[新聞] It's time to bring in Lou

[leddy (耿秋)]

Sports Print Edition Shaun Powell
SPORTS COLUMNIST

It's time to bring in Lou
October 8, 2006
from newsday.com

DETROIT

Ownership of the Yankees, powerful as it may be, always came with
limitations. There were certain decisions a city would not tolerate,
decisions that could not be placed in the inbox on the desk of George M.
Steinbrenner III.

For example, The Boss could not move the team to another city. He was not
allowed to build a new Yankee Stadium anywhere but the Bronx. And under no
circumstances could he fire Joe Torre, a manager seen as a saint in New York.

Well, on this devastating day-after, restrictions on ownership is suddenly
reduced by one.

Steinbrenner finally has something he has craved: a good reason to revert
back to the Old George and give his skipper a swift kick.

Sort of like the one the Tigers just gave the Yankees. Not that Steinbrenner
needs any urging, but he can do this with support. Here in his waning years
as an active owner, he can remove a manager who owns four championships and
not hear about it from Yankeeville, not after the Yankees proved virtually
hitless, run-less and gutless in yet another premature playoff exit.

This was the most unforgivable defeat in the Torre Era, which was evident
from the stammer in his voice and the welling in his eyes when asked to
ponder any forthcoming changes: "Right now, it's tough, with what went on."

We can rehash the meltdown of Alex Rodriguez and the problems of the bullpen
and count the age rings around Randy Johnson and blah, blah, blah. But let's
get right to the reason for losing three out of four in supremely
embarrassing fashion to the Tigers in the Division Series: The more talented
team was just plain flat. The Yankees went 20 innings without scoring. And
the manager had no answers.

This was no isolated incident. This case for firing Torre is at least three
Octobers in the making. This follows a World Series loss to the
penny-pinching, pimple-faced Florida Marlins, a historic collapse after going
three-up on the Red Sox and a quick ouster by the Angels.

These were done with a combined payroll of more than a half-billion dollars.
That may buy a lot, but it doesn't buy much time for the person in charge of
winning championships.

Especially when there's a very reasonable replacement manager, sitting at
home, waiting to jump at the sound of a ring.

Lou Piniella is the only person capable of filling the rather large office of
Torre, which gives Steinbrenner yet another reason not to pause. He'd bring
the same cachet as Torre, all the makings of a winner and someone who can
handle New York and safely navigate a clubhouse filled with past and present
all-stars, bloated contracts and skyscraper expectations.

He'd bring instant respect. More important, he has a specific advantage Torre
lacks: an ability to reach the enigma named A-Rod.

Nobody with any sanity will campaign to keep Rodriguez around, not today, not
after he turned in another weak autumn, further cementing his reputation as
the new Mr. May. There wouldn't be a wet eye in the clubhouse, either, should
the Yankees admit their mistake and go about erasing it immediately. A fresh
start in a new city would be mutually beneficial.

Still, let's be reasonable here. Removing A-Rod will be only slightly easier
than removing your mother-in-law. The Yankees must find a taker, no simple
feat after his terrible October. Then they must get his OK, because he has
veto power, and A-Rod insisted yesterday: "I don't want to play anywhere
else."

Then they'd need to swallow hard and assume a large part of his remaining
monster contract, then get a good enough third baseman without drastically
crippling their chances to win.

The Yankees would have no leverage on a market that would contain only the
Angels, looking to steal a future Hall of Famer. Therefore, a logical option
is getting the manager whom A-Rod still consults, to this day, when times get
personally tough.

Piniella would be too smart to totally align himself with A-Rod and divide
the clubhouse. Rather, he'd give his troubled star the right balance of tough
love and understanding, which worked for A-Rod during those formative years
under Piniella in Seattle.

Sure, any managerial change would require a quick call to Derek Jeter, and
while the captain would be against removing the only manager he's ever known,
Jeter is too professional and image-conscious to take a defiant stance toward
Piniella.

So what's the risk? Little or none.

It couldn't hurt, because the Yankees no longer strike fear in the other
dugout come playoff time. The Detroit pitchers attacked relentlessly and the
Tigers feasted on a pitiful Yankee defense and pitching staff.

"Something wasn't right, clearly," general manager Brian Cashman said. "We
got what we deserved by the way we played. A lot of people share
responsibility. A lot of people let us down."

Torre was the right man for the Yankees at the right time. But after 11
years, that time is up. It's your call, George. Place it to Piniella.



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→ leddy:Lou can save a-rod?
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