FIRE THE APOSTLE JOE TORRE?
Is it time to fire Torre? This team isn't just bad, it's listless. There are just too many blank stares in that dugout, and none blanker than TAJT's.
God knows I love Joe Torre. He's a wonderful person and a hall of fame manager. But for the first time I'm really on the fence about his future.
Thoughts?
God knows I love Joe Torre. He's a wonderful person and a hall of fame manager. But for the first time I'm really on the fence about his future.
Thoughts?
posted by Anthony at 11:47 AM
10 Comments:
I have always backed TAJT as well, but it has reached the point where "something" has to be done. As we all know that "something" is usually firing the manager since there is no way to fire the players. I know Joe had nothing to do with Pavano/Hughes/Karstens/Rasner all going down, or with the fact that Cano and Melky and Abreu suck out loud this year, but the lack of a spark is the most frustrating aspect of this year's team. Without A-Rod's April heroics, this team would be finished already. As it is, they are barely hanging on by a thread. By the way, A-Rod looks like his old self again, and April feels like years ago. The question is would a fiery manager provide that spark? I don't know and I lean toward believing that it wouldn't really motivate anyone to do anything differently. But I get back to my original point that "something" should be done. If that "something" isn't firing Joe, then what is it?
I'm not familiar with the columnist, but he addresses this situation at http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=pearlman/070518&sportCat=mlb&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines
Gimme a break. No one could resurrect these sacks of dung. Give TAJT the rest of the season and then he can call it a career.
If they do fire him, bring in bowa so we could go back to being a late 80s joke.
Yon Joe Torre will not be fired. Who's even available? Joe Girardi?? Bowa? Mattingly?
The Yankees won't respond well to the firing for a few reasons. Most of the players probably love Torre, and have grown accustomed to his easy going style. He's not a screamer, a dictator, a Lou Pinella.
Seriously, how many of you agree that if a guy like Bowa is screaming and ranting, most of the players will simply turn the other way? They are much too professional for that sort of thing.
Listless, yes. I agree. But can we expect them to be any different? They can't get out of this funk. And Boston is kicking the hell out of teams. They're probably saying the same things we've been saying. "Oh, this is an end of an era."
I feel like the only way they can win is if they want to. Torre shouldn't have to be a motivator, and he hasn't mismanaged ball games. The Yankees simply aren't executing. Torre can't get out there and show Cano how to field a ground ball and step and throw to first. He can't stop a line drive from drilling Rassner in the hand. And he certainly can't motivate these guys if millions of dollars can't.
Sad.
This reminds me of Major League II. The team had a good season and everyone got a big head about it. They felt by just showing up they should win.
Now I know it's not exactly the same but you get the point.
And remember in that movie, it took a spark by a injured catcher who couldn't throw to second without thinking of either women naked or lingerie.
Maybe it's as simple as that. Maybe it will be someone from the minors. Maybe it will be a veteran. All I know is Boston is healthy, winning, and hasn't (yet) had that winless streak of a few games.
People this a critical time. It's almost June.
And here I am saying DON'T fire TAJT-- 5 minor leaguers called up to start games, 7 rookies starting for the Yanks in total. You don't win many games with a depleted staff such as the Yanks. Sure, pitching is only one problem for the team, but hired guns, free-agents and an overall lack of team unity is more Brian Cashman's doing than anything Torre has done. Strategically, I shift in my seat when Torre made calls in the past, but there's no "something" that his firing will accomplish to help repair this beleaguered team. Let Torre finish out his contract. He's not dragging down the Yankees in the least.
No one is claiming that this is Torre's fault. It's clearly not. He doesn't play, and these guy worship him and are playing hard.
So it's not about fault. But I think there is something to starting fresh, especially when the team is in a really deep rut. We all know there are intangibles at play in all sports, in all areas of life. Call it a gut feeling, but I think a new manager, someone fresh like Girardi or perhaps an eccentric like Bobby V, would do this team good.
Interestingly, the Yankees have actually gotten very good starting pitching from their rookies. The combined ERA of Rassner, Hughes, Clippard, and De Salvo is 3.54 in 58.1 innings, well below that of Wang and Mussina. Karstens and Wright were terrible, giving up 14 runs in 12.1 innings.
This doesn't bear on Torre one way or another--but it might say something decent for Guidry.
My point was two-fold, Steiner- let me reiterate that 1) not only is the team's current state not his fault but 2) his firing will not bring a positive change for the team. In fact, I would say the opposite would be the likely case. If it's so obvious that Torre is not at fault here, do you think the team would feel a "fresh start" dawn over them? If anything they should feel guilty for getting their boss fired. I don't see firing TAJT making any sense at this point.
As I said, my gut feeling is that a change would do the Yankees good. Call it a hunch. You disagree, and I find that acceptable.
For once, I agree with Cohen. I think firing Torre would be a mistake.
Hopefully Clemens will be "the change" the Yankees need to get hot.
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