The Offseason chess match

It has probably been said before that championships are often won or lost in the offseason. This is the time when teams are created, or re-created. It's the time when players are traded, the money changes hands, and the brightest minds in each organization around the league go toe to toe to build a world series winner.

And the chess match has already begun. A moment of silence, please, for Brian Bruney, who pitched very well for the Yankees early in the year, for Ian Kennedy, who never pitched well and will now go work on his two seam fastball elsewhere, for Phil Coke, who pitched heroically many times and will be missed, and for Austin Jackson, probably the Yankees' best position prospect. Mr. Jackson had all the tools, except for power. He should be a starter next season for another team, and we wish him luck.

Enter Curtis Granderson. He's a nice addition to the team. He'll be a full-time outfielder, he's young, he has power, and he can really field. He's got speed and he'll be popular in the clubhouse. I like him.

And welcome back Andy. Just yesterday Andy Pettitte signed another one-year deal with the team, worth 11 million bucks. Good for him. With his addition the Yankees now will come back next season with the same 3 starters who carried them to glory in the 2009 playoffs.

Let's see how the chess match develops from here.