F*&! Joe Torre: what we learned today

F*&! Joe Torre

Since Joe Torre breaks our hearts, this blog will break his balls. Every day of the season I will detail the errors, misjudgements, and omissions that make him the most overrated manger in the history of the game (even more than Tommy Lasorda!). But Joe Torre is not just one bum in hero's clothing (i.e. the pinstripes); he is the quintessential counterfeit of excellence, a figure who embodies the triumph of the ersatz that pervades every aspect of our culture. No organization in sport, nay in civilization generally, has manifested a committment to continuing greatness like the New York Yankees, a beacon to all, in every field of endeavor, that the best is always possible. How intolerable is it then that the Yankees should be managed by a mediocrity on stilts, a figure with a reputation for greatness without any of the attributes thereof. Beginning with Torre and ending with Torre, this blog will look to smash idols we create out of inadvertence, ignorance, and complacency.

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

what we learned today

On the theory that one can learn as much from laughers as from losses, I would like to wake Torre from his perennial slumber over there in the home dugout and suggest some actual managing he might do.

1. Platoon Bernie Williams. For whatever reason Williams is in his declining years a much better righthanded than lefthanded batter. Okay, he's totally pathetic as a lefthander. Today he struck out on a 49 foot curveball. He can still hit lefties though. When righthanders pitch, sit Williams, make Sheffield, Damon or Matsui the DH, and play Crosby in the field. He hits much better than Williams against righties and of course he fields much better and throws much better than any of the outfielders on the team. I was wrong in telling BGW Torre would never subject Williams to the embarrassment of playing right with his rag arm. He did today and the Royals ran on him at will. He didn't cover any ground over there either.

2. More controversially, platoon Robinson Cano. Cano may be a better hitter than Cairo, but against lefthanders it's a push. Plus Cairo is a much more reliable second baseman. When he's in the lineup, the Yankees have a pretty decent infield overall.

3. Change the batting order against left and right handers. Gary Sheffield is nobody's idea of a number 3 hitter against righthanders. He hit 266 last year against righties and has done even worse this year. Matsui should bat third against righties and Sheffield should bat 6. Cano should bat 7 and Posada 8.

Against righties the lineup should be

Damon
Jeter
Matsui
Rodriguez
Giambi
Sheffield
Cano
Posada
Crosby

Against lefties

Damon
Jeter
Sheffield
Rodriguez
Giambi
Matsui
Posada
Williams
Cairo

That's all for now. You had to like the performance of the bull pen today, three innings no runs and not even any Rivera. You see what can happen when you avoid Sturze and Proctor.

1 Comments:

joe valente said...: I agree with BGW that thinkgs look pretty grim concerning Wang and Chacon. The odd thing is the New York press seemed to think he did a good job. I don't know why. I saw the game and he looked like he had ADHD out there. I mean 2 outs in the first and the only dangerous hitter on KC at the plate and he grooves the first pitch for saunders to hit out of the park. An 0 and 2 count on Grudzalanik and he grooves a fastball for him to line for a double.

I don't know that the Yankees can win with a 2 man rotation, even with this offense. I think we have to hope that Torre elects to start Small (he would know how to pitch with this offense and that Pavano might finally start earning his money.

Speaking of Cleveland, they are looking like monsters. Imagine how good they'd be if they didn't stupidly trade Crisp for Marte.; 9:50 AM