Yankees Make All the Right Moves

No matter what the New York Yankees do, there will always be some character standing nearby with a pen and pad, ready to hurl some dim-witted criticism or half-baked epithet at the team or its ownership. It's the way of the sports media. Every good baseball writer knows that the best way to attract readers is to put the words "New York Yankees" in your article's headline. Combine that team name with a cheap shot and a low blow, and even more readers will stop and take a gander.

Internet Baseball Analyst Blast Yankee Moves

The most recent practitioner of this form of "internet journalism" is Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports, who devoted an entire column on 20 November 2007 to attack the recent off-season roster moves made by the Yankees. Specifically, he lambasted the team for spending almost $400 million to retain three perennial All-Star hitters and one Hall of Fame closer while ignoring what he contends is the team's "Horror Show" of a pitching staff.

Now, it is possible that Mr. Brown wrote his article because he knew it would attract attention. If that is indeed the case, then Bravo to you, Mr. Brown.

If he actually meant what he said, well, decorum shall have to prevent candor at this time.

So, let's take a deep breath and examine with some intelligence the recent maneuvering of the New York Yankees, from allowing their long-time skipper to jump ship to signing third baseman Alex Rodriguez to a contract that will keep him in pinstripes through his 42nd birthday.

The Yankees Were Smart to Let Joe Torre Walk

If there is any justice in the world, Joe Torre will someday have a plaque in Cooperstown and a monument dedicated in his honor just behind the left field wall in the New Yankee Stadium. Torre wasn't just a good manager; he was a great manager. Just staying employed for twelve straight years by George Steinbrenner is a testament to the man's skill, diplomacy, popularity, and success. But it's Torre's 12 straight playoff appearances, six American league pennants and four World Series rings that confirm his place among the best managers in history.

But Torre's time in the bronx has passed. Regardless of what he said when he left the team, there were too many times this season when the great man looked like he was just going through the motions.

This was never more evident than during the eighth inning of the infamous Bug Attack during Game 2 of the 2007 ALDS against the Cleveland Indians. Joba Chamberlain had been cruising along, and he was holding on to the Yankees 1-0 lead going into the top of the eigth inning. Then suddenly -- and not entirely unlike a biblical plague -- the pitcher's mound was swarmed with thousands and thousands of gnats that got into the eyes, mouth and nose of the yankee reliever. For anyone watching on television, it was clear that Joba couldn't pitch under those circumstances. After he walked a batter and threw a wild pitch, it was patently clear. But Torre didn't make a stink. He didn't ask that the game be stopped. Surely this act of nature was far more diruptive of a baseball game than any rainsower could ever be. But Torre sat on his hands, seemingly resigned to accept and endure this final twist of ironic fate that had been thrown hi way. The man who'd made all the right moves during his glory years was now sitting on hi hands, looking ready for defeat.

Of course, one game should never make or break a man of Torre's well-deserved place in this game. But four straight years without making the World Series, and three straight first round exits? Fair or not, the Yankees poor play in October over the past few years doomed their skipper. More accurately, it clearly signalled a time for change. That change came in the form of new manager Joe Girardi.

Joe Girardi Was the Right Man for the Manager's Job

And although Don Mattingly may have been the popular choice for the job, Girardi is the better man. He has close relationships with Posada, Rivera and Derek Jeter, having won three World Series with those Yankees from 1996 through 1999. But Girardi doesn't just provide a bridge to the few remaining veterans of the Last Yankee Dynasty, he is also the perfect link to the team's crop of good young players like Robinson Cano, Shelley Duncan, as well and Chamberlain and Hughes. Girardi has had suces with kids before. He managed the 2006 Marlins to 80 wins despite having a team comprised of mostly 20 to 23-year olds and a payroll of under $15 million. Six of his rookies that year were among the Top 10 vote-getters for the 2006 Rookie of the Year Award. Girardi already brings a livelier and potentially contentious management style that will keep the Yankees on the back pages of the new York tabloids all year long.

Yankees Signings of Posada, Abreu, Rivera Were All Smart Moves

Bobby Abreu. Since he joined the Yankees in July of 2006, Abreu has done nothing but hit, get on base and drive in runs. In his 1 and 1/3 year Yankee career, Abreu has knocked in 143 RBI, scored 160 runs and posted an OBP of .392. He's alo stolen

Jorge Posada. The Yankees catcher is the best all-around player in baseball among backstops, and he is coming off the best year of his life, hitting .338 with 20 dingers and 90 ribbies. Posada is also essential to the development and success of the team's trio of young stud pitchers. Although Posada is 36 years old, he is unusually sturdy, having played in an average of 138 games over the past decade. The fourth year may not pay off, but the first and second seasons probably will.

Mariano Rivera. Yes, Rivera had a terrible April. But over the final five months of the season, he was lights-out. He made 59 appearances, had an ERA of 2.23, and he converted on 30 out of 32 save opportunities. In the postseason, Mo was brilliant (once again): he pitched 4 2/3 innings, gave up zero runs, and struck out six while walking just one.

The new salary is high, but it is offset by one very major departure: Roger Clemens and his $18 million salary. Combined, Rivera and Posada will earn $7.5 million more than they did in 2007. Since Clemens's salary was $18 million, the team could pay Posada and Rivera, and still have about $10.5 million left to use on the unlikeliest of old "new" Yankees.

The Big A-Rod Deal Was a Big Success

How can anyone criticize the Yankees for the manner in which they handled this? Brian Cashman stated several times during the season that the Yankees would seek to extend A-Rod's contract at the end of the year. he also said that the team would not negotiate with Rodriguez if he opted out of the remaining three years on his contract and became a free agaent.

When the season ended, the Yankees reportedly offered an extension that would have paid Alex Rodriguez a total of $230 million over the next eight seasons. A-Rod and his agent, Scott Boras rejected the deal, and A-Rod opted out of his existing contract. Later reports stated that Boras had told the Yankees that they would need to offer a deal of at least $350 million just to get Rodriguez to the negotiating table. These events, of course, just happened to occur a few days after Boras's claim that A-Rod could earn the Yankees up to $1 billion over the next decade.

After A-Rod opted out, the Yankees held their ground, and did not negotiate with Rodriguez. The slugger reported talked to the Red Sox and Angels, and then, in a surprise move, called up the Yankees himself and asked if they were still interest in talking -- without his manager present. Within days, the Yankees had an agreement in principle with A-Rod for $275 million, a full $75 million less than Boras's alleged minimum price.

The $27.5 million a year figure is about $10 million more than the Yankees would have paid A-Rod had he not opted out. Lucky for the Yankees there are just about $10 million left in in freed-up Roger Clemens money, and that can foot the bill in 2008. And with Jason Giambi's $20 million salary and Mike Mussina's $12 million pay gone after this season, the Yankees will have freed up more dollars to keep the best player in the world on their team for a long time to come.

The Team Has Been Slower Moving On Pitching, But for Good Reason

Of course, in making these necessary (and in some sense emergency) moves, the Yankees incurred the wrath of some of the writers and screamers and talking heads of the world because the team hadn't yet focused on its pitching needs. This argument of course ignores all of the necessary time and effort expended by the Yankees to preserve what may the best lineup and the best closer in the game's history.

Moreover, as of November 21, the Yankees hadn't missed many opportunities. Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux certainly weren't going to pitch in New York. Nor was Curt (the Incredible Jerk) Schilling. And pitchers who may want to pitch in New York, well, are still out there. But the Yankees do need to get on the ball. See if they can do it by clicking here.

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