Even though the Yankees season is over, I'm still watching the playoffs which is why I'm in on a Saturday night watching the Red Sox, Indians game. This is a quick post, but I wanted to say that I'm rooting for the Indians and Rockies to go to the World Series. Here's why...
I'll start with the easier argument the Rockies. This is one of those teams who defy that argument that the top teams based on the regular season are more likely to succeed in the playoffs. I think the Rockies in part got lucky but they also earned it. What I love about the Rockies being in this is that this is only their second time, have been a unsuccessful expansion team for much of its history, and are the underdog. Forget about winning 18 in the last 19 games, no one expected them to be here or even have a record over .500 during the season.
The harder argument to make is the Indians due to the context of this blog. Let me start by saying, at the beginning of the season I picked the Indians to win the World Series. That was not too far fetched as many experts (I'm not in that field) gave the Indians a chance. This has nothing to do with the Red Sox or being a Yankee fan. I have loved watching Cleveland as a franchise rebuild itself and making it clear to its fans, "hey, we were great in the 1990s, but the best way for us to get back into winning a World Series is to cut fat and start over again." And that's what they've done in the last seven years or so--building through the farm system without signing the big free agents. I've loved how they for years said CC Sabathia was going to be the staff ace and he's proved he is more and more every year. And I love quite a few of their players as a fan of baseball--Sizemore, Carmona, Hafner, and Martinez. We got a taste of them almost making it to the playoffs in 2005 and last year was a lessons learned kinda season, but this year they have been great fun to watch.
So Indians v Rockies is my updated prediction and the Indians will win it in six games.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Now What?
I'm still recovering from the Yankees' loss on Monday, but it wasn't a huge shock to me that they'd lost. Of course several Red Sox fans, including a family member of mine, relished in the moment that they'd lost--either because if they'd won the Red Sox would have faced the Yankees in the ALCS and they fear that or it's just because the Yankees' season is over--it's usually a combination of both I think.
The past three post seasons have been hard to swallow (2004 is in its own category), mainly because the Yankees offense looks terrible in the playoffs. Guys who were red hot going in stumble and they can't hit in the clutch or with runners on. I'll look up the stats eventually, but I'm pretty sure this has been the case from observation. The pitching too hasn't been as solid either. You can never predict how a pitcher will do, but there haven't been many "pitching gems" for Yankees pitchers the last three years in the playoffs.
Anyhow, as most people know Joe Torre is probably gone. I read what I wrote the other day and was bothered that I wrote Joe would welcome leaving. I had written that in the context of Steinbrenner's ways, knowing that Joe knew he'd have to welcome leaving because he failed again, he knew he was out. But after hearing Joe Torre speak after the game, he certainly doesn't welcome leaving on the personal level and love he has for his players and game.
And therein lies the problem for the Yankees now, because it's not only a Joe's love for his players, it's their's for him. Already there is speculation that a few players, key ones over the years, could leave if Joe is let go. Rivera has already spoken out about this. The list also includes Posada, A-Rod, Pettitte, and possibly others who are free agents this offseason. There could even be a long-term affect from this as other players may leave next year based on this one decision. At the core of this issue is the matter of loyalty and its obvious whose side the players are on.
All the while, the Yankees are rebuilding, but this could throw a wrentch in that machine as well. For the past decade or so the Yankees have become an organization players are drawn to because they have a good shot at winning a championship. With the loss of Torre and others, they may be viewed both internally and externally as the organization that doesn't want to keep the people in place that give them that shot every year.
Unfortnately, I believe Torre is gone unless there's some sort of "Rudy" moment where players come in and put their jerseys on Steinbrenner's desk. Even if that happens I also believe a couple of those jersey may stay on his desk and never be worn again.
The past three post seasons have been hard to swallow (2004 is in its own category), mainly because the Yankees offense looks terrible in the playoffs. Guys who were red hot going in stumble and they can't hit in the clutch or with runners on. I'll look up the stats eventually, but I'm pretty sure this has been the case from observation. The pitching too hasn't been as solid either. You can never predict how a pitcher will do, but there haven't been many "pitching gems" for Yankees pitchers the last three years in the playoffs.
Anyhow, as most people know Joe Torre is probably gone. I read what I wrote the other day and was bothered that I wrote Joe would welcome leaving. I had written that in the context of Steinbrenner's ways, knowing that Joe knew he'd have to welcome leaving because he failed again, he knew he was out. But after hearing Joe Torre speak after the game, he certainly doesn't welcome leaving on the personal level and love he has for his players and game.
And therein lies the problem for the Yankees now, because it's not only a Joe's love for his players, it's their's for him. Already there is speculation that a few players, key ones over the years, could leave if Joe is let go. Rivera has already spoken out about this. The list also includes Posada, A-Rod, Pettitte, and possibly others who are free agents this offseason. There could even be a long-term affect from this as other players may leave next year based on this one decision. At the core of this issue is the matter of loyalty and its obvious whose side the players are on.
All the while, the Yankees are rebuilding, but this could throw a wrentch in that machine as well. For the past decade or so the Yankees have become an organization players are drawn to because they have a good shot at winning a championship. With the loss of Torre and others, they may be viewed both internally and externally as the organization that doesn't want to keep the people in place that give them that shot every year.
Unfortnately, I believe Torre is gone unless there's some sort of "Rudy" moment where players come in and put their jerseys on Steinbrenner's desk. Even if that happens I also believe a couple of those jersey may stay on his desk and never be worn again.
Monday, October 8, 2007
End of An Era?
As I'm writing this the Yankees are down 6-1 in the bottom of the 4th. It ain't over yet, but the chances of winning the game keep getting lower. Obviously if you haven't heard, Joe Torre will likely be let go as the Yankees manager if they lose the ALDS and that could be tonight.
Joe Torre has been a great manager for the New York Yankees since 1996. Certainly he can attribute his entire managerial success to New York after stops with the Mets, Cardinals, and Braves. It's been more than the four World Series wins and having been spoiled with watching the Yankees 12 straight years in a row in the playoffs. First and foremost, he was the man who lead these Yankee teams on the ball field to successful seasons when just a few years before 1996 the Yankees were the laughing stock in baseball (and yes I know Buck Schowalter, Bob Watson and others had a lot to do with the rebuilding prior to that). He did this without much controversy, always staying cool and calm on the bench and acting much like a father figure amongst the players.
As a Yankee fan this team has gone from more of a smallball approach to a team filled with superstars, power hitters, and well paid players. In saying that, he certainly managed egos, if there were any--and I would think there were many. The egos most likely came in after 2001 when the Yankees started signing larger and larger contracts with the likes of former MVP Jason Giambi, Cy Young winners Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens, Mike Mussina, and all talk Gary Sheffield. And with players like this came a more powerful offense and an attempt at a powerful rotation. But Joe kept them in line and managed his players well.
What I loved about Joe Torre is that in the New York spotlight, he never cracked and was down to earth and honest when he spoke about the team and its players. I never saw Joe explode at the media or point a finger at a player or coach when something went wrong. He always understood the situation, Steinbrenner, and what was expected, which was always a World Series championship.
I would expect Torre to be done after this season whether the Yankees happen to win the World Series or lose tonight. It's time for a fresh start in my mind not just for the Yankees but also for Torre as well. I would guess Torre would welcome the change anyhow because the past four postseasons have not gone his way and he knows with his job description that that is failure. But more than that, it's been the same story since 2002 and the story needs to change.
What will be most difficult is seeing Joe go despite his early success and subsequent failures in the postseason. I love Joe Torre, don't get me wrong, but his players love him more, many of whom (Jeter, Posada, Rivera, Cano, Cabrera, Matsui, to name a few) have played their entire major league careers with him. The amount of respect for Torre from fans and players alike is insurmountable and when he's gone, it will take a long healing process and major adjustment to get used to a new manager.
Whatever happens, Torre's Era will be looked at as a successful one even if he didn't win the World Series the last seven years of his tenure. He brought in a new baseball dynasty--and a new Yankee Dynasty to New York from 1996-2001--after the city had not seen the team win a World Series since 1978. He had a winning record every season including 10 seasons winning the AL East, four with 100+ wins (including that amazing 1998 season), and making the playoffs every year he managed. Not many managers have done that. Torre is in a special class, an elite class of managers, and he'll go down as one of the greatest of Yankee managers in their history.
Joe Torre has been a great manager for the New York Yankees since 1996. Certainly he can attribute his entire managerial success to New York after stops with the Mets, Cardinals, and Braves. It's been more than the four World Series wins and having been spoiled with watching the Yankees 12 straight years in a row in the playoffs. First and foremost, he was the man who lead these Yankee teams on the ball field to successful seasons when just a few years before 1996 the Yankees were the laughing stock in baseball (and yes I know Buck Schowalter, Bob Watson and others had a lot to do with the rebuilding prior to that). He did this without much controversy, always staying cool and calm on the bench and acting much like a father figure amongst the players.
As a Yankee fan this team has gone from more of a smallball approach to a team filled with superstars, power hitters, and well paid players. In saying that, he certainly managed egos, if there were any--and I would think there were many. The egos most likely came in after 2001 when the Yankees started signing larger and larger contracts with the likes of former MVP Jason Giambi, Cy Young winners Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens, Mike Mussina, and all talk Gary Sheffield. And with players like this came a more powerful offense and an attempt at a powerful rotation. But Joe kept them in line and managed his players well.
What I loved about Joe Torre is that in the New York spotlight, he never cracked and was down to earth and honest when he spoke about the team and its players. I never saw Joe explode at the media or point a finger at a player or coach when something went wrong. He always understood the situation, Steinbrenner, and what was expected, which was always a World Series championship.
I would expect Torre to be done after this season whether the Yankees happen to win the World Series or lose tonight. It's time for a fresh start in my mind not just for the Yankees but also for Torre as well. I would guess Torre would welcome the change anyhow because the past four postseasons have not gone his way and he knows with his job description that that is failure. But more than that, it's been the same story since 2002 and the story needs to change.
What will be most difficult is seeing Joe go despite his early success and subsequent failures in the postseason. I love Joe Torre, don't get me wrong, but his players love him more, many of whom (Jeter, Posada, Rivera, Cano, Cabrera, Matsui, to name a few) have played their entire major league careers with him. The amount of respect for Torre from fans and players alike is insurmountable and when he's gone, it will take a long healing process and major adjustment to get used to a new manager.
Whatever happens, Torre's Era will be looked at as a successful one even if he didn't win the World Series the last seven years of his tenure. He brought in a new baseball dynasty--and a new Yankee Dynasty to New York from 1996-2001--after the city had not seen the team win a World Series since 1978. He had a winning record every season including 10 seasons winning the AL East, four with 100+ wins (including that amazing 1998 season), and making the playoffs every year he managed. Not many managers have done that. Torre is in a special class, an elite class of managers, and he'll go down as one of the greatest of Yankee managers in their history.
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