Five days later, I am not prepared to comment on the end of the 2007 Yankee season. I don't want to talk about Chien-Ming Wang's two atrocious starts. I don't want to talk about the Yankees' bevy of solo home runs and outs with men in scoring position.
There's two ways to look at the manager situation. While Joe Torre is a wonderful man and has been a terrific manager, it might be time for a change. Let the Yankees play for their playing time. Torre has made the playoffs for 12 straight years, but New York has also won a grand total of four playoff games during the last three seasons. I have always been a Tony LaRussa fan. Some pundits have wondered about his ability to handle New York.
On the other hand, would the team play well under Torre next year? Certainly. And the Yankees' postseason troubles over the past few seasons can certainly be chalked up to starting pitching.
This year, Wang was terrible in two games, Clemens almost hurt the Yankees more than he helped them, and Pettite was gutty. I won't mention how I wanted Ted Lilly this offseason -- oops, too late.
The most important signing of the offseason needs to be Mariano Rivera. Posada is very important to this team, but I think everyone knows that at the end of his next contract, some team will be paying a DH (see the Chamberlain wild pitch for part of a preview). Scott Boras will almost certainly turn the A-Rod affair into a fiasco. Rodriguez was the best player in baseball this season, but you have to wonder if the Yankees would be better off with a role player at third base and some better arms throwing every fifth day. If the Yankees sign Rivera and a set-up man, they can put Chamberlain in the rotation with Hughes, Pettitte, Kennedy, and Wang. On paper, that appears to be a young, strong set of starters.
I have had little desire to watch the Championship Series of either league, but if I do, I may turn to Fox Sports en Espanol. For now, the Rangers and the Senators will have to do. -LS