The New York Yankees reportedly have a deal on the table that would make CC Sabathia the highest paid pitcher in all of baseball. The deal, which is reportedly for six years and a total of $140 million, would surpass the contract the New York Mets gave Johan Santana last season.

While Sabathia is a good pitcher who can oftentimes be great, signing Sabathia to a mega contract would be a colossal mistake for the Yankees. It’d go down alongside the signing of Barry Zito by the San Francisco Giants as the biggest wastes of money in baseball history.

The first problem is that Sabathia doesn’t pitch well under pressure. Examples can be found in many places. To start off the 2008 campaign, Sabathia struggled mightily due to the pressure of his pending free agency. In his career, he has also been horrid in the postseason.

Not being able to handle pressure will not go over well in New York. Everything he does will be under the microscope and each and every game will feel like a playoff game. Sabathia might have good stretches but he’ll get worn down by the pressure and eventually crack.

Secondly, Sabathia obviously doesn’t take the best care of his body. The 28-year-old 300 pounder will balloon up even more once he reaches his 30’s. His metabolism will slow and he will suddenly begin to tilt the scales at 350 instead of 300.

Last but not least is the fact that Sabathia has a ton of mileage on his arm already. In his eight years in the majors, he has pitched more than 1,650 innings. In the last two years ago, Sabathia has pitched more than 500 innings.

If the Yankees were smart, they’d be bargain hunting this winter. However, it appears that instead the Yankees will once again waste millions of dollars.

10. The Rays Winning Game 2
Even though the Tampa Bay Rays didn’t go all the way, they were a great story. It was only right that they got to win Game 2 so their fans could celebrate one final time.

9. Brad Lidge Getting the Save
Brad Lidge has been labeled a choker. More specifically, a big game choker. But during the 2008 season, he was flawless. He completed all 48 of his save opportunities – including the final one to clinch the 2008 World Series.

8. Talking Baseball with your Friends
How fun was it to talk to your friends about baseball and get remarks such as “It’s the World Series?”, “You Still Watch Baseball?” and the always fun “!@#$ Baseball, That Sport is Boring!”

7. Ryan Howard Homers
Ryan Howard has been a feared slugger around the league. But his success in the World Series has now made him a certifiable beast. He’s well on his way to becoming one of the best sluggers of his generation.

6. The Rain Delay
The two-day rain delay might be the most lasting memory. We will likely never seen anything like it ever again. It was like someone pressed pause on a video game, forgot about it and then came back a couple days later.

5. Jaime Moyer be Successful
Apparently there is life after 45. Jaime Moyer proved that you can be up there in age and still compete at the highest level. True, pitching is hardly a contact sport – but hey, it’s something.

4. Not Having to Watch the Yankees or Red Sox
I think we can all agree on this one.

3. Philadelphia Celebrating
Philadelphia had waited a long time for this championship. For as much heartache as the Phillies, Flyers, Eagles and 76ers have caused over the years, that town deserves this.

2. Philly Fans Booing Bud Selig
You might think of cheesesteaks when you think of Philadelphia. I think of booing. Philadelphia is to booing as Las Vegas is to gambling. Philadelphia is to booing as San Francisco is to alternative lifestyles. Getting to listen to Bud Selig getting booed was a thrill.

1. Philly Ballgirls

In the 2008 World Series, the Philadelphia Phillies lead the Tampa Bay Rays three games to one in the best of seven series. On Sunday, the Phillies won 10-2 as Ryan Howard, the big slugging first baseman for Philadelphia, hit two home runs and starting pitcher Joe Blanton got the win and also provided a home run of his own.

While Game 5 of the World Series isn’t technically a winner-take-all game, it will decide the series. If the Phillies win, then they will obviously be crowned the champions of baseball in 2008. However, if the Rays win, they will go on and win the World Series.

The reasoning? A combination of home field advantage and pitching matchups. Game 5 will be played in Philadelphia, with Game 6 and Game 7 to be played in Tampa Bay. If the Rays can get back home, they have two pitchers ready to bring the World Series championship to Tampa Bay.

In Game 6, Rays ace James Shields would get the start. Shields is a much better pitcher at home and he already has a reputation in his young career of being a clutch pitcher. Speaking of clutch, Game 7 starter would be NLCS MVP Matt Garza. Garza won the MVP in large part to his magnificent Game 7 performance against the Boston Red Sox.

Even though final two games of the series set up rather nicely for the Rays, Game 5 will be very difficult. On the mound for the Phillies will be their ace Cole Hamels. Hamels is by far the best starting pitcher for Philadelphia and he has been very good in the 2008 postseason. The Rays will have Scott Kazmir on the mound who has a 4.15 ERA in the playoffs thus far.

Be sure to catch Game 5 of the World Series on Monday at 8PM eastern on Fox. You are guaranteed to see one of the World Series be decided.

I have two big fears in life. The first is opening my front door and having Mike Wallace and “Sixty Minutes” standing there, and the second, is taking a Roger Clemens fast ball to the head. So, with great pleasure, I recently got a chance to see these two Titans squaring off on “Sixty Minutes.” Mike Wallace is a no nonsense guy, and is the consummate reporter. He is fearless, candid, and straight forward. Quite frankly, I’d rather face a crack addict with a machete than submit to a Mike Wallace interview. Fortunately, my life is so boring that Wallace will never set foot on my doorstep.

Roger Clemens is another story. He is arguably the greatest pitcher of all time. He is a large, well conditioned man, at 6’4 and 235 pounds, with a menacing disposition and a fearful glare. His career spans 23 years and includes: 354 wins, 7 Cy Young Awards, and 1 MVP to name a few of his achievements. He has attained all this by taking his God given talent and working his tail off to be the best in the business. Now, he is mired in a controversy. He has been implicated in the Mitchell Report, a Federal Grand Jury on steroid abuse in major league baseball. The allegations have been made by his former trainer, Brian McNamee. McNamee has stated that he injected Clemens with steroids four times in the 1998 season when he pitched for Toronto. Furthermore, he states he injected him another 8 to 11 times in 2000 and 2001 with steroids and human growth hormones.

Clemens has been enraged by these accusations and has steadfastly denied all allegations. On “Sixty Minutes” Clemens looked very uncomfortable, and he looked uncomfortable because he was clearly lying. If body language, posture and tone of voice are an indication of guilt, then Clemens should be at the golf course teeing off with OJ.  He was agitated and defensive and his eyes darted back and forth. He continuously grimaced while licking his lips and sticking his tongue out which indicated that his mouth was dry. And then to solidify that, he pulls out some bottled water and takes a sip. Who in God’s name gets a parched throat on a ten minute interview? Mike Wallace asked the question we all want to know: Why would Brian McNamee make these accusations?
Clemens responded he did not know. Wallace mentioned that McNamee would be granted immunity if he told the commission the truth. McNamee was not only Clemens trainer but a close personal friend. He has no reason to lie. The only thing that makes sense is his telling the truth on his steroid involvement in major league baseball. By telling the truth he avoids a federal penitentiary.

Conversely, if he’s fabricating these charges like Clemens states, then he’s still lying to the Grand Jury and susceptible to jail time. He’s in a no win situation so honesty is the best policy. He implicated Andy Pettite as well, and Pettite came clean and admitted his role, but when Wallace asked Clemens about that, he stated that was a separate issue, and he had no knowledge of that. Right, you don’t know what’s going on with your close friend and teammate. Wallace then asked why Clemens didn’t speak to the investigators from the Mitchell Report and he stated he was instructed not to by his counsel. That’s makes sense – if you don’t say anything you can’t get convicted of perjury.

Roger Clemens is indignant because he has been one of the hardest working players in baseball, and he feels that these allegations undermine his hard work and ability. But that’s not true. I’m sure he did this, but by no means is he a steroid abuser. If that’s the case, he would look like the Incredible Hulk. No, this was an occasional thing that he did when he needed to rehabilitate himself. It was a sporadic quick fix to a physical ailment so this hard core competitor could go out and pitch. It wasn’t an attempt to get and edge on the game like the real steroid abusers out there. Roger Clemens won the Cy Young award fives times when he wasn’t on steroids. He made some indiscretions that have tainted his image somewhat, but it’s not as bad as he thinks, for he is still the greatest pitcher of all time, but it would be great if he would just come clean so we can admire his honesty like we’ve admired his pitching.