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Editor's Note: The Yankees are now well into the 2007 season, and of the hundreds of YESNetwork.com users who e-mailed their questions, Michael Kay took the time this week to 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.

DJ,
You can never say for sure, but with the events of the past few days where the performance enhancement coach being let go it would seem like it was more than a coincidence.

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Hi Marty,
If Bernie hasn't been contacted at this point I simply don't think it's going to happen. As for Cabrera, no, I do not think last year was a fluke but I do think he's putting way too much pressure on himself and it's adversely affecting his performance.

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Hello Barbara,
I think Derek is the rare player that can hit anywhere in the lineup. He could even bat cleanup and he would have over 100 RBIs. That being said, I think Damon, when healthy, is a very good leadoff hitter and has a bit more speed than Derek. I would keep the two of them the way they are because that keeps the lefty-righty-lefty-righty-lefty balance at the top of the lineup rather than stacking lefties at Nos. 2-3. But I like your suggestion on moving Giambi to third, at least until Abreu breaks out of his slump.

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Butch,
Refer back to answer number one for the first part of your question and as for the moves that Cashman can make, gee, I really don't know because no team has dropped out of it yet and is willing to trade a pitcher of substance.

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Ron Villone and Tanyon Sturtze are prime example of pitchers who were good, but were overused and then were gone. The same will happen with Proctor very soon.
-- Rick, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Hi Rick,
A lot of what you say has merit. The bullpen has been overused and I think Torre sometimes is a bit quick in yanking starters, but in fairness to the manager, most times he does not have a choice as these starters are getting hammered and have to be taken out to put out the fire and give the offense a chance to catch back up. That has already happened a couple of times in the two games where A-Rod has had walk-off home runs. I think Joe can do a bit better job of spreading the heavy workload among the relievers better than he has rather than seemingly using everybody for an inning every day.

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Dear Bob,
I would probably use Phelps a bit more although he is simply not a good defender. If you're going to go that route you might as well play Giambi at first and DH Cabrera. As for what's the market right now for first baseman, well, there is no market yet for anybody because it's too early. And if I may, I think the Yankee problems do not involve the slumping of Doug Mientkiewicz. They have enough offense, it's the pitching that's hurting them.

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Hi John,
In regards to what you're talking about, the fire was never lit. Throughout this entire dynastic run the Yankees have never protected their hitters. Remember the one game at the Stadium when Pedro Martinez literally sent Derek Jeter and Alfonso Soriano, the first two batters of the game, to the hospital and there was never retaliation. Never. Also David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez have owned the Yankees for years and they are never made to move their feet.

Who does this fall on? Well, if the pitchers aren't doing it themselves, and they should be, then the manager and coaches have to make it known that someone from the other team must go down. Not hit, just flipped, but there has to be a sign of toughness.

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Debbie,
How can we rationally say the Yankees are stingy about anything when they have a $180 million payroll, more than any other team? And as for why there have been so many injuries, well, your guess is as good as mine but I don't think it has anything to do with the players being out of shape.

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Tony,
I agree with you. I think we give pitch counts too much on the air and I wish we didn't but since the game is governed this way in the dugout it does make sense to give the audience the number of pitches since when it reaches one hundred that is when the pitcher is probably going to be taken out. Back in the days you are talking about it was different because the pitchers were brought up differently and they were more used to throwing a lot of pitches. Now, the value of pitchers is through the roof and teams want to protect their investments and they baby the arms.

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Is a World Series title necessary for Joe Torre if he wants to manage next year? When he does, decide to retire is there a chance Joe Girardi will be the new manager and is there a chance Torre would manage somewhere else if he was not offered his job back?
-- Kaitlyn Brennan, Pearl River, New York

Hi Ms, Brennan,
I think Mussina has a shot at 300 but 61 is a lot and he is just signed for this year and next. Since he has been breaking down more and more frequently my gut feeling is he will not reach that number in pinstripes, but I'm not quite sure.

As for A-Rod, I've been trying to figure this out and I think the better the year he has the more likely he is to opt out. In fact, I think he either gets an extension from the Yankees, which they have said they won't do, or he opts out no matter what type of year he has.

And finally, I think Torre only has an opportunity to return if they win the championship. My gut tells me he wants to return but I don't think that happens unless he wins it all. Is there a possibility he manages somewhere else? Of course, but I think the only teams he would consider would be the Mets, Red Sox, Dodgers or Angels. And maybe one of the Chicago teams would appeal to him. Again, this is all guesswork and nothing anyone has told me. And if Torre is not here next year and think the manager would probably be Don Mattingly or Joe Girardi with Mattingly probably being the more likely to assume that role.

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Mark,
Yes I do. The problem is not their offense, it's their pitching. Geez, if their winning or losing hinges on the offense at first and backup catcher they are in trouble.

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Hi Armin,
The only option, at this point, is Clemens. The Yankees have to tread water until the trade market loosens up while other teams fall out of it.

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Two, I have always heard that you were or are a Yankees fan. During the few games that you don't announce, are you at home cheering the Yankees on? Thanks for your time!
-- Ally, Byram, N.J

Hi Ally,
I do believe that A-Rod is going to have a great year although I doubt he can keep this pace the entire season because his total numbers would then be superhuman.

Also, I grew up in the Bronx and was the biggest Yankees fan. In fact, there were years where I did not miss a game on TV or radio the entire season. As for the days I am off, I have to honestly say I usually do not watch the entire games but rather check in periodically to find out what is going on.

Thanks, everyone!