The $215 million team wasn't even competitive. They didn't even show up.
Ladies and gentlemen: That's your 2006 New York Yankees.
Losing to the low-budget Detroit Tigers is more embarrassing than losing to The Red Sox in 2004. At least the Yanks fought in that series and, except for the Game #7, a break here or there would have been the difference.
But not now. The supposedly most potent lineup in baseball history managed to go scoreless for 20 innings. They were controlled, governed, and man-handled by a team that was far inferior to them.
The Tigers may have been inferior, but they were hungrier.
The Yanks were shut out for 7 1/3 innings by Kenny Rogers-the ultimate embarrassment. Rogers entered Game #3 with the worst post-season ERA in history for a pitcher with over 20 innings. He left a conquering hero to the Detroit faithful.
One Yankee player told a reporter, "For the first time under Joe I felt like we didn't compete."
One thing is for certain: After several years of colossal post-season failures, the manager must go. He will go.
Bill Madden of The Daily News is reporting that Lou Piniella will replace Joe Torre within the week, and that Boss George is as angry as he has ever been.
Can you blame him?
Steinbrenner agreed to give complete control of the team to Cashman and Torre. He did not meddle. He let Joe run the team unmolested. The result? Post-season disaster.
Joe Torre's apparent disinterest in the game-as he sits there staring blankly into the ground, sipping his green tea while the world crumbles around him-sets the tone for the team. They play in his image.
Aside from Jeter and Posada, no one on the team plays with passion and fire. They look dazed, confused, unsure of themselves. Just like Clueless Joe.
When is the last time Torre argued vehemently with an umpire? It's been years. Where is the urgency? Where is the enthusiasm to compete?
The first day that Lou Piniella runs out on the field and kicks dirt at an umpire will be the first step toward returning this club to the top of the baseball world.
Joe also either went along with or allowed himself to be snowed by Sheffield. The Sheffield at first base move was a complete disaster. Just as Sheffield in the post-season has been a catastrophe. Thankfully, Sheffield has played his last game as a Yankee.
Sheffield's motivation to learn first base in nine games was to make himself more attractive to suitors, since the Yanks won't be picking up his option. Well, Torre deserves what he got.
Sheffield is now 8 for his last 45 in post-season at bats. He can't catch the ball and this is the man that Torre bent over backwards to accommodate at the expense of more deserving players. Sheffield is as selfish as a player can be, and he does not produce when he's needed most.
The amazing thing is that the Yanks abandoned those that brought them to the dance. The team with the best record in the league had Melky in left, Bernie DHing a lot, guys like Guiel and even Philips helping out (at least defensively). When Torre did bench Sheffield and Giambi for a game, he sat out Sheffield against a lefty and Giambi against a righty. How does that make sense?
Torre's handling of the pitching staff, which I have chronicled throughout the season along with countless other writers and bloggers, has been criminal. Throughout his tenure he has had middle relievers and set-up men achieve team records for innings pitched and appearances. He has overused Steve Karsay, Paul Quantrill, Tom Gordon, Scott Proctor, Ron Villone…you can even go back to Torre's days with the Braves and his misuse of Steve Bedrosian. The list goes on and on….according to several sources, Cashman spoke to Clueless about this during the season, but it apparently had no effect.
And then in Game #4, Torre batted A-Rod 8th. There is no doubt that A-Rod has once again come up lame in the post-season, hitting a robust .071, based on 1 for 14.
But A-Rod was not the only one to fail. Sheffield was 1-12, Cano 2-15; and of course Mussina could not hold a lead.
But by placing A-Rod 8th in the order, Torre was making a clear announcement that A-Rod was to blame for the collapse. After the game, A-Rod said:
"I've got no one to blame but myself. You've got to look in the mirror and address that. Obviously, I've got to find the success in the postseason. There's a lot to be learned from guys like [Derek] Jeter, [Jorge] Posada and Bernie [Williams] -- the guys who have done it. It seems like they play so relaxed."
There is no choice left now but to deal A-Rod, which will be difficult with his no-trade clause. But it would be the best thing for A-Rod to play in Anaheim or Los Angeles and get away from Jeter's shadow and all the craziness here.
Of course, A-Rod is Lou's boy. So if Lou takes over and attempts to resurrect A-Rod, it will cause a schism in the clubhouse with the Jeter clique. Much mayhem will ensue.
The Yankee teams in the 1990s fought; they knew how to claw out victories. The current Yankee team doesn't understand the meaning of the word "fight." As soon as some adversity shows up, this group of players folds their tents like the heartless millionaires that they are.
Johnny Damon laughing in the dugout after this disgrace says it all. The fans care much more than the players do.
General Steinbrenner issued this statement on Sunday:
"I am deeply disappointed at our being eliminated so early in the playoffs," Steinbrenner said in a statement issued Sunday by spokesman Howard Rubenstein. "This result is absolutely not acceptable to me nor to our great and loyal Yankee fans. I want to congratulate the Detroit Tigers organization and wish them well. Rest assured, we will go back to work immediately and try to right this sad failure and provide a championship for the Yankees, as is our goal every year."
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