Five and Fly: Torre in trouble?
From Yahoo!Sports
By Tim Brown
Saturday, Apr 28, 2007 2:18 pm EDT
Saturday, Apr 28, 2007 2:18 pm EDT
Those four championships in five years, those nine consecutive AL East titles, a streak that happens to be current, and the dignity and resolve that have made him the ideal manager for the New York Yankees since 1996, they might not be enough to save Joe Torre.
It would be a shame, and it would be wrong, but as one Yankees insider observed, "George might be itching for some carnage."
That would be Steinbrenner, who, despite reports to the contrary, is lucid enough to read the standings and come to his own conclusions. He still speaks every day to general manager Brian Cashman, who isn't entirely free of this, either.
Torre's contract expires at the end of this season, and nearly didn't make it to this one, then lost three starting pitchers and his left fielder before the season was two weeks old. Cashman's contract runs through 2008.
The Yankees are trolling for starters, but so are a lot of teams – the Detroit Tigers, for one – and already there's not enough to go around. Andy Pettitte apparently believes Rogers Clemens is going to pitch again, and the Yankees hope it's for them, and the Yankees also pine for Dontrelle Willis.
If Joe goes, here is the list Steinbrenner will be working from, and the entirely subjective odds of them being hired/promoted:
• Don Mattingly: 2-1. The presumed successor to Torre. Entire managerial experience: 1-1 in spring intrasquad games.
• Joe Girardi: 4-1. Viewed by Steinbrenner as a Don Zimmer disciple, which is not a good thing.
• Larry Bowa: 5-1. Boss likes his fire.
• Jim Fregosi: 8-1. Last managed in 2000 (Toronto); career record under .500.
• Tony Pena: 9-1. Bright guy, left Kansas City under hazy circumstances.
• Buck Showalter: 15-1. Potential A-Rod issues here, but A-Rod might not be around, right? Managed the Yankees from 1992-95.
• Bobby Valentine: 20-1. Makes sense, actually. New York is his kind of job.
• Dusty Baker: 30-1. Career .527 winning percentage, despite last two seasons in Chicago.
• Ken Macha: 50-1. Good man who resented front-office interference in Oakland.
FIVE …
• Speaking of Clemens, assuming he'd pitch somewhere this season and that his preferences were the Yankees and Houston Astros, what must he be thinking this morning? The Yankees have lost seven in a row and are in last place in the AL East. The Astros have lost seven in a row and are tied for last place in the NL Central. Does this make the Boston Red Sox the new favorites?
• And what about Sandy Koufax, who must now choose between the Israel Baseball League and the Yankees?
• It's been pretty well proven that walking Barry Bonds does not mean keeping the San Francisco Giants from scoring runs. If I'm an opposing manager, though, I'd have to see it for myself. The Arizona Diamondbacks walked Bonds three times and hit him with a pitch Friday night, and Ray Durham made the last out in all four innings.
• The career saves list isn't a very safe place these days. Trevor Hoffman (1) has blown consecutive saves for the first time in 10 years. Mariano Rivera (4) has an ERA over 12. The New York Mets bailed Billy Wagner (10) out of a loss on Tuesday, though he's been fine otherwise. Jose Mesa (13) is on the Detroit Tigers' disabled list. Only Roberto Hernandez (11) is untouched, so far.
• So far, steroids dealer Kirk Radomski is being described by those who shared time with him in the New York Mets' clubhouse as a largely invisible employee hardly anyone knew. Tick … tick … tick …
… AND FLY
I hear Tony La Russa will wager $1 million that Curt Schilling's bloody sock could write a better baseball column for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Any takers?
It would be a shame, and it would be wrong, but as one Yankees insider observed, "George might be itching for some carnage."
That would be Steinbrenner, who, despite reports to the contrary, is lucid enough to read the standings and come to his own conclusions. He still speaks every day to general manager Brian Cashman, who isn't entirely free of this, either.
Torre's contract expires at the end of this season, and nearly didn't make it to this one, then lost three starting pitchers and his left fielder before the season was two weeks old. Cashman's contract runs through 2008.
The Yankees are trolling for starters, but so are a lot of teams – the Detroit Tigers, for one – and already there's not enough to go around. Andy Pettitte apparently believes Rogers Clemens is going to pitch again, and the Yankees hope it's for them, and the Yankees also pine for Dontrelle Willis.
If Joe goes, here is the list Steinbrenner will be working from, and the entirely subjective odds of them being hired/promoted:
• Don Mattingly: 2-1. The presumed successor to Torre. Entire managerial experience: 1-1 in spring intrasquad games.
• Joe Girardi: 4-1. Viewed by Steinbrenner as a Don Zimmer disciple, which is not a good thing.
• Larry Bowa: 5-1. Boss likes his fire.
• Jim Fregosi: 8-1. Last managed in 2000 (Toronto); career record under .500.
• Tony Pena: 9-1. Bright guy, left Kansas City under hazy circumstances.
• Buck Showalter: 15-1. Potential A-Rod issues here, but A-Rod might not be around, right? Managed the Yankees from 1992-95.
• Bobby Valentine: 20-1. Makes sense, actually. New York is his kind of job.
• Dusty Baker: 30-1. Career .527 winning percentage, despite last two seasons in Chicago.
• Ken Macha: 50-1. Good man who resented front-office interference in Oakland.
FIVE …
• Speaking of Clemens, assuming he'd pitch somewhere this season and that his preferences were the Yankees and Houston Astros, what must he be thinking this morning? The Yankees have lost seven in a row and are in last place in the AL East. The Astros have lost seven in a row and are tied for last place in the NL Central. Does this make the Boston Red Sox the new favorites?
• And what about Sandy Koufax, who must now choose between the Israel Baseball League and the Yankees?
• It's been pretty well proven that walking Barry Bonds does not mean keeping the San Francisco Giants from scoring runs. If I'm an opposing manager, though, I'd have to see it for myself. The Arizona Diamondbacks walked Bonds three times and hit him with a pitch Friday night, and Ray Durham made the last out in all four innings.
• The career saves list isn't a very safe place these days. Trevor Hoffman (1) has blown consecutive saves for the first time in 10 years. Mariano Rivera (4) has an ERA over 12. The New York Mets bailed Billy Wagner (10) out of a loss on Tuesday, though he's been fine otherwise. Jose Mesa (13) is on the Detroit Tigers' disabled list. Only Roberto Hernandez (11) is untouched, so far.
• So far, steroids dealer Kirk Radomski is being described by those who shared time with him in the New York Mets' clubhouse as a largely invisible employee hardly anyone knew. Tick … tick … tick …
… AND FLY
I hear Tony La Russa will wager $1 million that Curt Schilling's bloody sock could write a better baseball column for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Any takers?
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