Torre and Randolph get ready for duck season
By Punch N. Judy
BaseballBigMouth.com baseball news
In about two to three weeks time duck season will officially open in New York City. Blood thirsty hunters will construct blinds, sit quiet and wait for their prey to fly over head.
Whether Joe Torre and Willie Randolph opt to fly in V formation is about the only question left as the City’s sports writers prepare to take aim and fire. Only in Gotham could two playoff bound managers sit so awkwardly on the bubble. But you know what gang? It’s justified.
In the case of Torre, I’m just sick of guys like A-Rod and Roger Clemens going on and on about the “fantastic job Joe’s done keeping everything on an even keel and reminding us to play little ball.” Give me a break. Like I said last week, the top payroll may not guarantee a World Title, but it does virtually grant the Yanks a buy into the post-season.
While I wouldn’t quite blame all the Yankees failures the past few years on Torre, I wouldn’t absolve him of the many sins he’s committed, beginning with the decision to play the infield in with one out and Mo Rivera on the mound in Game 7 at Arizona. True it bucks baseball theory 101 to play double play depth in that situation, but all I remember is the endless stream of lumber splintering every time Rivera pitched that series. And what did happen? Of course Luis Gonzales hit a broken bat single over a drawn in Jeter to set in motion a course of setbacks that have had people questioning old Joe’s in-game strategy.
The following year Mike Scioscia’s band of softball-like thumpers made quick work of the Bombers in the first round. In 2003 it was the young, unheralded Marlins who made NY look just plain old. Riding a still-in diapers Josh Beckett on three days rest in game six at the Stadium, Florida closed the deal in easy fashion as Torre again did little to rally his troops when the other team punched back.
In the following three years it was more of the same. Little resiliency when the chips were down. From the four game meltdown against Boston to a repeat thrashing by the Angels, I thought last year was the last straw when Clueless Joe batted A-Rod eighth, while either sitting Gary Sheffield or (gasp!) playing him at first base.
My point in all this is simple: A chimp could lead that squad into the playoffs. It does however take somewhat of a strategist to out duel the best teams in the game, particularly when Scioscia’s Angels are in the mix. My prediction? Joe is sitting on Curious George’s desk in November looking stuffed if not contented.
As for Willie Randolph, his time may be up in a matter of days. After dropping seven games in the standings in a mere 17 days we could be reliving the Gene Mauch era in Philly, circa 1964.
When in last years NLCS, Randolph opted to let an injured Clifford Floyd bat against a lights out Adam Wainright, rather than calling for the obvious bunt with a man on second with no out, it exposed Wee Willie as a manager who would rather cross his fingers and wish, than a guy who had confidence in himself and his players. As the key losses to everyone from Philly to D.C mount, Randolph is starting to look more and more like Shady Grady Wilson in his finest pinstripes.
This morning’s NY papers noted that A-Rod became the fourth 50-150 player, joining The Babe, Hack Wilson and Sammy Sosa. Exclusive company. It made me however think back to an even more impressive feat recorded in 1995. That season Albert Belle notched 50 homers to go along with 52 doubles. Hasn’t happened before or since. It was around that time that Belle answered the taunts of J-o-e-y from The Heckler and I by nearly decapitating that days Tiger starter. Apologies to Dan Gakeler or whatever bum Detroit sent to the mound that day.
Cheers to Chien Ming Wang, who recorded his 19th W last night. The man is nastier than a Bruce Lee movie villain. Sinkers off of sinkers followed by mid-nineties heat. A couple years ago I remember Jorge Posada called it spring training. He said that Wang would be the Yanks ace within two years. Why are catchers always right it seems? And if they are, should we all urinate on our hands after the first thaw?
Clowns of the Week – The umpires, all of you. From the Bigs to the Sandlots where Punch continues to play the greatest game on Earth (albeit in Slo-Pitch form). You stink, all of ya! I’m kicking things across the room as I type this. You all have the same thing in common: You’re way too confrontational and you’re usually wrong! Hopefully the Milton Bradley situation will serve as a reminder to the men in Blue: The fans (and my Mom and Dad) come to see the players, not you.
Quote of the Week – “The reason the Yankees never lay an egg is they don’t operate on chicken feed.” – Wes Parker, sportswriter in 1958.
Editor’s note - Baseball and Eggs will appear every Thursday, and serves as a form of self–therapy for this clinically insane baseball fan. The baseball part is self–explanatory. The eggs however, could pertain to just about anything on Punch’s mind from Thursday to Thursday.
September 28th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Joe doesnt get any credit for all the titles they won Chip? Cant win em all. He sure does have his share though, cant forget that.
October 1st, 2007 at 11:57 am
True enough, but it sure is nice to stumble upon a homegrown nucleus of players that included Posada, Jeter, Rivera, Pettite, Williams, ete, etc. In fact, its the remainder of this core (outside of A-Rod) that continue to carry the load to this day, even in the twilight of their careers. It’s not that Torre isn’t a good manager: it’s just that all things considered, he’s not the best in-game manager. However, to survive Stienbrenner’s axe handle for 11 years does deserve mention if not kudos.