Pregame notes: No sense pretending
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Jun 23, 2010 
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Have to give Alex Rodriguez credit: He didn’t try to come up with some sort of phony answer about his relationship with Joe Torre.
With the Yankees going to Los Angeles this weekend, every New York reporter here in Phoenix will be writing a Torre story for Thursday’s off day. Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada each used the phrase “father figure” to describe Torre, and Joe Girardi called him a mentor, but there’s no reason to pretend Rodriguez had the same sort of relationship with the former Yankees manager.
No one asked Rodriguez a negative question about Torre, but when he was asked the standard stuff about what it will be like to see Torre in a Dodgers uniform, Rodriguez elected not to give the cliche answers. He talking glowingly about Don Mattingly and Larry Bowa, but shutdown questions about Torre.
“No more of those questions,” Rodriguez said. “Any more questions about anything else. I’m not going to get into that.”
• Marcus Thames is with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but he’s only there to take batting practice. He’s not ready to start a rehab assignment. “He went there to do his work there,” Girardi said. “He’s taking BP. I don’t have a day when he’ll play in a game.”
• No word on when Alfredo Aceves will be getting in a game either, but Aceves is in Tampa and reports are good. “His rehab is going fine,” Girardi said. “I know he played long, long toss yesterday and everything was good. I have not gotten the report on what he’s done today but everything has been good. He’s definitely lasted down there longer than the last time.” (Last time Aceves was in Tampa, he threw once and had to be shutdown)
• The plan all along was for Jorge Posada to play only two games this series, and Girardi said Posada will almost certainly play only two out of three in Los Angeles as well. “I didn’t even check with him,” Girardi said. “I knew I was going to play him two out of three. I wasn’t sure exactly how I was going to do it, but when he felt good after Monday’s game I said I was going to play him Tuesday to see if we could go two in a row.”
• By the way, it might be a while before Posada catches three in a row. “I just remember the last time I played him three days in a row he came up with the calf that bothered him and that sticks in my mind,” Girardi said.
• After Dan Haren had the only Diamondbacks RBI last night, Girardi started his pregame media session by saying Dontrelle Willis is a pitcher who can really hit well. “I hope I’m wrong today,” he said.
• Interesting line from Brett Gardner. When he was caught stealing last night, Gardner said it was partially because the fielder blocked second base. There’s little risk in doing that because Gardner always slides head first when he steals. Gardner said he might have to mix that up from time to time, if only to give middle infielders something to think about when he’s coming into the bag.
• CC Sabathia taking batting practice. It’s fun to watch.
Associated Press photo of Rodriguez.
Think it had anything to do with batting 8th?
Good for A-Rod Torre is a two faced liar! The best thing the yanks did was fire him. He should of been gone after 2004.
Good for Alex – but watch the mediots kill him in the media for not worshipping Torre. Joe made no bones about his dislike for Alex, so there is no reason why Alex should have anything nice to say about the man.
Girardi should bat ARod 7th in the first game.
Good for Alex!!!
I’m glad he didn’t shift into cliches.
It’s no secret he felt Torre sold him out on several occasions.
I’m glad he’s not sugarcoating it. Keeps him true to himself. As he has been since last year.
what is with torre’s face during a game, he looks like someone died…that calm face, calmplacent, like when midges are flying around and you don’t have the urgency to pull your team off the field…i wonder what billy martin would have done?
I’m glad he’s not pimping the Teflon Joe act.
Erin-
I am sending you an e-mail now. Please check in 2 minutes
I’m also glad Alex didn’t open up about Torre – what’s the point? He can’t win. It’s clear from his tone and his words how he feels – and that’s enough.
good, torre a backstabbing money hungry rat!!!!!!!
Betsy-I’m very glad to see you back on the blog!
# Betsy – Hughes rules (pleading the Fifth) June 23rd, 2010 at 8:56 pm
I’m also glad Alex didn’t open up about Torre – what’s the point? He can’t win. It’s clear from his tone and his words how he feels – and that’s enough.
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Alex didn’t fall for the media trap. Good for him.
I was a big Joe Torre supporter when he was here. However, a manager/coach’s job is to get the most out of his players. Alex Rodriguez is one of the best players in baseball, ranking up there with Pujols. A professional is supposed to put personalities aside, and get the job done. I realize it’s a two way street, and Alex is primarily responsible for Alex. However, to the extent that a manager is supposed to get players in a positions to succeed, Torre has some responsiblity.
Batting Alex 8th in that playoff game was ridiculous. Even if there was a 5% chance of his getting hot in that game, his production could have won the game. Never mind the message that it may have sent to the rest of the team.
Erica in NY June 23rd, 2010 at 8:56 pm
Erin-
I am sending you an e-mail now. Please check in 2 minutes
*******************
Got it!
What a bunch of children some of you are. I have no problem with what Alex said (or didn’t say about Torre) but the insults of Joe have to stop. He brought this town 4 championships and now he’s a two face liar, a rat, etc? Give me a break. He’s not perfect but he’s an all-time great Yankee manager.
SJ, I worked out today with a few buddies who played and still have connections to the clubs they played for…….Tony’s injury has not gone unnoticed, as one comment was ” why in the hell was the Sanchez kid still playing in A Ball after what he showed in April / May….Should have been moved up after the head shot…..Somebody in the organization will have much to explain…..One of the guys played for Seattle and did reveal that he was told that the Mariners have sent some scouts to look at the Yanks catchers……Some of the area scouts get a little time off after the draft and then get their assignments as to who to watch for the parent club…..So who knows…..
maybe cause he wrote a book and threw guys under the bus, including mariano
Patrick
Did he leave the team on the field in Cleveland when the midges ran wild?
Did he not bat Alex 8th?
These things actually happened.
People are entitled to their opinions.
2-0 Col
J-Hair comes through for the Padres
2-0 Col
=====
game over.
I agree. Torre should have been fired after the 2004 ALCS. Especially since he didn’t allow anyone to steal on Wakefield in game 5.
Torre was alright but he was an overrated manager who had a stupid circle of trust.
RA Dicky. Really???
Erica-just sent you a response. My e-mail has been extremely slow today-did it come through?
Erin-
Already wrote you back
Why can’t anyone hit R.A. Dickey ?
This guy is having a crazy year like Small in 2005.
Just wondering if you guys complaining about Torre batting ARod 8th are the same posters complaining about Tex not being dropped down in the order.
“What a bunch of children some of you are. I have no problem with what Alex said (or didn’t say about Torre) but the insults of Joe have to stop. He brought this town 4 championships and now he’s a two face liar, a rat, etc? Give me a break. He’s not perfect but he’s an all-time great Yankee manager.”
The Yankees teams of the late 90s were not at all reliant on Joe Torre. Those teams were on cruise control. Joe Torre or no Joe Torre those teams were winning. He was just along for the ride.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hzI_aBATO8
RA DICKEY
Torre was great when he was on top of his game,having fun & not looking over his shoulder.
He said so himself that he was just not having fun anymore.
Once the above happened it was over.
Let’s go Ubaldo
The rs are never going to score agains jiminez.
Torre should have won more than 4 with all he was given.
Alex has learned the past year or so to think before speaking….Last thing he’ll want ot do is alienate himself in the clubhouse by popping off about Torre as they’re are still some key guys who are still very loyal to Joe…….I think Torre tried for a few years to nurture Alex into the maintstream of the club, but let’s face the facts Alex was a bit of a drama diva for quite sometime …..One has to think that some of A-Rods antics rubbed Torre the wrong way……..The Madonna & stripper episode, the Pinella situation, to name a few probably didn’t set well with St. Joe……Then there’s the 05-06-07 October performances which must have fueld the resentment……I’m certain there’s a lot that went on behind those clubhouse doors that we’ll find out in time, but that time isn’t now……
If Ubaldo loses I’m blaming you guys for jinxing it!
Alex took a higher road than I might have.
Sorry but if you check Joe Torre’s record before he joined the Yankees has was a sorry manager. Hence the name “Clueless Joe”.
I said that he was a good manager but he is way overhyped.
RA Dickey is about to go 6-0 for the Mets
Mets really look like they are for real, even against AL teams. They beat up Verlander yesterday too
sorry-he was a sorry manager.
The way Torre constructed the batting order v. the Tigers in the 2006 ALDS, moving Alex down to as low as 8th, was even dumber that his bullpen management.
chan ho’s runs June 23rd, 2010 at 9:22 pm
If Ubaldo loses I’m blaming you guys for jinxing it!
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Not a chance.
“Alex has learned the past year or so to think before speaking….Last thing he’ll want ot do is alienate himself in the clubhouse by popping off about Torre as they’re are still some key guys who are still very loyal to Joe…”
Bingo. The Core 4 won’t take kindly to him mouthing off about the guy who brought the franchise 4 rings.
He did the right thing – just shut up and don’t answer questions.
lackey getting rocked
JD – I’ve been posting here since 2007. I’ve never posted/complained about Tex hitting 3rd this season. Nor, for that matter, do I disagree with Girardi’s keeping him there.
A-Rod’s ABs in the postseason from Game 4 of the 04 ALCS through Game 4 of the 06 ALCS warranted him batting 8th.
I liked it actually. It showed that stars don’t get preferential treatment. He benched Sheffield for Bernie in one of those games too.
If A-Rod wanted to stay in the clean-up spot, he should have performed.
“A-Rod’s ABs in the postseason from Game 4 of the 04 ALCS through Game 4 of the 06 ALCS warranted him batting 8th.”
As Sheffield said at the time, it sent a message of panic to the team.
Game thread up
Right, because it’s easy to coach a team of all-stars and egos to the WS every year.
All you people trashing on Torre will have to let Jeter, Pettitte, Rivera, et al know of what an a-hole he is. All this time they’ve been thinking he was a great manager.
Thank God for insightful bloggers.
Yeah, Shef is bitter. He got benched a game. This wasn’t some one man crusade against Arod. Giambi got benched a game in that series as well. I’m not saying Torre was right, but I don’t buy that it was a personal vendetta. Plus, it’s hard for me to feel too bad for Arod who had been that bad.
The book is another matter. Not that Arod was the only one he threw under the bus there, either.
“All you people trashing on Torre will have to let Jeter, Pettitte, Rivera, et al know of what an a-hole he is. All this time they’ve been thinking he was a great manager.”
Wait? Because they liked Torre he is great. Heh.
I personally don’t care how Jeter, Mo, Pettitte and who ever else feels about Torre, I am capable of making up my own mind and it doesn’t have to be the same as theirs.
I thought the batting Arod 8th was not the smartest idea because there was no way in the world that was going to help the player or the team. The already harsh media jumped all over that, how is that going to help a struggling player? But it was just a bad idea not something unforgiveable.
I lost respect for Torre when he wrote that book selling players out because he was angry at Yankee management. Why can’t somethings just be left in the clubhouse. I lost more respect for Torre when he then came out and basically said that he didn’t “write” the book even though he is the one that gave the writer (can’t remember his name at the moment and really don’t want to spend time looking it up..not worth it) most of the info… showed he still can’t take responsibility for his actions.
Joe may have four rings but if A-rod can have 3 MVPs and other titles and be an a-hole why can’t Torre have 4 rings and be a a-hole?