On the Yankees beat

i have to admit, seeing derek play when not ready and because he was begging joe, had me worried, i knew he was going to struggle, but hey, he is the captain and so what..as for andy, joe wants other people , like his favorites, 260 batting average bern to play, not andy. It will catch up to joe playing his guys , and maybe this season. andy plays better d then jason and should be in the lineup all the time. i would not be surprised to see the 4 game slide grow to a much bigger number,lets see how tense it gets then

Paul O'Neill once said that being a young player on the Yankees is like being a contestant on American Idol. The pressure is incredible, the odds of success terrible, and one bad night can mean the end.

I know Torre prefers veterans, but I think there's some cause for hope. Bubba Crosby made the team through spring training a couple of years ago, and has more or less stuck. Unheard of for Torres' Yankees. Cano and Wang were brought up last year out of desperation, but they've stuck, too. This year, Melky's getting a fair shot.

And contrary to what many expected, Terrence Long and Scott Erickson were sent packing, not Kevin Thompson and Matt Smith.

Could it be that Torre is slowly thawing toward the idea of giving young players a chance?

Even so, I don't see Phiillips being anything other than a backup on the Yankees. He needs to learn how to keep his edge when not playing regularly.

I have posted elsewhere that the Yankees win inspite of "Clueless Joe," not because of him. This team, and the 2 previous Yankee teams have needed a "butt kicker." Give me Larry Bowa on a short term basis,(2 yrs.) immediately.

The ONLY negative about Joe is the quick hook and the enormous pressure he puts on his bullpen. In his defense the bullpen has deserved it. Back when Karsay was winging and Stanton could still throw and Nelson wasn't a stiff, Joe had patience. Felix Heredia, Tanyon Sturtze and even Proctor and Farnsworth will give any manager fits. Don't diss Joe! Diss Cashman for believing he was done with the bullpen pieces we assembled. Dotel may save us. Small is abominable. How come every Anaheim releiver looks like Wettland? Why cant we find a Bobby Jenks in our farm or trade for one?

Joe Torre is a terrible bench manager or manager of his bench. When he has a relatively healthy team he doesn't utilize his bench enough to keep them sharp and then inserts some poor guy in as a pinch hitter with the tying run at third in the bottom of the 9th with two outs and expects him to get a hit after not swinging a bat in two weeks!

As far as Phillips, I can't understand the long layoff. Let Jeter sit out until he is sufficiently healed TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE OFFENSE. In Torre's defense, he has said on numerous occasions that Phillips would hit if he played regularly.

I think Torre doesn't like Phillips,for what reason I don't know.
He looks for any excuse not to play him.Then he rips him
when he doesn't hit=Arod makes $25 million,doesn't hit and he is "pressing".Phillips doesn't hit and looks "awful".

Fire Torre. This is not the answer to the Yanks wins and losses. If, there's pressure on the players to produce then the pressure to manage is portionate. I'm a Yankee fan who expects the team to be in the hunt every year but not necessarily win it all. Joe by default because of injuries is giving younger players a chance. He manages his relievers as an orchestra leader. Farnsworth (2-4) is a huge let down that he can't pitch to more then 3 baters and Joe is walking out there. Let the guy get hit all over the lot then maybe he'll work on his location of his pitches.If you throw a fastball from 95-99 and a slider at 86. It has to be location when they're hitting homeruns off you. Joe displays little faith in his younger players unless he's pushed into it by default. What chance did Crosby ever get? Last year Melky was brought in to play centerfield. What's wrong with Bubba? There isn't an outfielder in the Yankee system who get go after it like Bubba not even Johnny Damon. It will be interesting to see Joe's moves with Bubba comming back. I've said it before Melky in Left field, Bubba in RF and Andy at first base, this will strengthen the defense. Giambi full time DH unless Joe has to get Bernie some at bats. Bernie's defense is so shaky. Joe is intelligent baseball man but as all leaders surrounds himself with trustful people unfortunately a good leader knows when the trust connection is harmful to the team. If, the Yankees are to make a run Joe needs to keep the defense strong the hits will come. If, he can struggle watching Wright pitch 5 innings and throw 100 pitches then he'll have to learn to trust guys like Smith, Proctor,Phillips, Crosby and Cabrerra. I would release Meyers not enough innings from him with starting pitching this weak. Joe has to change for the Yanks to win. He's caught up with salary dictates playing time. This will bring sure failure to the 2006 season.

I don't think Torre's the main problem. The Yanks seem to be falling into the same trap that's doomed the Rangers and Knicks over the years. They don't rebuild from within because the pressure to win in New York NOW!!!!! is so overwhelming. In every case it's lead to a miscollection of former superstars rather than an actual team. Who's fault is that?
Stop acquiring and start developing. I love seeing these young kids growing in the system.
The bullpen is a huge problem.How come the Red Sox have been able to develop a pool of young arms? (The whole Hansen thing still burns me.) Plus, with the exception of Mussina, the pitchers Cashman and crew have brought in have been very subpar. I hope they've got Pavano driving the team bus or something to at least earn a part of his paycheck.

Torre continues to make excuses for Randy Johnson and still has no clue when it comes to his bullpen...he overuses Scott Proctor, this year's version of Tanyon Sturtz and Paul Quantril before him...Dotel is next on Torre's burn-out list...When will Torre finally realize that Farnsworth-less is only good for one inning and cant cross the bridge to Mariano.

Not sure if Torre is to blame for overusing the pen. When your starters go 5-6 innings...How else are you supposed to get to the end of the game?

The problem as I see it is that the Yanks assembled a starting rotation (for several years now) that aren't capable of going more than 7...and this year 5.
Look at the Chi Sox last year. They assembled a great staff that went deep. It saved their pen all season.
The Yanks did the same thing in the dynasty years.

Until they understand that not overusing the pen starts w/ capable inning eaters...the problem won't go away.

It's hard to rip Torre for mismanaging his bench, it's not as if he has a ton to work with.

Further, the concept of "his guys" certainly seems to be true but it's in no way a trait that is unique to Joe Torre.

What did Ron Villone ever do to Torre? He must have done something. His ERA is 1.75, yet Torre would still rather overuse Proctor despite the fact that Villone has the experience that Torre usually prefers.

i agree with the guy above. torre to me is a terrible manager. i think anyone who inherited the players that torre did would have had the same success. you put the same lineup from 1996-now and its all the same. he has had great players. hasnt had to manage much. and when he does have to manage he screws up. i wouldnt fire him because of what he doesnt do. BUT i would rather have someone with some fire like lou pinella. torre cant handle superstars.

oh PS. i have NEVER liked him as a manager. i still thought we won despite him back in the glory years lol

I agree with most of everyone's assessment on Joe Torre. He just doesn't give the younger players enough playing time to get into the groove.

I see Matsui getting hurt as a blessing in disguise. They are actually a quicker, more slick fielding team with more energy without him.
Yeah, the guy can give you more power but he is streaky, meaning he can rip the cover off the ball for a few weeks and give you nothing for another few weeks.
What good is that?
The guy is also terrible with the glove, not to mention is slowness in the outfield.
Cabrera makes the Yankees a better team. Better defense, speed, energy, youthful enthusiasm and did I mention he is pretty good with the bat as well?

Torre and the rest of the Yankees hierarchy: if you read this, quit signing or trading away your young prospects for over-the-hill, aging, tired, overpaid veterans and give refreshing young talent like Phillips and Cabrera a entire full season to shine.

listen people joe torre is the worst manager in the history of the yanks and also the luckiest. he came to the team when they were ready to kick butt.he was 112 games below 500 as a manager when he got the job and is the worst decision maker of any manager.he still has no idea when to put certain pitchers in and when not to.he sits there eating his peanuts showing no emotion at all and then relies on mariano to get him out of trouble.i hate joe more then i hate the mets and the bosox so trust me i dont like him at all.he is in fact the the worst.also im tired of hearing what a horrible childhood he had boohoohoo.and i dont like when our players are getting hit all the time and joe tells the guys not to retaliate.if i was a player i would take the bat and whip at any pitcher but nonono joe says not to with a tear in his eyes because it reminds him of when his father supposedly beat him and his mom and siblings bohoho.joe just die already you bum of bums you r a fraud....him and that other idiot cashman have to go.listen people we have not won since 2000,enough already with these 2 morons.

The Alex Rodriguez problem...

Remember Lou Gehrig. A neurological problem can be slow, insidious and hard to detect.

AROD is a great athlete that has gone from being among the very best base ball players to one of the worst, in a relatively short period of time.

It is not just one aspect of the game. Everything he does is below his ability. Judgment plays, batting, fielding, throwing and even dealing with the public.

Joe Torre, get him checked out before he does harm to himself or my beloved N.Y. Yankees.

Watch what you wish for, it just might come true. George Steinbrenner is planning on firing Torre if he doesnt resign. Looks like the Yankees have Lou Piniella in their crosshairs.

Fire Torre??? What is everyone nuts, Pinella is a nut case his temper is ut of control and his players in Tampa hated him.. Keep Torre and trade zero-rod and get a pitcher under the age of 40!!!!

The yanks had no chance at winning this year so why not just fire him.

Whoever believes that Torre is a great, or even good, manager needs to review his history. Before he came to the Yankees he managed for approximately 15 years. the results were under 500 with about 4 clubs. he had no ability to take OKAY players and have them become winners. He comes to New York with the nest of players and wins. He has to do nothing. He is the absolute worst manager of a pitching staff compared to all current managers. He never tries to avoid double palys by running, stealing, or, bunting. This was clear with the Indians. Deja Vu all over again in game four with the Indians. This brought back memories of Tore starting Brown in game 7 with Boston in 2004. No he could not do it. He can't. No he can't be that stupid. But he did and as we all know, it was an absolute disaster. In game four with the Indians in 2007; no he can't, no he's not that stupid, no je won't, he has certainly learned from the past. NOPE he did!!! The worst move and the move that will send him off into the sunset. Thank goodness. I don't ahte Torre. I like him. It's just that he is the worst manager ever. Put him with an average team and they will be under 500. Bye Bye Torre Thank goodness!