I would hardly call All-Stars at every position “chicken shit”. It is the manager’s job to get the most out of the talent he has, and Torre just hasn’t done that lately. Also, he’s too much of a nice guy. The Yankees need a hard ass like Pinella to step in who won’t coddle high paid pussies like A-Rod. There were times that he should have been benched, and Torre just wouldn’t do that- Pinella would. Bernie Williams should have been dumped two years ago, but Torre wouldn’t do that to him. But I also agree that it isn’t Torre’s fault totally that the GM goes out and gets aging former superstars. They need to get good young players, not good old players.
Not the GM’s fault either. The Yankees have suffered over the last 7 years until this year with a 5 headed monster on personal decisions. Getting Jason Giambi & Johnson were Steinbrenner demands. There are many examples like this. Cashman finally got control of the team this year and is try to protect and rebuild the farm system. We will see if his one year in control will be retained. He is a good GM, that has been hamstrung for years.
Jim
Can anyone explain this to me? What is with the hatred of A-Rod?
Here’s a guy who is marvelously talented, seems like a decent enough fellow, even if he puts his foot in is mouth occasionally. Some stupid owner decided to throw a quarter of a billion dollars his way, now we’re holding A-Rod up to that as if anyone could justify that money. Who among us would decline to sign a guaranteed contract that big? For Og’s sake, the guy was willing to take a pay cut to join the Red Sox, the Commish tanked the deal, and Sox fans boo him whenever he takes the field. 
He even agreed to change positions, from a place where he was earning gold glove after gold glove, so that the yankees trade could happen, and we boo him when he makes an error at his new position. Classy.
I can understand being pissed off that he’s not performing the way he’s capable, but taking glee in his failures seems out of place.
Oops, on the Red Sox thing, maybe it was the Union that tanked the deal, not the Commish…
All valid points, but I believe Trunk is a Yankee Hater. He does not need to be rational in his hatred.
It is about the money.
It’s barely about A-Rod personally. What’s pleasing is seeing that Steinbrenner and the GM figured they could address a shortcoming by getting the most expensive player in history and then seeing that strategy fail miserably.
The more scorn that is heaped upon his failure to rescue the Yanks, the better for the game in the long run.
Then, there’s always the A-Rod swipe play against the Red Sox.
The “they don’t like me because I"m beautiful” quote.
The fact that he’s really just a shell of a boring human being.
Really, it’s just glee that the Yanks and the money, and the foremost symbol of that money end up looking like chumps. You might not be able to get what it feels like to root for a team that has ZERO chance of competing every single year because of the existence of the yanks. I mean ZERO chance. To know that anyone that shines in the league will wind up in your division, on a team that you’ll play 20 times per year.
I don’t think Yankees fans get what it means when we hear that every player in the line-up has been on an all star team in their career. We wonder how it could be fun. . .that a team isn’t put together “the right way”, but instead, just constructed of every single player who wanted to take Steinbrenner’s money.
There is simply no indignity that I wouldn’t wish against them. I pretty much consider the collapse of the Yankees in 04 against the Red Sox the greatest sports story in my life.
And, A-Rod, because of the money, encapsulates a lot of that.
The problem with A-Rod is that stuff gets into his head, and he suffers. He doesn’t have the natural ability to “shrug it off”, which is basically required in New York. Yankee fans have always hated him due to the Jeter-Nomar-Rodriguez rivalry, and never really give him a chance. They spent years arguing why Jeter was the best shortstop, and didn’t let it go once A-Rod got here. It’s not as if they were winning in the years prior to his arrival. Let’s not forget the D-Back series, the Angels series and the Marlins debacle. And in reality, A-Rod was the ultimate team player. I’m a Yankee fan and love Jeter, but if anyone should’ve been moved away from shortstop, it should have been Jeter. Rodriguez was a better defensive shortstop, and possibly the best and most complete shortstop in the history of baseball. Torre didn’t have the balls to make that decision, just as he didn’t have the balls to sit Sheffield this series. Torre spends too much brain power in making everyone happy. We need a shaker upper.
I, for one, don’t understand why Red Sox fans hate A-Rod so much. After all, he was willing to take a pay cut to go to Boston. How many of today’s players would be willing to take an actual pay cut (not deferred comp, but a real cut in pay)? The player’s union didn’t allow it.
Just re-reading a fine Mod post. I think it was made because bitterness wouldn’t be constructive or in keeping with the vast majority of the well-reasoned, enlightened and humble opinions that have been expressed so far in this thread…
but perhaps thats just my opinion. 
I just love that ESPN has already written Torre’s baseball obituary when they haven’t even fired him yet.
If they hire Sweet Lou, A-Rod stays. If it’s Showalter, A-Rod’s on the next bus out of town.
I doubt it will be Buck. I would guess the list would start with Pinella then go through Joe Girardi and Mazilli.
I am trying to remember, doesn’t George have to wait until after the World Series to announce the firing and hiring if it happens?
I am also wondering is Lou Pinella as a Cuban-American counts towards the leagues minority hiring interview policy, or will George get a fine for hiring him without interviewing anyone else?
Jim
NOT heading for St. Louis, hopefully.
I am not picking on you Stratocaster, but it is baseball, and sometimes in a short series the best team doesn’t win and it is nobody’s fault. It happens all the time, as for example when the Royals beat up the Tigers the last weekend of the season.
The NY Post is reporting that Joe Torre will stay. Sports is the only thing I might trust The Post to get right. According to The Post, Torre will be informed before his end-of-season speech.
Let’s see how much room on the leash Cashman has this year. Their outfield is set for another 3-5 years. They can even make Hideki Matsui a first baseman - this works as I’d like to see Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield wearing new uniforms next year. There’s also no reason to bring back Randy Johnson, but that means that the Yankees will need to exercise Mike Mussina’s option. They should call Rivera and Proctor aside, then exectue the rest of the bullpen. Jared Wright and Cory Lidle can be their middle relief; Carl Pavano can keep them company if he ever pitches again. Sadly, that leaves 3 slots in the starting staff. If Steinbrenner has a say, they’ll sadly chase old pitching…again. They should be loading up on young pitchers, and they should also be looking for their next closer and catcher. As disgusted as I was with A-Rod’s collapse in the clutch all season long, I can’t see getting rid of him. In 2005, he showed he can play 3rd base plus hit like expected, though his bat was silent again when the team needed a lift.
Lidle is a free Agent. How do you propose to move Johnson and Giambi? Bruney is pretty good, do not shoot him please. 
Wright as long relief sounds good to me unless we can trade him. Moose is too expensive, the option is either $17 or $19 million. Alex could bring us the young pitching we desperately need. He is our best trading chip. Look at either the Angels or White Sox and maybe the Dodgers.
Jim
Bruney might pan out, but I see him as another Chacon / Small. Moose is very expensive, but there isn’t too much reliable starting pitching out there. Mussina should be the veteran starter on the Yankees, but he doesn’t seem much of a leader. I don’t think we can deal A-Rod, between his contract and his no-trade clause.
As for moving Johnson and Giambi, send them to the bullpen. 
Their just dead weight. I’d love to see both of them on the Spring Training cut list - most expensive players in the minor leagues.
:smack:
Give Bruney a chance, the big difference is that he is only 25 and throws very hard. He might be a true asset. If you are willing to pay Moose $17M, let him walk instead and go after Zito hard and outbid the Mets and RedSox.
Alex can be dealt, there are teams very interested. The no-trade is tough, but I think it just limits the teams we can try to deal with. This we will just have to watch unfold. Johnson will just be a grossly overpaid 4 guy next year.
I wonder is we could package Jason with a boat load of cash and move him?
I doubt it, but I hope Cashman tries hard. Sheffield is a no brainer. He is gone.
As I do not believe we can move Jason, I would like to see Cashman try an move either Godzilla or Abreu to make a permanent roster spot for Melky. They both should have some good trade value as long as we send some cash.
Jim
I understand your thinking with Mussina, but I’d rather not get into a bidding war for another player and end up with too long a contract. Anchor your staff around Wang and Mussina, and find young pitching by the boatload. Stuff the farm system while waiting out Mussina. While the Yankees never “write off” a year, I don’t think taking a year to rebuild the pitching staff from within is a bad thing. Experienced castoffs aren’t working.
You talked me into giving Bruney another chance, but if he does turn into a Chacon, you’re going to the bullpen with him!
I would love that assignment, even if it was just to be the stat assistant to the bullpen coach and radar gun handler and spit bucket guy.
Barry William Zito was born: 05/13/1978. I would be willing to go up to 4 years at $60 million total rather than bring Moose back. I think he might be the one free agent worth pursuing. If the bidding goes higher, then at least we helped the Mets or Red Sox overpay.
Try hard to trade one of the corners for a young pitcher. Whether it is Erwin Santana of the Angels, a White Sox or Dontrell Willis*. Get someone below the age of 25 and make it happen. No off season move could prove more important.
Jim
- I know, the last is a pipe dream, just an example.
4 years / $60 mm won’t do it for Zito. I’m guessing his agent will ask for 10 and settle for 7. $15 - $17 mm a year sounds right. I agree that youth is the way to go, and not just for pitching.