Q: I read about the Yankees complaining about the bugs being a distraction during that game in Cleveland. I find this notion that the game should have been stopped to be absurd. It is like saying the umpires should stop the game because the sun is in the players’ eyes. What is your take on it?
— Andrew, Lynchburg, Va.

A: I believe both teams had players on the field during the ‘bug invasion’, so I found any complaints to be very weak. But speaking of the Yankees, they have much bigger problems than a bunch of bugs.

Namely, they have a very old and tired team that is in dramatic need of a makeover. For the last three years now, they haven’t been able to get out of the first round of the playoffs, yet they and their followers continue to hold onto the misguided notion that they are so close to winning it all again. And if they hang onto that idea for 2008, I think they may find themselves missing the playoffs entirely.

They need to get real — it’s good that manager Joe Torre has moved on, and if that means an aging player or two such as Jorge Posada or Mariano Rivera follow him out the door, then so be it. The mix just has to change. They need a new energy, a new direction, a younger and hungrier roster. The near-future of the Yankees is tied to Joba Chamberlain, Philip Hughes, Melky Cabrera, Robinson Cano, Ian Kennedy, etc., and it’s way past time to clear out the Jason Giambis and other relics of their former selves.

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If I’m in charge, my biggest concern would be trying to hang onto the best player in the game, Alex Rodriguez. If he decides to opt out of his current deal, try to sign him to a different one. And if he goes elsewhere, you come up with Plan B. Roger Clemens needs to retire, so the ridiculous amount of money they spent on him can be better used elsewhere. And they really need another front-of-the-rotation starting pitcher.

Q: Now that they have Dusty Baker, will the Cincinnati Reds make any offseason moves to become a contender? If so, what possibly will help them?
— Todd Rutan, Lafayette, Ind.

A: I’m sure they will, Todd. Owner Robert Castellini has said in the past that he will upgrade the payroll in an effort to win, and I don’t think Baker signed on to oversee a rebuilding project.

Fortunately for the Reds, they play in a division where it’s very possible to go from worst to first, as the Cubs did.

As for what needs to be done, Castellini already has said he wants to keep Adam Dunn, whom the club holds a $13 million option on for 2008. Dunn has his shortcomings, but is coming off his best season at 27, and you just can’t replace the kind of numbers he provides — at least 40 homers in four consecutive seasons, 100-plus RBI, runs and walks.

What could really lift the Reds would be the emergence of three top prospects — starting pitchers Homer Bailey and Johnny Cueto, and first baseman Joey Votto. They could be three impact pieces of the puzzle as soon as 2008. They also need Edwin Encarnacion and Josh Hamilton to continue to develop into star-level players. And you can be certain GM Wayne Krivsky will look to upgrade the pitching staff, particularly the bullpen.

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