Our next interview is with Earl Mitchell (also known as anaconda) of Pinstripe Alley.

When you aren't doing something related to or depending on the Yankees, what are you up to?

I do social work such as case management and both individual and group therapy on an inpatient unit at a psychiatric hospital. It's an interesting and unique place to earn a living because I interact with a lot of people with severe mental illnesses. Some are psychotic and violent individuals who have little fear and will attack you without hesitation. No joke.

Outside of work, I'm a movie buff, gun collector, and a big sports fan (NY Yankees, Michigan football, and - gasp - Miami Dolphins). I also spend quite a bit of free time watching my six nieces and nephews, which includes eighteen month old triplets.

How long have you been blogging about the Yankees?

Since November of 2006.

How did you come to blog at Pinstripe Alley?

I was a frequent reader and part of the PA community for several months and the site owner (John Amato) just asked me one day if I would like to start writing for the blog. That was it.

What's the best and worst part of blogging?

The best part is simply writing and covering my favorite team while discussing Yankee-related news and issues with other hardcore Yankee fans. Personally, I like when smart and knowledgeable fans disagree with my opinion because I'm far from always right and they may offer an interesting point or idea that I hadn't thought about. It would be pretty boring if everyone agreed with each other.

The only downside is trying to keep the dialogue and thought-provoking content flowing during the offseason when there are a lot of slow news days. There are only so many times you can write about A-Rod and his contract or the latest trade rumors linking a specific player to the Yankees (i.e.: Johan Santana).

Besides your own, what are your favorite Yankees blogs?

I'm a daily reader of Pete Abraham, Tyler Kepner, Mark Feinsand and Sweeny Murti because of their access to the team. The guys at River Ave. Blues do a great job covering both the big club and the minor leagues. Chad Jennings offers excellent analysis on the Scranton club and minor leaguers in general who are closer to the show.

What are some of your earliest memories of the Yankees?

Losing. They had a few pretty good teams in the early to mid 1980s, but they were miserable in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I've lived in the Chicagoland area all my life, so I was the only kid in both junior high and high school wearing a Yankees cap everyday and my fellow classmates made fun of me all the time for it. Very ironic considering most of them were Cubs or ChiSox fans and neither franchise is exactly known for its winning tradition.

Did you grow up rooting for the Yanks? Was your Dad or someone in your family influential in making sure you pulled for the Yankees?

No influence from family members at all. My dad doesn't even like baseball. I became a Yankee fan in 1985 because of Don Mattingly. I was a first baseman in Little League and I loved everything about him. The team eventually just grew on me. I've always been a big fan of baseball history as well and there's
really no franchise in any sport with a history like the Yankees.

Who is your all-time - past or present - favorite Yankee and why?

I hope this doesn't break any rules, but I have two - Mattingly and Mickey Mantle.

Unfortunately, I never got to see The Mick play because I wasn't born until 1974. I've always been fascinated by him and what an unbelievable athlete he really was, especially very early in his career before the knee injury. The guy was simply a rock star playing baseball and a truly iconic figure during that era of American history, not just baseball history. It's a shame that he didn't take care of himself a little better because it's truly scary to imagine the numbers he would have compiled otherwise.

Do you admire anyone (doesn't need to be a player) in the Yankee organization?

This may surprise some people, but I'd say The Boss.

No doubt the man has had his faults throughout the years and his frequent firing/re-hiring of managers before Torre came along didn't solve many problems. However, nobody can question his desire to win and he always re-invested back into the team - unlike some of his peers (i.e.: Carl Pohlad). Spending boatloads of money didn't always work but he's been more successful than any other owner during his reign and has turned the Yankees into a $1.2 billion dollar empire.

How can you not admire that?

How often do you make it to the stadium to see a game?

Sadly, I haven't seen any games at the Stadium. Pathetic, huh? As I stated earlier, I've lived in the Chicagoland area all my life and I'm the lone Yankee fan among my friends and family. I usually catch the Yanks when they come to Chicago to play the White Sox. I'm going to try my best to get out there during the upcoming season.

Excluding our own guys, who is a free agent that you'd like to see the Yankees sign?

The current free agent class is so paper thin that I'm not really high on any specific names. They don't need Andruw Jones or Aaron Rowand. I would have liked to see the Yanks take a flier on Kerry Wood but he just re-upped with the Cubs. They really do need a lefty for the pen, but the names don't excite me very much. Octavio Dotel wouldn't be a bad signing in the bridge to Mo, but the conventional wisdom is that he still wants to close. What a terrible FA market this year.

What would you break the Hughes, Joba and Ian trio up for?

I'd include Kennedy in a deal for Santana, but it's highly unlikely Minnesota would go for that unless someone like Cano is included. No thanks. Right now, I wouldn't trade Hughes or Joba for anyone. I'd really like to see these kids grow and stay in the Yankee rotation for a long time.

Out of all current Yankee hitters, if you need someone to make something happen, who do you want?

Right now, Jeter is still the man when this team needs a spark or a big hit. However, Cano's stock will continue to rise because he's on the brink of superstardom.