exactly... he's a stooge who basically stepped in shit with that job... the Yankees stopped winning the year he took over... yet Torre is the problem
Levine is nothing more then an administrator. He has had nothing to do with baseball decisions in the past and I'm not sure he has any authority in that area even now. The blame for not winning falls squarely on Torre and Cashman and personally I think Cashman is more to blame then Torre ever was.
The blame lies in Tampa. we see what cashman has done the past few years restocking the system. The Tamps crew was bringing in the overpriced FAs and bring us back to the 80s ways of building a team it wasn't Cashman.
Cashman was 100% responsible for Randy Johnson, Igawa and Pavano to name just a few. He also made the Sheffield trade for somebody who immediately needed Tommy John surgery. HE chose not to deal with Rivera, Posada and Arod before the season started. He extended Mussina and Matsui. He brought in Damon for 4 years. These were all his decisions alone. There are a million other examples I'm forgetting.
George was obsessed with getting Johnson... that move is squarely on him.. Igawa had to go through a bidding war to be got... no way that's Cashmans decision alone... Pavano every team was trying to get including the Red Sox and Mets... They got more than one player for Sheffield... I believe it was 4 prospects... and that move was addition by subtraction IMO... As far as Rivera, Jorge and A Rod... that's team policy... Cashman has no authority to violate it... Mussina deal had to be done at the time... there were no better options Matsui I have not problem with... the guy has been clutch for us in big spots And we had no other choice than to sign Damon, who's been clutch as well, when we did... Bernie was shot and based on what we saw from Melky no one would have rolled the dice on him
I'm not sure he was responsible for Igawa, johnson was a good deal at the time(though i think gorge had his hands in that one) and the sheff trade turned out fine- neither side really benefitted but at least we have the possibility of long term benefits. Pavano was a highly coveted FA, who knew he'd be hurt 90% of his time w/ us? He gave Moose a 2 year extension, right? this was off an excellent '06 season. I do not believe he was behind matsui's extension, Matsui was and is clearly a declining player. that move was made b/c of $$$ they make in Japan and moves like that extend beyond Cashman just like the decision to extend ARod wll be out of Cashman's control.
It was all Cashman...every one of those moves. He had complete autonomy. There was only one piece that mattered in the Sheffield trade and that was Sanchez..the rest were people who may never make the big leagues. There is no team policy on dealing with people in their last year. That's strictly Cashman's policy.
Damon was playing pretty good by seasons end. If they could have gotten any pitching and gotten by Cleveland, would have been interesting to see Damon against the BoSox. He really turned it around. The extra year thing never bothers me, because if you want a guy you gotta give him the extra year. Mets turned their whole franchise around by offering Pedro that extra year, even if if was too much.
He was hitting well and doing ok in left field. The thing is they signed him to a 4 year deal to play center field and he obviously can't do it. They now have 2 years of him as a part time DH/part time LF.
HERE'S YOUR ANSWER: From People Magazine Online: Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter may be taking a well-timed vacation from the New York tabloid headlines about his departing coach Joe Torre. The superstar, normally a club fixture on the East Coast, has been taking L.A. by storm ? hitting the Hollywood hot spots two nights in a row. On Thursday, as Torre was turning down Yankees owner George Steinbrenner's one-year contract offer, Jeter stepped out at the new lounge Green Door in Hollywood with a bunch of pals. Then Friday, Jeter was at it again, surrounded by a bevy of beauties at Les Deux in Hollywood. Along with a guy friend and the club promoter, Jeter took over a massive outdoor table in the club's patio area and it wasn't long before the table was completely surrounded with women. A clubgoer tells PEOPLE, "Jeter just enjoyed the attention with his buddy and left in peace at closing time."
So wait...Jeter is on vacation and you expect him to chat about Torre? I can't wait for Wall Street to ask " Where is JoeJet?" when a big stock transaction goes down...Thanks Richie Rich
I'm not a Yankee fan or a Jeter fan, but I recognize he's a very good ballplayer. Anyway, I'm sure he's talked to him in private about the matter. There's no need for him to seek out a reporter to discuss the issue publicly. He is still a Yankee and that's what he should be most concerned about as a professional at this point (read into this a bit). The personal details between he and Torre can and probably will be dealt with outside of the publics eye.
even the media is starting to bring this up now.... http://www.nyjournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071021/SPORTS01/710210382/1035/SPORTS
not really a shock... Jeter has always been about Jeter... the A Rod situation proved that more than anything...
