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Editor's Note: The Yankees are nearly two weeks into the 2007 season and problems, and hundreds of YESNetwork.com users e-mailed their questions on the topic to Michael Kay this week and he answered the best of the best. If you'd like to send a question for a future Q&A with Michael or any of the other YES Network broadcasters, click here.

Dear Eric,
I truly don't know. There is no one person out there that can duplicate those numbers while playing third base.

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Dear Mr. D'Arienzo,
I don't know if it will be any one thing but I think the strongest blame has to go to the fans that turned him into a pariah for no reason other than he's not Derek Jeter. The treatment toward this guy has been patently unfair but the fans have the right to say whatever they like. They are under no obligation to cheer for anyone. Also, you can not discount the fact that A-Rod has Scott Boras as an agent and even if the fans were great for the past three years, I still think Boras would advise him to opt out of his contract in order to maximize his earning potential.

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With the current payroll, he would cost twice as much wouldn't he? If Roger comes back to baseball and signs with the Yankees, where do you think he'll fit in? I'd much rather see him pitch and then retire for good after this season in Houston.
Thanks for your time.
Mark Colone — Belmont, N.C.

Dear Mark,
I don't think the Yankees are that worried about Kai Igawa's development. If he's pitching well then he will be in the rotation and someone else will be replaced by Clemens. As for the luxury tax, well, the Yankees have cut payroll significantly over the past few years and I'm certain they would not be squeamish about paying a bit more to sign Clemens for one season if it ensures them a chance to get into the playoffs and win the World Series.

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Hey Andrew,
If you have been watching the first two weeks, none of the relievers, except for Mariano Rivera, are throwing as hard as last year. There has been a preciptous drop in velocity from Bruney, Scott Proctor and Kyle Farnsworth. The Yankees have to hope the velocity picks up when the weather heats up and that this is not a manifestation of overuse last year.

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Hi Alan,
I have not heard any plans about who is going to be the opponent but I doubt it would be an interleague game since baseball has never strayed from specific interleague periods during the season. And I really don't think it matters who they open against because the star of the day will be the new ballpark and not the opponent.

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Dear Len,
I don't think the chances are good. I wouldn't say there is no chance but I would say the odds are against it.

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However, both the Yankees and Mets are constructing new stadiums without retractable domes. Don't you think that the Yankees should have a retractable dome on the new Yankee Stadium? Playoff games with the Red Sox in 2003 and 2004 were canceled due to inclement weather. The cancellations allowed the Red Sox to line up their pitching. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on this.
Thanks,
John Azzopardi — Sellersville, Penn.

John,
Good point but both the Yankees and the Mets are not going with the roof because in New York it would cost another $200 million. The Yankees have done studies on the amount of games that are rained out and there is simply not a fiscal reason that would back up the expenditure. You mention instances where it has hurt the Yankees, but you can't possibly believe that New York is as cold as Minneapolis in April or October. Not putting a dome in Minnesota is simply foolishness that will come back to haunt them many times over the next few decades, not to say causing countless bouts with pneumonia for many fans.

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Stephen,
I'm sorry but you have to go with the odds and the odds are it's going to be inclement weather in April in the northeast corridor of this country. Sure, you could have years where it is quite pleasant, but again, you have to play the odds. As for the west coast teams coming east later in the season, well, you have to come here at some point so what different does it make when? At this point, the eastern teams go out to the coast toward the end of August and no one is complaining about that.

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Hi Fred,
Interesting concept but National League teams wouldn't go for it because they do not want to add a big-money veteran slugger to their roster, someone they would have to pay big money to rather than a light hitting, low-salaried extra infielder. Not gonna happen for financial reasons alone.

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Dear Mike,
They think they are carrying two first baseman and one DH. I have said from the beginning they should simply carry Doug Mientkiewicz and add another outfielder because Mientkiewicz hits lefties as well as righties. Carrying Josh Phelps is simply a case of overkill but I did see Phelps taking fly balls in the outfield when the Yankees were in Minnesota.

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Hi Elena,
Although I have a show on ESPN radio — 1050 in New York, on from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday thru Friday — I think the people who said that are wacked. There is practically no way that both the Mets and the Yankees won't make it. Maybe one could have a shockingly stinker season, but not both.

Also, Bobby receives all the mail that is sent to Yankee Stadium.

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Hello Mary Ellen,
I'm sorry I depress you but a home run is a home run.

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Dear Greg,
I think it comes down to the simple fact that we don't own the rights to all of those games. The games we broadcast were purchased from other entities and I'm sure the powers that be simply try to buy the most famous moments and the games in which they happened.