Since the Yankees' ill-fated ALDS cavalcade, the Yankees Chick has been on a wild roller coaster ride of grief. Saturday was marked by a period of acute denial, during which I watched entirely too many NFL games and convinced myself I could care more about the Chargers than the Yankees (never mind the fact that the Chargers are undoubtedly doomed to the very same post-season elimination faced by the 2005 and 2006 Yankees), but come Sunday the denial had waned and a fierce anger (see left) set in. How dare the Yankees drop 3 games in a row after all the time I had spent watching them, reading about them, and writing marginally entertaining articles about them? Weren't they thinking of me? After admitting to myself that being engulfed by feelings of rage toward a baseball team was largely unhealthy and borderline patheitc, I moved on to an even more nonsensical period of bargaining, at which point I recall mentioning to a Mets fan that I would be willing to listen to Joe Morgan broadcast all 162 games of the 2007 series if the Yankees could just have one more shot at the Tigers. Luckily the baseball gods paid no heed to my ridiculous offer. Of course, after the denial, anger, and bargaining stages had each run their course, a depression that could rival that of any emo kid was able to fully sink in.

I'm still downright sickened by the Yanks' performance in the ALDS, but its been 4 days now so I suppose it's time to buck up and accept that their season is over. And on that note, let's get on with the Yanks post post-season news:

Joe Torre is coming back: Despite initial reports that a manager change was imminent, Steinbrenner and Torre have both confirmed that Joe will not be fired. Big Stein referred to the Yankees loss in the ALDS as "unacceptable", but to the chagrin of base-throwers everywhere, he decided not to fire Torre in favor of Lou Piniella. (Right: MLB umpires can live another day without fearing a shouting match.)

A-Rod is (probably) not going to be traded: He may have gone 1-14 in the ALDS, but Cashman announced that he has "no intention" of trading A-Rod. Whether he should be traded is up for debate. The prospect of ditching a player that 35 home runs and knocked in 121 runs would generally generate a negative response from the Yankees Chick, but the unfortunate truth for dear A-Rod is that he just can't win with the New York fans. As we've seen this year, A-Rod's performance is inversly proportional to the decibel level of booing in the stadium, and it has become heartwrenching to watch his mounting deterioration (see left: I almost tear up in sympathy every time he strikes out. Almost. Then I get over it and feel irritated) . Perhaps it would be best for him to play for a more suportive smaller market team...and if the Yankees can spin him for a few young pitchers, I suppose I wouldn't object.

Cano and Jeter won TSN awards: Neither won the batting title and the MVP has not been announced just yet, but both Cano and Jeter were voted the best at their position by 220 of their fellow athletes. Yeah, I'm sure that takes the sting out of busting out of the ALDS.