The New Millenarianism

Torre's 100oth win Sunday garnered praise for his leadership from Bernie Williams, who is glad to be treated like its still Y2K, the splendid zenith of his career and the Yankees recent glory. Torre was also lavishly praiised by George Steinbrenner, but of course he believes that this is Y2K. There was also the familiar appreciation for Joe's even-temperedness, which is how his admirers choose to interpret his torpidity.

And while the Yankees won their fifth straight--a truly impressive feat when you consider how hot the Rangers were before the Yanks came to Arlington--old Slow Joe made one of those unaccountable decisions for which he is justly (in)famous. Having decided to give Matsui a DH break (fine by me), he puts Bernie in right and Bubba in left. Given the premium on a strong arm in right, why would this not be the other way round? How can Torre persist, on a purely elective basis, in putting baseball's worst arm in right field? The offense may spare him the consequences for a time, but in what looks to be the prolonged absence of Sheffield (the reason for all of this), run production is likely to wane some in the weeks ahead and the runs disgorged by all those opponents taking extra bases will likely convert into a couple of unnecessary losses.

And Torre will continue to be lauded for his leadership, precisely because he is way too calm to worry about such things, let alone act on them.