Fall Out Boys

The repercussions from yesterday's poor attempt to sway Joe Torre into returning are already being felt. The Yankees brain trust, and we use that term lightly, is taking a beating today, from both the media and from the fans. The family von Steinbrenner and Jeri-curl Randy Levine fooled no one with their "respectable" contract offer to Joe Torre.

We said before the season that it was time for a change. That the Yankees were going as far as they could with Joe Torre at the helm, and we still feel that way. But we also know what Joe Torre did for the franchise. Not since the 1950s had a manager won 4 world series in 5 years. And yes, he was handed the players by George Steinbrenner, but he still knew how to cajole, manipulate, ride, appease his way to one division title and one playoff berth year after year.

If the Yankees really wanted Torre back they simply would have guaranteed him 7 or 8 million for next year. Why should a guy who has made 12 straight playoff appearances have to hit incentives? The anti-Torre sect's argument of, "Hey, I work for a living, and I don't get my money handed to me", is absurd, because no one ever mistook sports for real life. As Peter Abraham shrewdly pointed out, look at the percentage of the pay cut instead of the actual dollars. If you are a financial analyst making 50 grand a year and for 2008, your boss says, your salary next year will be $32,500 with the chance to earn 50 grand, would you be happy? We didn't think so.

For the pro-Torre faction, you should remember what happened in 1995. Fans were furious at the handling of Buck Showalter. We were even more furious when Joe Torre was hired (you know you were). The headlines screaming today that Joe got screwed were the same ones that called him "Clueless Joe" back then. So keep in mind that this may work out all right.

We'll hear Torre's side of things today on a 2:00 conference call that will be carried by ESPN and other outlets (we're sure WFAN will carry it).

So what happens now? Obviously the first matter at hand is finding a manager, and doing it quickly with pending free agents. Brian Cashman can drone on all he wants to about "the process", but the Yankees need to move quickly for damage control.

The Candidates

Don Mattingly - Says he's not ready, though he denied that. We don't think he's ready either.

Joe Girardi - We would love to see him in there, but the front office is supposedly concerned about Girardi's control freak personality.

Trey Hillman - He was highly thought of while managing in the Yankees farm system and is currently managing in Japan. But do you really see a non-experienced guy, other than Mattingly, being hired?

Larry Bowa - We've never loved him as a manager, but he did do a great job as 3rd Base coach and working with the infielders, especially Robinson Cano. We would like to see him get a 2 year deal, with Mattingly staying on as bench coach, set to take over in 2010 (in 2009 if Bowa spits the bit next year).

Tony Pena - Did a good job in KC before quickly resigning. That may have left a smudge on his resume. We would like to see him stay on the staff though. It could certainly help in trying to get Jorge Posada to re-sign.

Bobby Valentine - Smug. Arrogant. Self-centered. NOT the right man for the job.

We won't even mention the bad haired, DUI guy in St. Louis.

Free Agent Impact

We've been really surprised at the reaction of the fans towards mainstays like Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada for their allegiance to Torre. Mariano was already feeling bitter towards the Yankees for not giving him an extension prior to the '07 season. The handling of Torre didn't help the Yankees cause any. Andy Pettitte has a big decision ahead of him. Will Pettitte's decision be swayed by a new manager coming in?

Forget about what A-Rod has to say. He professed his love for Torre after the ALDS, but do you think it's genuine? Torre batted the man 8th in the '06 ALDS. A-Rod and Boras will go where the money is. Period.

This is why the Yankees have to get a manager that will help get these free agents to come back.

What remains to be seen is whether or not this will be the winter of our discontent.