Remember that nifty United Countries of Baseball map that debuted at last year’s All Star Game? Someone with more free time that I have decided to update the map to reflect the views of people on the Internet who criticized the original version of the nifty map. You can see the updated version right here or by clicking on the image above.

While the Yankees have plans to tear down Yankee Stadium soon after their new ballpark opens next year, Detroit is still trying to figure out what to do with Tiger Stadium. The historic stadium has sat unused since Comerica Park opened in 1999, and some Detroit fans want to keep the oldest parts of the stadium. If they can raise the money soon, the stadium will stay. Check out this nifty slideshow that goes with Joe LaPointe’s article.

Via the NYYFans forum comes word that the Yanks have sent a staffer from their psychological profiling department to meet (and evaluate) Vanderbilt RHP Brett Jacobson. Saber-Scouting’s first ever post was a scouting report of Jacobson, who is 1-3, 5.80 ERA with 39 hits and 16 walks allowed in 35.2 IP. He’s struck out 32 and picked up 4 saves while serving as coach Tim Corbin’s “moment of truth” reliever. Jacobson was the Commodores’ swingman/number three starter last year behind 2007 top overall pick David Price and current ace Mike Minor. The original article implies that the Yanks are looking at Jacobson in the first round, but that would be an overdraft. He should still be around when the Yanks pick in the second round, #75 overall.

The Yanks and their fans could avoid another torturous Kei Igawa start this week if the threat of rain becomes a reality in Detroit today. Ed Price has all the details, and I urge Yankee fans everywhere to hope for a rained-out game today. Save us from Igawa.

So that was a good one to win, eh? Darrell Rasner continues to impress; the offense continues to plate runs — although Robinson Cano should have taken a strike with the bases loaded and one out in the first before hacking away; Mariano continues to just get outs. He’s a machine. The only damper on the game was Wilson Betemit’s injury. The Former Attorney General will be back in the Bronx in no time.

Meanwhile, while the Yanks need to call up Alberto Gonzalez so they have a backup infielder, the Yanks once again find themselves in a situation where they could call up Ian Kennedy early and juggle the rotation to have him start against Tampa. They could dispatch Kei Igawa to AAA and call up Bernie Castro or Nick Green to backup the infield until A-Rod comes off the DL this week. I know the Yanks want Kennedy to get more work in at AAA, but they can’t really have Igawa make another start, can they?

The neglected bullpen pitcher Chris Britton should rejoin the team today and actually, you know, pitch in some games due to another injury for the Yanks. Jonathan Albaladejo has what the team is calling an elbow strain or sprain and will land on the DL. He’s due for an MRI in New York on Monday, but this could spell the end of the season for Albaladejoa.

If Kei Igawa never starts a game for the Yankees again, I will be a happy man.

Remember when people used to say Mo was finished when he did something like that?

Major League Baseball has knocked two games off of Kyle Farnsworth’s original three-game suspension for throwing behind Manny Ramirez’s back during an April 17 Yankees-Red Sox game. According to the AP, Farnsworth will serve his one-game suspension tonight.

While debating fist pumps is all the rage these days, a young man’s gotta eat also. In an ESPN The Magazine special, Joba Chamberlain shares his dad’s casserole recipe with the world. “I lived at home until I was 20, and dinners are some of my fondest memories. My dad would cook this casserole, I’d dish it out for everyone, and we’d all sit and watch the game,” Chamberlain said to the magazine. Now you too can eat like Joba.