Ken Davidoff's baseball insider

I thought Girardi has managed a lot like he did in Florida. He took a team that isn't a very good team and had them playing well till mid August/September. I know the Yanks have an insane payroll, but it doesn't mean they are any good. With all the injuries the Yankees have had, and objectively speaking, they've had A TON. I feel he did a great job having them even in the periphary of a Wild Card spot. The team is just not that good. Thats why they are losing.

On the closer debate from last thread. Yes the CURRENT ceilling is $15 million. But often times when a new free agent comes along, even if he is not better than the highest paid at his position, he will get more because teams want him so bad. And K-Rod will certainly be able to make a case that he is the best closer in the game. And if he wins a World Series, he will have won two World Series. I think he would be able to name his price. And the Mets would be lucky if he stopped at 18 million. Especially with Minaya's propensity to overpay for free agents.

I've been saying all season that the "emotion" that emits from Girardi during a game is like a big cloud hovering around him -- think of Charlie Brown's buddy Pigpen with that big old cloud of dirt surrounding him.

His frowns, his gestures, his facial expressions, his way with the media after the games (either testy or that maniacal hyena laugh) -- none of this is comfortable for me to watch. I can't imagine it's comfortable for the players to be in that type of environment on the field or in the clubhouse.

Would Joe Torre have made them hit more or pitch better? No. Would he have relaxed the clubhouse and really made these guys feel like they were fighters who were never out of it and still had a chance, no matter how bleak things seem? I'd bet a week's salary on it.

How much is that salary worth Nancy?? haha. I loved what Torred did from 1996-2001, but I thought he managed the same way with a different group of guys and his approach didn't work. I mean in Aug and Sept. the last three years it did, but it didn't seem he got them ready to play before then.

Excellent insights Ken. Excellent. You were right on Farnsworth for Pudge. Have to give you credit.

Yankees lost their best pitcher, Wang. Then they lost the guy who had become their second/third-best pitcher, Chamberlain. It feels like this year the only constant in that rotation has been Mike Mussina. (Pettitte hasn't been getting much heat, but his down year definitely hurt.) Offensively people had down years, and the team couldn't hit with RISP.

I think the last month or so is just a product of the rest of the year. I really don't think guys are packing it in, because (cynically) there are many guys playing for individual records and contracts. I just don't think this team, as currently constructed, is very good. It's merely mediocre right now (especially in the starting rotation) and when they play good teams they get beat up. I shut off emotionally from this team a while back. Now it's just looking to next year -- with a lot of payroll slashed, and hopefully the minor leagues opening its doors to a lot of young players. I'm completely comfortable with where the Yankees are right now. Since they've finally ended this run of playoff appearances, they will be allowed to truly rebuild. And even if it takes two years to get back to the playoffs, it will have been worth it because young guys (hopefully Chamberlain, Hughes, Austin Jaskson, Jesus Montero, among others) will be the ones getting them there.

Nancy, if you really believe that Joe Torre can manipulate the hearts, minds and emotions of professional players, then he shouldn't be managing, he should be filling Rasputin's old shoes in Russia. You love Joe Torre. We all know that. You were very angry when he was replaced. But, you write your opinion as if it is FACT. It isn't.

And by the way, who the hell is Michael Kay to call anyone embarrassing and disgraceful? I can't stand this guy. Just call the game, you bozo. I have no idea why YES wastes time with him. He often seems to think the Yankees play for his pleasure alone, and that it's an insult to him personally when they lose. His ego has grown exponentially with each year he's been on TV. They also allow him to savage the team on his radio show. I love when John Flaherty is in the booth with him because he calls him out on his utter nonsense.

Excellent, Ken. Very excellent.

Good morning, everyone.

I know that some may consider me a Rays apologist, but we really do need to give the Red Sox their due. Tampa is struggling, but, more importantly, Boston is en fuego. Lester and Papelbon would have shut out the '27 Yankees last night. (Of course, it didn't help for the Rays that Longoria was again absent from the lineup.) Steve Phillips again demonstrated his ignorance when he lambasted the Sox for trading Manny; Bay has done more than his fair share.

Although Kazmir makes the most important start of his career tonight, the true test for Tampa will be next week after they return home. If they play well against the Twins and continue to dominate the Red Sox at the Trop, then the division ought to remain up for grabs until the final weekend.

Regarding Torre, check out Steve Goldman's piece on the Dodgers here: http://www.nysun.com/sports/has-the-torre-touch-sparked-la/85435/

According to Goldman, Torre may be receiving the love but the credit probably goes to De Witt and Berroa, who have gone on a ridiculous tear while subbing for Kent and Nomar. Their numbers are almost assuredly unsustainable, although Kent and Furcal might be back in the lineup soon.

Considering the time frame, I guess we can include Melky and Cano in this discussion. Cano has been written up as playing nonchalantly lately (actually most of the year) and of course Melky has hardly played in the majors since the beginning of August. When it doubt, always blame the 3rd base coach as well, it works for me and the Yankees need one. Then there's the mighty ARod. Playing for nothing again as in 2006, how many DP's has he hit into since the beginning of August. By 2010, somebody is really going to regret bringing him back.
As far as Torre, we all know he isn't a great field manager, and how he relates to his players off the field we surely don't know for sure. But in the past the Yankees had the talent to overcome the manager's mistakes and this year that talent is waning so the mistakes stand out as losses. As far as relations go, Larry Bowa lost the Phillies by his actions and comments, so you can't completely count out a player's relations with a manager to how well they play. Then we have the Willie randolph example as well. It's too early to tell with Girardi but he clearly has a short temper from his actions as Marlins manager which cost him the job, and who knows if he has everyone's respect.

Good points all, Sandy. But, the Yankees won the pennant in '76 and the WS in '77 under Billy Martin and he was pretty scary, to say the least. I guess it depends on the group.

Then there's the mighty ARod. Playing for nothing again as in 2006, how many DP's has he hit into since the beginning of August. By 2010, somebody is really going to regret bringing him back.
-----

Is that a joke? Do you realize he's leading the league in slugging percentage and currently has a line of .308/.399/.586? I'm sure every one of his 32 home runs have been meaningless, too.

Anyway...

I don't think I've ever seen an athlete more desperate for airtime than Curt Schilling. He somehow made Tom Brady's injury about the Yankees. He SERIOUSLY said this: that New York is excited that Brady is out for the year because "the Yankees suck." I'm glad Curt has his finger on the pulse of New Yorkers. What a pitiful human being he is.

A-Rod can play on my team anyday of the week. Yes he struggles in the clutch, but the Yanks would be so far down in the standings if you traded him for Brosious in his prime.

In other words, without A-Rod, there would be no clutch game for the Yanks because they'd be so far out of it by mid May.

I'm sure not everyone of those HRs was meaningless but he wasn't the MVP in 2006 either, so take the stats and put them where the sun doesn't shine. They are meaningless, look at what he is doing on the field instead of in percentage points (and relate to what he did every single game last year when he was playing for more money) and then tell me the money was well spent.

When you have a $200 million plus payroll like the Yanks have, you are suppose to contend for the playoffs under any circumstances. If Torre was still the manager of this team, would this team still be in this situation right now? I don't know. But this team wouldn't be playing like this under Torre. Missing the playoffs this year will suck. But missing the playoffs next year will suck even more. The Yankees fans like myself won't be patient with Girardi or Cashman.
I said this before and I'll say it again, were going to find out in the off-season if CC Sabathia cares about pitching on the West coast or taking the money. If the Yanks offer the most money like say 7-years $175 million which is $25 million a year, let me see Sabathia showed the guts to turn it down.
I like to know what expert pick the Rays to make the playoffs this year. Someone find out who had the Rays making the playoffs this year because I doubt no one did.
K-Rod getting $!8 million a year would be insane. That means he would have gotten either a 4-year $72 million deal or 5-year $90 million deal. Before you know it, a closer will be making $20 million a year.

Richie if he struggles in the clutch he doesn't deserve the money and deserves every little bit of scorn he receives from fans and lack of respect from the players themselves. He's getting paid to be the MAN not a chump.

Dennis, I think the Rays have surprised everyone, but I think a lot of people expected them to be in the hunt for a Wild Card.

Also, what position has cost the Mets the most games this year? Relief pitching. Had the Mets had K-Rod, they are up by 10 games. Johan has a chance for Cy Young, and the Mets wouldn't have to push their starters to go so deep. Wagner and the rest of the closers futility has been that important. If the Mets could take one free agent for free, I would choose him over CC. Though it would be a close call. My only concern is that relievers tend to be fickle.

And Sandy, I'm not saying he deserves the money. What I"m saying is, without him, they Yanks would have been out of it by May. Clearly as of now, you would want someone else up in a clutch spot. But I dont think you can fault his effort.

Wow, another A-Rod fan. I knew there was another one out there!

Richie, I agree with you on Alex, but I disagree on Girardi. This is a team that made the playoffs last year and had a great run. They spent most of the year playing tight. And now they've not only lost their swagger (as Ken and Joel Sherman have pointed out) but they've also done something no Torre team ever did... they've given up.

Ironically, the player Girardi was (an intense ball-buster) is exactly what they need now in the clubhouse, as opposed to the manager's office.

I'm not sure they would have made the playoffs with Torre (as Ken said, the minute they passed on Santana this became a "hope for the best" year), but I'd be a paycheck they wouldn't have finished fourth. They could have gained three games on Tampa last week with decent performances and some fight and even if they didn't make the playoffs would have been right back in the mix.

I don't think Girardi should be fired, but he HAS to take a hit here, in my opinion, a big one.

Tim, I do see your point. But Cashman was on w/Francesca. And he asked him if I told you before the season that Hughes/Kennedy would win zero games, would you think you could compete for a playoff spot? And Cashman said since they were slotted to be his fourth/fifth starters, yes. But to lose Wang/Joba/Posada/Matsui for lengthy periods, and A-Rod/Jeter for a stint on the DL...plus other injuries, thats really tough.

Though I do agree with you, they would be playing better now under Torre. But I think they initially preformed better then under Girardi.

Usually I agree with you, Sandy, but any player with a .400 OBP and a SLG close to .600 is invaluable to a team, regardless of his struggles at the plate in the eighth and ninth innings. A-Rod's numbers early in a game help determine whether the Yankees are even in the game later on. Moreover, has it occurred to anyone that maybe, just maybe, no pitcher is giving him anything good to hit in critical, late-game situations, which helps explains why he is walking so much and not able to get extra-base hits?

baileywalk, I agree with everything you wrote today. You expressed my feelings completely on the Yankees, where they are and where they appear to be going. I also agree with you wholeheartedly on A-Rod and Michael Kay.

I just don't see how Joe Girardi can be blamed for this season or how Torre would have been better as manager. I think the Yankees fate was sealed when Hughes and Kennedy both were busts and all the injuries struck, especially Posada and then Matsui. Who could have predicted that Cano would have struggled the entire season or that Cabrera would have disintegrated.

I understand Dennis' passion, but I knew before the year started that the Yankees were in trouble when they had both Hughes and Kennedy in the starting rotation. Actually, the team has performed better than I thought it would and back then I couldn't have imagined so many players getting hurt, including Joba.

I really do hope that Cashman essentially cleans house of the guys who are free agents. This is a team of very good individual players, but it isn't a very good TEAM as a whole. It isn't Girardi's fault.

I would like to see Larry Bowa brought back as the third base coach. I don't think it is out of the realm of the possible.

By the way, did you guys catch this story:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/09082008/news/regionalnews/lawsuit_calls_foul_on_mets_seat_switch_128015.htm

Burstein is no run-of-the-mill attorney, so I am a little surprised that he did not micro-manage this issue and fell for the "priority" line.

If Cano really has been dogging it and not hustling (I haven't seen too many games, I just heard he has) than thats squarely on Girardi. He should have stopped it in the beginning. But with all the injuries and a failed trade of Farnsworth, I think he sorta did an A-Rod. A great job in the beginning, and terrible at the end.

I'm not sure all the A-Rod bashers really understand what it would be like if he was gone. Maybe his replacement would hit a two run homer in the 9th. Of course that would put the Yanks down 9-3 but at least it would have been a big hit from the 3B in the 9th!

JE, I hope that lawyer cleans the Mets out. I like the fans sticking up for themselves.

Bob, based on everything you know as a former major leaguer and your analysis of Girardi and Torre, their methods, histories, etc. - would the Yankees now be playing better if Torre was the manager instead of Girardi. I am interested in your opinion. Thanks in advance for providing it.

Ken made an interesting point about the impact that the Rays success has had on the Yankees season. Add to that the long-overdue surge from the Blue Jays and you have the other reasons why the Yankees are toast. Which brings up another point: the Yanks will have to do more than stay healthy next year in order to compete with at least two other contenders and possibly a third. (For example, I don't know of anyone who is suggesting that Tampa's success is a fluke.)

Dennis asked if anyone picked the Rays this season to win the division. I know of no one, but do recall that Baseball Prospectus' PECOTA system did pick them to win 89 games, if I am not mistaken.

Richie G, the Mets and Yankees management teams treat the fans like they're dirt. (Of course, at least the Dolan family is not involved, yet.) I imagine that this suit will be settled quickly and quietly, with the lawyer dude getting decent seats -- and pay through the nose for them.

Jim - I have no idea.

I agree with RG, however that Torre's managing style appears to be the same for each team in different years. Some managers like veteran players and just fill out the lineup card and concentrate on putting out fires in the press, locker room and being a buffer to the front office. That was Torre's best skill, not in-game managing.

If a player actually needed to work on their weaknesses, I don't think Torre and the Yanks were a good fit for that player and the organization would get minimal return for their investment in the younger player.

Thanks, Bob. Interesting. With all the problems that have befallen Yankee pitchers this year I wonder if Torre would have run the bullpen into the ground like he usually did, even with a staff that was more together.

I felt that Torre got "full of himself" as the years went on. But, I am trying not to let that color my judgment of whether or not the team would be performing better under him now. It's really a meaningless exercise in any event.

We will really have to wait and see how the team performs in 2009 and especially in 2010.

Beyond prayers for good health all around, Jim, how would you make the Yankees a better team in 2009, one that can compete for a division title with the Rays, Sox, and, yes, the Jays?

Good question, JE.

A decision has to be made whether to target Sabathia or Teixeira or both. The team can afford both. If they really want them, they will have them in pinstripes.

Personally, I don't want Joba to start the season in the bullpen. I would rather have him pitch 5 innings as a starter and then bring in a long reliever. Maybe Rasner or Giese is worth keeping just for this role? I would like to see Hughes given another chance. Bring Mussina back. I am torn on Pettitte. He has won some games, but he is no longer the pitcher he was and has thrown some really terrible games. Should they chance Freddy Garcia for a year to bridge to some of the younger guys? Will Kennedy get his act together? Ideally, Hughes and Kennedy would be ready. I would bring back Bowa. Give him a two year deal (something coaches don't get) for a good chunk of change. I think he can help redirect Cano and he is a good influence overall. I wasn't initially a power supporter, but came to value him.

A decision must be made on Cabrera. If he has eroded to the extent he isn't going to ever make it in NY, then ship for a couple of picks or prospects. I understand the team would be selling low. Personally, I would hope that Cabrera could return and contribute. I don't like his lack of power, but think he is better than he showed this year.

Offer Marte arbitration. If he accepts, he will probably get less than the $6 million option he is due. If he declines, great, take the picks.

Obviously, by bringing Bowa back, I am indicating that Meacham should go. Say no to I-Rod, Abreu, Giambi. Split Posada and Matsui at DH. Let Posada have some time at first base and put Teixeira at DH when Matsui plays the field.

Just some ideas off the top of my head.

I like the kids and I am willing to wait until 2010 for the Yankees to return with a full fury.

Thanks, Jim. What you typed seems pretty doable, although I doubt Bowa will leave LA, even if extra car fare is offered.

A few questions: when do you think Austin Jackson will be ready for prime-time? 2010? Meanwhile, does Damon go back to left field and Nady shifts to right? If Bowa doesn't return, what do you do with Cano?

"Actually, is Islander505 still with us?"

Yes, was in Vegas scouting wedding venues for daughter.
UGH. (not my idea to have it there...but ya' know).
And to see if OJ needed my white SUV.

I have been out of touch with the baseball world over the last 5 days.(The tables had my spare time attention). Will need to catch up.
I'll be headed to the Apple this weekend to catch a coupla Yankee games as well. So commenting may well be at a minimum for awhile.

"Or did he just use us to get to Watchdog?"
"get to Watchdog"???
The Watchdog is unflappable.

From everything that I have read and synthesized, I personally don't think he will be ready until late 2009. Yes, I would think Nady is the rightfielder. Damon in LF/CF. Matsui LF/DH. A couple of kids in CF - maybe Cabrera returns.

I would not trade Cano. Period. He had a mediocre year overall. He has tremendous talent. I don't like Meacham and a third base coach and don't know what he has done with Cano, if anything, but whatever it is hasn't worked. Bring in a third base coach that can work with Cano. Cano has to be a priority. What he can bring to the table is enormous. Cano is clearly one of the keys to 2009 and beyond.

Bowa was really focused on Cano and his spacey play in the field. Cano needs someone like Bowa, if not Bowa himself. But, I am willing to bet that Bowa can be had for the right price. I think his daughter is in the East (Baltimore area?) and he didn't really want to leave here. Ken can definitively fill in the blanks.

JE and everyone else here just to make you all understand: in 2006 and 2008 ARod played at one level. In 2007 ARod played for a contract and played at an extremely higher level than he did in 2006 and 2008. If you want to go strictly by statistics and not look at what is being done on the field, I can make a case I'd rather have Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday, Vladimir Guerrero Mark Teixiera and Manny (the way they are producing now) and possibly Justin Morneau and Magglio Ordonez. That is based strictly on figures you can read in any stats analysis. ARod is being paid $30 million to be more than a stats freak. He is being paid to be the man on the team and to be the best player in baseball. You know it's nice you can give 80-85% effort and still be better than 90% of every player in baseball. But last year he gave 100% and everybody saw what he did.
JE you pointed out to me earlier in the season about the PECOTA for the Rays and it was exactly on the ball for what they are doing this season.

Ken what is the contract situation for Freddy Garcia with the Tigers? Is he only signed through the end of the year?

Agreed, Sandy. Even BP agrees that players at all levels tend to perform better in their walk years, Andruw Jones(!!!) notwithstanding. Last I checked, though, Jeter is the $21M captain (by the way, do you think that Jeter has earned HIS paycheck in the past two or three seasons?) and A-Rod has learned the hard way that he is not the team's leader and never will be, at least according to the fans and media.

Thanks for the Goldman link, JE. I see his point...but does Torre deserve ZERO credit for what's going on there? I had lunch today with a big-league pitcher (he'll be the subject of my Midweek Insider - I'll leave it a mystery for now) - and he said to me, simply enough, "Guys like playing for Joe Torre." By no means is Torre perfect, and I think Jim's onto something when he talks about how Torre had gotten too big for the job with the Yankees. It was time for him to go. But the man knows how to stay calm and keep his team together in times of adversity. I know there's no stat for that, other than what could very well be a 13th straight postseason appearance.

Oh, and Freddy Garcia will be a free agent, Sandy. But it'll be different in the winter; there'll be 100 retread projects around. What made Garcia stand out earlier in the season, when it appeared that he might really be a factor, was that there were no other pitchers available, not counting David Wells, via free agency.

And now, to put on my stat geek's hat, Sandy, to quote Arnold Jackson, whachu talkin' about on A-Rod? What evidence do you have that he is "trying less" this year? If anything, if he didn't care, then wouldn't he NOT tense up in big moments, as he so clearly does? Furthermore, if you look at his stats, you'll see that A-Rod's '08 is notably superior to his '06 - 60 more points of slugging.

As for a Larry Bowa return to the Bronx, I just don't see he and Girardi clicking. Bowa and Torre have become very close - ironically, Cashman was the one who pushed for Bowa when the Yankees got him - and I don't see why Bowa would leave LA. If the Dodgers make the playoffs, Torre can probably get Bowa whatever kind of raise he wants.

Cashman thought that Hughes and Kennedy were ready to pitch in the big leagues after how both perform in 2007. Well we know what happen this year where neither Hughes and Kennedy did not have won a game this year. Hughes is going to pitch in the Arizona Fall League coming up. Neither Hughes or Kennedy are guaranteed a spot in the rotation next year. They both need to earn it.
I don't think the Yanks will trade Cano, but if plays like this next year the same way like he has this year, then the Yanks need to seriously think about trading Cano.

My thoughts on the Yankee demise:

1. Spring Training was a debacle. Girardi came in here and overworked the team, which probably led to the rash of April injuries. In my opinion, they never quite got on track. I understand people thought Torre was running a country club in March, but apparently it worked. As a wise and learned scholar once said: “We are talking about practice…. Practice….not the game…not the game I will die
for…We talking about practice…Practice…What are we talking about???? Practice…"

2. Not sure if I totally agree with the Farnsworth/Pudge trade being a major issue. Even if they held on to Farny, the problem for years has been the inconsistent lineup. This year has been no different. The reason? Too many stars. You need young, hungry players in this or any league. If all of your important positions are filled by millionaires, where's the hunger? Whenever somebody says "on paper, the Yankees look like the team to beat", I say "well maybe that's part of the problem".

3. You want "an embarrassment and a disgrace"? Look no further than John Sterling.

Rock

I am very confident that Hughes will become a winning pitcher on the major league level for the Yankees. He has good stuff and based on interviews with him that I have read, I think he has the mental make-up and work ethic to be a successful big leaguer. I don't have the same confidence when it comes to Kennedy, but I think the talent is there. These are young pitchers. We can't define them by their early season performance. Likewise, Cano was very poor early in the year but has definitely picked it up the past two months. The guy can play. He needs to be brought along by the coaching staff. His talent is such that he should never just be traded away. He is the rare second baseman who can post his kind of offensive numbers.

J-Rock - Couldn't agree with you more on Sterling. You might be on to something with Girardi and spring training. It is a possibility.

JE on Jeter 2005 and 2006 yes he earned it. 2007-meh ARod carried the team. 2008-nobody earned their salary.

Ken--in comparison to 2006 an MVP year, BTW, for ARod (to the detriment of the real one, Big Papi and I hate Sox) everything is a bit up this year but compared to 2007, both years are waaaaay down. So it's a matter of semantics, he may be trying hard this year and 2006, but he tried a lot harder last year. I think since he tried a lot harder last year to get that money, after he got it he should try at THAT level all the time. It can't all be "well things worked last year and didn't in 2006 and 2008". And I am so sick of hearing how fragile his ego is and how he wants to be loved by the fans.

I don't think there is any question that Joe Torre exuded calmness and confidence. It appeared he was "comfortable in his own skin" and at peace with himself. Those are very good qualities for anyone to possess. Whether it came from all of the personal and family challenges he has faced, who knows? Seeing a brother he loves battle numerous life threatening conditions and then being diagnosed with cancer himself, well, perhaps he gained a new perspective on life.

After winning three titles in his first four years, Joe had gained an opportunity to earn a large salary. He knew he could get a job anywhere should George fire him. He also knew that baseball wasn't the most important thing in his life or any life. Being manager was a job. Yes, it was a job that he loved and still loves, but still it was merely a job. It wasn't about life and death. I am sure that Joe wanted to win more than anyone. But, he knew that if the team lost, the sun would rise the next morning.

Joe had to deal with George S. when he was still a tyrant. He had to deal with some crazy personalities among the players. Yes, all managers do, but Joe did it without disgracing anyone or the team. He was classy and the Yankees as a whole came across as a classy organization.

Joe brought the team out of the wilderness after many down years. It is true the Yankees were headed in the right direction under Gene Michael and Buck Showalter, but it was under Torre that they actually won the World Series. I am not so sure that would have happened under Buck. Probably not.

Joe deserves his day at Yankee Stadium and he deserves the respect of people like me that have served up very pointed remarks about him. We all became quite greedy and quite spoiled. I, as a Yankee fan, owe him thanks for a job well done.

(Don't worry, I won't be writing anything similar about BK.)

Jim,

You may think that he can't "manipulate the hearts, minds and emotions of professional players," and maybe that's true -- but the bottom line is that apparently he did something right because they went to the post-season every year he was there.

This is the same group of players from last year for the most part who were also in a mess of trouble. But they never seemed to give up and they neAver seemed to stop believing in themselves. Now it feels like they have, every time they step on the field.

What do you think these professional players, who are grown men, respond to better -- someone who believes in them and gives off the aura of believing in them, or someone who comes in on day one and takes away their candy and ice cream like they're a bunch of 8-year-olds?

Yes, I love Joe Torre. Yes, I thought Girardi was wrong for the job from day one. I live in South Florida and saw what went on down here with him and knew there were going to be problems. However, my biggest concern was putting someone in the dugout who was more or less a contemporary of so many of the players. Look at the respect players have for Joe Torre, even from the opposition. As Ken said, players love playing for him. The man commands respect. I don't think Girardi does and I think that also has an effect on the players. Personally, I wanted to see Tony Pena get the job when Joe walked.

Nancy, I sense your passion and know you follow the game closely. Perhaps I have been too harsh in my assessments of Joe Torre. Please read what I wrote above your comments.

I don't feel Girardi has done a poor job and don't feel it is his fault the team isn't going to the playoffs. Injuries did seriously undermine the club this year and obviously some of the players have seen better days (they are aging in a way unlike fine wine).

Tony Pena as manager? I know he interviewed for the position but never thought he was seriously considered. He did a credible job in KC, although he did resign when the team was 8-25.

All we can do is move forward. I am excited with thoughts of off season signings and/or trades and with the infusion of youth that will be coming over the next three years.

Ok so Nancy brings up a valid point. Should a guy who was a teammate of many of these guys be their manager? Can he discipline guys who are his friends and will his friends take his criticisms seriously?

And to make reference, it really didn't work when Torre managed the Mets and Yogi Berra managed the Yankees the first time in 1964 (although they went to the World Series) there was a famous incident on the team bus between Phil Linz and Berra.

Hey, folks, has this Kat O'Brien juicy tidbit on A-Rod from Sunday (just after Toronto moved ahead of the Yankees into third place) been discussed yet?

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spyanks0908,0,5824965.story

"Toronto's playing really well," he said. "I'll tell you what, a lot of people should be happy they're not in the playoff race, because they'd be the scariest team, with the 1-2 punch they've got over there with Halladay and Burnett."

But, Alex, if the Blue Jays are ahead of your team, and they're not in the playoff mix, what does that mean about your chances to make the playoffs?

Said A-Rod: "I'm too tired to answer that; you confused me."

H/T: http://itsaboutthemoney.blogspot.com/

Sandy, I see where you're coming from, but if it was just a matter of "trying harder," then you're suggesting that A-Rod can put up his '07 #s at will. Last year was one of the all-time great years for a third baseman. I'm really going to have to disagree with you that, at the outset of the '07 season, A-Rod said, "I think I'll try harder this year," and bingo.

A Davidoff blog controversy about someone not playing hard...and I'm not involved!!

My opinion, A-Rod wants to win and plays to win.

Ken, have you ever interviewed Denny McLain? Would you like to? If you could interview any three players or managers throughout history, who would they be?

I haven't interviewed Denny, Jim. My 3 would be Ty Cobb, Jackie Robinson, and Babe Ruth. Sounds like a future blog discussion item.

I was thinking the same thing, Ken. Those types of discussions can really be fascinating and make each person think. I have read a lot about Cobb and he is a frightening guy. He was also very shrewd. There are so many people associated with the game that I'd like to meet, including Landis and at least one of the Black Sox. Gehrig would be near the top of my list. Ruth is an obvious choice. I am sure he would be a great interview subject.

Jim,

I read your comments and totally agree. We've gotten spoiled, plain and simple, as Yankee fans. The way Joe Torre left was disgraceful. He deserves respect and it makes me very sad to see the way some people talk about him. I particularly don't understand the ones who say "Anyone could've won with the teams he had." One would think, in that case, that anyone could win with this current team...but that's obviously not the case.

Sandy, I think it's a valid concern. How many players over the years have we heard say that Joe Torre was like a second father to them? Remember him being applauded in Boston when he returned from cancer? I just don't think that kind of respect and authority are there with Girardi when many of this group played with or against him. And I'm sure it didn't help that he came in treating them like a bunch of children instead of the professionals they all are.

After Girardi got hired, one of the local columnists down here wrote a piece on his dealings with the media in South Florida. After reading it, I knew there would be problems in New York -- down here, he had exactly three beat writers to deal with and things did not go well between them and the manager. With this season going down the tubes, there are three things that keep me watching -- 1) Moose's quest for 20 wins; 2) Derek's quest to be the all-time hits leader at Yankee Stadium; and 3) the possibility of Girardi's head exploding during one of his post-game media sessions LOL.

girardi right now is the wrong guy to manage.he is on the same level as the players and seems to be a big fan of them.

things may change but he needs to command respect but it needs to come naturally.

the yankees under torre always shook things up when needed,the yankees this year stuck with melky,rasner,ponson and other bad players way to long.

aceves should of been given a shot a month ago,chase wright,hughes now,kennedy now.

these guys need mlb innings,look at pelfrey.

this is the best time to see what hughes and kennedy can do regardless of their past.

it feels like the players are running the clubhouse,no focus,no direction,no purpose.

if by the 2009 allstar game the yankees are struggling girardi will be gone.