The Bronx is Burning

CREATED BY EVAN.

This offseason has already gotten off to quite a start. The Boston Red Sox have been quiet so far, and this is coming in a year where we finished in third place with an 86-76 record. Significant changes need to be made to the roster – I’m not advocating any stunning deals, any ripping apart of the roster, but there need to (and will be) significant changes.
All of that is going to be overshadowed by New York. The Mets will finish as NL Champions then be embarassed in the World Series. They will almost certainly go after Jason Schmidt and re-enter the Manny Ramirez sweepstakes.
But the true story will be the New York Yankees. Consider that already we’ve seen very strong rumors of Joe Torre being fired (last year it was just only rumors, now it’s quite strong). If Torre does not bring a World Series to New York next year, write it down in pen, then underline it, then chisel it into stone: he’s gone.
We’ve seen wide and rampant speculation that Alex Rodriguez will be traded. Teams are lining up to offer. Brian Cashman has issued the obligatory denial. This trade is going to consume most of the offseason. Oh, sure, the Manny trade rumors will gain headlines, but let’s not delude ourselves. Alex Rodriguez is far better than Manny Ramirez.
I just read that Mike Mussina is not expected back. That was news to me, I always expected that they would decline the option and renegotiate a contract, but apparently now he’s gone. Jaret Wright and Carl Pavano are expected to be traded, and Cory Lidle … well, you know.
Gary Sheffield sounds as if he’s leaving, Randy Johnson and Jason Giambi are going to go under the knife for surgery, as is Andy Phillips. Bernie Williams may or may not retire, and a new first baseman (or DH, moving the clunky Giambi to first) needs to be found.
The Red Sox are relatively set at positions, it’s just a matter of upgrading specific positions, or just getting better and healthier production from people (like you, Coco Crisp). I could list the lineup, starting rotation, and bullpen far more effectively than I could for the Yankees.
They’re expected to make Jeff Karstens a starter, and possibly even Philip Hughes. Between these two, Wang, Cano, and Cabrera, that’s a lot of minimum salary that they can now pour millions into other people. Will they? It’s possible, and this thin free agent market is likely to drive up the price of each person. The good on that is that it means a team will be stuck with a bad contract (Russ Ortiz, Carl Pavano) but the bad is also that the Yankees can pick who they want. (I would not be surprised if Sean Casey was a Yankee next year.)
They can’t start Matsui and Cabrera in the same outfield without taking a massive defense hit, so it’s possible Matsui becomes the DH and they sign a right fielder. A first baseman. Three starters. Probably two bullpen arms (and a stud one to help Mariano Rivera) and an assortment of backups. This team will have to somehow find chemistry, “enthusiasm, a fighting spirit and a team that works together.” That was George Stienbrenner’s words.
There will be changes this offseason, and there will be high expectations. But these expectations will be a bit different. These will be expectations with immediate and guaranteed consequences. Joe Torre could be gone, and perhaps even Brian Cashman. If A-Rod stays and flops in the postseason again, he’ll be gone.
The Bronx is undergoing a major overhaul this offseason, and if they fail again as they very well could, there will be immediate repercussions. The Yankees only have a 1 in 30 chance of winning the World Series. I mean, come on. Not only does money not buy you championships, but it’s ludicrous to think that a World Series has to be guaranteed. I admire George’s desire for a World Series, but his rage at not getting one is shameful.
Joe Torre, if he leaves, will take a piece of the Yankees with him. Whether or not he’s a good manager, a good in-game manager or bad one, whether or not he’s just a person in the right place and time, he is associated with winning, he is associated with the Yankees, and he demands and commands respect and playing your hardest. Once he leaves, that will be gone, and the Yankees will have lost one thing that I think is integral to sustained success in the major leagues – a manger there for the long haul who commands respect.
Is the Bronx burning? Probably not. Is it smoldering? You bet. And if a World Series is not delivered in 2007, then it will indeed be burning.