This is a smorgisborg of sorts (I know I spelled that wrong), but I have lots on my mind with the playoffs. I'll get to the first reaction I have regarding Joe Torre.
Torre Declines
I just read it--Torre is gone, turning down a one year contract with incentives to return as the Yankees manager. It amazes me how quickly it was settled and possibly how Torre seemed to have made up his mind. Was the deal an insult to Torre or did he not plan to come back anyway? There are a couple pros to this decision--one pro being at least an offer was made, which to the public and Yankees team shows that the Yankee decision makers were giving Joe one more chance. But maybe it was a bit half assed.
The other pro is that I believe the Yankees will have a new manager by Monday and I think it will be Don Mattingly. I don't know anyone that doesn't respect Don Mattingly for who he was as a player and I'm sure he'll have the same respect stepping in as a manager.
Whatever happens, it is happening quickly because the leadership issue for the Yankees can not be dragged out with the free agents looming.
Past Does Not Predict the Future
Tonight is game 5 of the ALCS and there are references already to the Red Sox being in this position before and coming back a la 2004 style. The media and everyone else for that matter seems to forget that was the first time that ever happened in baseball and chances are the Red Sox won't make the World Series. After game 1, the Indians adjusted their approach but in general the team has hit well with runners on as they did against the Yankees. This series proves once again that pitching makes it or breaks it for teams--the Red Sox pitching has a 6.75 ERA in the series and the bullpen has been blown up.
"Who Cares" Anyway?
Whoever writes Manny Ramirez's biography will have one hell of a time explaining who Manny is. Oh right, he's just being Manny. The last game Manny hit a HR, after Youkilous and Ortiz had just hit solo shots, and made himself a target for bean ball sometime in the future by celebrating more than he should have at that point in the game. He then went on to basically say, well if we lost the series who cares, we'll be back next year. Maybe this is his usual poor judgement but why does Manny care about that HR and not winning?
Will Boras make A-Rod a Fraud?
I want to do a separate post on A-Rod to assess whether the Yankees should sign him or not and I must do it soon since things are heating up. Boras met with his client the past few days to go over his options--or more specifically how much more money he could get for A-Rod. Trust me, Boras has some tricks up his sleeve. Not only will A-Rod get more money, Boras will likely add some new things to his contract that have never been seen before in baseball. Whomever signs him will give A-Rod a deal of at least 5 years and $30-$35 million/season. Some of that money will come from revenues generated by a regional sports channel or part-ownership of the team--just watch, this is what Boras' career has been about and this is his best client, so he will pull out all the stops.
Torre Declines
I just read it--Torre is gone, turning down a one year contract with incentives to return as the Yankees manager. It amazes me how quickly it was settled and possibly how Torre seemed to have made up his mind. Was the deal an insult to Torre or did he not plan to come back anyway? There are a couple pros to this decision--one pro being at least an offer was made, which to the public and Yankees team shows that the Yankee decision makers were giving Joe one more chance. But maybe it was a bit half assed.
The other pro is that I believe the Yankees will have a new manager by Monday and I think it will be Don Mattingly. I don't know anyone that doesn't respect Don Mattingly for who he was as a player and I'm sure he'll have the same respect stepping in as a manager.
Whatever happens, it is happening quickly because the leadership issue for the Yankees can not be dragged out with the free agents looming.
Past Does Not Predict the Future
Tonight is game 5 of the ALCS and there are references already to the Red Sox being in this position before and coming back a la 2004 style. The media and everyone else for that matter seems to forget that was the first time that ever happened in baseball and chances are the Red Sox won't make the World Series. After game 1, the Indians adjusted their approach but in general the team has hit well with runners on as they did against the Yankees. This series proves once again that pitching makes it or breaks it for teams--the Red Sox pitching has a 6.75 ERA in the series and the bullpen has been blown up.
"Who Cares" Anyway?
Whoever writes Manny Ramirez's biography will have one hell of a time explaining who Manny is. Oh right, he's just being Manny. The last game Manny hit a HR, after Youkilous and Ortiz had just hit solo shots, and made himself a target for bean ball sometime in the future by celebrating more than he should have at that point in the game. He then went on to basically say, well if we lost the series who cares, we'll be back next year. Maybe this is his usual poor judgement but why does Manny care about that HR and not winning?
Will Boras make A-Rod a Fraud?
I want to do a separate post on A-Rod to assess whether the Yankees should sign him or not and I must do it soon since things are heating up. Boras met with his client the past few days to go over his options--or more specifically how much more money he could get for A-Rod. Trust me, Boras has some tricks up his sleeve. Not only will A-Rod get more money, Boras will likely add some new things to his contract that have never been seen before in baseball. Whomever signs him will give A-Rod a deal of at least 5 years and $30-$35 million/season. Some of that money will come from revenues generated by a regional sports channel or part-ownership of the team--just watch, this is what Boras' career has been about and this is his best client, so he will pull out all the stops.
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