Congratulations Godzilla

Hideki Matsui married "a 25 year-old civilian" yesterday, winning a bet with Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu. Here's a strange picture of Matsui's new wife. What, you couldn't find the back of a milk carton to draw on?

Looks like Godzilla can finally toss that legendary porn collection of his.

Joe Girardi had that talk with Shelley Duncan about his actions during yesterday's game.

Any suspension arising from the near brawl between the Yankees and Rays would be implemented during the regular season.

In unrelated news, Jorge Posada and Bobby Abreu have given their names to a tri-state whine maker.

Video of Pettitte's Return to Teammates. Pete Caldera of the Record submits a video report from Spring training in Tampa, chronicling the day's activities. Included is a look at Andy Pettitte's first workout with the team since the Mitchell Report's release. The clip also quotes Jason Giambi as declaring himself "100 percent" going into the season - that is until he hits a ball in the gap and leaves his Achilles tendon on the infield rounding first base. Also, Pete Abraham reports Bobby Abreu's in good shape entering camp. Abraham notes, "He also appeared to take the warnings of Joe Girardi seriously and came to camp in great shape."

Report: A-Rod Told Yankees $350 mil or bust

• Before opting out, Alex Rodriguez informed the Yankees he would require a guaranteed contract of $350 million for the Yankees to earn the right to retain his services, ESPN reporter Buster Olney said. Apparently Daisuke Matsuzaka's posting fee ain't got jack on A-Rod. Boston needed 50+ million to talk to Matsuzaka, but the Yankees needed SEVEN times that to keep Rodriguez in pinstripes. Scott Boras has taught Alex well. One can only hope Rodriguez rots in a Giants uniform for the next decade. Maybe then he will have learned his lesson.

• On the other hand, Bobby Abreu will remain a Yankee for at least one more year, barring a trade of some sort, as the Yankees reportedly picked up his option today for the 2008 season. This is a no-brainer. A Miguel Cabrera deal would have made things interesting, but New York cannot be dumb enough to part with Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain for anything less than Johan Santana. Plus, Cabrera's a free agent in two years.

Yankees To Meet With A-Rod?

The Yankees would like to meet with Alex Rodriguez, and Hank Steinbrenner the newly appointed Yankees mouthpiece, seems intent on making him an offer he can't refuse.

There have been no reports of demonagent Scott Boras deciding to do anything other than opt-out of A-Rod's remaining contract and engage in a full scale assault on free agency. However, it still seems Boras realizes his client's contract drops tens of millions of dollars without the Yankees involved in the bidding.

And with Brian Cashman's recent sentiments of 'opt-out means we're out' being seconded by ownership, Boras may have a few hundred million reasons to take him seriously.

From ESPN.com:

The New York Yankees are trying to set up a meeting with Alex Rodriguez while they work on picking a manager.

Hank Steinbrenner, a son of owner George Steinbrenner, said Friday the club probably will meet soon with Rodriguez and agent Scott Boras.

"The fact of the matter is, obviously we want him to stay," Hank Steinbrenner said. "And I think he wants to stay."

In the mean time, things have changed with other potential Yankee free agents. No matter how hard the rest of baseball dreams about Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada turning their backs on the Yankees in an unprecedented display of loyalty toward Joe Torre, the money always talks - especially when the money is coming from an organization they've known their entire professional career.

On Monday, Rivera changed his tune entirely during an interview on satellite radio, saying he didn't need to know who the next manager would be before re-signing with the Yanks. How much money that deal adds up to may depend on the contract his decade-long battery mate receives first.

On Tuesday, The Daily News reported "The Yankees plan to do what they can to keep Posada from hitting the open market." Mark Feinsand stated that a source believes the Yankees will offer Jorge about $40 million.

In all likelihood, A-Rod's groundbreaking extension would follow suit, with an Andy Pettitte redux and Bobby Abreu return quickly coming thereafter.

Now if they could only knock over that first domino and give Joe Girardi the keys to the castle...

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Yankees Playoff Bound

Overcoming an unbelievable barrage of injuries to the pitching staff and outfield, the Bombers played out the second half of the season 24 games over the .500 mark, ensuring they'll spend their thirteenth straight October playing postseason baseball.

Chien-Ming Wang collected his 19th win of the year by throwing six solid innings of two-run ball and striking out an un-Wang-like six batters. The Yankees offense handed Wang back the lead by scoring two runs in the fourth inning. They then handed Wang a certain victory by scoring seven more in the fifth.

CMW now has a 38-13 record over his two full seasons in the major leagues. Remember that Wang made his first start of the year on April 24th, essentially missing the entire first month of the season. It would be hard to believe that a 20th victory would have eluded Wang if he had made those four more starts.

• Robinson Cano hit a three-run homer and picked up 5 more RBI, raising his season total to 95. Having your second baseman and 7/8 hitter knock in 95 runs borders on comical.

• Derek Jeter continues to rake the ball, going 3-for-5, including a game-tying homer.

• The Yankees plated 12 runs, laced 18 hits, were handed a fielding error and still left 11 men on base.

• Assuming Bobby Abreu can tally one more RBI before the regular season concludes, the Yankees lineup will boast a hitter who either holds a .300 batting average or has 100 RBI for six of nine lineup spots.

Looks like C.C. and Fausto are next on the menu. We'll see if New York's offense is hungry.