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OK, maybe the title of this post is a little harsh, and to be completely honest with you, I don't really feel that way. The title was meant to elicit a reaction and pique your interest so you'd want to read it, which is pretty much what's been happening the last few days with Joe Torre's (and Tom Verducci's) soon-to-be released book, "The Yankee Years", available February 3rd at book stores everywhere. I don't put too much stock in anything that's been leaked. That's what happens. They leak a little bit of info to whet the appetite, everyone starts talking about it everywhere, and then it's at the top of the bestseller list.
Until I read it for myself and see exactly what's printed and in what context it's used, I won't have a real opinion on it. For all I know, I'm going to open it up, turn to the part where it mentions that some Yankees called Alex Rodriguez "A-Fraud" and find that it's used in a light-hearted context. Something like, "the guys used to tease Alex and call him A-Fraud because he had frosted blond tips." To me, that's not so bad. Now, I highly doubt that's what it says but again, haven't read the book, so how do I know? The book is 477 pages long. I guarantee that about 450 of those pages are all positive. I'm sure there will occasionally be a little nugget of negativity, but if you're expecting the book to be nothing but Torre ripping the Yankees, I think you'll be disappointed.
What surprises me the most about this is the timing. I'm a little surprised that Joe didn't wait until he was done managing for the book to come out. In all likelihood, this is probably his last season and maybe he doesn't give a crap. But if I'm a member of the Dodgers organization, whether it be on-the-field or off, I'd be scratching my head wondering if he's ever going to open up his trap about his time with the Dodgers. I'm also a little surprised that Joe is talking about what went on in the clubhouse. He always struck me as the type of guy who believed what happened in the clubhouse, stayed in the clubhouse. Isn't that pretty much how it goes? An unwritten rule maybe, but I'm pretty sure it's a code that most of them go by.
The book drops a week from today and I'm definitely going to buy it, likely the day it's released. I'll admit it. My interest is piqued and I want to read it for myself before i hear about it from everyone else. I can't wait to get my hands on it and see what Joe really has to say. I have a feeling I'll definitely be blogging a little about it.
Peace, love and Pinstripes,
J-Boogie
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Joe Torre Needs To Stuff A Sock In His Pie Hole
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7 comments:
Truth about Jeter- http://morehardball.blogspot.com/2009/01/slow-mo-fast-mo-homo.html
i do think the book may be great reading for us yankee fans but i would hate to be a dodger player right now. Just knowing the my manager is the type who would write a tell all book would make me watch what i say anytime i was near him.
I just read that Mussina takes shots at Mo in the book - that Mo hasn't been the same since he lost to Arizona in the WS. Um, is he kidding? Maybe I misread?
I compared Mussina to Glavine and asked who was better on my blog. Interested to here your thoughts, since you never come by my blog anymore :)
http://statisticianmagician.mlblogs.com/
SugarKing - I totally agree with you.
Jane - I kind of saw a blurb about that but didn't see the context. Basically what I saw is what you wrote. I'm reserving judgement for when I read the book. I'd be surprised if there wasn't more to it than that.
Joe- i'll definitely check it out. I stop by periodically, but I'm more of a reader. I actually made a resolution to comment more on blogs but I suck at keeping resolutions.
This comment comes from my friend and co-worker Jeff, aka Larry wayne Jones. He's experiencing technical difficulties when commenting:
Torre was a below average manager before he got to NY with all that talent he had there.
Pre NY record 894-1003. NY record 1173-767…and NY was good because of the players, not Torre. In any sport, it’s the players and the talent, and very rarely the coaches/managers who win championships…more credit should go to winning GM’s than to winning managers imo…
J-Boogie says: I agree and disagree. While a team's success certainly has a lot to do with the talent on the field and who fields that talent, the manager certainly deserves some of the credit. We see time and time again a coach (Parcells for example) bounce from team to team and win everywhere he goes. There are definitely managers out there who are better than others. Torre imo is one of them, but agree. I think anybody probably could have managed the Yanks to those 4 world titles.
Boogie - LWJ here- I think you should agree more with my take on Torre...I know you used Parcells as an example, and that's fine, but as a Braves fan, I have to look at Bobby Cox...when they had those great pitching staffs and winning teams, he was a genius. Now that Atlanta's talent level has taken a significant hit, especially the pitching staff, is he all of a sudden a bad manager? No, he just is what he is. Is it his fault that the Braves are not the powerhouse they once were, or is it because Atlanta now has much less talent than they used to?Anyone can manage hall of fame players, because great players have the internal desire to succeed...I know managers have to make the right moves, but come on, I could have managed those Yankees teams and still won. Torre has no idea how to use a bullpen, never did, and the only thing that saved him there is Rivera...whoops, another HOF'er...to make my point, I think the onus of winning is more on the players than you want to admit.
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