[新聞] Klap: How to fix the Yankees

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Klap: How to fix the Yankees

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

By BOB KLAPISCH
SPORTS COLUMNIST

Yankee fans will be a little jealous, if not confused, should Roger Clemens
and Andy Pettitte end up pitching in the World Series against Jose Contreras
and Orlando Hernandez. It's not a question of whom to root for, but figuring
out how the Bombers' pennant-winning Class of 2003 was somehow replaced by
soul-less newcomers such as Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright.

Ending the Yankees' five-year world championship drought won't be easy, given
the soft free agent market and the industry's unwillingness to help George
Steinbrenner. But with nearly $50 million coming off the books this winter,
the Yankees can at least improve on the demoralizing first-round loss to the
Angels in the AL Division Series.

First things first: GM Brian Cashman and Joe Torre, the organization's most
clear-headed and stabilizing forces, have to return. Torre needs a quick
resolution of the public relations cold war he's waging with Steinbrenner and
his Tampa lackeys. It may happen today, when Torre is expected to hold a
much-anticipated press conference at the Stadium.

The general manager's status is still undecided, however. According to Billy
Beane, who spoke to Cashman by phone over the weekend, "Brian says he's still
going back and forth on this," the A's GM said Monday. "He really hasn't made
up his mind yet."

If Cashman and Torre resist the temptation to quit/seek a buyout/provoke
Steinbrenner into firing them, the Yankees will have to hurriedly devise an
off-season strategy to become younger and more athletic in 2006. Here are
five suggestions that might help.


Acquire Torii Hunter: The Yankees' defensive liability in center field
arguably cost them the division series. Although Bubba Crosby did nothing
wrong while crashing into Gary Sheffield in Game 5 - allowing the Angels to
the score the decisive runs - a more confident, take-charge outfielder
would've tracked the ball before Sheffield got that close.

Hunter, who missed the second half of the season with a broken ankle, will
earn $10.75 million next year with a $12 million option for 2007. The Twins
most likely can't afford Hunter and he knows it, prompting him to sell his
home in Minnesota.

"I want to be here, but you never know what could happen," the center fielder
told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. What would it cost the Yankees to get a
Gold Glove center fielder? Considering the drop-off they experienced with
Bernie Williams and Crosby, Hunter is worth whatever the Twins ask for - up
to and including Carl Pavano, prospects such as Eric Duncan and Phillip
Hughes and, of course, old-school cash.

Other possibilities include free-agent-to-be Johnny Damon, although he's
going to ask for a Bernie-like contract (no coincidence, since he and
Williams are both represented by Scott Boras); the Marlins' Juan Pierre,
whose stock fell dramatically after an off year; and Mike Cameron of the
Mets, who's dying to return to center field.

The Mets are unlikely to deal Cameron to the Bronx, however, especially after
they rebuffed the Yankees this summer in a potential deal for Gary Sheffield.

Re-sign Hideki Matsui: He's still the Yankees' best bet in left field,
despite hitting .200 against the Angels and leaving the tying runs on base in
the ninth inning of Game 5. And there's no question Matsui's defense has
degraded, too. At age 31, the Japanese outfielder probably will be a
liability at the back end of any four-year deal.

Still, Matsui is a proven clutch hitter, batting .313 with runners in scoring
position and .333 in September when the Yankees were on a 16-4 tear that
allowed them to clinch the East. Matsui is a mature, friendly player, great
for clubhouse chemistry and one of the organization's most important
marketing tools.

Sign B.J. Ryan: This is a no-brainer of unimaginable proportions, considering
the Orioles' free-agent to be has expressed interest in coming to the Bronx,
and has the energy and charisma to handle playing for the Yankees.

What will Ryan cost? The Yankees really shouldn't care, not in this case. Who
wouldn't love the left-hander's strikeout-to-innings pitched ratio (100
strikeouts in 701/3 innings) or the fact that Ryan was actually better
against righties (.206 average) than lefties (.211).

Ryan still hasn't turned 30, which makes him six years younger than Mariano
Rivera. He'll become the Yankees' set-up man precisely the way Rivera was
groomed as John Wetteland's successor in 1996.

Keep Giambi at first base: This an anguishing decision, since Giambi's iron
hands and slow reflexes hurt the Yankees numerous times this summer. But if
you're willing to believe he can still be productive in the last three years
of his contract, the Bombers have to put Giambi in the best possible hitting
environment. In his case, that means not using him as a designated hitter.

Giambi's average was 108 points higher when he was playing first base instead
of being the DH (.319 to .211). Go figure. But keeping him in the field means
the Yankees will need a dependable backup. Despite their emotional tie to
Tino Martinez, John Olerud might make more sense.

Back up the truck: So much brown foliage, so little time. The Yankees should
say farewell to Tony Womack (even if it means releasing him), Felix
Rodriguez, Crosby, Tom Gordon (assuming Ryan is on the way), Al Leiter, Alan
Embree and Scott Proctor, as well.

We likely have seen the last of Ruben Sierra and John Flaherty, despite Randy
Johnson's bizarre need to pitch only to him. As for Bernie, unless he's
willing to take a massive pay cut and live with 200 at-bats a year, he'll
have played his final game in pinstripes.

If the Yankees are smart, there will be a radically different outer fringe
next year to go along with the core players who aren't going anywhere: Derek
Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano, Jorge Posada, Matsui and Sheffield.

Johnson isn't what he used to be and the days of Mike Mussina's dominance
clearly are over. But with Rivera around to cover the blemishes (and maybe
Shawn Chacon and Chien-Ming Wang will continue to be the real deal, if Braves
pitching guru Leo Mazzone is lured to the Bronx), the Yankees probably will
be good enough to return to the postseason.

Question is: Will they be fast and daring and creative enough to conquer
October as they once did? They weren't with this year's team. Something has
to change.

E-mail: [e-mail]

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推 CCLu:This one's not bad.
推 PerryRod:Cashman? 我看到那一段興致就去一大半了
推 Baudelaire:fire almost everyone in the pen? nah...