It’s been a while since I have been able to update this blog. And for that, all I can do is apologize to those out there who have read our entries over the past year-plus.

Unfortunately, due to computer issues, I wasn’t able to update things here at HB and give my daily thoughts on what’s gone on in the sports world, etc.

However, after nearly seven weeks away from this space, I’m extremely happy to be back in business thanks to some nice upgrades which I think should benefit this site and everyone who makes it their business to read it.

I might be also looking into making some changes as well. If there are any interested sports fans who want to blog and become part of Hitting Back, please feel free to email me at kovy274hart@aol.com.

We need to cover as much as possible. In order for that goal to be reached, I am going to need some help from knowledgable fans out there so we can make this the kind of informative and fun place I always envisioned it could become.

There’s certainly plenty to cover on this second day of December six days away from my birthday.

Where to begin? We’ll start with baseball.

If you’re a baseball fan, there’s little doubt that the Red Sox are now the premier baseball organization. Thanks to another dominant postseason from ace Josh Beckett, Boston won their second World Series in three years. To think that they did it in eerily similar fashion as when they broke The Curse by coming back from 3-1 down against Cleveland to win the ALCS before easily sweeping the Series against the surprising Rockies.  

Now, Theo Epstein is in the bidding for Twins’ ace Johan Santana. But is it legit or just to make his main competitor the archrival Yankees panic and pay a heftier price by parting with pitching prospect Phil Hughes along with Melky Cabrera and a mid-level prospect to get the two-time AL Cy Young winner?

What do you think? The Sahhhxxx don’t seem willing to part with either future star center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury (a Twin need) or promising starter Clay Buckholz. Instead, they’re offering a package which includes an underachiever like Coco Crisp and recent cancer conquerer Jon Lester.

I’m in the minority on Santana. On paper, the southpaw is arguably the best starter in the game. However, he’ll turn 29 next March and probably has 3-4 peak years left. Is he really worth parting with a pitcher the Yanks once deemed untouchable and a young center fielder who really made strides last season in helping the Bronx Bombers turn around their season?

While it’s true the Yanks don’t boast a dominant ace, they’d be sacrificing a significant part of their future and downgrading in center plus parting with another prospect (Alan Horne???) to acquire a starter who’s never displayed October dominance. Also, let’s not forget that Santana isn’t a guy who can throw a ton of pitches. With the Twins, he’s been basically a 100-105 pitch pitcher. Think that’s a plus when the postseason comes around? Especially against disciplined hitting teams such as Boston who work the count and get up pitch counts.

We haven’t even examined how much it could cost to re-sign Santana long-term. Twenty million-per-year isn’t enough for Santana and neither is four years. Is it really smart to commit say seven years at an average of 22.5-23 million for any pitcher? It’s not like the lefty is 25 or 26 here.

I just feel that this deal is all wrong for the Yankees and a typical move. Why not keep Hughes and have a possible future rotation which features Chien-Ming Wang, Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy? With more promising starters in the system, the Bombers should be particularly deep in the future.

One other question. Why give up all this when you can acquire a much more affordable younger starter like Dan Haren who’s signed for the next three years at about $17 million total?

It seems to make a lot more dollars and sense to go for the 27 year-old ace in the bay. Maybe too much sense for new Yankee chief owner Hank Steinbrenner.

Meanwhile, over in Queens, Omar Minaya and Mets brass finally had enough of Lastings Milledge’ act surprisingly dealing the talented former 2003 first round pick to the Nationals for outfielder Ryan Church and catcher Brian Schneider.  

This deal came out of left field which is kind of sad that the 22 year-old prospect couldn’t net more in return. It could speak to just how minimal Milledge’s value became due to his childish antics on and off the field. Maybe if he just showed he cared a little and hustled out balls down the stretch, he’d still be in the Amazin’s plans.

Which is why we can’t comprehend the ridiculous reaction from Met fans. Do you really want this joker on your team? A guy who does possess talent but never was consistent and didn’t always play the game hard. It’s precisely why he became the odd man out while outfield prospects Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez are still around.

Church isn’t a bad player. He is capable of 20 homers and 75 RBI’s while the defensive minded Schneider is a better throwing backstop than ex-Met Paul LoDuca. He’s not much of a hitter but can deliver at times. Just ask Met fans about their team’s epic collapse.

Is it an awful deal comparable with Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano? No because Minaya addressed two needs to fill out the Mets’ lineup. There’s nothing wrong with valuing hustle, grit and defense.

There’s no question Milledge has a lot of ability and could comeback to haunt his former team in the future. Maybe the kid needed a change of scenery.

We’ll find out soon enough.