After getting manhandled by the $84 million payroll Detroit Tigers, the $194 million New York Yankees need tons of change. And yes, some should come at the top. But Joe Torre isn’t the guy that should be canned. Brian Cashman should be the one receiving the blame. For the sixth straight season, the Yankees failed to win the World Series and have only reached it once. In that span, the Yankees lost three times in the ALDS. Then there was 2004, the biggest collapse in the history of sports. But to blame Torre is typical George Steinbrenner: acting on emotion, failing to see the big picture, and being an overall jackass.
Take a look at the additions of the Yankees the last few years. The only pitcher they really added was Randy Johnson (I don’t consider Jaret Wright a Major League pitcher). They overpaid for Carl Pavano who had one good season. There hasn’t been any development of youth with the Yankees. The late 90s Yankees had a much more homegrown feel. There weren’t as many big name free agents and guys like Williams and Posada were in their primes. But now, those guys are declining and the only solution Steinbrenner and Cashman have is to spend spend spend, without building for the future.
Jason Giambi: 1/8
Gary Sheffield: 1/12
Alex Rodriguez: 1/14
Johnny Damon: 4/17
The Yankees paid these four bums $64 million this season. They got eight hits in this series. Or $8 million per hit. These four players are the perfect example of the Yankees demise. There aren’t any role players on this team. Players like Paul O’Neill, Tino Martinez, and Scott Brosious weren’t the huge superstars that these four are, but they were all better fits for the Yankees as a team.
Joe Torre has delivered four World Series championships in his Yankees tenure. Why hasn’t he delivered one in the last six seasons? Because these big name superstars choke. It happens in every sport. The Lakers failed after signing stars Karl Malone and Gary Payton. Real Madrid, despite assembling a team they called “Galacticos“, have also won little since they added players like David Beckham and Ronaldo. The best players don’t win. The best team does.
It’s time for Brian Cashman to remember why the Yankees won in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000. Joe Torre was on the bench and less egos were on the roster. It’s that simple. The Yankees need to abandon this star player approach. They need to start developing their young talent again. Good pitching will always beat good hitting. The Yankees don’t have good pitching and that’s why they don’t win when it counts.
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