman helping him make baseball decisions will be right except that moving forward I don't know I think that's what else."

[11:21]" And Judy pace yesterday in ESPN certainly other pieces in the New York papers over the last year about what's going to happen to of the organization from the top down with Steinbrenner. Celebrating a birthday number 77 the other day he does apparently you would know better than we do is it not as sharp as he once was when Dallas going to be out -- he's divorced as the oldest daughter. So what happens in the future this team from an organizational standpoint --"

[11:49]" well I think there's a great unknown here I think for a long time we like if George Sutton was these swindled takeovers that nobody on the it would take over is to shoot the two boys -- ain't it really. -- in particular affinity for wanting to be involved with the ball well. But I think what happens over the last -- When he -- but certainly the last 12 months at peace Wendell -- what his role in the family is getting to the boards I've -- the weather that it's whose children have seen that if all there's been distressed. Bully you -- in public for the past 3035 years. And it kind of rallied around their all other and for every night here internally. They are guys were in the opposite camp but you know the Yankees -- a lot of their business at a camp. They are -- he opened -- offices. Pretty much the only. That -- deal with a lot of the baseball side that outfield with a lot of business side and that there at least the attempting to see that when they're all others along rounds that they water runs. But the question what was -- yet when -- ran. People are going to make runs at the -- we laugh when people they'll be worth billions yank is worth one want. With somebody with real real real money. You know keep opens in votes one. I closed my newspaper Rupert Murdoch you know the kind of people would or Yankee. You're telling me if I break it we won't one point 5000000001 point eight billion to billion somebody testing next too much between. That's going to be that. Into the New York Yankees -- station. In and nothing you're going to have their own ballpark you know it you know it's just that we muddy field and it's -- Yankees 35 years ago George Steinbrenner was a guy I would a lot of money you know whatever part of you by the Yankees you become a guy -- is because you want to be -- the walked cute because Jerry Jones I ego who cares what the prices is the Yankees order at a your --"

[14:00]" last question from me if if you were the GM of the Yankees. How do you fix this like like the Red Sox and the Yankees afford to reload like taking taking a year off and really be low -- right now they have a lot of all the play is. With major contracts -- fixes"

[14:16]" I don't eight in the states but treating young players between now and July 31 because. I'll you'd that the way I look at it as -- their -- in making the playoffs in 2008 and they are in 2002000 that and so anything you do it and 2002009. I -- 2007 is rule or so like in. If you could make a small -- if you can improve or they can -- the backup catcher in the back in yeah the ball and stuff like that without. They need to trade war. Roger Clemens they need to trade for -- they need to treat the Chinese in the big needs treatment Hideki that if they get those players back. They'll only be fine and it is something on the amber -- if they don't they can make any trade between now and July 31 and it is happening which."

[15:13]" What are you here enjoy about some of the bigger names may be available Ken Griffey junior Adam Dunn Mark Teixeira. Brad Lidge where may they be headed"

[15:22]" You know what I keep hearing that I keep hearing that right now in the first week of July the people who outpost players are still let exorbitant prices. And the game has changed even seem like. In Red Sox you know -- more to go for it. Protecting values they're young. Cost certainty players is here to three arbitration guys in the top prospect in the way we use the thinkable small bought them. Nobody wants to meet those rates in what a couple of years ago when and that's street -- for Victor Zambrano it was kind of -- War and that was kind of like that he. And everybody said I don't want to be the -- might not. So I think people arm or will walk in. And as you saw what the clock without question without Alfonso Soriano -- well I that the guy who should have been rated -- July 31 last year. He wasn't traded because. I mean I think stupidly I mean Washington should pick in the best offer but because if you're good alternating Hewitt. You're a lot of gains between -- like the first -- lot of drop a lot of different places about all of those names but I just don't. That you've been that big time money big money Pete and -- have that in the fortitude. Great opera that they just think they're the most valuable -- what inflicting to see one or two players move. And you know -- of stature and not more."

[16:49]" Me ask you this based on the first half in the American Lee if you were projecting to the second half into October. -- the team to be in the AL this year"

[17:00]" I actually. That Detroit's gonna beat the -- because I think. That -- rotation is to rip it. I think that Gary Sheffield is in. Help improve their offense which was okay last year for AL champion but -- great. Has include 1% I mean it just so so if for having close he -- have been this person that would oh. And I just think that their owner is the guy who's willing to stand there. Active organization. He is guy coming back from injury Fernando Rodney your tools of mine at war by reaching out -- the in the -- like Eric Gagne. For our pocket or -- they're going to get the setup man which is kind of been missing piece from what they -- I think air that would be an. Angels would ever get a guy let's just lot of Ken Griffey junior I helped in particular if I'm Vladimir Guerrero. They'd -- if he's also -- at the Red Sox rotation help an actor in those that read that in my fault. And I think in that water -- the -- now which way the angels in the Red Sox but I think you could vote I think. I think those three teams in the but everybody else in the major."

[18:17]" Interest in perspective I would wholeheartedly agree exactly -- order Joe Sherman always good to hear from -- enjoy the baseball down the Bronx this weekend in a catch down the line that Joe Sherman on Sports Radio a 50 WE EI."

[18:35]" Don't tell me it's not a competition because it's old news this sport"