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Sometimes, a team just can’t fill a position for more than a few years. For the White Sox and Mets, that position famously was third base. The former team had little of lasting value at the hot corner between Willie Kamm and Robin Ventura, a span of decades. The Mets couldn’t keep a player on third from 1962 until Howard Johnson emerged as a regular in 1987, although Wayne Garrett was a better hitter than he was given credit for being at the time. For the Yankees, that position is left field. Regardless of the ultimate allocation of playing time for the position in 2010, with Johnny Damon moving on, the team will be continuing a tradition that has lasted over 30 years. Now, this isn’t an excuse for violin-playing, because unlike the White Sox and Mets -- who had to live

THE END OF THE DECADE
I don’t know how these last 10 years have been for you, but there have been a lot of changes for me. When 2000 began I had no children. Now I have two. I had two working eyes. Now I have one. This feature was running at MLB.com. Now it’s at YES. On the whole, I’d say I’ve come out ahead. I hope that the decade was as friendly to you, though I know that for many it has been rough going. The Yankees have been through a lot of changes as well. With this first 10 years of the 21st century coming to a close, some Yankees top 10 for the years 2000 to 2009:

Games played
1    Derek Jeter            1500 
2    Jorge Posada        

I’m a day behind here as the Baseball Prospectus annual has done its usual job of turning my world on its ear; since the end of the World Series, the day of the week hasn’t mattered, the hour hasn’t mattered, it’s just book, book, and book some more, book around the clock. It’s not just the complete collapse of my circadian rhythms that has me in a sour mood today, but the latest news surrounding the Yankees and their rivals.

•    I remain convinced that the Yankees, in their eagerness to free up the designated hitter spot for a rotation, have made a mistake in pursuing Johnny Damon more avidly than they did Hideki Matsui. Matsui took the hit and got gone, reportedly signing a one-year deal with the Angels.  Despite his fragility, Matsui

WHAT’S YOUR HOME ADDRESS WHEN YOU LIVE IN A SNAIL SHELL?
Before we move on to the news of the day, you will note that we have a new official home here, the My YES section of the YES Network media empire. I’m excited about the new digs as I’ll be able to more easily post photos as I cover games (mostly of the buffet, probably) and interact with you more directly. For those who have bookmarked us at PinstripedBible.com that will still work, while the My YES URL is right here. You will still be able to find the ol’ Pinstriped Bible highlighted on the YESNetwork.com main page, but these two addresses will be the most direct and reliable way to reach us. I look forward to seeing you there (pants optional but preferred).

BYE-BYE, BRUNEY
Pack up all your care and woe,