Steinbrenner, Bernie arrive in Tampa

Thanks to Jeremy for bringing this article to my attention.

Bernie Williams and George Steinbrenner arrived in Tampa this morning. Williams was in uniform and began working out, as evidenced by this picture snapped by Peter Abraham.

'Yankee Years' quote of the night

This is priceless. From pages 118-119 of "The Yankee Years":

George Steinbrenner would shovel debris out of six inches of gunky, green water while dressed in loafers and slacks if it meant winning a World Series, which is exactly what he was doing in the eighth inning of Game 4 of the 2000 World Series at Shea Stadium. A fire had started in a third-deck trash container at Shea. When firefights opened one standpipe to extinguish the fire, pressure built in another standpipe located over the Yankees' clubhouse. The pipe burst, spewing torrents of dirty water and eventually causing the clubhouse ceiling to collapse. Great waves of fetid water cascaded over the clubhouse, and headed in the direction of the Yankees' principal owner.
...

As firefighters arrived to shut off the standpipe and clean up the mess, Steinbrenner jumped in to help them. After they did the best they could to move the water out and shovel away the pieces of the demolished ceiling, Steinbrenner, soaked himself, took a wad of bills from his pocked and peeled off fifties and hundreds to give to the firefighters in appreciation of their effort.

Wow. That is all I have to say about that.

This book is fantastic so far.

'Yankee Years' quotes of the night

I've only gotten through the first 10 pages of "The Yankee Years" (long day), so I'm still on the chapter entitled, "Underdogs." It deals with the 1996 team.

If I come across anything that stands out to me, I will post it here.

Page 6 mentions the David Cone negotiations during the 1995 offseason. Cone was ready to bolt to Baltimore, but those talks died over complications regarding deferred money and interest rates. George Steinbrenner, who was visiting a sick friend in the hospital, called Cone from the hospital's pay phone.

"We want you not just for this deal," Steinbrenner told Cone, "but for the rest of your career. Before your career is over with the Yankees, you will be pitching in a new ballpark on the West Side of Manhattan and I hope we're drawing three million people a year."

Cone, as you know, left the Yankees after 2000 and signed with the Red Sox. The Yankees, meanwhile, drew at least 4 million fans in each of the final four years of the old Yankee Stadium.

And here's another one I enjoyed. Page 8 talks about Joe Torre's meeting with the team during the first day of spring training in 1996.

"All of my coaches have been to the World Series," Torre told the team. "That's what I want. But I don't want to win just one. I want to win three of them in a row. I want to establish something here that's special. I don't want to sacrifice principles and players to do it one time. I want to establish a foundation to be the kind of ballclub that is going to be able to repeat."

Little did we know that Torre would actually fulfill that promise.

More on Torre's book

Joshua Robinson has a good summary of other topics in Joe Torre's new book, "The Yankee Years."

Covered here: Carl Pavano, George Steinbrenner's health, how the Yankees do business and steroids.

Meanwhile, this Times article by Michael S. Schmidt mainly focuses on Alex Rodriguez.

Yankees and Cowboys enter partnership

The New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys entered into an agreement that will focus on catering, concessions and merchandising. The new group, called Legends Hospitality Management, LLC, will be the exclusive caterer and merchandising service to both of the teams' new stadiums.

George M. Steinbrenner, Chairman of the New York Yankees said, “This partnership brings together two of the finest sports franchises and creates a business that will take advantage of their tremendous insight and expertise. No one knows their fans better and has a greater interest in providing them a great game-day experience. With both the Yankees and the Cowboys moving into new stadiums next season, this is certainly the right time to rethink our approach. Beyond that base, we are confident that other facilities and teams will be interested in what Legends can offer. I look forward to building a business with Jerry.”

Wow...the evil Yankees and the evil Cowboys joining forces. I, for one, hate the Cowboys, but this seems like to be a smart deal for both organizations.

Click the above link for the complete press release if you are interested.

Recap of today in Tampa

Bryan Hoch gives us a good recap of what happened during the first day of live batting practice today.

The Yankees got through their first day of live hitting and pitching drills without incident. Joba Chamberlain was the guy getting the loudest cheers from the fans and he looked OK, but it's so hard to tell since the hitters know what's coming and spit on most of the pitches.

Chamberlain actually said that his changeup was his best pitch today -- that's good news for people wanting to see him evolve a deeper repertoire for the third and fourth times around the order. Mike Mussina was able to locate his pitches down, and Joe Girardi complimented Sean Henn's session. He also called Steven Jackson's sinker "exciting."

Good to see that Chamberlain was happy with his new pitch. If it is anywhere near as good as his slider and fastball, that is good news for Yankee fans. It is also good to see that Mussina has been performing well so far. Reading his quotes, he seems upbeat and confident.

Hoch continues, saying that prospect Jesus Montero hit Chien-Ming Wang relatively hard, taking him to the opposite field warning track.

In other news, in a move that he will likely end up regretting, Phil Hughes posted his email address on his blog.

There was also a George Steinbrenner sighting.

(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Steinbrenner Day petition

The Yankee GM Blog created an online petition to hold a George M. Steinbrenner Day at Yankee Stadium this year.

The petition can be found here.

This isn't a bad idea. The Yankees have already renamed Legends Field after Steinbrenner, so holding a day in honor of Steinbrenner in the final year of the Stadium shouldn't be that hard.

Happy P&C Day!

Yes, today is Feb. 14 - Valentine's Day - but more importantly, it's the day that pitchers and catchers (sans Andy Pettitte) are scheduled to report!

This is the day we have all been counting down to since the Yankees were eliminated by the Cleveland Indians on Oct. 8 at Yankee Stadium.

It's a day of fresh starts for everyone, and that's probably what is most exciting. We can all begin to forget what happened last year and look to this season.

There are some items of news out there today: Legends Field in Tampa is being renamed to honor George Steinbrenner. It will now be known as George M. Steinbrenner Field. Also, for some reason, Morgan Ensberg is wearing No. 21. The Yankees haven't assigned this number since Paul O'Neill retired after the 2001, so it's curious for them to assign it to a non-roster invitee.

Rubenstein: Hank and Hal are equals

Peter Abraham did some digging and got some interesting information from the former mouthpiece of the organization, Howard Rubenstein.

Regarding the power of the Steinbrenner Brothers:

“They share the power,” Rubenstein said. “They are equal partners for both business and baseball. I spoke to them about it today and that’s the situation.”

Rubenstein also mentions that George still has input, but obviously his role.

I'm starting to get the feeling that Brian Cashman won't be back next season.

Hank vs. Hal

According to Joel Sherman of the Post, there seems to be a conflict between George Steinbrenner's sons, Hank and Hal.

Hank Steinbrenner has continued to suggest the Yanks are in play for Santana, and a sense has percolated of a tug-of-war between Steinbrenner's willingness to surrender top youngsters and GM Brian Cashman's reluctance. But multiple sources say the media has focused on the wrong son of George Steinbrenner. These sources say Hal Steinbrenner is most responsible for dictating financial policy and does not want to spend the dollars in salary and luxury tax (nearly $30 million annually) necessary for Santana.

I think this could finally put an end to the Johan Santana/Yankee trade rumors to bed. Cashman has seemed hesitant to trade away the farm system that he has helped recover, and the Yankees have had to pay a large luxury tax bill each of the last five years.

If the Yankees don't end up trading for Santana, Cashman would have made a huge stand with the new owner. Hank Steinbrenner likes to talk a lot, but the decisions on players should ultimately rest with Cashman.

Good-bye and thanks

The 12-year Joe Torre era has now come to an unfortunate close.

Torre did not need to be treated this way. He has made the playoffs in each of those 12 years, winning four World Series championships and six American League pennants. He has been a class act and took George Steinbrenner missives in stride, when others would have melted in the face of pressure.

With all of his success, he did not deserve to be low-balled like he was today. He flew to Tampa and was presented with a 33% pay cut and an incentive-based contract. Basically, the front office was trying to save face and appear that they were keen on keeping Torre for next season. Instead, they ended up looking horrible in the process by giving him an offer he most certainly could refuse. And he did.

They knew he'd refuse this offer. This year was perhaps his best managerial job, yet they wanted to cut his pay.

I know I have been on Torre's case over the last few years. He probably should have been let go after last year's playoff defeat. However, with Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte - vocal supporters of Torre - being free agents, this is not the offseason to mess with Torre.

Aside from the manager, the team could probably look very different next season. And that is a frightening thought.

Thank you for your time in pinstripes, Mr. Torre. You have been the only manager I have really known, and it has been a hell of a ride.

Good luck in the future and maybe we'll see you again. Stranger things have happened.

Where's George?

There's George. This photo was taken at tonight's game and was not released via Howard Rubenstein.

This statement, however, was:

I'm elated we have clinched the playoff spot.

After a tough first half of the season when everyone seemed to lose faith except for our players and our fans, the team has really stepped up and shown themselves to be the champions that they are. With hard work and determination, we were able to clinch a playoff position and are now heading into our 13th consecutive postseason.

I congratulate our players, Joe Torre, and Brian Cashman. I really like the mix of veterans and younger players who have contributed to this comeback. It has been exciting to watch them play, coalesce and pull together. The fans and I look forward to the team accomplishing our ultimate goal -- bringing a world championship back to New York. (Source)

(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

The braintrust gathers in Tampa

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner met with his top advisers for 90 minutes Tuesday, discussing potential moves before the July 31 deadline for trades without waivers.

General partner Hal Steinbrenner, general manager Brian Cashman, team president Randy Levine and chief operating officer Lonn Trost attended the session along with senior vice president Felix Lopez, special adviser Gene Michael, senior vice president of baseball operations Mark Newman and vice president of amateur scouting Damon Oppenheimer.

The team officials met for two hours at Legends Field, the Yankees spring training home, before being joined by Steinbrenner.

The group also discussed potential help from the Yankees' minor league system. Pitchers Phil Hughes (sprained ankle) and Jeff Karstens (broken leg) are on minor league rehab assignments and could be ready to rejoin the team within the next two weeks (source).

Sounds like a riveting meeting. I can't see the Yankees making any major trades. They seem reluctant to trade their highly-touted prospects, and the team is finally starting to show that they can play together. I can see trades involving bullpen help, but that is pretty much it.

Also, does anyone else find the following Joe Torre quote (from the same article) as absolutely hilarious as I do? NoMaas does.

Manager Joe Torre did not rule out a bullpen assignment in the majors for Joba Chamberlain, who has been a starter this season.

"If that is the case, we would take care of him," Torre said before Tuesday night's game against the Royals in Kansas City.

"We'll make sure we don't abuse him," Torre said. "Not that we willfully abuse people, but you know, when panic sets in during a game, man, throw them all out there."

Glad to know that at least Chamberlain would be taken care of. The same can't be said about Scott Proctor and Luis Vizcaino.

It's July 4

That means it is George Steinbrenner's birthday - his 77th.

Happy birthday, Boss.

It is also America's birthday.

It's fitting that Steinbrenner was born on the Fourth of July. He is a patriot and a half.

Derek Jeter's in my Fave 5...Who's in yours?

I have only been a Yankee fan since 1996. I know what you're thinking: bandwagon hopper. This is not true. In 1996, I was 8 years old. It just so happens that at the age I was able to fully understand and appreciate baseball, one of the greatest dynasties was being formed. Don't hold that against me. Since that time, I have made a valiant effort to learn pretty much all that there is to know about Yankees baseball.

Now, the point of this post is to stir up some conversation. Who are your five most favorite baseball players of your lifetime? They can be from your favorite team, but they don't have to be. Mine will all be from the Yankees because all the other teams are irrelevant.

1. Derek Jeter

I have been watching Derek Jeter since he first became the starting shortstop in 1996. His career started right when I first started watching baseball, so I feel that I grew up while he was growing up as a professional baseball player, much like older adults today grew up watching Mickey Mantle, Don Mattingly, etc. I have talked to some friends, and we all agree that we will first feel old when Jeter retires. The emotional attachment is there, and all of the criticism he gets is unwarranted. The man is a winner and he is the definition of a New York Yankee (whatever that means).

2. Bernie Williams

Bernie Williams will always be a favorite of mine. Like Jeter, much of my childhood was spent watching Williams play. From the clutch hits to the sliding catches in center field, he always tried his hardest. While he has since moved on from baseball, and the ending was rather ugly, he is most certainly missed.

3. Paul O'Neill

I hate to use the George Steinbrenner cliché terms, but Paul O'Neill was truly a "warrior." He was the team's emotional leader during the late 90's and the team fed off of him. You could tell when he was pissed off and the fans loved him for that. He has been gone for six years now, but he has never been adequately replaced, and frankly, he is rather irreplaceable.

4. Andy Pettitte

I had always felt a special connection to Andy Pettitte: we are both left-handed and we are both named Andrew. He is a big game pitcher and can always be depended on to pick the team up after a loss. I was so disappointed and upset when he signed with Houston after the 2003 season that I decapitated my Pettitte bobblehead doll that I received at a game in 2001. Obviously, I am thrilled he is back home this year. I just wish the team would help him out a little more.

5. Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez

Orlando Hernandez is loved by all Yankee fans. He was a great clutch pitcher and always pitched well in October. We first saw him in 1998, crazy leg kick and all. From then until 2002, and again in 2004, he was a fixture of the Yankees pitching staff. Now he is pitching for the Mets, and while it is a little disappointing, I still love watching the man pitch.

The players can say what they want, but this team has quit

Obviously Derek Jeter won't go in front of reporters and television cameras and say, "Yeah, this team is terrible. We're 13.5 games out of first place. We have no chance of winning anything this year, so we might as well give up."

Their actions on the field are speaking louder than if they pulled a Bart Simpson and placed 20 megaphones back to back and spoke in front of them.

I knew a year like this would come soon, as they can't finish in first every year. However, I did not think that this year would be the year. The team got old really fast and caught a lot of bad breaks.

There is no way to fix this mess this year. Firing Joe Torre and Kevin Long (the hitting coach) would accomplish absolutely nothing. Torre will be gone after this year, and I want him gone. However, there is no need to fire him. The players are the problem. Johnny Damon is playing like a 45-year-old, Bobby Abreu is inept, and Jason Giambi is a recovering drug addict. However, it is impossible to trade anyone of these guys. Why would MLB general managers want to help out the big, bad New York Yankees and take on their bloated contracts?

Brian Cashman may take the fall, and he made some bad moves (Kei Igawa, anyone?), but it isn't his fault that Robinson Cano regressed and that Abreu totally fell off. The bench, bullpen, and backup catcher are his fault, and a $200 million team should be able to improve these areas. However, the construction of the roster essentially inhibited many moves from being done.

Also, there are no great replacements for Cashman. He made some decent trades this off season that were meant for the future. There are some good prospects in the minors that we should see in the next two to three years. All is not lost. However, this year is lost. It's time to pack up and move on.

The above phrase was on the Yankee Stadium marquee after a George Steinbrenner statement following the 22-0 debacle against the Cleveland Indians in 2004.