On the Yankees beat

Rye Town Hilton is a fantastic hotel - I grew up about 3 blocks from it. Great Sunday brunch but a tad overpriced.

Damm small world . After hockey practice up 287 we used to go there as well.

(yes the brother played hockey).

That is when you know you have power. Had that been Stump Merril the owner of the place would have been like

If you don't get you fat ass from my property i'll "...

The very first important piece of business "H and H" get their hands on, and they turn it into a "PR Nightmare". I have said from the "get go", that Hank and Hal are "unqualified" to run this franchise, and their primary focus is on the "bottom line". The Torre fiasco they have created proves both these points. If they were going to summon Torre to Tampa, and then "broadside" him with a lowball offer, they should have had a 2nd choice ready to sign. This would have diverted much of the attention from Torre to the new Mgr. Now, the entire focus is on how Torre was used, abused, and ultimately insulted, by being asked to take a pay cut after leading the Yanks to numerous championships, and playoff appearances. I also thought it was ridiculous that Cashman was sent to "retrieve" Torre. What is next for the Yankee GM, running to Starbucks for coffee and doughnuts? It has been asserted that Hanks "race track" experience qualifies him to run the Yankees. Hopefully, he and Hal learned yesterday that dealing with people is far different than dealing with horses. Cashman was "used" by H and H to lead Torre to the slaughter. The total lack of respect shown to both he and Torre, have to "alarm" Cashman. This "bottom line" first, last, and always approach, is now the way Yankee business is going to be conducted. We all better get used to it.

every great Yankee manager went down in a funky way Torre is No different than Casey in terms of release, and Casey AT LEAST won a pennant in his final year

Roy, there is no way to part with a popular manager without it being a PR disaster. It was a PR disaster when George announced the team was going forward without Buck and Stick after 1995.

If you listened to the conference call at all yesterday, Cashman told Torre what the offer was before they got on the plane.

Stop jumping at shadows and if you're so worried about how the Yankees are going to be run, root for someone else you front running brat.

Roy,
Cashman kept Joe informed every step of the way and asked Joe in advance which way was he deciding to go. Joe told him he did not know. Where is the surprise? Joe wanted to do this in person, he made the request to go down to Florida, which was granted. Stop waiting on the Steinbrenner Boys and they will stop stiffing you on the tips.....

Me personally I would have taken the deal and when Iclinched the playoffs the back page would say GIMME MY MONEY, after the DIv series the page will say GIMME MY MONEY , and So help me ...if I win the WS . GIMME MY F**KIN MONEY!!!! that would have been the upmost slap at the team. espcially Richie CUnningham Levine who looks like sean penn in carlitos way. Iwould have said it publicly Gimme My mOney NOW just like they described the contract in public I would have demanded my rewards in public.

Manager Bomber your going to disney world.

F**k Disney world right now ..(looks into camera) hey S& Hor H&H You mutherf**kers OWE ME SOME MONEY know what I'm saying?? BROOKLYN STYLE BABY

Please bring in Girardi to manage, Hillman as the bench coach, and Mattingly manage at AAA. Bring in Eiland as pitching coach.

Bring back Posada and Mo. If A-Rod opts out, let him go. Bring Pettitte and Abreu back. Do everything possible to trade Giambi, Mussina, and Farnsworth.

Jeff - Hillman was just hired by the Royals.

For those of you who wonder why Torre was not offered a 2 year deal (or longer) consider that Cashman's deal only runs through next season - it's possible that the Yankees (if Cash doesn't return) did not want the new GM to be put in a place to either fire Torre or stick with a manager he wasn't comfortable with.

Bomber, I'm with you.

If I'm offered that deal I take it. I'm confident enough in my ability as a manager and my teams' ability to know that at the least I am going to make the ALDS.

It is sickening already, all the people crying over Joe Torre's departure. Remember he has not won anything for 7 years!!! We even lost the division and were "happy" to make the playoffs - WHAT!!! These are the friggin Yankees, not the Rockies who were thrilled to be in the playoffs and guess what?!?! Their manager has them in the series! Forget Joe, let's move on to someone who has fire and can motivate what appeared to me to be a bored team this year. Did Torre win 4 rings? - yes. Does he really deserve the ridiculous butt kissing he is recieving? - no. When you fail to do your job completely for 7 straight years you normally get fired, atleast he was offered a contract.

Chip and (Bomber the hockey playing brother),
You say you are confident enough in your own abilities to get to the ALDS, but you as the manager wouldn't have to hit or pitch in clutch situations so the question is would you trust this current group of Yankees to do it? History proves otherwise.

Bomber-
I played hockey while growing up, actually got offered a scholarship to play in college but lo and behold I tore my shoulder up in a little motorcycle mishap and that was that. I actually had a couple of really good brothers on my team and well, they stuck out a bit. I have to meet you some day, maybe next year at the stadium, you're a cool dude.

John,
1982-94, remember those years?
That's when it could be said of any manager the Yanks had that "he didn't win anything for 7 years". Not true of Torre's teams though. We've just been spoiled.

Chip: Calling Roy a "front running brat" was priceless, my assistant came in to ask me to sign something and she just stopped as she saw me laughing at my computer- Thanks bro. Join me and Bomber at the stadium next year will ya? Same for Roy, I have to see what this lunatic looks like!

Roy has the lowdown on the H & H Brothers -- he already knows they are incompetent. Makes me feel good that he says that since he's always wrong.

Jim A.,

My girlfriend (a red sox fan) got me a ticket for the All-Star game next season.

As for trusting the players to get to the post season - absolutely. I think this is going to be a very fun time to be a Yankee fan.

I get the feeling that Roy is, in reality, former Steinbrenner son-in-law Steve Swindall popping on here to sew seeds of discontent among us fans.

Ahh, Mike and the Mad Dog, this should be fun

Jim,
The greatest thing about being a Yankee fan is we are ALWAYS spoiled. Torre had no fire in the dugout this year. I am also a Steelers fan and based on what I saw last year I was glad Cowher left, he didn't have the fire to lead anymore and look at the Steelers now - first place. We need new blood (preferrably Girardi or LaRussa - instant respect).
As for H&H? Seems to me they need to grow a pair. Their dad never played around wiht PR, just fire the guy and move on. What's all this dancing around crap?

don't think for a minute if they really wanted Torre gone they wouldn't have done it. Torre might have taken the deal and then what? There was no guarantee Torre would turn down the deal so they are probably instituting new policy which Torre doesn't agree with. THERE'S A NEW POLICY IN PLACE. Read Bronx Bomber's post from another thread. NEW POLICY TORRE DOESN'T LIKE. It was HIS CHOICE to move on, he wasn't fired.

John,
I was actually wondering if finally winning a Super Bowl would be the worst thing for Cowher, and maybe it was. However, I don't need to see my team's coach or manager acting like Bobby Cox or Jon Gruden to think they are motivating players. I don't know that I've ever heard one player of the Torre era, current or former, come out and say Torre couldn't get them motivated. As a matter of fact, Doug M. came out and said that after a loss in Toronto this season, Joe T. went off and "said some things" according to Doug that you would never picture the Joe T. you see on TV saying. That's where I prefer that stuff to be done, in the clubhouse, not on the field and not in the media (Valentine will do that for sure).

Chip: I believe I may be attending the all-star game as well, at least I've been promised a ticket by the owner of my company so that might be a good time to meet.

A few things from Mike and Mad Dog:

1. If George were running the show, Joe would have been fired last year and even if he weren't they would have fired him this year and he would STILL be a candidate to come back despite being fired (ala Billy Martin)

2. Torre won't rip the Yankees. It isn't his way, and there's always the chance that if the Yankees miss the playoffs next year the organization brings him back.

3. I don't know that I need Chris "I hate the Yankees" Russo saying that this is gutless by the Yankees.

4. People are telling Mike that Hal is the one who is going to be the next George.

5. Cashman wasn't the culprit in any of this (if you want a culprit) it's Randy Levine who (to suck up to George) has been twisting the knife in Joe's back for years.

Chip,
LOL.Really funny stuff. Even funnier than Sully the Red Sox slug.

This all sounds so familiar to the fall out after Buck left - I wonder if these guys have memories that go back that far.

LOL on the previous posts, not the M & MD thing. Russo is local garbage - not even recyclable and you can't take anything he says seriously. Mike is a toad who needs to lay off the Cheetos, even though he is a Yankee fan, his only redeeming quality..

I hate to say it but I am glad that we are finally closing a chapter and opening up a new one. This team has needed fresh blood in here for a few years now and I am glad to see it finally is going to come. Toore was a good manager but he had major flaws.I don't buy into the fact that the Yankees won all because of Toore.With a team filled with superstars you can put anyone in there and this team will win at least 88+ games.Toore gets all the credit in the world when this team does great but how come when the team fails Toore fans never blame him.You give him credit for turning a 21-29 team around but you don't credit him for 3 years bounced out of the first round.The media needs to stop crying over this and move on. This team might even be better off next year.Go ask the Rockies if they have a $5 million dollar manager sitting in the dugout? People fail to remember Toore was a sub .500 manager before coming here. Granted we won 4 rings in 96,98,99,2000 while he was here I do believe he was here also in 97,01,02,03,04,05,06,07 when we failed!

Cashman wasn't the culprit but he played waterboy pretty well.

Francesa has lost all credibility. he used to be a reliable "Voice of the fan"- but now that he's filthy rich he thinks he is a sports celebrity like his buddy Bill "Mr. Classy Exits" Parcells.

If this didn't go down with Torre yesterday, he would till be talking about his backstage meeting with Bruce Springsteen. (Bruce to publicist- "Mike Who wants to say hello?")

Let's face it- Torre did a great job but he is not a God. the only way to satisfy Mike and company would be to give Joe a contract for life.

It's time to turn the page of this era of Yankee history. Joe Torre took a team that was poised to win the World Series and took them to the promised land. It is not his fault that upper management forgot how they built the 90's Team. But they did.
Now the Yankees need to build again instead of paying high priced primadonas they need to look to their own youth. If Torre stayed they would have gone to the Playoffs again but fail miserably in 2008. Now that he is gone they could do a youth movement like in the 90s and bring the right veterens in.
They need to jetison A-rod!!!, Musina, Clemens, & Giambi, if we get a bag of basballs back it would be an improvement. I would pay for a team to take them of our hands.
Mo, Pettite, & Giradi must be signed!!!!!! With them & Jeter they will teach the new kids how to win. With all the good young prospects the Yankees have by 2009 they should be the beginning of the next Yankee Dynasty.

Good post Chip

If the next manager wins a World Series than the guy will be considered a hero.

Keep in mind Earl Weaver leaving the Orioles in 1982... Oh my God the Orioles are in trouble!

The Orioles win the World Series in 1983 with Joe Altobelli.

Torre is a great manager.
The Yankees will move on and have as good, if not better, chance to win the World Series especially because they are NOT going to follow the Knicks/Rangers model of getting old old old.

Hey Mike... how did I become a slug?

Granted I AM a slug and my wife knows it all too well, but how did YOU declare me a slug?

Sully -

Torre wasn't even considered an AVERAGE manager before coming to NY. He's great at managing players, but not the game itself. That's not to say he won't be missed. I happened to like him, but anyone who thinks this team will be a disaster without him is nuts.

I'm listening to Russo say that if he were a Yankee fan he would be worried about the fact that the Yankees appear inept - thankfully he's not a Yankee fan. Francessa put it perfectly, "if the Yankees really wanted him back, they would have made him an offer that ensured him coming back, just as they will with Posada and Rivera. They didn't want him back but weren't sure how to get rid of him so they fumbled it."

Sully,
You're right, the Yanks need to get younger. People also forget the in '94 whn Buck was the manager the Yanks were on pace to break any season wins records and they nearly made the playoffs the next year when Jeter was a rookie. Torre had nothing to do with any of that. The great 90's team was built by "Stick" and Showalter - period. They made it easy to come and manage a young and amazingly talented team. The problem arose when that team got older.

Hillman expected to be named Royals manager

[quote]
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3069833

Updated: October 19, 2007, 1:40 PM ET

Trey Hillman is expected to be named manager of the Kansas City Royals on Friday after some contract details are finalized. Hillman would have been among the candidates considered by the New York Yankees as they begin their search for a replacement for Joe Torre.

The Associated Press reported the team and Hillman were working out final contract details, said two people who requested anonymity because an announcement had not been made.

Hillman, 44, has managed the Nippon Ham Fighters in recent seasons after spending years as a manager within the Yankees' minor league system.

Nippon beat Bobby Valentine's Chiba Lotte Marines 6-2 Thursday to win the Pacific League championship series in Japan. Hillman has never played or managed in the majors. But he managed for 12 years in the Yankees' minor league system. He won three manager of the year awards while directing clubs to three first-place finishes.

The Royals have been seeking a replacement for Buddy Bell, who announced in August he would step down as manager at season's end to spend more time with his family. Bell, 56, who was hired by the Royals in May 2005.

At the end of September, the Royals had announced Bell would join the front office as a senior adviser to general manager Dayton Moore. But Bell took a job with the Chicago White Sox on Oct. 9 to be the organization's director of minor league instruction.

Hillman has previously interviewed to be the manager of the Texas Rangers and the Oakland Athletics. The hiring would be the first major decision by Moore since he became general manager in June 2006.

Hillman inherits a Royals club that appeared last season to be making strides toward becoming respectable for the first time since the early 1990s. The Royals avoided 100 losses this season for the first time in three years and have not made a postseason appearance since winning the 1985 World Series.

Buster Olney is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.[/quote]

Torre called Cashman and asked if it would help resolve the situation if he flew to Tampa. He didn't ask Cashman to come get him. Cashman was "dispatched" by The Boys, so he could inform them how Joe would respond to their offer. They didn't want Joe back, and wanted to make an offer he would refuse, but would seem as "decent" as possible to the general public. Cashman hit Joe up with the offer in order to inform The Boys what Torre's answer would be, or what he "thought" Joe's responce would be based on Torre's reaction. Cashman was a "mole", merely following orders, but ultimately leading Torre to the slaughter. The PR fallout here, isn't even close to Buck or Stick. You gotta be kidding.

From Bob Kaplisch on espn.com -

"This will be especially true if the Bombers decide to make Joba Chamberlain a starter in '08 -- a goal set not by Torre or GM Brian Cashman or even George Steinbrenner. The pronouncement was made by Hank Steinbrenner, the Boss' oldest son who'll take over the baseball operations next season. Hank's surfacing prompted one major league GM to ask rhetorically, "Exactly who's going to be running the Yankees from now on?"

Good question: 20 years ago, it was George. Two years ago, it was Cashman who was promised full autonomy, and he used his powers to save Torre from being fired after the 2006 season. But the equation is cloudier now, given the addition of two more Steinbrenners (Hank and younger brother Hal) and the emergence of team president Randy Levine, who ran point on Thursday's press conference at Legends Field. "

John,
94 they had the best record in baseball & MLB taanked the season. 95 the Yankees DID make the playoffs but they lost to the Mariners. Pettite, Mo, Jeter, & Posada were all late season callups & on the playoff roster.

Roy - I didn't know you were on the call with Cash and Torre. That changes everything.

And it is exactly the same reaction - difference is there weren't blogs or chatrooms back then - well there were, but most of them were about "other stuff"

Not even close. Stop the baloney.

The Yankees offered him $666,666 less than Kyle Farnsworth and $1 mil more than Kei Igawa

I don't actually expect you to remember it "Roy" since I'm pretty sure you only go back to the good old days of 1996 (but jumped in 1997 thinking the Yankees were one year wonders)

Sully,

I can't get bent out of shape over the $5 mil - not when the ML Average for manager salaries is $1 mil and the next highest paid manager will be Lou Pinella at $3.5 mil.

Torre is gone so is Buck. It's time to fix this team not put bandaids on a open heart surgery. We need a new manager that is the first priority. After Torre's conference call he is now an old timer and his # should be retired. We need suggestions on how to fix this team.

Chip you've been pretty much echoing everything Heyman had to say this morning.

I don't agree 100 percent with Verducci. But he was closer.

Grampa -

I haven't read Heyman yet today. But I've been saying for a little while that I've got no problem with the Yankees asking Joe to take a pay cut, nor do I have a problem with Joe for walking away. Sometimes, it's best for both sides to have a change.

I do not necessarily like how it was handled, but I also can't fathom a way to handle it where the response is positive. Outside of just retaining Torre until he wants to leave - which would be silly.

Michael Pastore,
To fix the team we need:
a) resign Posada, Mo
b) Make sure Pettite doesn't walk
c) get Girardi or LaRussa to manage (I don't care how LaRussa handles the media, it's how he handles the team that matters)
d) dump "hey,you gonna finish that?" Giambi, dump Damon, dump Mussina, dump Farnsworthless, dump Meyers
e) see who's available as an FA
f) if the price isn't too ridiculous resign A-Rod
g) see waht kind of prospects are out on the farm - realistically

The press conference is on here at work... oddly I am transfixed

John,
I agree with a & b
c. Giradi yes Larussa no for the same reason Torre needed to go they have to go with a youth movement.
d. agree with that and also get rid of the whole middle relief corpse.
e. FA should only be used for the right players not just the highest profile
f. NO LET HIM GO!!!!!!!!!
g. realisticly they have 3 more arms in the system 2 of them are releivers. they also have a great young catcher & top rated outfielder ready to at least be invited to spring training for tryouts. That does not include Joba, Hughes, or Kenenedy.

Did I miss something? Isn't Myers already long gone?

Michael Pastore, apparently you were at the bottom of the Great South Bay - or wherever Tony, Paulie and Sylvio dumped you - for too long, because for the last few months, this blog has been filled with hundreds of ideas on how to make the Yankees better. Everything from sign Santana, Halladay, Beckett and Oswalt all at once, to soften the dirt around homeplate so Jeter doesn't hit into any more season ending DPs.

John G, where are you? Are you still in a comatose state because of the latest playoff disappointment? I would remind you all of a great scene from "A Bronx Tale", where the dad simply reminds the kid not to care too much. After all, Mickey Mantle doesn't care about you, so why should you care so much about him and his team. It's not life and death here.

I know, very much easier said than done.

John,
Myers has been gone since June.

jim,
sorry, haven't been able to watch the pen since may

too painful - until Joba

Joe still owns the media!

I hear you John.
This is how it went in my house:
"Now pitching for the Yankees, Kyle Farn..." click! off goes the TV.

Jim,
We see eye to eye on that one. Why can't we just find 5 or 6 Joba's? Then we'd be set

Anonymous,
Your ranting and raving is typical of a fan who expects the Yankees to sign every NAME out there. You are not realistic, Yankee management this off season should not be playing Von Steingrabbers FANTASY baseball like the 80s Yankees and 21st century Yankees.

Michael,
I agree, remember the 90's? We got key FA's - not necessarily big names (O'neil, Gallegos, Brocious)

Hey, Pastore, you may want to go back and actually read the post. No where in there does it say the Yankees need to sign them. I was merely pointing out the silliness of some of the "fixes" several people have offered up. And the GSB comment was actually supposed to be a joke - a reference to the Sopranos and the whacking of Big Pu$$y...but that was my bad as I just remembered the actor's name is Vincent - not Michael. No offense intended.

John,
Exactly!!!
The 70s were built by great trades by Gabe Paul and Yankee minor leaguers and SOME free agents.
CF Rivers - Trade
2B Randolph - Trade
C Munson - Minors
RF Jackson - FA
1B Chambliss - Trade
3B Nettles - Trade
LF/DH Pinella - Trade
LF/DH White - Minors
SS Dent - FA
SP Guidry - Minors
SP Hunter - FA
SP Figuroa - Trade
RP Tidrow - Minors
RP Lyle - Trade
RP Gossage - FA
Hunter & Jackson were the only HOF on those teams Gabe Paul made the player decisions Steinbrenners only contribution was Jackson & Gossage. Goose was added in 78 after Lyle won the Cy Young in 77 so in 78 thy really did not need him but from 1980 he was important. After Von Stiengrabber fired Paul & he was in total control the Yankees fell apart until the early 90s when Stick & Buck took control when The Boss was out of Baseball.

Anonymous
I know you were kidding around with the Sopranos. I am just so sick of the usual BS that goes on here about the Yankees can be treated like a FANTASY BASBALL TEAM. Most of the posts to fix the team are completely unrealistic.

That was my point exactly! I wasn't saying the Yanks can, should or need to sign anyone, and none of those guys are actually even available. But you are absolutely correct in that a lot of posters just feel we can go out and sign every single big name out there and that teams are just lining up to help us out.

I do however, think we are on the right track, and with a few key signings of players we already have, and the maturation of 2 or 3 others, we will continue to compete, even during the rebuilding years. Things will be fine, but we can't expect to win the WS every year. Not winning the world series does not equate to failure. Think about it, of the 8 teams who made the playoffs this year, how many of them made it last year?

Sully,
Just seein' if you were out there. Not a slug, maybe a silverfish, but not a slug. You are okay in my book, even though you are in The Nation.

I'll take Silverfish

Jim A,
You are right. Torre STILL owns the media. Should be in the broadcast both, something he is extremely good at. Maybe he can replace "PigPen" Kruk, or "The Albino" Steve Phillips in their cushy jobs in ESPhew. They need some real baseball guys in that studio, who have a little credibility.

I'm still here.
I am directing a piece for the show at the Rose Bowl tomorrow afternoon and doing something with the Globetrotters next week

It's nice working at a place where my boss says "Make sure you read 5 sports sections a day."