The Boss is back
And I ain't talking about Springsteen (although, come to think of it, he's back too... The new record is excellent, and I've got tickets for the Nov. 12 show at MCI Center. Any of y'all going to be there? Ah, but I digress....)
Yankee Stadium is all a-twitter this evening with talk about the latest George Steinbrenner thunderbolt. This is what he told the Bergen Record about Joe Torre in a story that ran this morning: "His job is on the line. . . . He's the highest-paid manager in baseball, so I don't think we'd take him back if we don't win this series."
Wow.
Now, before I get to Torre's response this afternoon, let me say this about Torre: He possesses an amazing ability to deal with the dark side of being manager of the New York Yankees -- the incessant and voluminous media attention, the sensationalism that characterizes that coverage, the clashing of egos that is a byproduct of having so many of the highest-paid and most accomplished players in the game in one clubhouse, and especially the pressure of working under Steinbrenner. The Boss may have toned down his act somewhat in recent years, but as this morning's diatribe shows, he certainly has not lost his fastball. I cannot think of another person in baseball, if not the entire world, who would be as well-equipped as Torre to deal with all these different forces.
So that brings us to today. Torre walks into his pregame news conference, and he knows what's coming. And he was funny and genuine and honest and human. And even for Torre, it was impressive.
Here is part of what he said: "For me to be sitting here and answering additional questions that I wouldn't have had to answer. . . . that's part of what you do here. Is it comfortable at times? No, it's not."
Asked if he was impervious to the constant speculation about his job by this point: "If I knew what impervious meant, I'd probably give you a direct answer. But you're not surprised by [anything that] comes down the pike. You don't always get used to it. but you understand it if you want to work here."
When it was pointed out that, apparently, his job would be safe if the Yankees won this series: "'Til the next series, right?"
I'll save the rest for the 35-cent edition, as Svrluga calls. But feel free to weigh in with your opinions about Torre. Does he deserve to be fired if his team, with by far the highest payroll in baseball, bows out in the first round for the third straight year? Or should the fact he has taked the team to the playoffs in each year of his tenure, with four World Series titles, count for something?
And of course, here are your lineups for Game 3:
For the Indians:
CF Grady Sizemore
2B Asdrubal Cabrera
DH Travis Hafner
C Victor Martinez
1B Ryan Garko
SS Jhonny Peralta
LF Kenny Lofton
RF Trot Nixon
3B Casey Blake
(RHP Jake Westbrook)
For the Yankees:
LF Johnny Damon
SS Derek Jeter
RF Bobby Abreu
3B Alex Rodriguez
C Jorge Posada (moved up in the order, with Matsui dropped)
1B Jason Giambi (first start in series)
DH Hideki Matsui
2B Robinson Cano
CF Melky Cabrera
(RHP Roger Clemens)
By Dave Sheinin |
October 7, 2007; 5:38 PM ET
Previous: Two more sweeps? |
Next: One series standing
Posted by: Ted Striker | October 7, 2007 6:52 PM
I think its insane that they would fire Torre. Like you said, who else could deal with that kind of pressure and what not? I thought that their comeback this year shouldve salvaged his job anyway, from that awful start to getting so close to winning the division.
Posted by: natsinthevalley | October 7, 2007 6:55 PM
Torre has the toughest ownership in baseball. No one in the game can handle Big Baby George better.
One hopes that Yankee fans and sponsors will mount a mighty hue and cry for keeping Torre, but of course in the New York media / business jungle anything can happen.
If Torre gets the axe, he can justly say "good riddance" and move on.
Posted by: Hendo | October 7, 2007 7:05 PM
Buck sez Girardi's in by December.
Posted by: NatsNut | October 7, 2007 7:13 PM
Well at the very least the Girardi/Mattingly debate heats up. Everyone knew this was coming when Girardi spurned every offer before and during this season.
Posted by: MKevin | October 7, 2007 7:29 PM
If this holds up, it means that the curse I put on the Yankees after Mussina signed with them holds up for one more year!
Posted by: MKevin | October 7, 2007 7:31 PM
Clemens leaves with an apparent injury with one out in the 2nd... on the hook for the L if things stay the same. Fitting end for one of my least favorite players of all time. Please retire. Don't let the door hit you in the a-- on the way out.
Posted by: MKevin | October 7, 2007 7:33 PM
I heard from someone at the Philly concert this weekend that it is amazing how quickly the Philly fans knew every lyric to Bruce's new songs. But a great concert of course, no acoustic stuff, just Bruce testifying. Will be looking forward to seeing you in November. Maybe Torre will have a chance to see the concert here.
Posted by: Ted Leavengood | October 7, 2007 7:35 PM
I would think feral cats.
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And can't help but wonder whether the Yankees will unleash a plague of rats in the late innings as retaliation for Cleveland's horrific "Night Of The Living Bugs" tactic.
Posted by: natsfan1a | October 7, 2007 8:01 PM
Agree.
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If Torre gets the axe, he can justly say "good riddance" and move on.
Posted by: natsfan1a | October 7, 2007 8:02 PM
how pissed is bud selig right now... 4 sweeps, 3 smaller market teams (outside the eastern time zone), no Chicago, philly or new york. baseball could have made billions on a Cubs/Phillies, Yanks/Sox scenario. stuck with arizona or colorado in the world series, bud selig is not a happy man this year.
(ps that is not to say i wont enjoy the games, great teams all around, but to THEM baseball is a business)
Posted by: love | October 7, 2007 8:05 PM
oh well
Posted by: natsfan1a | October 7, 2007 8:13 PM
Oh well to an unhappy Bud, that is
Posted by: natsfan1a | October 7, 2007 8:20 PM
Re: The Boss. Yes, going to the same concert on Nov. 12 at the phone booth. Should be great.
Re: Firing Torre Here's the problem Steinbrenner has: Torre's #6 will be added to retirement row in the outfield, along with the other Yankee greats.
Does the Boss (to avoid confusion with Bruce, perhaps we should call him Little Boss) really have the guts to fire someone who will be standing by all those Yankee greats? I doubt it.
When Torre leaves, it will be on his terms. And that's what galls Little Boss.
Posted by: Ashburn | October 7, 2007 11:04 PM
Here's to Mattingly (or possibly Girardi) as the manager next year. Torre has had a great run but he is not the same manager he was when he arrived in 1996. The small ball returned a bit this year, but he has become compalcent in past year to sit and wait for the longball. Yes, it's a trait of a lot of AL clubs, but that doesn't make it right.
On a side note, that example is indicative of how Torre has mismanaged the bullpen throughout his tenure. I understand relying on your key guys, but he burns them out and it comes backt to bite them.
Also, pitching Joba 2 innings tonight when Hughes was rolling and they were up by 5 doesn't make any sense. Why not keep Hughes out there since he can't go tomorrow anyway and save Joba. I understand that he's available for tomorrow, but why not see if Hughes can get it done before putting him in? Not to sound like Pinella saving Zambrano, but this is a totally different situation with the Yanks up by 5.
Posted by: Ross | October 8, 2007 12:14 AM
Fave para from the AL Notebook:
"The umpire was full of [expletive]," Steinbrenner said. "He won't umpire our games anymore." Froemming was working the left field line Sunday night for Game 3. . . .
Posted by: natsfan1a | October 8, 2007 9:08 AM
Oh please, please, please let Girardi manage the Yankees next year. He can't even hold his tongue with Jeff Loria; how's he going to react to King George? That potential powder keg has to be a journalist's dream. The NY Post won't have headline font sizes big enough.
That said, Joe Torre is easily one of the best managers in baseball. Let him retire to a smaller market and take a team that isn't in league with Satan to the WS.
Posted by: Dupont | October 8, 2007 9:27 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Wait. I thought this was the year that was the toughest and best managing job Torre has ever done. Or was that last year. Or the year before. Regardless, I'd like to see Billy Martin back in that dugout just one more time, even as a wax sculpture.
And can't help but wonder whether the Yankees will unleash a plague of rats in the late innings as retaliation for Cleveland's horrific "Night Of The Living Bugs" tactic.