Strange how the Captain will speak out for Torre but not his teamate. Associated Press Jeter Defends Torre As the Boss Stews By RONALD BLUM 04.29.07, 7:44 PM ET George Steinbrenner stayed silent about Joe Torre's job status following the Yankees' latest loss, a 7-4 wipeout Sunday against the Boston Red Sox that completed an awful April for New York. Not so, Derek Jeter, who delivered a stirring defense of his manager. Steinbrenner is said to be angry with the Yankees' 9-14 start, which left them last in the AL East. He considered firing Torre after last year's first-round playoff loss to Detroit and could be thinking about making a change now, with New York heading on the road after losing eight of nine. Surrounded by reporters, standing in front of his locker in the quiet clubhouse, the Yankees' captain insisted criticism of the manager was unwarranted. "It's unfair," Jeter said. "There's no way he's responsible for us performing. He's not hitting for us. He's not pitching for us. He puts the best players out there on the field, gives us an opportunity to win. We're just not doing the job. That's unfair, and it should stop. ... He's doing a great job this year. We just haven't done the job on the field. That's the bottom line." A short while earlier, Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon had stepped on first base for the final out, arm raised high. Boston, which got home runs from David Ortiz, Alex Cora and Manny Ramirez, is 5-1 against New York this season. The Red Sox have a four-game division lead and are 6 1/2 ahead of the Yankees, baseball's $195 million bust. Following a 10-15 start two years ago, Steinbrenner issued a statement saying: "It's in Joe Torre's and Brian Cashman's hands." On Sunday, he was mute, at least publicly. "I just spoke to George, and he's not going to have any comment today to anyone," spokesman Howard Rubenstein said after the game. He wouldn't say whether Steinbrenner will speak Monday. "I'm not going to go there," Rubenstein said. Torre, whose steady demeanor rarely changes, sat in his office following the loss and said he wasn't concerned whether losing five of six to Boston would cost him the job he has held since November 1995. "That's out of my control. I do what I can do. If that's what happens, that's what happens," he said. "It's certainly not the thing I'm thinking about when I'm sitting on the bench." Torre has not spoken with Steinbrenner since early last week, and neither has general manager Brian Cashman. Because of injuries, New York hasn't pitched Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina in the same turn through the rotation. Johnny Damon (4-for-32), Bobby Abreu (2-for-30), Hideki Matsui (3-for-17) and Robinson Cano (1-for-18) are slumping. New York's only runs came on a three-run homer in the third by Doug Mientkiewicz, who is hitting .154 and connected after failing to get a bunt down, and a solo shot in the eighth by Jeter that extended his hitting streak to 17 games. After hitting 14 homers in his first 18 games, Alex Rodriguez hit none in his final five of the month, leaving him tied with Albert Pujols for the April record. Damon is going to see a doctor Monday about his bad back, and Wang (0-2) pitched Sunday with a broken nail on the middle finger of his throwing hand. Cashman couldn't say whether Torre's job is in jeopardy but understood that any losing streak by the Yankees provokes speculation. "That's the nature of the beast. There's no doubt. We've hit a rough spot and when you hit a rough spot, especially here, it's rougher and louder," he said. "I take full responsibility for this start, just because that's my job. This is the team I put together. And so if people are looking for blame, I say blame me." Boston (16-8), trying to end the Yankees' streak of nine straight AL East titles, is assured of having at least a 3 1/2-game lead at the end of April, the largest in franchise history. "It's a good month, but you can't get caught up in the numbers," said Cora, who hit an RBI grounder in the third, had two-run homer for a 4-3 lead in the fifth and tripled and scored in the seventh. Ortiz was wary about reading too much into the first month. Two years ago, the Yankees started 11-19 before a 10-game winning streak got them going. "Ever since I've been here, I've watched them struggle at the beginning. Then they pick it up," he said. Wang, making his second start since recovering from a hamstring injury, failed to hold a 3-2 lead, repeatedly left pitches up and allowed four runs and six hits in six innings. Ramirez, batting .202, boosted Boston's lead to 7-3 with a two-run homer off Sean Henn in the eighth. Julian Tavarez (1-2) and four relievers held New York to seven hits, with Papelbon pitching the ninth for his eighth save in eight chances. "I think today was one of the very, very important starts for me," Tavarez said. "I felt it was like the last start of my life." Notes Yankees RHP Carl Pavano (sore forearm), who hasn't pitched since April 9, threw about 45 pitches in a bullpen session, about 20 from the top of the mound. He probably will throw again Tuesday or Wednesday. ... Boston's Mike Lowell went 0-for-2, ending his hitting streak at 14 games. Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/04/29/ap3665959.html
"Strange how the Captain will speak out for Torre but not his teamate." I was thinking exactly that even before I saw you had posted it. There is something about Jeter the man I have never liked. He's a great player but when it comes to supporting his teammates he is invisable. It goes back to two fights I remember. The big one in Baltimore when Tino got hit and also the one in Seattle. He wasn't captain in the first but was in the second. In both cases, however, he basically hid under his bed and would not get involved at all. It really annoyed me when he had already been made captain of the team. Since then nothing he does surprises me. Him defending Torre fits this pattern perfectly because he knows if Torre goes he will no longer have his great protector. I fully expect Torre to be fired on Monday.
I don't know how i feel about this anymore. I do agree with Jeter that it;s the team that is not performing,but doesn't the manager hold any responcibility for not having them enthused about a game? They look lifeless. If you look at other teams,they joke with eachother and have fun. I was at the game today and watching batting practice,the Sox were fooling around etc,looking like they were enjoying themselves. I rarely see that with the Yankees this year. Wheres Damons personality? This problem is a mental thing. There is too much business. I understand that there is money to be made and professional responcibility,but i always thought baseball started as a childhood dream,so it should be fun. I wish i were that lucky. While this is my favorite team,and i really like a lot of players on this team,i'm going to have to for the first time agree with the Yankee haters and say that this looks like an overpaid soulless bunch of ball players. I do expect this to me fixed and for the Yankees to be right in it again,as i'm sure most do. But this is an unacceptable start. This division is pretty good this year and we can't fall to far behind no matter how early it is.
Good call on Damon TypeO... I thought that was his whole shtick, team chemistry. I said it at the very start of camp when the Jeter/Arod thing blew up on the first day... why doesn't somebody step up and do something that takes the heat off these two? I mean the media had their fangs out the first day of camp needling the two of them... at what point does somebody else step up and do something to help the team and more specifically release some pressure. I mean you don't have to be Steve Swindal and go out drunk driving but why didn't Damon act like an "idiot" and do something goofy? This team has no soul.
Ouch. Needing to be defended publicly is often the first step on the road to being fired. If Cashman issues a statement of confidence in Torre, then he's a goner.
Yeah,and this is where i don't think it falls on Torre at all. This team needs to have some comeradery(sp?). But as professionals,i dont think the jeter/Arod thing has any play in this. It didn't seem to be bothering Arod lately. I think he initiated the topic at the beginning of camp.Not sure whats going on in that clubhouse,but i don't think it will last. There has to come a time soon where they get sick of these results. Maybe a good come from behind win will get them fired up of something. Re watching the Arod walk offs this year,it was there. But we sure could use Damon to be an "idiot" sometime soon and loosen this team up.
Torre looks the other way when it comes to Jeter and his homosexual locker room shenanigans. Jeter dosent want a manager who brings a 'no gay sex in the clubhouse' rule to the team. it would totaly crimp his style.
Jeter has shown his true colors over the last few years. He is a spoiled baby. How dare Arod actually show up in Jeter's city and wear Jeter's pinstripes! So what if AROD is on his way to another MVP season! This is Jeter's team and he's going to let everyone know it! Winning comes second! Some captain!
man you are so way off...Jeter has been playing for Torre ever since he was in the league, im sure he doesnt want to see his only manager sent out on his ass... Jeter a baby...my ass, this guys is the epitomy of class...anyone who has anything against Jeter is 100% clueless
That's ridiculous. Jeter a baby? The only thing i think he doesn't like is signing all the high dollar ball players. Jeter would probably be the first to agree with you Met fans and say not to compare this team to those of the late 90s. Actually i think i heard him say just that.
Yeah, Jeter hates high salaries for players... Code: 1 Giambi, Jason $ 23,428,571 New York Yankees 2 Rodriguez, Alex $ 22,708,525 New York Yankees 3 Jeter, Derek $ 21,600,000 New York Yankees
Rk Player Salary (US$) 1. Alex Rodriguez 25,680,727 2. Derek Jeter 20,600,000 3. Jason Giambi 20,428,571 4. Mike Mussina 19,000,000 Yes, I understand the point you were making devil, but 5 million dollars is not chump change, even at the level these salaries are at, and we're showing a large difference in numbers. Where are you getting your numbers? I got mine from ESPN, and they don't match yours. Is one of ours pro-rated over the course of the contract? Maybe it's my numbers? IDK. Either way, Alex makes a lot more than anyone else over the life of the contract.
An don't forget that the Yankees are only paying Arod 15 million. Texas pays the other 10. So Jeter is still the highest paid Yankee.
I find A LOT of fault with that argument. ARod makes what ARod makes. About 8 years ago, I worked as a salesman for a computer manufacturer. After about a year and half, they created an off-shoot company, and moved me into it. I still made the same amount of money, still lost the same amount of taxes, but got paid from two different employers simultaneously. He's making 25 million dollars this year. He's the highest paid Yankee.
Don, if you are making $75,000 a year, and the guy sitting next to you is making $100,000, but the company he came from is kicking in $50,000 because they could not wait to get rid of him, are YOU going to insist that you making more money than him in your company?
Ok, but is that his fault that Texas made him that offer? The Yankees didn't think he was worth 25 million so they wouldn't pay it. They DID think Jeter was worth 20 million so I think it is an absolutly valid argument. Even Arod doesn't care about the money. He tried to give a large chunk of it back to go to Boston and the players union sued to stop him from doing so.
Sure, I would. I would think the company thinks more of me then him. I could care less if his last company grossly overpaid him.
