More Reactions to the Yankee Years

Graig Nettles knows what is like to write a tell-all book. His 1984 book, "Balls" told some of the inner workings of the Yankees organization. That combined with some shots he took at George Steinbrenner resulted in a trade to the San Diego Padres. It worked out in the end for Nettles, who along with Goose Gossage, went to the World Series that year against the Tigers. (Personally, we were pissed when he got dealt.)

Nettles defended Torre's right to write the book.

"All I've read is excerpts, so it's really not fair to comment," Nettles said in a phone interview. "But just from the excerpts, it doesn't seem to be anything scandalous.

"I think he has every right to write the book, and I know Joe well enough to know that he wouldn't make any scandalous accusations of anybody. . . . I would bet a lot of money on the fact that Joe did it with some dignity."

Nettles said he wrote a book "for the money and the fun of doing the book."

"I know I didn't tell any stories that I wasn't supposed to tell. Joe, too. I haven't read the book, but from what I've seen, he hasn't told any stories or any hush-hush stories that shouldn't be told."

David Wells, who also took shot at the Yankees organization in his 2003 book, "Perfect I'm Not", feels Alex Rodriguez will be affected by Torre's alleged criticism and said Torre better be able to back up his words (Torre doesn't pick physical fights like you Boomer).

"A-Rod Alex Rodriguez says that he's not worried about it, but deep down, you can't help but think, 'Why did this guy say something? Why is he making these remarks?'" Wells says in an ESPN.com video.

"Now you're gonna go on the road during the season, you're gonna get bashed by every fan out there. Especially in New York, if you have a bad game, [then it's] 'Joe was right.'

"Now it's gonna make Joe look good and A-Rod look bad, or vice versa."

"If he's gonna start being derogatory, he can probably hurt some of these guys," Wells said of his former manager.

Boomer should probably stick to what he does best...pitching, eating, and drinking.


Larry Bowa, Joe Torre's third base coach in NY and LA, backed Torre and defended A-Rod.

Rodriguez reportedly was referred to as "A-Fraud" by teammates, but Bowa reiterated to WFAN today that, if so, it was only in jest.

"This stuff about Alex not being liked in the clubhouse is so, so overblown," Bowa told hosts Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts. "He's well liked in that clubhouse."

Maybe even by Derek Jeter.

"They talk to each other, they mingle with each other, they may not go out to dinner with each other," Bowa said of the superstars' relationship.

"Alex is obsessed with winning a World Series," Bowa said. "It might be detrimental to him, he's so obsessed with it."

Seemingly running for president of A-Rod's fan club, Bowa, a 40-year baseball veteran who played with Pete Rose and Mike Schmidt, called Rodriguez "the most prepared player I've ever seen," and defended his postseason disappointments.

"It's hard to judge a guy with 11, 12, 13 at-bats," Bowa said. "Let him get deep into the playoffs when you get 40 at-bats."

"Joe's got great credibility, and if a little bit of this is gonna take it away, then so be it," Bowa said. "I don't think Joe did this to rip anybody.

Even when he goes in the back room, he doesn't rip people. He just doesn't do it."

Bowa said he never noticed resentment from Torre toward the Yankees' low-ball offer of a one-year contract prior to last season, but said Torre's glaring omission from the closing ceremony at Yankee Stadium had to bother his boss.

"In my opinion, the thing that hurt Joe -- and he won't ever admit this -- is the last day at Yankee Stadium," Bowa said. "The non-recognition. I think that did bother him."

So there ya have it. We won't know for sure how if affects A-Rod until the book comes out, gets read, and the season gets under way. We can't wait for the last part of that notion.