So Where Do We Go From Here?

Changes are needed, but who and what is anyone’s guess


By: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
October 27, 2003


Like you I am a baseball fan. Like you I enjoy playing general manager and speculate what’s going to happen with the New York Yankees in the near future. As this is the third year in a row the Yankees’ haven’t climbed all the way to the top of major league baseball’s mountain, a change is coming. As sure as the autumn leaves change color the Yankees will be undergoing a change. How severe a transformation can only be conjured up in the mind of the Yankees’ principal owner George Steinbrenner. So without further ado I will make the following suggestions. You may or may not agree with my opinions, but I’m going to offer them anyway.

First and foremost, the Yankees’ need to re-sign Andy Pettitte to a long-term deal. He concluded the 2003 season with a 21-8 record, which is the most wins by a Yankees pitcher since, well Andy Pettitte did it in 1996. He had an ERA of 4.02 which isn’t bad considering the way balls are juiced so that home runs leave the parks like rocket ships leave Cape Canaveral. He is a home grown product with a lifetime record of 149-78. He has a lifetime ERA of 3.96. His strikeout to walks ratio is 1275-579 or better than 2-1. He is my unsung, playoffs MVP as he continually stepped up when the Yankees need a gutty pitching performance and Andy delivered. In 5 games started Pettitte had a record of 3-1 with an ERA of 2.10. His 3 wins came in Game 2 situations, where had he lost the Yankees would have departed Yankee Stadium down 0-2 against the teams they were facing in the playoffs (Minnesota, Boston, Florida). Plus, he’s a freaking left-handed starting pitcher. So why in the hell would the “Boss” let this guy walk only to be signed by a rival team?

With Roger Clemens now retired the Yankees need to hang onto their quality pitching. Andy Pettitte is a quality pitcher. Sign him George!!!

Next, we need a bona fide, front-line outfielder with some pop in the bat. Now several things have to happen here. We all know that the right fielder by committee experiment didn’t have the desired results Joe Torre wanted. Also, Bernie Williams can no longer patrol center field. With his mounting injuries Bernie has slowed down and he can no longer run down balls like the old Bernie could. He no longer glides to balls over his head he labors to them. Several things have been suggested. One, is moving Matsui to center and Williams to left field. Godzilla played an extended time in centerfield this year, while Williams was rehabbing from knee surgery. Hideki acquitted himself quite well in “the valley.” Another suggestion was moving Bernie to left, Soriano to center field and Matsui to right. That would necessitate finding a quality second baseman to replace Soriano at that position. Personally, I like this idea. Soriano is only 25 and can fly like a gazelle. He can be taught how to play the field and with his age he’d be a fixture in centerfield for years to come. But, another twist will be how the Boss views Soriano. Don’t think that going up to the plate like he did and hacking away with 26 strikeouts (a playoff record) is going to endear him to Steinbrenner. The Yankees will have to evaluate what the best fit is. Get a front-line outfielder, such as a Vladimir Guerrero or Carlos Beltran or a second baseman like Jose Vidro from Montreal. These are all players whom I like. Other outfielders’ names floating around are Jim Edmonds (Cardinals), Gary Sheffield (Atlanta) and Ken Griffey Jr. (Cincinnati). All these guys are talented ballplayers, but they all have an attitude. This is especially true for Griffey, who isn’t nicknamed “Grumpy” for nothing.

Moving down the board the Yankees must now come up with two quality pitchers to replace Roger Clemens (retired) and I’m guessing David Wells. Wells pulled a Houdini and disappeared after the first inning in Game 5 due to his queasy back. Wells, who came into spring training looking rather svelte didn’t stay with his workout and diet regimen and his weight ballooned up. He’ll tell you he did, but photo evidence and an expanded beltline don’t lie. Wells' option will not be picked up. The pitching prospects this off-season are slim. Greg Maddux (16-11, 3.96) is out there, but he has always pitched in the National League. He will be 38 years old just after the season opens in 2004. Another possibility is Kevin Millwood. He also pitched his entire career in the NL (Atlanta, Philadelphia), but he is only 29. Bartolo Colon was heavily looked at by the Yankees last year. He was part of a three-team trade that sent him to Chicago White Sox and Orlando Hernandez to Montreal. Colon is the most attractive of the three. He knows the AL hitters. He is only 30 and Colon was 20-8 in 2002. He is not an overpowering pitcher and he is a fly ball pitcher. That would only be a problem in the corners at Yankee Stadium, which has one of the deepest centerfields in baseball. Another name out there is Eric Milton (sound familiar?) from Minnesota.

Jeff Weaver in all honesty will be gone too. He never lived up to the expectations the Yankees had for him when they imported him from Detroit and sent Ted Lilly to Oakland. Lilly, in my opinion, has pitched much better than Weaver since both have changed uniforms and I am betting Cashman and Steinbrenner wishes they could reverse the clock.

Relief pitching is going to be of a concern too. Chris Hammond, Jeff Nelson, Felix Heredia and Gabe White are all potentially expendable. With Steve Karsay due to come back next season from back problems as well as Jon Lieber (Tommy John surgery) several of these guys may be gone. Jorge De Paula is another guy the Yankees may want to take a good look at and he is already in their farm system.

What about the clubhouse brain-trusts? Rick Down is a certainty to be given his walking papers. He will be the first scapegoat (although I think justified) to go. Bench Coach Don Zimmer has already fallen on his sword by publicly calling out the Boss and saying he won’t be coming back. Joe Torre will be back to close out his contract as Steinbrenner already said he would. Lee Mazzilli, looking for a managing job probably won’t return. Willie Randolph is a Yankees icon so unless he lands a managing job somewhere expect him to be back at third base. Mel Stottlemyre is Torre’s closest coach. He hasn’t decided what he’s going to do yet. A decision on his future is expected in about a week.

Who will replace these guys? I would love to see Donnie Baseball come in as the full time hitting coach. Just look at the guy’s career with a bat. Enough said about that. If Mel Stottlemyre decides not to return Rick Monteleone, the Yankees’ bullpen coach could step right in. Any way you slice it there will be new faces in the Bombers’ clubhouse.

Lastly, another name rumored to be a possibility to be replaced is Brian Cashman. My question to George Steinbrenner is why? This guy is a very good GM and I don’t think for a second he’s made any moves the Boss hadn’t signed off on. Cashman has always had the Yankees’ best interest at heart. Sure all of his moves haven’t been golden (i.e. Weaver for Lilly), but he’s made far better moves than bad ones. Look at this year. Steinbrenner wanted Contreras and Cashman got him Contreras. Like I said, Cashman doesn’t make any moves the Boss doesn’t give his seal of approval on.

It’s quiet now, but it won’t be for long. Mount Steinbrenner will erupt. His lava flow will swallow up those he deems unworthy of wearing Yankees’ pinstripes. Hopefully, it won’t be the George Steinbrenner of the 1980’s who changed coaches, managers and players like you and I change shirts. If changes are to be made George make them wisely and with the counsel of those around you. Don’t let your hatchet run red with Yankees’ blood. It’s a long off-season. Take your time and make moves out of necessity and not revengefully. Don’t forget in the end it’s us fans that pay the freight for the ball club to operate. So give us something worth watching. OK, now I’ve played general manager how about you? What do you think the Yankees need to do to win it all next year?

PLAY BALL!


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