Much Ado About Nothing: The Yankee Years

The buzz, in early February, was all over Joe Torre's new book.  Co-written (read:  written) by Tom Verducci, the book was talked about all over the place, with leaks from different sections of the book securing its description as a "tell-all".

Torre found himself discussing the book just about everywhere.  Sirius Radio, WFAN in New York, ESPN.  Even on Larry King Live.

Every few days leading up to the February 3rd release of the book, new leaks would come out.

Teammates called Alex Rodriguez A-Fraud, Johnny Damon may not have been as good of a teammate as people think, problems with Kevin Brown and Carl Pavano.

It seemed to have all the markings of a juicy, insider's look at one of the most popular franchises during one of its most successful runs in team history.  I was excited. 

Then, I read it.

After over 470 pages, I was left feeling like I'd just seen any Eddie Murphy movie that has come out in the past 15 years.  The previews look great, you think you've got a winner, and once you're leaving the theater, you realize you've seen all the good parts in the preview, and the movie was otherwise lacking.

Not much difference here.

Verducci takes the reader through the 12 "yankee years" of Joe Torre, an interesting look (albeit protracted) at the changes that took place not only in the Yankee clubhouse but also throughout baseball.  Interesting, but not revealing.  Anyone following baseball or having read Moneyball at some point is at least vaguely familiar with the newfound obsession by baseball executives with statistical analysis, niche finding, and market exploitation to compete with the high spenders of the major leagues.  

This is where the book finds its demise.  As a concept, the "changes in baseball" idea isn't that original.  It's been done, several times over.  Not to mention that unless you were a Yankees fan, you wouldn't really care too much about what was going on inside their clubhouse at the time.  But, if you were a Yankee fan, the things you were reading about were pretty much common knowledge.

For instance, no one actually told me that players resented Kyle Farnsworth, Kevin Brown, and Carl Pavano.  But, I think I could've figured that one out of my own.  Did I know for a fact that Randy Johnson's struggles were linked to the pressures of NYC?  No, but pushing away a camera guy on his first day pretty much told me all I needed to know at the time.

There were some interesting stories, though.  One that sticks with me found George Steinbrenner walking through the clubhouse during spring training some years back.  Allen Watson, a mediocre middle reliever for the Yankees, was horsing around and tossed a bagel at a clubhouse attendant.  The errant throw hit Steinbrenner, who demanded to know who had perpetrated the crime.  Watson sheepishly admitted it was him, to which The Boss said, "I thought it was you, Watson, that's why it didn't hurt."

General overview:  Torre felt betrayed by the way the Yankees handled his final few years, the Yankees relied too much on statistics and big free agent signings post 2000, and made a ton of free agent pitching mistakes (not the least of which was Kei Igawa, who bullpen catcher Mike Borzello goes on record as saying he knew was terrible after catching only one session with him in his first February with the team).

Not too shocking.

Teixeira Headed To The Bronx: Yankees to Sign Every Good Free Agent Available

As of slightly before 4 PM eastern time, word is that the Evil Empire has done it again.

Sources I have (including the NY Daily News, and, oddly enough, Facebook, which alerted me to the signing first), indicate that Mark Teixeira and the Yankees are reportedly closing in on an eight year deal worth over 170 million.

Talk about your all-time hogwash stories.  All those following the Teixeira "saga" heard was that the Yankees were distantly involved.  Earlier today, Buster Olney reported that the Red Sox and Nationals were the serious destinations for the 1B.  Brian Cashman has said that there wasn't anything on the table for the switch hitter.  

Suddenly (read: all along), the Yankees emerge as real contenders for Teixeira, and, within a seeming instant, they've signed the last remaining true prize left on the market.

How on Earth do you begin to analyze this?  Let's take a stab, shall we?

Yankee Apologist

On a baseball level, strictly on the field of play, it's a great move.  They needed a first baseman with the Giambino gone, and they went out and got the best one available.  Truth is, their offense outside of A-Rod is either really old (Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada) or really inconsistent (Robinson Cano), and adding a huge bat to protect Rodriguez is a great thing.

Yankee Hater

Here they go again!  What was it, one summer ago that they wanted to hold onto all their prospects, do this winning "thing" the all-natural way?  Yeah, way to stick to the game plan.  Not to mention, do they have to sign everyone?  First C.C, then Burnett, and now Teixeira?  Let me guess, tomorrow they'll sign Manny to a 6 year deal, Lowe to 5 years, and Oliver Perez to a 4 year contract.

Financially Oriented Yankee Fan (As If It's Their Money Anyway)

This idea that the Yankees have spent over 400 million in the past few weeks is ridiculous.  These aren't 180 million, one year contracts.  In fact, with 88 million coming off the books from last year, the Yankees salary will actually be close or even under where it was last year.  

Scott Boras

See, I told you there was a mystery team!

Not Yankee Haters, per se, But Let's Just Say They Wouldn't Call The Yankees Back After A First Date

This is awful for baseball.  The Yankees, more importantly, the power of the almighty dollar is ruining professional sports, at a time when we're simultaneously seeing the ruin of our current economy and financial structure.  When people are losing their jobs, right and left, these jerks are going out and dumping hundreds of millions on ball players.  The Yankees aren't necessarily to blame, other teams were offering similarly high amounts (the Nationals were, in fact, offering more), but, the symbolism of this move just demonstrates the decline of the true spirit of the game (editor's note:  we have no idea what that actually means, but "real" fans always say it, so it has to be true).

BERNing on Sports' Take (read:  Scott's)

As a fan of baseball's most hated team, I'm quite torn.  Are they better with him? Yes.  Is it a boat load of money?  Yes.  Is it my money, is it honestly costing me anything?  No, and not really.  Will I cheer for him, and still root for the Yankees? Yes, no doubt.

However, it'll be with a heavy heart.  Recently, I remarked to a friend of mine that I'm feeling more and more detached from the Yankees.  It just seems like its a new team every year, filled with a new, free agent du jour.  Gone are the days where the young stud comes through the farm system, and he's actually given time to develop.  Your either Joba Chamberlain or Ian Kennedy, it seems, in the eyes of Yankees brass.

While I can't say I'm thrilled about it, what I can say I'm angry about are people that will act disgusted by the Yankees.  They play by the rules, they have the money, and they're aggressive.  Albeit, overly aggressive, but still, if the Steinbrenners were running the Cubs or Red Sox or Dodgers or Angels, no one from those markets would be complaining.

The real crime is, with all that they've done, all they've added, what happens if they don't win the World Series?  Rumor has it that Moses (no, not Malone, the biblical one) will be up for free agency next winter.

And so, as a Yankee, I'm caught in between a desire to see my team win and not be constantly picked on by fellow baseball fans.  Between a desire to see them bring home another championship and to see them actually earn another championship.

In effect, that's what it comes down to.  Sure, they can win, and, they should.  But, did they earn it?  Are the Yankees better, just because they spend more? It's almost like the kid that used to beat the crap out of the weaklings at lunch for their money.  Was that kid really to blame for being stronger?  No, but, should he feel good about beating up a bunch of younger, skinny nerds?  

Regardless, I'll root, upset or not.  I'll watch the press conference, where he'll tell me how badly he wanted to be a Yankee (yeah, sure, like Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey were together because she was sooo smart).  And, if they win, I'll be happy, though, it won't feel right.  It won't feel earned.