Every baseball fan in America knows who Bernie Williams. Maybe they know him as "Bambi", his nickname from the early nighties, as a softspoken guy who speaks with a loud bat. Maybe the more recent fans know him as the 1998 AL batting champ, others remeber him for the way he hit in the '96 division series vs. the Rangers. In any case, he is well known.
As a Yankee. Bernie has always been a Yankee, and I like to think he'll always be a Yankee. But it's not up to me whether he stays or goes.
He's asking for the big bucks, last years demand was 80 mil over 8 years. Maybe then he didn't deserve it yet...but this year, I believe he does. He has a warped version of the triple crown: he's the only player ever to win a Gold Glove, the Batting Title, and a World Championship in the same year. And if he wasn't out for five weeks, who knows what would have happened.
But here's the big question: Is Steinnbrenner willing to pay Bernie an 8-digit salary (--,---,---)? What are his choices?
With all the players in right field, he could move one over. Chad Curtis would be the best defensively, and after a few years, Ledee could take over. Nobody's sure whether Ledee's hot bat will carry over the offseason, but it's doubtful either of them will be able to produce Bernie's numbers at the plate. Spencer might be able to match Bernie at the plate if he continues the way he did towards the end of last season, but he doesn't even play that great in left field.
So...what prospects to they have elsewhere? What about Jim Edmunds? Now, I don't know much about him, but if he choses to go to another team, the Yankees might decide that 2 mil less a season is worth the trade of character...Edmunds is generally an energetic, loud contributer, while Bernie is the most softspoken on the Yankee team.
So, do you take him or leave him? It's the big question of the postseason. Bernie says, "it looks like I may stay, but you have to talk to the guy (Steinnbrenner) over there)."
George's earned my respect this year. He's stopped meddling, and cried (yes, cried!) when the Yankees won the World Series. He's no longer the man I love to hate. Will he stay that way? Only the offseason will tell.