I'm not sure if you loyal readers are aware of this (prepare to be shocked!), but there is a commonly-held belief in the baseball community that Big Stein uses his considerable monies to "buy" star players while other, less financially fortunate, teams are forced to utilize antiquated farm systems to raise their own talent.

Well, I've got news for you. Apparently - - - and my repeated phone calls to Cash have not yet been returned, so I can't confirm this with 100% certitude just yet - - - what with the Yanks' steadfast inability to advance past the goddamn first round of the playoffs in recent years despite a payroll that rivals Paris Hilton's annual bar tab, the Yankees have been toiling in their farmlands in hopes of cultivating some cheap talent of their own. It appears that in his old age, Big Stein has allowed some other voices to be heard in the Yankees' front office, voices that have effectively prevented him from selling off the few remaining valuable scraps of a farm system that for years has churned out nothing but inedible crop that wouldn't satiate even the most malnourished Survivor contestants (left; more crispy rat meat is needed).

I hesitate to express any sense of hope, much less optimism, so soon after the ALDS, but there has been considerable good news originating from the farm this week. Whilst the Tigers and Cardinals have been battling it out in a World Series interesting to approximately 8 midwesterners, the minor-leaguers have been participating in the annual fall/winter leagues. Several of the Yanks' prospects have been doing well enough to land themselves towards the top of the league leaderboards; despite my superstitious fear that enjoying their stats could feasibly jinx their future in the Yankees' system, I feel I deserve an ounce of hope. Join me:

AFL:
Brett Gardner (OF): .439 BA, .586 OBP, 1.147 OPS, 5 RBIs, 3 Stolen Bases (0 CS) in 41 at-bats.

Eric Duncan (3B): .275 BA, .309 OBP, .662 OPS, 8 RBIs in 51 at-bats

Sean Henn (right; better known for his 360-degree owl head) (RHP): 2-0, 3.00 ERA, 6 strikeouts in 6.0 IP

TJ Beam (RHP): 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 9 strikeouts in 6.o IP

Hawaii Baseball:
Ian Kennedy (RHP): 1-0, 1.04 ERA, 14 strikeouts in 8 2/3 IP

Joba Chamberlain (RHP): 1-1, 2.57 ERA, 21 strikeouts in 14.0 IP