Pete Abe, our LoHud of the Rings beat writer, has some pretty honest opinions about this Yanks team:

But bringing back a 33-year-old former steroids user with a bad hip isn’t going to solve the problem of the Yankees looking like a company softball team at times. When you see Jacoby Ellsbury steal home or Curtis Granderson lay down a perfect bunt to start a rally, it’s a reminder of how old and slow the Yankees can look.

This team has good pitching and over time, that pitching will produce. Even the bullpen. But already we’re seeing sore knees (Hideki Matsui), sore shoulders (Johnny Damon) and Jorge Posada running down to first base like he’s pulling U-Haul trailer behind him. Derek Jeter let a groundball up the middle score a run today. By now you’re used to that.

Their “young and athletic” guys are Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera. Cano is 13 of 27 on stolen bases in his career and Melky was benched last summer.

Other teams can make things happen at the plate or in the field. The Yankees seem to have no choice but to wait and hope something does. Their roster is so top heavy with aging and expensive players that an injury or two throws everything off.

Yeah, so that’s not good, right?

It’s remarkably captivating and I was unable to turn away. Some people really do have too much time on their hands:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWRyj5cHIQA&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1]
Thanks Hot Clicks.

Got a very brief window due to a delayed meeting this morning, so I flipped open my handy reference for MLB contracts signed this past off-season. I love the ways teams and player representatives get creative for incentives, particularly with oft-injured players.

Today, I present: Mike Hampton, Houston Astros

• Signed: 12/3/08.
• Base salary: $2,000,000
• Plus: $100,000 for 12gs;
• $100,000 for 14gs;
• $100,000 for 16gs;
• $100,000 for 18gs;
• $100,000 for 20gs;
• $100,000 for 22gs;
• $100,000 for 24gs;
• $100,000 for 26gs;
• $100,000 for 28gs;
• $100,000 for 30gs;
• $100,000 for 100ip;
• $100,000 for 110ip;
• $100,000 for 120ip;
• $100,000 for 130ip;
• $100,000 for 140ip;
• $100,000 for 150ip;
• $100,000 for 160ip;
• $100,000 for 170ip;
• $100,000 for 180ip;
• $100,000 for 190ip.
• Plus: $250,000 for All Star;
• $1,000,000 for Cy Young ($250,000-2nd; $100,000-3rd);
• $250,000 for Comeback Player of the Year;
• $500,000 for WS/MVP;
• $250,000 for LCS/MVP;
• $100,000 for Gold Glove;
• $100,000 for Silver Slugger

Interesting that Hampton will effectively receive $50k for each start he makes after his first twelve, plus $50k for each 5 innings after the first 100. Of course, to get to 100 IP in 12 games, he has to average 8.1IP/game, which we know ain’t happenin’.

For you guys: How many/much of these potential incentives will Hampton earn this year? Place your bets in the comments below. Winner at year’s end gets to brag….assuming we can remember that we actually did this.