ShareThisBy TRACY RINGOLSBY
Scripps Howard News Service
Friday, May 04, 2007
New York Yankees manager Joe Torre and owner George Steinbrenner have been good for each other.
Torre has provided Steinbrenner some long-term stability, serving as the manager of a franchise that has made 11 consecutive postseason appearances with Torre, won six American League pennants and four championships. And he has done it without trying to tear down The Boss, as Steinbrenner is known.
He has kept the disagreements behind closed doors, unlike predecessors who looked for public sympathy when they felt threatened by Steinbrenner.
In turn, Torre has become a very rich man, setting salary records for a manager while working for Steinbrenner, and he can thank Steinbrenner for being referred to as a future Hall of Fame manager.
Remember, when he was hired, Torre was a run-of-the- mill manager who had been fired by the Mets, Braves and Cardinals. Media and fans were so aghast at the hiring that he was referred to as "An Ordinary Joe."
If Torre survives the season, he will match Casey Stengel (1949-60) for the second-longest tenure in Yankees managerial history, trailing Joe McCarthy, who lasted 35 games into the 1946 season, his 16th.
Now comes the real challenge of Steinbrenner's loyalty. It's one thing the Yankees haven't won a championship since 2000 or even played in a World Series since 2003. But this year, the Yankees are fading into oblivion.
Just a week into the second month of the season, and postseason dreams become fainter by the day for a Yankees team that moved out of last place in the AL East on Thursday after sweeping a doubleheader against Texas.
New York (12-14) is 5-1/2games behind the Boston Red Sox, who won five of six from the Yankees the past two weekends.
Reason for concern? Only 17 of the 88 teams to advance to the postseason in the past 11 years had a losing record in April, and of the 62 teams in that stretch who had winning percentages below .400 also in April, only three rallied to play in October.
Little of the blame can honestly be placed on Torre. While Steinbrenner might feel he should have champagne and filets for a payroll close to $200 million, the bottom line appears to be that even money can't buy out bad luck.
How tough are things for the Yankees? Not only have four of the five members of their season-opening rotation been on the disabled list _ Jeff Karstens, Mike Mussina, Carl Pavano and Chien- Ming Wang _ but super prospect Phil Hughes, called up to fill a void, also is out for a month with an injury.
The five made two starts apiece before Mussina returned Thursday and are a combined 3-5, having allowed 32 earned runs in 49 2/3 innings.
OVERHEARD
_ The sale of the Tribune Co. to real estate magnate Sam Zell apparently stopped the Cubs from signing right-hander Carlos Zambrano to a five-year, $85 million extension. Word is, with the sale of Tribune, the Cubs were told to make no contract commitments until their ownership status is figured out. Zell is expected to deal the team.
_ Right-hander Tim Lincecum, the Giants' No. 1 draft pick out of Washington last year, could be called up and take Russ Ortiz's spot in the rotation. Lincecum is 4-0 with an 0.29 ERA for Class AAA Fresno.
_ Mets second baseman Jose Valentin has said surgery for a knee ligament problem that forced him on the disabled list will be a last resort. Wonder if the fact his option for 2008 becomes guaranteed if he has 400 plate appearances is a factor in that decision?
READERS' TURN
Bill Stahl writes: "When the national anthem is played at Coors Field, how come all of the Rockies' players and coaches stand at attention on the top dugout step, but when you look at the visiting team's dugout, there are rarely more individuals than a couple of coaches and ball boys there? Once the anthem ends, the visiting players all promptly emerge from the clubhouse ready to play ball."
Bill, it's a Rockies rule that manager Clint Hurdle has instituted, and that actually goes back to the original days with Don Baylor as a manager. The feeling is it is a sign of respect and a sign of unity to the team. As Baylor would say, "If the players can't take two minutes out of the day to line up together and show a common commitment, we've got a problem."
TWO CENTS' WORTH
Why is it Congress wants to know what baseball is going to do about drug problems and the media are taken to task for not doing a better job of uncovering the steroids issues? These are illegal activities. Shouldn't the question be about where law enforcement agencies were and why they allowed these activities to go on?
NUMBERS GAME
_ 21: Games postponed because of weather in April, the most in the opening month of the season since 24 games were postponed in 1997. Cleveland had a four-game series against Seattle postponed, then had to move a three-game series against the Angels to Milwaukee.
PASSING THROUGH
Ryan Langerhans was caught up in the midst of Oakland trying to find someone to play center field. He was acquired from Atlanta after the game Sunday, showed up to play two games for the Athletics, then was dealt to Washington for Chris Snelling.
The problems for the Athletics started in spring training, when center fielder Mark Kotsay was sidelined because of a herniated disk in his back. Six others were given starts in center field in the Athletics' first 32 games.
With that in mind, maybe it isn't surprising that a week ago, Oakland acquired center fielder Chris Denorfia from Cincinnati even though he is recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery.
HE SAID IT
"People always say, 'A catcher can't do it, a catcher can't do it.' I don't know why they say that. As an everyday player, you should take pride in being ready to come out every day and have an opportunity to go out there."
_ A.J. Pierzynski, who has played in every White Sox game this season.
AROUND THE NATIONAL LEAGUE
ARIZONA took advantage of Boston giving up on often-injured RHP Brandon Lyon, who is healthy this year and has a 1.50 ERA in 13 games to show for it.
ATLANTA second baseman Kelly Johnson was signed as a shortstop, and converted to an outfielder. The Braves, however, didn't want to get caught up in arbitration with second baseman Marcus Giles so they did not tender him a contract, and decided to move Johnson to second during the spring. Johnson adapted well. Hitting leadoff he has a .323 average, leads the Braves with 26 runs and is second on the team with five home runs.
CHICAGO is once again without pitchers Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, but the Cubs do have a keeper in the rotation in lefty Rich Hill. Hill who was 6-9 in his big-league career coming into this season, is 3-1 with a 1.77 ERA. He has allowed 31 base runners and struck out 29 in 35 2/3 innings.
CINCINNATI took a gamble by drafting outfielder Josh Hamilton in the Rule 5 draft. Hamilton hadn't played in four years because of off-field problems, but the move has paid off so far. He's hitting .264 with six home runs in 72 at-bats.
COLORADO thinks it found a sleeper in Alberto Arias, available but undrafted during the winter draft in December. In his seventh pro season, he finally made his big-league debut on Tuesday, allowing an infield single in 3 1/3 innings against San Francisco.
FLORIDA RHP Henry Owens stepped in and filled the closer role for the Marlins after Jorge Julio, acquired in late spring from Arizona, was a bust. Owens, whose big-league resume consisted of three appearances last July before being banished back to the minors by then-manager Joe Girardi, is 1-0 with three saves in three opportunities, three holds and a 2.30 ERA in 14 games.
HOUSTON traded away center fielder Willy Traveras with the idea that Chris Burke would take over in center field. That didn't work out, but Hunter Pence had an impressive spring, and was among the elite players at Class AAA this year, giving the Astros a viable option, which they used when they called him up this past weekend.
LOS ANGELES took a gamble on oft-injured former Colorado prospect Chin-hui Tsao, guaranteeing him only $100,000 when he signed in January. He's responded by allowing one hit in 10 2/3 scoreless innings.
MILWUAKEE knocked struggling RHP Derek Turnbow out of the closer role last year in favor of Francisco Cordero. Turnbow came back determined this year and has become an excellent compliment to Cordero, allowing three runs in 12 1/3 innings spread over 13 games. He has struck out 12 and given up seven hits.
NEW YORK RHP Joe Smith was the Mets third-round draft choice last June out of Wright State. He answered every challenge of the spring, and has been near perfect in the regular season, allowing seven hits in 14 1/3 scoreless innings in his first 16 big-league appearances.
PHIADELPHIA knew it needed a veteran presence to have any hope of making a postseason run, and so late last season GM Pat Gillick not only acquired lefty Jamey Moyer from Seattle, but signed him to a contract extension. In a season filled with disappointment, Moyer, at the age of 44, has provided hope. He is 3-1 with a 2.65 ERA.
PITTSBURGH LHP Tom Gorzeleanny went 2-5 in 211 big-league games last year, but this year opened the season 3-1 with a 3.06 ERA.
ST. LOUIS needed to fill four rotation voids with the free agent losses of Jeff Suppan, Jeff Weaver and Jason Marquis and an injury to Mark Mulder so it decided to give reliever Braden Looper a shot. He is 3-2, and his 2.84 is the only sub-5.65 ERA among Cardinals starters.
SAN DIEGO hit the jackpot in a non-descript trade that sent outfielder Ben Johnson and RHP Jon Adkins to the Mets in the winter for pitchers Heath Bell and Royce Ring. Bell has a 0.54 ERA in his first 12 appearances, and Ring called up on Monday to provide a lefty arm in the bullpen, is unscored upon in his first two appearances.
SAN FRANCISCO was trying to give away RHP Armando Benitez in the offseason. He struggled on the mound and fell out of favor with his teammates last season. This year, though, there are no complaints. He is 7-for-7 in save situations and unscored upon since April 10.
WASHINGTON RHP Jason Bergmann is 0-2, but the rest of his numbers provide hope that he can fill one of the voids in the Nationals rotation. He has a 2.79 ERA and while he has walked 16 batters he has struck out 20 in 29 innings.
AROUND THE AMERICAN LEAGUE
BALTIMORE picked up RHP Chad Bradford, who had been released by the Red Sox and Mets the last two winters, and the sidearmer is once again in a groove In his first five games he had a 0.79 ERA.
BOSTON has gotten a lift from its other Japanese import, reliever Hideki Okajima, who had a 0.66 ERA in his first 13 appearances, allowing five hits and three walks while striking out 18 in 13 2/3 innings.
CHICAGO has given RHP David Aardsma a legitimate shot after he never got a real opportunity with the Cubs and Giants. Aardsma has repaid the confidence. In his first 11 games he was 2-0 with a 1.72 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings.
CLEVELAND picked up outfielder Trot Nixon after Boston dumped him, and he has been a splendid extra outfielder, hitting .300.
DETROIT is finally seeing the ability that had LHP Bobby Seay selected in the first round of the 1997 draft by San Francisco. In his first seven innings with the Tigers he gave up three hits and two walks, providing a much-needed replacement for Jamey Walker, who went to Baltimore as a free agent in the winter.
KANSAS CITY made a wise selection by picking up RHP Joakim Soria for the $50,000 price at the winter draft. The Mexican native is 1-1 with three saves in his first 1-0 appearances.
LOS ANGELES had to find roster room for outfielder Reggie Willits, and while he may not be considered a regular he has played all three outfield positions, and is hitting .410, and filing in the last five games for Garrett Anderson (tightness right hip) he has gone 10-for-18.
MINNESOTA picked up RHP Matt Guerreir in a waiver claim from the White Sox four years ago. He is giving them a lift right now, having a 2.25 ERA in 11 games out of the bullpen.
NEW YORK picked up RHP Brian Bruney, released a year ago by Arizona, has been one of the few pitching bright spots for the Yankees. He had a 2.70 ERA his first 14 appearances, striking out 14 in 13 1/3 innings.
OAKLAND didn't panic. It ignored LHP Joe Kennedy's horrid spring (14.11 ERA), and decided to use him in assorted roles this season. So far, so good. He has a 2.86 ERA and is being put back into the rotation.
SEATTLE didn't hesitate challenging RHP Brandon Morrow, it's No. 1 pick last June out of the University of California. He's been put in the bullpen and responded by going 2-0 with a 3.18 ERA his first eight appearances. There are, however, warning signs. While he has struck out 12 in 11 1/3 innings he also has walked 11.
TAMPA BAY RHP Al Reyes missed all last year with reconstructive elbow surgery. Boston offered him a big-league contract in the offseason, but little hope of making the roster so he opted to return to the Devil Rays on a minor league deal. The 37-year-old has made good on the opportunity in Tampa, converting his first 10 save opportunities, and compiling a 1.29 ERA while allowing three walks and four hits in 13 innings.
TEXAS took a $500,000 gamble on the revival of designated hitter Sammy Sosa, who sat out last season. He's not the MVP candidate of his younger years but he is second on the team with seven home runs and 20 RBI.
TORONTO second baseman Aaron Hill was a first-round pick as a shortstop but struggled at the position. He's been comfortable at second and has given the Jays offense a lift, hitting .313 with six home runs and 21 RBI.
(Tracy Ringolsby writes for the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, Colo. E-mail ringolsbyt(at)RockyMountainNews.com.)
