About that George Steinbrenner is a god thing........

[formerlurker]

TORRE RIPS 'A-FRAUD' & BOSS' BRASS BOZOS
By SUSANNAH CAHALAN and JAMES FANELLI

 BOMBSHELLS: In the tell-all, ex-Yank manager Joe Torre (left) airs gripes against George Steinbrenner (center) and general manager Brian Cashman and says emotionally fragile star A-Rod had a "Single White Female"-like obsession with teammate Derek Jeter.
Last updated: 2:36 am
January 25, 2009
Posted: 2:14 am
January 25, 2009

Scorned skipper Joe Torre is blasting the Yankees - calling many of his former players prima donnas, confessing he stopped trusting the powers that be years before he left the team and charging that general manager Brian Cashman betrayed him.

In an explosive new book called "The Yankee Years," Torre gets most personal in his attacks against Alex Rodriguez, who he says was called "A-Fraud" by his teammates after he developed a "Single White Female"-like obsession with team captain Derek Jeter and asked for a personal clubhouse assistant to run errands for him.

Torre, who left the Yankees and became manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers after the 2007 season, says Cashman never told the brass that the manager wanted a two-year deal and instead remained silent during Torre's tense final sitdown with the bosses.

The book also reveals that, during spring training in 1999, team doctors revealed to owner George Steinbrenner that Torre had prostate cancer - even before informing the manager himself.



http://www.nypost.com/seven/01252009/news/regionalnews/torre_rips_a_fraud__boss_brass_bozos_151965.htm


I can't wait to buy this book and read

EVERY      DELICIOUS     WORD.   


 

[formerlurker]

[franksolich]

I guess I'll have to look up this Kitty Kelly sort of expose.

It's really silly, picking on a man when he's old and weak and can't defend himself.

[NHSparky]

I guess I'll have to look up this Kitty Kelly sort of expose.

It's really silly, picking on a man when he's old and weak and can't defend himself.

Normally I would agree with you, but there are always exceptions:

Robert Mugabe being one.

Al Davis being another.

So who's to say that Steinbrenner isn't a fair target.  He did, after all, create the "Evil Empire."

[Chris_]

I wonder how it stands up to "Bad Stuff 'bout the Mets."

[formerlurker]

I guess I'll have to look up this Kitty Kelly sort of expose.

It's really silly, picking on a man when he's old and weak and can't defend himself.

Nah, this is Joe Torre -- Bronx legend.   He was royally screwed over by Georgie, so any expected loyalty went straight out the window. 

I loathe the Yankees, but always liked and respected Joe Torre.  He is an outstanding manager.   

Oh and on the can't defend himself?   Hank is George junior.   I expect a full loud mouth tirade in the press anyday now on the contents of this book.

You can just smell the sweet sweet fragrance of baseball in the air.   


 

[formerlurker]

So who's to say that Steinbrenner isn't a fair target.  He did, after all, create the "Evil Empire."

He did and he created his moron son Hank.    Game is on.    The fallout from this book is going to be sooooo good.

Bostondirtdogs.com come tomorrow will be a must read everyday.   

 

[franksolich]

Torre, who left the Yankees and became manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers after the 2007 season.....

I dunno about this Torre guy; it's just a name to me, a name I read in the newspapers.

However, I've now acquired suspicions about him.

Nobody who ever left New York City for the bright lights, the glitter, the shallowness, of hip, with-it, trendy, cool, California ever turned out any good, in my book.

[formerlurker]

I dunno about this Torre guy; it's just a name to me, a name I read in the newspapers.

However, I've now acquired suspicions about him.

Nobody who ever left New York City for the bright lights, the glitter, the shallowness, of hip, with-it, trendy, cool, California ever turned out any good, in my book.

He didn't exactly have a choice in leaving the Yankees, and the fans there will always love him.   The Dodgers are damned lucky to have him.    They will sign Manny to three years because Joe Torre is the only manager in MLB who can effectively manage him.

I would give anything for Torre to manage the Red Sox.  Any team would be lucky to have him. 

[formerlurker]

Also note Frank that Torre and Cashman have taken some pretty significant bashing in the press by Steinbrenner -- year, after year, after year, after year.    Torre giving it back to Steinbrenner through this media venue is more than appropriate. 

Steinbrenner is a perfect bastard to work for.  Hardly a sweet old man.

[franksolich]

Also note Frank that Torre and Cashman have taken some pretty significant bashing in the press by Steinbrenner -- year, after year, after year, after year.    Torre giving it back to Steinbrenner through this media venue is more than appropriate. 

Steinbrenner is a perfect bastard to work for.  Hardly a sweet old man.

Well now, remember some of the losers George Steinbrenner's had to deal with; despite his patience, his tolerance, his care and concern, his compassion, they still insisted upon being losers.

The late Billy Martin being the prime example.

I'm sure at times George Steinbrenner's been utterly confounded, utterly perplexed, utterly confused, that here he is, being a nice guy, and giving all these other guys some breaks so as to elevate themselves.....only to be kicked in the face.

No good deed goes unpunished.

On Monday, I'll ask the library to get the book for me; as mentioned above, "Torre" is just a name to me, just another name I see in the sports pages.

I've got quite a backlog of sports reading to read, before the baseball season starts; right now, I'm reading a history of the Milwaukee Braves, so as to get more up-to-date on what's going on.

[NHSparky]

Well now, remember some of the losers George Steinbrenner's had to deal with; despite his patience, his tolerance, his care and concern, his compassion, they still insisted upon being losers.

The late Billy Martin being the prime example.

I'm sure at times George Steinbrenner's been utterly confounded, utterly perplexed, utterly confused, that here he is, being a nice guy, and giving all these other guys some breaks so as to elevate themselves.....only to be kicked in the face.

No good deed goes unpunished.

On Monday, I'll ask the library to get the book for me; as mentioned above, "Torre" is just a name to me, just another name I see in the sports pages.

I've got quite a backlog of sports reading to read, before the baseball season starts; right now, I'm reading a history of the Milwaukee Braves, so as to get more up-to-date on what's going on.

Billy Martin--made STEINBRENNER suffer?  Pardon me for scoffing, but it is to laugh.

He was the ONLY manager who could have turned that dysfunctional clubhouse, overloaded with both talent and ego, that was the mid-70's Yankees into a WS champion. 

Look at his record:

First (and only) season as managers of the Twins--divisional title.
Manager of the Tigers--divisional title in his second season.
Manager of the Rangers--second place finish in his only full season.  An incredible accomplishment, given the Rangers history.
Manager of the Yankees (first two times)--Two WS appearances, one WS title.  And frankly, he was right to bench Jackson.
Manager of the A's--Where the term "Billyball" originated.  Damned if he wasn't well ahead of his time.

This is a guy who taught Rod Carew how to steal bases.  Hell, Rickey Henderson might not be in Cooperstown were it not for Martin's style of baseball--remember, it was in 1981 where Henderson stole 130 bases.

So please, don't tell me nothing good comes from going out west, or that Steinbrenner is just a poor old man being vilified by a vengeful former employee.

Schadenfreude does have its place, frank.

[formerlurker]

[franksolich]

What is this?

"Pick on the New York Yankees Week"?

[formerlurker]

What is this?

"Pick on the New York Yankees Week"?

week?   always.   

Torre's book comes out Monday.   You ain't seen nada nothing yet.   

[NHSparky]

What is this?

"Pick on the New York Yankees Week"?

Picking on?  One does not "pick on" the Evil Empire.

Besides, formerlurker only bashes the Bankee$ on days that end in "Y".

[formerlurker]

OMG, A-Roid?   

I KNEW IT!!!


This has been the best offseason E-V-E-R.       

[formerlurker]

Sports Illustrated is reporting that Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids while with the Texas Rangers.

The report released this morning says, "In 2003, when he won the American League home run title and the AL Most Valuable Player award as a shortstop for the Texas Rangers, Alex Rodriguez tested positive for two anabolic steroids, four sources have independently told Sports Illustrated."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/02072009/sports/yankees/alex_rodriguez_tested_positive_for_stero_153999.htm

[franksolich]

OMG, A-Roid?   

I KNEW IT!!!

This has been the best offseason E-V-E-R.       

Oh now, you didn't know that already?

And I, a non-fan of professional baseball, knew it some time ago?

It was one of those things one learns, but then immediately dismisses as trivial or immaterial.....but I guess it wasn't.  Excresence happens; I make mistakes.

This however is no reflection on George Steinbrenner.

[BlueStateSaint]

OMG, A-Roid?   

I KNEW IT!!!


This has been the best offseason E-V-E-R.       

Before you go dancing on home plate in (new) Yankee Stadium, Scott Boras did say something telling--and I am no fan of Bora$.  Bora$ said that he hasn't come up hot in a 'roids test since then.  Seeing that Bora$ was his agent when the hot test occurred, and since then as well, I'd give Boras his due here.

[formerlurker]

Oh now, you didn't know that already?

And I, a non-fan of professional baseball, knew it some time ago?

It was one of those things one learns, but then immediately dismisses as trivial or immaterial.....but I guess it wasn't.  Excresence happens; I make mistakes.

This however is no reflection on George Steinbrenner.

1)  He can kiss the hall of fame goodbye now;

2) It reflects on the Yankees, who has quite a few juicers on the payroll. 

3)  You may have read this a while ago, but Canseco offered no proof and it was brushed off.   We have proof now. 

[formerlurker]

Before you go dancing on home plate in (new) Yankee Stadium, Scott Boras did say something telling--and I am no fan of Bora$.  Bora$ said that he hasn't come up hot in a 'roids test since then.  Seeing that Bora$ was his agent when the hot test occurred, and since then as well, I'd give Boras his due here.

He hasn't come up hot in a roid's test?  Oh well, that exactly the same as saying he hasn't taken anything since then.   Nevermind.   

[formerlurker]

The Players' Association, which has been blasted for failing to destroy the 2003 test results when it could have, likewise was mum. On Saturday, the union denied SI.com's report that union Chief Operating Officer Gene Orza tipped off A-Rod to an imminent steroid test in 2004.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/02092009/news/regionalnews/panicked_a_rod_in_crisis_mode_154208.htm

[formerlurker]

The real owner of the Yankees isn't anybody named Steinbrenner, not anymore. The man who really owns the Yankees now, in all the big ways, is Alex Rodriguez.

Joe Torre and Derek Jeter and Mo Rivera and Jorge Posada and even Andy Pettitte - they're the faces of the old Yankees, what the Yankees used to be. A-Rod is what they have become.

The Yankees knew exactly what they were getting when they signed him to the biggest contract in baseball history 15 months ago. And what they were getting, on top of the gaudy numbers and the chance at baseball's all-time home run record, was the biggest reality series in baseball.

The headlines about steroids are just the most recent episode. And it's irrelevant whether anybody saw them coming or not. This is A-Rod. There's always another headline coming. For the Yankees to act surprised or offended or even like an injured party here would be the height of hypocrisy. A-Rod owns the Yankee brand more than anybody now. This weekend he just gave it a little extra juice.

The only real surprise is that when Hank Steinbrenner and team President Randy Levine started throwing money at Rodriguez after the '07 season, they didn't throw in the naming rights to the new Yankee Stadium at the same time.

"The amazing thing about Alex," an American League manager said Sunday, "isn't that the Yankees traded for him in the first place. It's that they re-signed the guy after he walked away from them the way he did.

"Because that means they drank the Kool-Aid twice."

The same guy then said: "I hear people saying Jeter is probably down in Tampa laughing his a-- off because of this drug story about Alex. Are you kidding? Jeter's crying his a-- off, because he knows he's got to spend the rest of his career playing alongside [Rodriguez]."

The Yankees are allowed to be surprised that the latest headlines about Rodriguez involve drugs just because the people running the team have been dumber than socks when the subject has been performance-enhancing drugs.

But they are not allowed to act remotely surprised that Rodriguez is dragging them through the muck. You sign on with him, you sign on for everything - good, bad and Madonna. You get the home runs, of course. But you also get the rest of it, the off-the-field stuff, so much of it every bit as dumb and hollow as most reality junk you get on television these days.

Rodriguez even has his own network, the YES network. Hank Steinbrenner and Levine were apparently scared stupid that people wouldn't want to watch the Yankees nearly as much if Rodriguez were playing elsewhere. It's one of the reasons they signed him to a contract almost as long as Joe DiMaggio's entire Yankee career.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2009/02/08/2009-02-08_the_yankees_are_really_owned_by_alex_rod.html

[franksolich]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2009/02/08/2009-02-08_the_yankees_are_really_owned_by_alex_rod.html

Oh now, you found that thread on Skins's island.