FanHouse YogiBerra

NEW YORK -- Joe Torre's name is on the book, but it's a fair estimate not even one-fourth of the words are actually his. He says he's read it six times, perusing line for line, scanning chapters for quotes or anecdotes that have caused so much fuss. It is clear the New York Yankees, Torre's former employer, aren't pleased with the book -- Torre's book -- and there is a decent chance their relationship is forever stained.

And yet, here is Torre, calmly navigating another hot-stove controversy the way he did for 12 always memorable, sometimes controversial seasons as manager of the Yankees. Taking refuge from a snowstorm building steam outside, Torre brushes a few icy flakes from his shoulder and tells me he "wouldn't change a thing."

The Yankees are riding out a stretch without two key bats in the middle of the order. Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada are linchpins to the team's plans and without either one of them a return trip to the playoffs seems unlikely. But if you had to choose one or the other to be in the lineup, it would have to be A-Rod. Whatever his problems in the hospital, he's a more productive hitter than Posada and more able to make a singular impact on a pennant race.

Since they're still playing baseball with nine a side, though, they'd be much better off with both of them. Phil Pepe, writing for the YES Network's web site, disagrees. He's under the impression that the team misses Posada more than Rodriguez.
Note to Pepe: Posada was on every one of those teams with A-Rod. By that reasoning, the guy they really miss is Luis Sojo, with whom the Yankees won four World Series and six pennants. Pepe's transitive reasoning isn't his only foray into bold, nonsensical statements.


Simply put, neither of those dogs is gonna hunt.

A lot of times it seems like sports is nothing but a business for players and coaches, but sometimes you realize that these guys are real fans of the game, as well, not just emotionless actors. When Joe Girardi was introduced as the new manager of the Yankees, he told a couple of touching anecdotes that revealed just what this opportunity means to him. From the AP:

"I try not to get emotional, but my father hasn't spoke in a month. And when the lady who takes care of my father, he has Alzheimer's, showed him the picture of me as the new Yankee manager, my father said, 'Oh yeah,'" he said.
[ ... ]
"I got a call from Yogi last night and you realize the stature of the position when Yogi calls you at your house and says, 'Do I still get to come to spring training?'" Girardi said, lowering his voice to mimic that of Hall of Famer Yogi Berra.

Whether you cheer for the Yankees or not, it's hard not to read that and smile -- especially when you realize that it was his father's illness that prompted him to pass on the Orioles job this past summer. Also, Yankees fans should appreciate his choice uniform number: he's wearing No. 27, in honor of the 27th World Series title he hopes to deliver. He may or may not have a long leash with the Steinbrenner's, but he's pushing all the right buttons to connect with the fans.

Update: This isn't directly related but interesting nonetheless -- Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that even though managing the Yankees was Girardi's "dream job," he still played hardball during negotiations, forcing the team to match a $7.8 million contract offered by the Dodgers last week. Good for him.