Torre Gets Expected Blowback

You knew that Joe Torre wasn't going to get a pat on the back after excerpts from his latest book hit the wires on Sunday. And while Brian Cashman may have had a good talk with "St. Joe", most people are not seeing the tome in a positive light.

Tom Verducci, who penned the book with Torre, wants you to read the book before seeing segments out of context and jumping to conclusions.

Verducci is quoted as saying the book is written in third person and is not a tell-all book.

"Smart people will judge the book upon actually reading it and not reading preliminary reports prior to its publication. Once you understand the context of the book you understand the information. It's not a tell-all book. Anybody who reads it will understand that."

But as Newsday's Jim Baumbach points out, if someone gets slammed in the book, doesn't that mean they are being slammed by the authors? In this case, Torre and Verducci?

Brian Cashman, who Torre said didn't support him during his final contract negotiation, spoke with Torre via phone (from Hawaii) Sunday and felt good about their relationship afterwards.

"I'm comfortable with my relationship and how we interacted throughout the entire process," Cashman said, adding that Torre led him to believe "our relationship is strong."

Cashman, while admitting Alex Rodriguez changed the make up of the clubhouse, did not feel he was a distraction or disliked by his teammates. Torre had said players called A-Rod, "A-Fraud", behind his back.

Cashman said that when Rodriguez became a free agent after the 2007 season, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Pettitte all urged him to re-sign A-Rod.

"That was real," Cashman said. "It was offered up."

While we are sure Cashman is telling the truth, we don't doubt Torre's words on the matter either. Andy Pettitte, however, did contradict Torre during his quickly called contract press conference today.

"I have never one time heard of the term `A-Fraud' until I saw that rolling on the TV, I guess this morning or whenever they started reporting it," said Pettitte, who rejoined the Yankees for the 2007 season. "If it did go on, it went on before I was there."

It has to be remembered that Joe Torre loves money. There's no hiding that fact. Money would be the only reason to right such a book at this time.

Here's what some others are saying:

Wally Matthews, as many of us do, wonders about the timing of the book.

Here's the Boston Globe's take.

Tyler Kepner of the Times says, "there are no easy answers".

...and Peter Abraham says, "Nothing ever ends well".

photo courtesy of Random House and SI.com

The Daily Yankeeland - 9/19

"This was the place, the No. 1 place in baseball. The Stadium was like the Empire State Building or the Grand Canyon of baseball, and every time I stepped inside of it, I had to pinch myself!"

- Yankees broadcaster Mel Allen

Prior to last night's game, the Yankees honored 102-yr old (listed as 103 in some places) Emilio Navarro. Navarro was the first Puerto Rican born ball player to play in the Negro Leagues and is the oldest living major league player. It was the first time Navarro ever stepped inside Yankee Stadium.

Dan Graziano has more on this wonderful story.

The Yankees won the season series with the White Sox, 5 games to 2.

An Iraqi veteran's journey to the greatest Stadium on Earth.

Sunday is going to be emotional and the Yankees are lining up an amazing send off for the Stadium.

Joe Girardi has Andy Pettitte starting Sunday's finale and plans to take him out in mid-inning. He also plans on giving the ball to Mariano in the ninth.

Moose reflects on his final start at home. He's taking some dirt and baseballs with him.
Mariano Rivera can't wait to see the fans' reaction to Bernie Williams.

In case you missed it, and care, the A-Rods are now officially divorced.

A giant "Yankee Stadium" sign is to be hoisted into place today at the main entrance of the new Stadium.

SI's Tom Verducci says goodbye to baseball's cathedral.

The Daily Yankeeland - 9/19

"This was the place, the No. 1 place in baseball. The Stadium was like the Empire State Building or the Grand Canyon of baseball, and every time I stepped inside of it, I had to pinch myself!"

- Yankees broadcaster Mel Allen

Prior to last night's game, the Yankees honored 102-yr old (listed as 103 in some places) Emilio Navarro. Navarro was the first Puerto Rican born ball player to play in the Negro Leagues and is the oldest living major league player. It was the first time Navarro ever stepped inside Yankee Stadium.

Dan Graziano has more on this wonderful story.

The Yankees won the season series with the White Sox, 5 games to 2.

An Iraqi veteran's journey to the greatest Stadium on Earth.

Sunday is going to be emotional and the Yankees are lining up an amazing send off for the Stadium.

Joe Girardi has Andy Pettitte starting Sunday's finale and plans to take him out in mid-inning. He also plans on giving the ball to Mariano in the ninth.

Moose reflects on his final start at home. He's taking some dirt and baseballs with him.
Mariano Rivera can't wait to see the fans' reaction to Bernie Williams.

In case you missed it, and care, the A-Rods are now officially divorced.

A giant "Yankee Stadium" sign is to be hoisted into place today at the main entrance of the new Stadium.

SI's Tom Verducci says goodbye to baseball's cathedral.

Verducci Picks Yankees to Win AL East

He may still be on the Steinbrenner's shit list after his defense of Joe Torre in print, but Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci has picked the Yankees to win the American League's East division.

Two GMs told me this is the year the Yankees don't make the postseason, one of them going so far as to say they'll finish third, behind Boston and Toronto. I'm not buying it. The Yankees have so much talent it would take a multitude of worst-case scenarios to cut them low: Andy Pettitte breaks down, Johnny Damon, Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, Hideki Matsui and, most critically, Jorge Posada all decline significantly because of age, and kid pitchers Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy aren't ready to carry a full season of New York's physical and psychological load. Is all of that going to happen? No.

Boston seems more prone to a fallback, if only because recent world champions seem to be handed a tax bill the following season -- and if it hits Josh Beckett, look out. Toronto is intriguing, but there's a huge difference between 87 wins and the 94 you need to play with the big boys in the East. The Jays are not in that weight class.

We like his thinking even though we don't agree with it completely. But that's a story for another day.

Verducci Picks Yankees to Win AL East

He may still be on the Steinbrenner's shit list after his defense of Joe Torre in print, but Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci has picked the Yankees to win the American League's East division.

Two GMs told me this is the year the Yankees don't make the postseason, one of them going so far as to say they'll finish third, behind Boston and Toronto. I'm not buying it. The Yankees have so much talent it would take a multitude of worst-case scenarios to cut them low: Andy Pettitte breaks down, Johnny Damon, Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, Hideki Matsui and, most critically, Jorge Posada all decline significantly because of age, and kid pitchers Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy aren't ready to carry a full season of New York's physical and psychological load. Is all of that going to happen? No.

Boston seems more prone to a fallback, if only because recent world champions seem to be handed a tax bill the following season -- and if it hits Josh Beckett, look out. Toronto is intriguing, but there's a huge difference between 87 wins and the 94 you need to play with the big boys in the East. The Jays are not in that weight class.

We like his thinking even though we don't agree with it completely. But that's a story for another day.

Stove Goes Cold for Verducci

Tom Verducci is one of the most respected and knowledgeable sportswriters in the business. He's also a friend and ally of Joe Torre, and that has made him persona non-grata in Yankeeville.

Verducci wrote scathing commentary about the Steinbrenner boys and Randy Levine after Joe Torre turned down their "disrespectful" contract offer. Word then came last week that Torre was writing his memoirs covering his "Yankee" period. And the "real" writer on the book? Yep, Tom Verducci. So Verducci, a regular panelist on the Yankees Hot Stove show on YES, was told to take a walk, and was replaced by Jon Heyman. It's been a busy week for Heyman who joined the Mike and the Mad Dog show this past week.

It's unfortunate, but we do understanding the feeling among the Yankees brass. And Heyman is good...plus he knocked Torre's take on his contract. In other words, the perfect replacement.

Source

Stove Goes Cold for Verducci

Tom Verducci is one of the most respected and knowledgeable sportswriters in the business. He's also a friend and ally of Joe Torre, and that has made him persona non-grata in Yankeeville.

Verducci wrote scathing commentary about the Steinbrenner boys and Randy Levine after Joe Torre turned down their "disrespectful" contract offer. Word then came last week that Torre was writing his memoirs covering his "Yankee" period. And the "real" writer on the book? Yep, Tom Verducci. So Verducci, a regular panelist on the Yankees Hot Stove show on YES, was told to take a walk, and was replaced by Jon Heyman. It's been a busy week for Heyman who joined the Mike and the Mad Dog show this past week.

It's unfortunate, but we do understanding the feeling among the Yankees brass. And Heyman is good...plus he knocked Torre's take on his contract. In other words, the perfect replacement.

Source

Ah, I Remember it Well

Joe Torre may have said it wasn't about the money, but the man clearly likes money. Earlier today it was announced that Torre will write memoirs concerning his time in pinstripes. SI writer Tom Verducci will ghost write.

The book will be out in spring, 2009, and Torre is expected to earn $1.8 million.

Source

Ah, I Remember it Well

Joe Torre may have said it wasn't about the money, but the man clearly likes money. Earlier today it was announced that Torre will write memoirs concerning his time in pinstripes. SI writer Tom Verducci will ghost write.

The book will be out in spring, 2009, and Torre is expected to earn $1.8 million.

Source