Bad News And A Bit Of Good News
Let's start with a happy note, Robinson Cano is in shape and ready to play the season. As Kat O'Brien notes in this piece, Cano was not in shape at the start of the season last year. Getting a good year from Robbie is vital to the Yankees' chances in 2009.
Now on to the bad news and it is pretty bad. Joe Torre's tell-all book is coming out and it sounds like it is going to spill a lot of dirt. It is hard to judge the book until it is actually released, but hearing that A-Rod was referred to as "A-Fraud" by his teammates is not going to help the 2009 Yankees. A-Rod is obiviously delicate and I would imagine a million questions about his relationship with his teammates and former manager will put him on a bad path at the start of the season. Hopefully, Torre focuses most of his ire against management, but the A-Rod stuff is damaging enough.
What I wonder is why Joe felt the need to do this? By leaving the way he did and refusing to take shots at George, he proved he was the bigger man. Now, it sounds like he is going to stoop to George's level and that's a shame. I can't blame him for wanting to lash out, I just wish he hadn't.
Comments
Yep, this could be pretty bad. Some things simply shouldn't be brought out until, at the very least, the players have all retired.
I can see why he'd take his shots at George, Randy and Cash, but what is the point in blabbing about players???
I'll wait and see just what the book says before coming to any conclusions, but ...
Posted by: Mitchell![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 25, 2009 04:57 PM
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Peter, ESPN was pretty clear in pointing out that this was NOT an autobiography, but rather penned by Tom Verducci.
That basically means Verducci got a bunch of his info from Torre, but also from many, many others.
But like you said, I think it best to wait for it to come out (and let you read it and tell us all what was said) before judging Torre. It might have been Verducci wielding the hatchet after all.
From ESPN: "The book is not a first-person tell-all, but rather, a third-person narrative by Verducci, who interviewed dozens of players and team personnel while researching for the book, the source said."
Posted by: andy![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 25, 2009 09:26 PM
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Andy- I agree up until a point. Verducci also said this tonight when asked if Torre would be surprised by anything in the book, "No, Joe Torre is not surprised by anything that's in this book. He has read and re-read and re-read the book. We've been working on it since last November."
So, Joe knows what's in the book. The question is, could Joe have changed what's in the book?
Posted by: Peter![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 25, 2009 10:05 PM
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Right, if it is a third person narrative, did Torre have any editorial control?
The quotes about A-Rod don't say they are from Torre (at least yet) and those are probably the most damning.
Posted by: andy![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 25, 2009 11:37 PM
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Yeah but...his name is on the front of book, above Verducci's. Only a fool would allow his name to appear like that without having any control over the content. Even if he was a fool though, I doubt Torres legal counsel would allow him to do so. Personally, I find it Verduccis explanations weak and ineffectual. Even if Torre wasn't the one to say the worst of the quotes, hes still endorsing and profiting off of negative, worthless drama.
I do wonder what Joes motive might be to be involved with something like this while he is still managing.
Posted by: ian![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 27, 2009 10:58 AM
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