That contract was basically a contract to be a lame duck with the ultimatum that if we don't win it all you are fired. Any manager with a half decent managerial record would have laughed at this proposal. To me this was a cowardly way out to get rid of a popular guy. If they wanted to fire him then just fire him, not bring up this joke of an offer.
It will never return to the Billy Martin days. Primarily because George is pretty much out of the picture now.
Oh bullshit. Nobody thinks the Yankees are successful because they are classy. Most people hate them for buying up half the league's players. Joe can bring his maturity and likability to the Pirates and work on their brand if thats what he brings to the table.
Any manager in baseball would jump through hoops for that contract. At least those that have confidence in their abilities to win. Even if you get fired in a year you have made three times what 90% of the other managers have made for that year. The bottom line is no other manager the Yankees hire will get anywhere near even that base of 5 million a year, much less the chance to make 8 and if Torre ends up anywhere else he won't get a dollar over 3.
Let me rephrase this, if you are working in a firm and your boss comes up to you and gives you an offer to take a paycut and you only have a one year contract, he tells you that you are living on a performance based for this one year and if you aren't the best person in the company you are fired, would you take this deal????? You are truly delusional. 95% of the time security > money
If the other option was being out the door, I probably would. If I cared about my job that is. If I didn't then for sure I would turn it down. Especially when it meant that I could make even more for just doing a good job at what I do.
I think the offer came from George. He had a major problem for the last 3 years with what Torre was making and what he was getting in return for it. at least one sportswriter sees it properly http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7351780
The Yankees are the most followed and liked sports club of any team in the country. Their are Yankee fans in every corner of this country.
Well first off considering his record the example is closer it would just be a choice of choosing this terrible offer or doing his job someplace else for similar money that he was making now. There is a reason why most NFL players hate what has become of the franchise tag. And considering his age playing for absolutely no security no matter how confident you are in your abilities is a very stupid proposal.
I think the risk of getting hurt in the NFL is a little higher then a 69 year old baseball manager faces walking to the mound once or twice a day. That's why the NFL detests the franchise tag.
And this just brought in another scenario, could you imagine if Torre actually did take this offer. Torre would kill the team's future just to advance in the playoffs. That is a very bad way to do business.
There is uncertainty in the future either way so it is exactly the same thing, because 69 isn't exactly a spring chicken even in the managerial ranks especially with the media wondering if you are going to be fired with every losing streak like last year.
Actually, I did think about that and you might be right. He detroyed his pitching staff two or three times when he didn't have those escalators. I can't imagine what he might do if he did have them.
Just think about what the Yankee farm system was before these Cashman years, if the Yankee organization is really thinking like this then be prepared to say bye bye to all of your prospects because those days are coming back again.
No way. All three Steinbrenners, especially the sons, have made it clear that the pitchers in the farm system are untouchable. In fact three of them may be in next year's rotation. Chamberlain, Hughes and Kennedy. Sanchez, Veras and Ohlendorf will be in the pen. If Rivera, Pettitte and Posada leave the Yankees will save 50 million alone right there. Clemens is gone so that is another 18 million. They may trade Damon and Matsui which is another 25 million and Aror could always opt out which is another 25. That's 118 million they would have available to dabble with in FA and trades. Even if they get nobody that would leave them with about the 10th highest payroll in MLB. Let's see how all these owners feel without Steinbrenner's check every year. This would be an excellent time for them to totally rebuild this team. They are assured of selling 4.5 million tickets next year and the year after anyway.
They say that now but if they think they have to win at all cost, don't underestimate a guy that has done this before, and with the way they "fired" Torre if they don't make the playoffs next year they are dead men walking
Joe seems a little bitter,and also a little relieved. I do think the Yankees had every right to offer what they did. 5 mil was still the highest payed in baseball and 1 year is fair because after winning 4 out of 5 ,we haven't returned to the scene. I think it is kind of unfair to Joe that they bulit the team way differentl than they did 96-00 and he took a good part of the fall for that. I also understand how Joe feels about 1 year. It would be a whole year that would feel like the pressure he had after Georges comments during the ALDS.
