I remember this was done years ago, but I cannot place the date, but I think it was done while I was in college about a decade ago. Here's a Lipton Brisk Iced Tea advertisement in Claymation that features Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, and George Steinbrenner, and the voice of announcer Phil Rizzuto.
Not to go too deep back into revisionist history; let us hark back to what was said 2 weeks ago when the Yankees were on the verge of their season ending...
"His job is on the line," the owner was quoted in Sunday's editions of The Record of New Jersey. "I think we're paying him a lot of money. He's the highest-paid manager in baseball, so I don't think we'd take him back if we don't win this series." -- the words of the "Boss", George Steinbrenner...
Joe Torre's future with the New York Yankees remained unclear Tuesday after team officials gathered at the home of owner George Steinbrenner to debate whether the manager should return for a 13th season.
"The meetings are adjourned for tonight," spokesman Howard Rubenstein said shortly after the session ended about 4 p.m. "There have been no decisions made, nor will there be any comment today. The meetings will resume tomorrow."
While I was up in Beantown, I saw you rip the heart out of Sox fans hoping for a 2-0 lead in the ALCS, but I saw you stink it up.
If it were not for you, the Baltimore Orioles would have two less wins than they should have gotten otherwise. However, since you joined the Red Sox, you have sucked and it's just sad how far you have fallen from your days with the Dodgers.
Son, would I not like to be you this week.
By hiring Dusty Baker as their next manager, the Cincinnati Reds have made a pronounced change in philosophy, turning to an outsider to run the team for the first time in 18 years.
The last time they did it, they won a championship.
The Reds confirmed on Sunday that Baker will become their next manager. Baker, who has a three-year deal, will be introduced at a news conference Monday in Cincinnati.
"Dusty is extremely excited to join the Cincinnati Reds with its rich history, and looks forward to helping re-establish the legacy of the Big Red Machine," said his agent, Greg Genske.
The move got the players' attention. Instead of promoting from within, the Reds went for someone with no ties to the organization. During his 14 seasons as manager, the 58-year-old Baker led San Francisco to the World Series and the Chicago Cubs to the playoffs.
"Since I've been here, we haven't had the big-name manager," said right-hander Aaron Harang, who has been with the Reds for the last five years.
George Steinbrenner's sons Hank and Hal have taken over the daily running of the New York Yankees, according to a report.
The New York Post said the details about the control of the franchise will be ironed out at top-level meetings the Yankees are holding this week in Tampa. According to The Associated Press manager Joe Torre's status for next season will be decided during discussions starting on Tuesday morning.
"George has taken on a role like the chairman of a major corporation," team president Randy Levine told the paper. "He's been saying for years he's wanted to get his sons involved in the family business. Both of them have stepped up and are taking on the day-to-day duties of what's required to run the Yankees."
Hank Steinbrenner said in the interview that he will share final say on team decisions with his brother Hal but Hank will apparently focus more on the baseball side of the business. Hal Steinbrenner will focus more on the construction of the new Yankee Stadium, which is scheduled to open in 2009.
"There's always been a succession -- and that's myself and my brother," Hank Steinbrenner told the paper.
Levine told AP on Sunday night, however, that George Steinbrenner, 77, will still have the final say on Torre.
"He's still the boss," he said.
As anyone who follows baseball knows, the stated goal of the Yankees each and every season is to not only get into the playoffs, but most important – win the World Series.
Perhaps the mission statement may be unrealistic, or just silly; however, it's reality of playing and being part of the Yankees.
It’s been seven years and counting, thus, it looks like George Steinbrenner has gotten restless.
Even though the “Boss” has lightened up over the past decade, and is surely not as brash in public as he used to be; nevertheless, when he speaks, it’s akin to Zeus raining down on the laypeople as to how it should be.
This is what he said Sunday morning, as he interviewed with the Bergen Record, out of
"His job is on the line," the owner was quoted in Sunday's editions of The Record of
By now, Joe Torre will not tremble in fear, as it has been every year he’s had to face losing his job.
Torre quipped:
"You're not surprised by whatever comes down the pike," Torre said. "You don't always get used to it, but you understand if you want to work here -- and there's a great deal of upside to working here -- that there are certain things you have to deal with. We've had ultimatums during the season, early in the season. This obviously is down to a game we need to win, and you'd like to believe everybody's trying to pull in the same direction."
Well, at this point, I know the
However, from my point of view, Torre has done a magnificent job with the team almost every year, and especially this year, considering where the Yankees had to come back from in order to get the postseason.
Considering I root for the
Sorry, I think the “Boss”, as much as I respect him is off-base, whether you have $20, 60, 80, 130 million dollar payroll or a $185 million dollar payroll.
What do you all think?
Of course, naturally, we should hear more from the "Boss".
It looks like Joe Torre is the Yankees manager --- for now.
Unless you have been under a rock, or just not aware, the Yankees are off to a 9-14 start and in last place in the American League East. The Boston Red Sox have taken 5 out of 6 games from the Yankees (and living in the Northeast, it means that world is off kilter in the Big Apple).
If you add the fact the Yankees have a $195 million payroll, All Stars and Future Hall-of-Famers up and down their lineup, one would expect the team to be better. Even with Alex Rodriguez’s hot start (they in fact would be even worse), the Yankees are in a big hole.
For a city and region that believes a World Series title is part of their divine right, the lackluster start is cause for concern & outright panic.
Here’s the problem: It’s obvious to me and everyone else who follows baseball – the Yankees have no pitching. From spring training on, it’s been the concern, and now on the first day of May, it’s a concern.
Pavano is out, as is Mussina. Chien-Ming Wang, a contender for the Cy Young award in 2006 came back this weekend, pitched a sub-par game and opened on a nail on this throwing hand.
Here are the stats of the starting pitching; it’s not pretty:
The Yankees have a 5.02 ERA, 27th among the 30 major league teams, ahead of only
Yikes.
But in the New York Media and amongst fans, Joe is getting the brunt of the criticism.
Why? Simply,
The poor Mets, even with their start and the classy Willie Randolph as manager, they are on the back page of the news.
For much of the baseball world, and edict from “the Boss”, George Steinbrenner was going to be placed sometime between the weekend and Monday about the fate of Joe Torre, and if he’d be the manager, or canned.
Monday he spoke.
"The season is still very young, but up to now the results are clearly not acceptable to me or to Yankee fans," … "However, Brian Cashman, our general manager, Joe Torre, our manager, and our players all believe that they will turn this around quickly.
"I believe in them. I am here to support them in any way to help them accomplish this turnaround. It is time to put excuses and talk away. It is time to see if people are ready to step up and accept their responsibilities. It is time for all of them to show me and the fans what they are made of.”
"Let's get going. Let's go out and win and bring a world championship back to
To be quite honest, the team is in a funk and I’m sure they’ll come back and turn it around, as they have too much talent not to do so. However, the pitching is the big concern and they need to get that in order.
However, to blame Joe Torre for the madness is asinine. We have seen the success he’s had with the Yankees, and although they have not won the title in a number of years, he has taken them to nine consecutive AL East titles.
Joe does not play on the field, and he does not swing a bat. He’s made some questionable decisions this season, but does he deserve to get fired?
Even, if he was fired, who could possibly step in and do the job? Maybe Don Mattingly, who I like, but is he ready?
Joe Girardi? A great manager and motivator, but would he be right for this team?
Granted, Joe has had great talent with his Yankee teams, a lot of credit needs to be given to him for managing the various egos in the organization and getting them to play for a common cause – a championship.
For everyone who is a Yankee fan, let’s take a deep breath and calm down. Things may right itself, but it may be a battle for the team to return to supremacy this season. Keep in mind the Yankees were in the same predicament 2 years ago and came back and won the division, though it took Aaron Small and Shawn Chacon to contribute in a big way (though both pitchers are not longer with the team at all).
I say things will be fine for the next week or two.
However, history has shown that George Steinbrenner can be an impatient and unpredictable man.
It remains to be seen what the fallout may be if the Yankees continue to struggle.
Spending a lot of time in
Well, I have seen George Steinbrenner show a lot of heart to players and with charity work, and yesterday he offered to help out nine victims of a horrific fire that engulfed a Bronx row house in the same vicinity where the Yankees play by paying for their funeral arrangements.
Some of us may hate or like Mr. Steinbrenner for his massive ego and theatrics in the past, but he stepped to the plate for a family in a time of need, and you only have to respect what he’s done.
