Yankee Baseball - 2008?
I can honestly say that this will be the first year in about 15 years that I have absolutely zero expectations for the Yankees. And, that is a good thing. It is exciting to think that some of the younger players on this team will have an opportunity to shape the future of this team with a personality that is less Microsoft and more Apple. The past 10 years were certainly successful. But there was a palpable joylessness that came along with winning over that period. And to make matters worse, the expectations for this team only became greater and greater with each missed opportunity.
In my mind, I secretly hoped for a first-round loss last year so that the Yankees could finally rid themselves of Torre and his expected and lazy approach to managing the team. As his waistband expanded and his pants got pulled higher and higher (they were just slightly below his nipples by the end), you got the feeling that he would be better served mailing in his guidance from a table at Rao's. I began to think deeply about what motivated this 67 year-old man with a young wife and uncomfortably young daughter. The answer became very clear when he turned down a one-year contract. Money and Ego. Torre become a caricature of sorts. An illustration of laziness, ego and greed. He was "offended" by the Yankees one-year offer. An offer that would still make him the highest paid manager in baseball...by a LOT. He had what was widely described as a sub-par year in 2008. Unfortunately, it just happened to fall during the last year of his contract. A year in which he was paid TWICE the amount of the next highest paid manager. Seriously, what was Torre expecting after this crappy performance? A RAISE?!!!!!
Imagine, if you will indulge me for a minute, if an actual ballplayer was paid TWICE what the next highest player was paid. For argument sake, let's say this imaginary player made $50 million per year to A-Rod's $25 million. Let's further imagine that this is the highest-paid player's contract year. This player has been with the same team for 10 years and is seemingly losing enthusiasm for the sport. During the player's contract season he starts off a bit slow but has a decent second half and helps his team squeak into the playoffs. In the first round of the playoffs, he basically shits the bed. His team gets embarrassed and he, as the leader of the team, had no answers whatsoever. As the stated leader of this team and highest-paid player in the universe, management demands more success from this player before offering him a long-term deal. So they offer him a one-year contract for $38 Million. They build in motivational incentives that could get his salary back to $50 Million. Could this imaginary player possibly be "offended" by that offer? Could any reasonable person be insulted by that offer? The answer is simple...no. Well, Torre was insulted by this same offer. So much so, that he threatened never to return to Yankee Stadium again...NOT EVEN IF THEY WERE TO HONOR HIM BY RETIRING HIS NUMBER. (Somebody please explain to me why the Yankees would ever think of retiring #6, unless you were talking about Roy White). Anyway, I am thankfully done with Torre. Good riddance and good luck in L.A. If nothing else, the restauarant business in SMELL- LAY should thrive with Torre and his entourage re-living each post-game loss with a couple bottles of Chianta and a meal at Dolce or Bella Cucina.
So, I have no idea what to expect from either the young pitching staff (Chamberlain, Kennedy, Wang and Hughes) or the old pitching staff (Pettitte, Mussina and Rivera) that will make up the Yankees this year. They will ultimately determine the success or failure of the team. But, to tell you the truth, I am just looking forward to watching the games. For the first time in a decade, I could give a rat's ass if they win the World Series. I just want to see a hungry competitive team. And when I say hungry, I am not talking about Torre hungry. That will only make you a fan favorite at the local Applebees.
In my mind, I secretly hoped for a first-round loss last year so that the Yankees could finally rid themselves of Torre and his expected and lazy approach to managing the team. As his waistband expanded and his pants got pulled higher and higher (they were just slightly below his nipples by the end), you got the feeling that he would be better served mailing in his guidance from a table at Rao's. I began to think deeply about what motivated this 67 year-old man with a young wife and uncomfortably young daughter. The answer became very clear when he turned down a one-year contract. Money and Ego. Torre become a caricature of sorts. An illustration of laziness, ego and greed. He was "offended" by the Yankees one-year offer. An offer that would still make him the highest paid manager in baseball...by a LOT. He had what was widely described as a sub-par year in 2008. Unfortunately, it just happened to fall during the last year of his contract. A year in which he was paid TWICE the amount of the next highest paid manager. Seriously, what was Torre expecting after this crappy performance? A RAISE?!!!!!
Imagine, if you will indulge me for a minute, if an actual ballplayer was paid TWICE what the next highest player was paid. For argument sake, let's say this imaginary player made $50 million per year to A-Rod's $25 million. Let's further imagine that this is the highest-paid player's contract year. This player has been with the same team for 10 years and is seemingly losing enthusiasm for the sport. During the player's contract season he starts off a bit slow but has a decent second half and helps his team squeak into the playoffs. In the first round of the playoffs, he basically shits the bed. His team gets embarrassed and he, as the leader of the team, had no answers whatsoever. As the stated leader of this team and highest-paid player in the universe, management demands more success from this player before offering him a long-term deal. So they offer him a one-year contract for $38 Million. They build in motivational incentives that could get his salary back to $50 Million. Could this imaginary player possibly be "offended" by that offer? Could any reasonable person be insulted by that offer? The answer is simple...no. Well, Torre was insulted by this same offer. So much so, that he threatened never to return to Yankee Stadium again...NOT EVEN IF THEY WERE TO HONOR HIM BY RETIRING HIS NUMBER. (Somebody please explain to me why the Yankees would ever think of retiring #6, unless you were talking about Roy White). Anyway, I am thankfully done with Torre. Good riddance and good luck in L.A. If nothing else, the restauarant business in SMELL- LAY should thrive with Torre and his entourage re-living each post-game loss with a couple bottles of Chianta and a meal at Dolce or Bella Cucina.
So, I have no idea what to expect from either the young pitching staff (Chamberlain, Kennedy, Wang and Hughes) or the old pitching staff (Pettitte, Mussina and Rivera) that will make up the Yankees this year. They will ultimately determine the success or failure of the team. But, to tell you the truth, I am just looking forward to watching the games. For the first time in a decade, I could give a rat's ass if they win the World Series. I just want to see a hungry competitive team. And when I say hungry, I am not talking about Torre hungry. That will only make you a fan favorite at the local Applebees.
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