George has Flashback to Earlier Years

It seems that New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner has reverted back to his wicked, old ways.

Just as many of us thought that George was losing his capacities, as his lack of appearances at Yankee Stadium, paired with the medical confirmation of his sad news would suggest, he transcended time and went to a place that he is most recognized for: the 1970's and 1980's, primarily.

In his heyday, Steinbrenner got as much press as his team did, if not more.

Steinbrenner's antics were well documented, from hiring and firing Billy Martin five times, to labeling Dave Winfield "Mr. May" after the Yankees fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1981 World Series, to firing Buck Showalter - when all Showalter did was to help mold the club that would bring home four world titles from 1996-2000.

In more recent years, it seemed as though the Boss had mellowed, with his sudden lack of voice in the media as well as his lack of appearances in the clubhouse.

Some thought that perhaps he had finally learned his lesson, and decided to let the men in the clubhouse and dugout do the motivating and criticizing.

Then, the monster reared its ugly head.

With the Yankees' back against the wall in the division series against the Cleveland Indians, Steinbrenner said in a statement to the press that if his club didn't come back and win the World Series, that Manager Joe Torre would, in all likelihood, not be invited back with the club.

Joe Torre, who, upon the announcement that he was named the Yankees manager, was dubbed "Clueless Joe" in the New York papers.

All "clueless Joe" did in his 12-year tenure as manager was win 10 A.L. East titles, six pennants, and four world championships.

The Yankees, as we all know, were bounced by the Indians, and for the seventh year in a row, New Yorks would not win baseball's ultimate prize.

This put Big Stein in a hell of a spot. Once again, Mr. Steinbrenner opens mouth and inserts foot. On one hand, if he asks Torre back, he loses credibility of being able to stand behind his words. If he doesn't ask Torre back, he risks the rath of the New York media, and most of all, the fans.

So, George has to then figure out a way where he can make everyone happy. He has to make good on his threat, but how can he appease the fans that are so heavily on Torre's side?

In the Godfather, there was a saying that Don Vito Corleone would "make someone an offer that they couldn't refuse." Steinbrenner, along with his brain trust of his children and his general manger, came up with an idea of making Torre an offer that he couldn't accept.

They came up with an idea to make Torre an offer (that alone would appease the fans who would otherwise call for their collective heads) that they knew Joe would never go for (thus, Torre does not return, as per the wishes of the Boss in the first place).

After all that Torre has done, the Yankees offer him a one-year deal with a pay cut, as if Torre has anything else to prove. Is there any doubt why Torre wouldn't take that deal?

Joe Torre has received credit for a lot of things, but not enough credit for others.

Torre ranks (and rightfully so) alongside other great Yankee managers, such as Miller Huggins and Joe McCarthy. However, there is one huge, underrated difference between the kid from Marine Park, Brooklyn and the others.

If you look at the Yankees' rosters in the days of Huggins and McCarthy, there is something that the two have in common: the rosters changed slightly, if at all.

It must have been very comforting for Huggins to know at the end of the season that all of his boys, including Ruth, Gehrig, Dickey, Lazzeri, and others were locked into contracts that would keep them in pinstripes for years to come.

McCarthy surely slept soundly during the winter months knowing that Rizzuto, Berra, DiMaggio, and later Mantle would be back without question the following seasons to defend their crowns.

Torre didn't have that luxury. From year to year, Torre was never quite sure in November what his club was going to look like the following spring.

But, through it all, Torre kept on winning. Whether it was Clemens retiring, Pettite going to Houston, Knoblaugh not being able to throw to first, Giambi's injuries and steroid scandal, an unhappy Scheffield, Stottlemyre and Zimmer leaving, free agents taking off, or any other of the ump-teen personnel changes that he had to endure, Torre kept winning. And those were many, many obstacles that neither Huggins nor McCarthy would have had to think about in their wildest dreams.

Who can blame Torre for not accepting a one-year deal and a pay cut. This man has proven many, many times that he is a winner, a manager that can overcome adversity and is more than likely going to the hall of fame as a skipper. Even if the Yankees haven't won the series since 2000.

So, the Yankees prepare to enter a new era. It's been a long time since New York had a new manager. And, it's been a long time since they didn't have Joe Torre. The Yankees, primarily King George, won't truly appreciate Torre until after he's gone. And, to quote Oliver Hardy, I say to George, "Now look at the fine mess that you've gotten us into!"