Pinstripe Advice
The moment the Yankees were eliminated from the post-season, all the media began with predictions, suggestions, and prognostications about the future of that franchise. Who would stay and who would go? (Sounds a lot like the Rosh Hashanah liturgy.) So anyway, because I always have good advice for everyone, and because this is a topic of interest, not only to me, but to all my readers, here are my suggestions, from the top down.
First of all, the Boss has to take a more active role in managing the franchise. Enough of this hands-off approach of the past decade. George has to get back in the press, bad mouthing all the guys who didn’t perform well in the post-season; personally recommending free-agents; and even doing some negotiating. Maybe he should learn Japanese.
Cashman, and all the guys who advised him about all the terrific free agent signings should stick around. Perhaps they all need to work harder; or maybe they just haven’t been paying enough money over the past few years, but it would be a big mistake to let any of them go. Kevin Brown? Carl Pavano? OK, so they made a couple mistakes here and there, but I wouldn’t be discouraged by that. I’d suggest staying the course. Same goes for the scout who signed up Igawa. That guy definitely should stay.
Torre, on the other hand, I would let go. I know that he has managed the Yankees into the post-season for the past twelve years, and isn’t that how long he’s been the manager? But really, with no championships since 2000 (twenty-zero), how good a job has he really been doing? Yes, yes, I know the Yankees were eight games below 500 sometime late in May; and I also know that he turned the club around with the best record in baseball since Memorial Day. But who cares about that if they lose in the Division Series every year? Really, four straight post-season series losses—enough is enough. Time for a change.
A-Rod. He’s definitely a keeper. I mean the guy is a lock for the MVP again – two out of the past three years. So what if he’s never done squat in the post-season. I mean he broke that hitless streak against the Indians; he hit that home run in Game 4; and who else could afford his gigantic salary anyway? First order of business should be to lock up A-Rod.
Posada and Matsui. I’d let them go. Matsui is getting old, and he was banged up a bunch this year. Posada will undoubtedly ask for too much money. Instead, give that money to A-Rod and find someone new to work with the pitching staff. You know, it’s possible that some of the Yankees pitching problems this year stemmed from Posada’s handling of the staff. Maybe it really wasn’t Kevin Brown, and Igawa who were all screwed up. Maybe Posada just wasn’t calling a good game. Management should think about that before paying this guy a lot of dough.
Roger Clemens. Now I don’t want to say I told you so, but didn’t I warn you guys that Roger was being paid too much for too little? I mean, he was paid around $17 mill this year, for a 500 record, and not much help in the post-season. How much of that 17 large, very large, did he really earn? Still, he’s a favorite in NY; the Boss seems to love him; and I think that the Yankees should sign him up for one more year. Why not? Just don’t bring him in quite so early. Save him for the August stretch drive. By the way, I’d let Pettitte go again. That’s right – keep Clemens; don’t keep Pettitte. And as long as we’re on the topic, let Mariano go too. He’s past his prime. How many bats did he break this year, in comparison to how many blown saves?
Now with all those big names leaving, the Yankees are going to need to trade some of the young guys in order to restock their roster with aging veterans. Cano and Chamberlain will probably be the best trade bait. How about trading Chamberlain for Greg Maddox? Then the Yankees can have two 300 game winners on their staff at the same time. How long has it been since any franchise could make that claim?
Anyway, the Boss has all winter to think about these suggestions. Let’s hope he does the right thing.
First of all, the Boss has to take a more active role in managing the franchise. Enough of this hands-off approach of the past decade. George has to get back in the press, bad mouthing all the guys who didn’t perform well in the post-season; personally recommending free-agents; and even doing some negotiating. Maybe he should learn Japanese.
Cashman, and all the guys who advised him about all the terrific free agent signings should stick around. Perhaps they all need to work harder; or maybe they just haven’t been paying enough money over the past few years, but it would be a big mistake to let any of them go. Kevin Brown? Carl Pavano? OK, so they made a couple mistakes here and there, but I wouldn’t be discouraged by that. I’d suggest staying the course. Same goes for the scout who signed up Igawa. That guy definitely should stay.
Torre, on the other hand, I would let go. I know that he has managed the Yankees into the post-season for the past twelve years, and isn’t that how long he’s been the manager? But really, with no championships since 2000 (twenty-zero), how good a job has he really been doing? Yes, yes, I know the Yankees were eight games below 500 sometime late in May; and I also know that he turned the club around with the best record in baseball since Memorial Day. But who cares about that if they lose in the Division Series every year? Really, four straight post-season series losses—enough is enough. Time for a change.
A-Rod. He’s definitely a keeper. I mean the guy is a lock for the MVP again – two out of the past three years. So what if he’s never done squat in the post-season. I mean he broke that hitless streak against the Indians; he hit that home run in Game 4; and who else could afford his gigantic salary anyway? First order of business should be to lock up A-Rod.
Posada and Matsui. I’d let them go. Matsui is getting old, and he was banged up a bunch this year. Posada will undoubtedly ask for too much money. Instead, give that money to A-Rod and find someone new to work with the pitching staff. You know, it’s possible that some of the Yankees pitching problems this year stemmed from Posada’s handling of the staff. Maybe it really wasn’t Kevin Brown, and Igawa who were all screwed up. Maybe Posada just wasn’t calling a good game. Management should think about that before paying this guy a lot of dough.
Roger Clemens. Now I don’t want to say I told you so, but didn’t I warn you guys that Roger was being paid too much for too little? I mean, he was paid around $17 mill this year, for a 500 record, and not much help in the post-season. How much of that 17 large, very large, did he really earn? Still, he’s a favorite in NY; the Boss seems to love him; and I think that the Yankees should sign him up for one more year. Why not? Just don’t bring him in quite so early. Save him for the August stretch drive. By the way, I’d let Pettitte go again. That’s right – keep Clemens; don’t keep Pettitte. And as long as we’re on the topic, let Mariano go too. He’s past his prime. How many bats did he break this year, in comparison to how many blown saves?
Now with all those big names leaving, the Yankees are going to need to trade some of the young guys in order to restock their roster with aging veterans. Cano and Chamberlain will probably be the best trade bait. How about trading Chamberlain for Greg Maddox? Then the Yankees can have two 300 game winners on their staff at the same time. How long has it been since any franchise could make that claim?
Anyway, the Boss has all winter to think about these suggestions. Let’s hope he does the right thing.
posted by pops | 8:50 PM
1 Comments:
Hey, take a breath....pass the dice!!
We'll talk when I can get this hairball out of my throat....daled
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