State of Affairs Saturday October 20, 2007

Joe Torre is out in NY:
Ten days after the Yankees were unceremoniously ousted from the American League playoffs, Joe Torre too was unceremoniously ousted from his job with the New York Yankees. Why this is a huge story I am not completely certain. It could have had something to do with the black hole that was Friday October 19 in the world of sports. But even so there is absolutely no reason for ESPN to be airing a 65 yes 65 minute press conference by Torre early Friday afternoon. This story has had two weeks to develop and diffuse since Steinbrenner made the ridiculous comment after game 2 that Torre wouldn't have a job if he didn't win the series against the Indians. The whole world with the exception of Torre knew this was coming and no one should be surprised, not even Torre. Which makes it even more unbelievable that Torre was so bitter and angry at having been low balled. LOW BALLED?! He was offered a contract that was guaranteed to be $1.5 million more than the next highest paid manager and included incentives to be $3 million dollars richer. Granted it was a one year deal but still either Torre wanted to be with the Yankees and would have taken the offer or he didn't want to return with the evil empire and is no worse off now that he is on the open market. As far as a replacement is concerned the logical options are former Yankees Mattingly and Girardi. Girardi has the objective edge in that he has at least some managerial experience, however Mattingly has the edge as far as the Yankees are concerned to do his reputation as a Yankee and the fact that he is already employed by the Yankees as their bench coach. Now I have also heard rumblings of La Russa being a possibility in New York. This is almost ridiculous as the Cardinals have already fired Jocketty their GM which was a symbolic measure to back La Russa the manager. Beyond that their is no way La Russa could work with Steinbrenner even a little bit. It seems as logical a time as any with the inevitable roster turnover this off season for the Yankees to begin fresh with a new manager.

A-rod Sweepstakes:
Everyday it appears more and more that A-rod will opt to become a free agent at the conclusion of the world series. Being that his agent is Scott Boras this should not surprise anyone. What's more it seems unlikely that A-rod will re-sign with the Yankees for two important reasons. First, and most obvious, is that the Yankees will have some roster turnover with Posada and Rivera also free agents and with the overall old age of the roster. Now is a perfect time for A-rod to find another team after another lackluster playoff performance and with the recent firing of Torre. Secondly the Yankees would take more of a financial hit then simply the increase in money from about $28 million a year to whatever A-rod commands as the Rangers are still currently paying about a third of A-rod's annual salary and that would go away if a new contract were negotiated. The two most logical teams to go after A-rod are the Angels and the Redsox. These are two of the select few teams that will be able to afford him and each team is in desperate need of a SS with the elite tools of A-rod. According to his agent Scott Boras, A-rod will play well into his forties and has no desire to change teams again. This leads me to conclude that A-rod could command somewhere along the lines of a MONSTROUS 10 year $350 million deal. Finally for those Redsox fans out there that don't want A-rod because of the failed deal that allowed him to instead go to the Yankees 4 years ago I provide this example. In 2000 3 years after the retiring of the GREAT Dean Smith his great assistant Bill Guthridge too retired leaving a huge vacancy at the helm of the Tar Heels. Rumors flew about Roy Williams former Smith assistant and hall of fame head coach taken over the Heels. He however turned down the job and the Heels were forced to hire their second choice up and coming coach Matt Doherty. Doherty led the Heels to their first and only 20 loss season in their historic history. One year later Doherty 'left' the Heels, almost like Torre just 'left' the Yankees, and Williams took over. As a diehard Heels fan I can say that I was in a similar position to Redsox fans are currently with A-rod. Now after 3 20 win and 2 30 win seasons and a National Championship in 4 years all has been forgiven of Roy. With that being said A-rod would push the Redsox over the top and quickly make up for the time he missed with the Sox as a member of the Yankees.

Tribe leads Sox 3-2 in ALCS:
Thats more than enough about the evil empire now to the real story in MLB, the ALCS. The series with the exception of game 2 every game in the series has been a blow out. Beckett dominated games 1 and 5 while CC pitched like he has in his career up until this season. In games 3 and 4 the Redsox were over matched by underwhelming starters Westbrooke and Byrd. The two arms that will cover game 7 if we get there. Now as a preview for game 6 we see Schilling going head to head with Fausto Carmona. Carmona blew 4 saves in 4 days last season as the closer for the Indians in Fenway Park. Now back in Fenway for the second time this season look for Fausto to return to form and really command this game 6. Schilling on the other hand has not pitched well lately, but is still one of the best playoff starters in the history of the game. Look for more of a pitchers duel and for the Tribe to squeak out a 5-3 victory on the back of yet another quality start by big Fausto Carmona.

Next post: Look for lots of football talk on Monday.....