Crazy Busy Postseason

I have not posted in the past couple of days because I am trying to digest all the stuff that is flying around MLB. This has got to be one of the craziest post-seasons/free agency frenzy that has been seen... ever.

Girardi has been crowned, and all the hoopla that goes with it was shown all afternoon on the YES channel that day. Yes, I think that he will do a good job managing... I don't know about great. There are certain issues that we will have to see how they play out, such as management of the media and commanding the respect of the team the same way Torre did. I think Mattingly would have been the stronger choice in terms of player's respect. Anyway, it's done and done.

Also, now we know Abreu has been picked up on his option, and that's a good thing. He was inconsistent in the beginning of the '07 season, but he got his thing going strong after June. And when he's good, he's great.

So now we sit and wait on Mo, Jorgie and Andy and see whether what's left of the Dynasty Team will go. I''m not even going there with Rodriguez. That's a whole other nasty can of worms.

Are We Playing Chess... or Monopoly?

Moves have been made... Girardi is officially the Yankees Manager, with a 7.5 Million dollar contract (with "bonuses" not "incentives" for post-season performance), and Joe Torre is rumored (heavily) to be going to the Dodgers, probably taking Mattingly with him. A-Rod is a free agent looking for the even bigger bucks ... and how convenient is this: Scott Boras lives like 40 minutes away from Dodgers stadium. And we all know how much Alex's wife likes the warm weather.

The situation is becoming increasingly interesting, since Pettite has been reported to be still very torn up about not having Joe around, and both Posada and Mariano have not made final decisions (although I think Mariano is close to staying on... word is that $40MM has been offered to him and he's thrown the ball back to their court with demands of his own).

It would not be surprising to see A-Rod with the Dodgers... their pockets are deep enough. And he likes how Joe works... that's a given. The Dodgers definitely would love to have that 152 hits and 54 home runs on their side.

In the meantime, Heckle and Jeckle... a.k.a those wacky Steinbrenner brothers, have to spend muchos more money to keep those core veterans around.

As Bugs Bunny would say... "what a couple of maroons"!

Joe Says Goodbye... for now.

I really had a hard time bringing myself to post this entry... the words are hard to come by. Just watching Joe go to the podium for his last press conference as Yankee manager was a little surreal. But there he was, calm and steady as always. The room was packed.

He confirmed that the deal was what it was, and that it was non-negotiable on their side. He alluded that he knew what was on the table, and maybe there would be some wiggle room. He couldn't accept the deal, and their so-called incentives, and he was right for rejecting it. As he said, "I've been here for twelve years, and I didn't think motivation was needed". His voice gave way a couple of times, especially when he spoke of his players and his coaches... and the fans.

However, he admitted that he felt that the deal was "an insult". For Joe to say this to the public... well it's a big deal for him to say. He spoke well of the boss, and he spoke well of Cashman ... well, he said Cashman stuck up for him last year. And that spoke volumes also.

I didn't want him to get off that podium. I wanted him to stay, at least until first season of the new stadium opening. I want him back next year.

If this organization has one working brain cell left, they will go to him and apologize for their short-sightedness (and stupidity) and give him a deal he truly deserves.

Because this is what's going to happen: they'll get another manager... maybe even a good manager. But he won't be experienced enough or ready to deal with the magnitude of this team, it's bone-headed organization and the media hell he will face every single day. And it won't matter what they do or how they play all year...162 games ultimately don't matter to them, or how packed the stadium is without exception. Because all they care about is post-season. So, this is what I predict (and I'm sure I'm not alone in this) ... when this team and it's coaching staff fall apart, they will go to Joe on their knees... their knees I tell you... and they better be wearing really good knee-pads.

A Sad, Sad Night

Joe Torre did not accept the offer that the Yankees put on the table today. It was a crazy moment, because first I hear on Mike and the Mad Dog that he did accept (which is what one newspaper reported), then literally two minutes later, it was disclosed that Joe refused. It was a bad deal... and there's speculation that it was put together that way on purpose... in other words, that Joe was pushed out. The deal was $5 Million for one year (a 331/2 percent pay cut), and "incentives": $1 Million if he made the playoffs, another mil if he got the ACLS championship, and then another million if he got to the World Series. At first, it seems like a good deal... but it's not. It's a slap in the face. Why would someone of Joe Torre's legacy and caliber need to be enticed with incentive money... as to say that he's not doing 110 percent to win all along? It's ludricrous.

My first reaction when I heard the news, besides disbelief, was anger... and I couldn't pinpoint it to who. To the Yankees, to that buffoon Steinbrenner, Cashman, Joe himself... I was devastated. Like many fans are tonight, of course.

There is a tiny little shred of hope (maybe it's denial) that maybe they will put together a better deal for Joe, and lure him back. And a very big and public apology. And a promise that Steinbrenner will not open his big fat mouth again. Which is a physical impossibility.

Thing is, maybe Joe is really done with this stupid management. Maybe he's tired of placating this jerk. I know he loves this team, and he loves to manage it. But really, at what price.

Petition for Torre

Someone just brought this to my attention.

Here's a link to a petition to help Joe keep his job: http://www.youchoose.net/referral/denise_e_3/campaign/keep_joe_torre

Yay Big Papi ..Yay!

Now... I loves me my Yankees... and I am fiercely opposed to the Red Sox as much as any other red-blooded Yankee fan. But I have to say that what David Ortiz said yesterday about Joe Torre being a great manager, and how the team would feel it somehow next year if he left, is just pure class. This guy is a big ol' classy teddy bear.

And to top it off, Francona keeps trying to call Joe, finally gets through, and gives him his support.

Now, I ask you... to see compassion and support from the arch nemesis... now, doesn't that give you hope in a sometimes hopeless world?

Suzyn Walden

I think folks are being too hard on Suzyn because of her crying while broadcasting from the clubhouse. I don't think she was crying because the Yankees lost... she's too professional for that. I think that it sincerely got to her that Joe could be leaving, and that this ballclub could fall apart because of it.

I heard that other coaches were crying too. People forget that when you work with and for people for many years, it's inevitable that you are going to form close ties. I for one think Suzyn is a very gutsy person, and a great broadcaster. I like her more than Sterling.

There I said it.