Tigers - Cards,  2006.  38 years ago we first watched them in a 7 act baseball drama as the Motown Nine came back from a 3-1 deficit and surprised the Redbirds as well as most of the sporting world.  Images: Tiger centerfielder Mickey Stanley playing shortstop...31 game winner Denny McClain looking more like the lifetime loser he became...and Mickey Lolich!...Big Bad Bob Gibson dominating...golden glove Curt Flood misplaying the long drive to center...who hit that, was it the Gray Fox Jim Northrup?...Tiger Stadium...and Mickey Lolich!...and Mickey Lolich again!  

And now we have Leyland vs. La Russo.  Tonight the Tigers were waiting to win...beating up on the Yankees and then the A's and finishing the execution with the Ordonez walk off home run can be intoxicating, so much that it can put you right to sleep.  Verlander put his faith in his press clippings instead of putting his fastball in the ear of Scott Rowland and  Albert Pujols.  When the fumbling Inge uncorked his wild throw toward Pudge at the plate, he looked more like the playwright and less like Aurelio Rodriquez or George Kell.  As soon as he let it go he said to himself, "COME BACK LITTLE SHEBA" and when he impersonated a roadblock for Rowland running toward home, he thought, "this ain't no PICNIC."  If he doesn't get his act together, he'll be standing at the BUS STOP with a one way ticket to THE DARK AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS.  If you don't know who I'm speaking of , well, then I guess I'm older than I care to admit.  

But being a Yankee fan and also a Met fan hater (although I did feel bad for Willie Randolph), now I can only hear the soulful voice of B.B. King wailing away in the background of my subconscious that,  for this baseball season, "The Thrill Is Gone." 

But not all is lost.  There is some amusement.  The Cards doubleplay combo looks a little like a circus act - at 5'7'', Little Eckstein is this age's Freddy Patek or Phil Rizzuto.  How can you not root for him - he is Everyman.  And The Bulging Belly-iard traded in his signature dread locks/braids for his new Annette Funicello look and has also easily surpassed Maglio Ordonez, Eric Byrnes, and Manny Ramirez for most ridiculous 'do of the season. With a little more volume he might take first prize in the Oscar Gamble look a like contest.  But the man can play.  How beautiful was that push bunt past the pitcher for the game tying, safety squeeze against the Mets in Game 7? 

And what happened to our National Anthem? Bob Seeger at his one man band keyboard straining through "America the Beautiful?  No wonder the Tigers never got started; they were still waiting to hear the Star Spangled Banner.  Where's Aretha when you need her? 

And please, Fox Sports, spare us the closeups.   Instead of a full view of the field where a fan might actually see a play develop (fielders backing up, hitting the cutoff man, etc.), we are mistreated to dental exams, nose hairs, pimples, blemishes, and other assorted skin growths,chewing tobacco rolling around the palate, resting on the lips, falling out of the mouth, and dribbling down the chin, the saliva soaked shells of sunflower seeds expectorated in mass profusion, and spitting and spitting and more spitting.  MLB players are, no doubt, the world's greatest spitters, bar none.  There's an idea for a blog, "Greatest Spitting Techniques/Moments of Major league Baseball."  

Well it's time to retire...from this and also to bed.  When I say my prayers tonight, I can assure you that I will not be thanking The Almighty for an opposite field home run.  I will save that for Albert Pujols as he looks and points up to the heavens as he crosses home plate.  Here's a news flash for you Albert:  God's got a few more important things on His agenda than the World Series and your professional athletic performance.  

And, Good night.

Dear George,

It is not too late for you to change your mind regarding the future of Mr. Joe Torre.  Please just consider me as the Voice of Truth and the Writer of Reason, the Messenger of vital information which was not conveyed to you by your cabinet of  "experts," including that proven procurer of high priced, worn out, lackadaisical mercenaries, Mr. Brian Cashman.  George, you should have trusted your gut and honored your first instincts.  You should have sent your dull, unimaginative, complacent and spineless field manager packing and on his way to his South Pacific paradise retreat complete with his valise stuffed full of the 7 mil you still owe him.  Because George, by not ending the Reign of Torre, your parade will be rained on once again next year.  And, of course George, by exiting the post season so early, you will once again lose alot more than 7 million not to mention more of your New York Metropolitan Area market share thanks to your former underappreciated employee, Willie Randolph and his upstart Mets. 

George, I've broken it all down into some catchy sub-headings.  Easier to remember that way.  Consider these points:

THE ARROGANCE OF ASSUMING - The Torre "led" Yankees assumed they would beat the slumping Tigers, just by showing up; especially after the game #1 dominance.  After all, how many "name" players did Detroit boast on its  65 million dollar payroll?  Pride goeth before the fall.  The over-riding complacent and cocky attitude trickled down from the top.  Water does not run uphill.   

NO GUTS, NO GLORY or IF IT A'INT BROKE, DON'T FIX IT  -   In a season challenged by the injuries to Matsui and Sheffield and marred again by marginal and inconsistent pitching, Torre did an admirable job of transitioning the Yankee home run derby mentality to the more practical and proven mindset of incorporating strategies that  "manufactured" runs.  This was done with bits and pieces of small ball, courtesy of Damon, Jeter, Bernie, Cano, and the surprise of the year, Melky Cabrera.  At times, this Yankee team reminded one of Torre's  World Series Championship teams ('96, '98, '99, '00) slashing basehits and two baggers down the lines and into the gaps.  And they did this despite the A-Rod melodrama.  It became a winning strategy as the team finished tied with the Mets for the best record in baseball.  But then Godzilla returned.  And then Sheff.  And they wanted to play. They wanted desperately to be part of this great thing that Torre and Co. had going, the victory machine that ran right over the Red Sox 5 straight times in August.  Immediately, Matsui demonstrated the swing and the results of that swing that had made him famous.  His performance in the final 2 weeks of the season proved that he belonged in the ALDS lineup.  But in left field?  George, you had Melky out there - stealing home run balls from over the fence, making diving catches, covering the deep terrain of left field better than anyone since Rickey Henderson, and with the best arm this side of Bobby Abreu, throwing out runners like an expert marksman at target practice in a penny arcade.  So Torre, in his infinite wisdom, benched Melky, who contributed more to the team's success than  A-Rod's 'after the fact stats' and put the still healing Hideki back in left.  DH wouldn't have worked?  A week later,  Torre surpassed his own level of stupidity by promoting the 'great instant first-baseman experiment' with Gary Sheffield...not in Spring Training mind you but in the ALDS.  But why?  The answer is a simple one.  Joe Torre doesn't have the guts to make the tough decision, to tell the millionaire cry babies and bullies and prima donnas that "you're on the bench, I have my starting lineup...I already have the lineup that wins games."  Joe Torre  cowers to Murderers' Row because he wants to be their friend or their father or their big brother or maybe their counselor.  George, this man is in the wrong business.  I thought this was about winning baseball games.  Joe Torre should do those benevolent things on his own time.  His lack of backbone has cost you many, many millions, and along with the millions of Yankee fans, has caused us all to go through a very difficult winter. 

SAME BOARD, DIFFERENT GAME or A  MAN SHOULD KNOW HIS LIMITATIONS - While Jim Leyland played chess like a grandmaster, Joe Torre dozed off next to the pot bellied stove while playing checkers.

Example #1:  Leland coins the phrase for the media sound bite: "Murderer's Row and Cano."  It's all we heard.  It's all the Yankees heard.  Obviously, they began to believe in their press clippings.  While the Yankees were strutting around in front of mirrors, Leyland was pumping positive thinking into the impressionable minds of his young Tigers.

Example #2:  Leland exploited the erratic throwing arm of Jason Giambi by having the speedy Granderson purposely get picked off first base.  This was done twice.  Both times the runner was safe via the wild throw by Giambi although the second time the umpire blew the call. 

Example# 3: Game #2, bottom of the 8th, Matsui on second, no outs, Yanks down by a run, Posada up.  This was the turning point of the ALDS. It is common baseball thinking that you play for the tie at home and the win on the road.  Inotherwords, being guaranteed last licks, if you can tie the game at home, it can then be won in the bottom half of the inning.  The situation called for a sacrifice bunt.  With Matsui then on 3rd and only one out, a groundball or a flyball could have tied the score.  Posada swings away.  Honestly, I don't recall if he popped out or K'd but the fact is that he, or a pinch hitter should have layed one down.  Miguel Cairo, after Jeter, the best bunter on the team just sat on the bench collecting dust.  And then the Yankees became dust.  (with sincere apologies and sympathy  to Cory Lidle's family and friends).  Game 2 was winnable and if the Yankees then went to Motown up 2- zip, it is doubtful the Tiger cubs would have come back. 

MURDERED ROW AND 'DIS'-SPLACED CANO - I will make this as quick as a New York minute.  Joe Torre pushed Robinson Cano into an emotional ditch called "batting ninth!"  The young man was the hottest and most productive hitter in the American league for the final 2 months of the season, barely missed winning the batting title (.342!!!), and is among the best place hitters in all of baseball.  He is young, enthusiastic, and impressionable.  All season he batted no lower than 7th but usually 6th.  For all of Cano's success, Joe Torre rewarded him with hitting in the 9 hole.  It was not only demoralizing to the All-Star second baseman, it was also stupid baseball.  Oh yeah, Cano bombed out in the ALDS.

TOO MANY CHIEFS, NOT ENOUGH INDIANS - With regard to his coaching staff, Torre has surrounded himself with former major league managers, all-stars, and yes-men.  With the mixed messages from all these egos colliding with the egos and juvenile temperaments of many of the players, it is no wonder the clubhouse is divided and the ship is adrift.  Torre lacks the core confidence to be his own man and lead effectively. 

PLANNING FOR THE GAME THAT WILL NEVER COME - With the entire season on the line (Game #4 in Detroit), Torre's best thinking was to have this year's ace of the staff, Wang resting in New York for the mythical Game # 5.  After the Game 3 loss, Torre was asked if he would be flying Wang out to the Motor City to save the day.  Old Slow Joe's response had something to do with not wanting to risk injury to Wang's youthful arm and his potentially lucrative baseball future.  Wang had 3 day's rest!  The Hall of Fame is overflowing with pitchers who made a career on 3 days rest and less.  So this field general of the most lucrative sports franchise in the world didn't think that Wang could give the Yanks 5 or 6 solid innings to keep his team in contention, to increase the possibility of returning to New York for the actual game 5?  This blunder of thinking is exactly why the Yankees lost to the Red Sox in 2004.  Replay the tapes and you will see how Torre, by  "waiting to win," and thinking that with a 3-0 series lead there is always tomorrow, was the real culprit of the great Yankee collapse/Red Sox comeback of the ages.  In 2004, Torre's Game 7 choice for a starting pitcher was Kevin Brown.  In 2006, his pivotal Game 4's choice was Jared Wright.  Two formerly overpowering pitchers trying desperately to hang on.  This is a game plan?  Rotating 4 or 5 relievers over 9 innings would give you a better shot.  Replay the tapes from 2004 and you will see.     

SUMMATION: INSANITY IS REPEATING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS - Joe Torre is a lame duck manager.  He has been unsuccessful at bringing home the gold since the year 2000.  Except for Derek Jeter, does anyone really believe things will be any different in 2007?

Dear George,

It is not too late for you to change your mind regarding the future of Mr. Joe Torre.  Please just consider me as the Voice of Truth and the Writer of Reason, the Messenger of vital information which was not conveyed to you by your cabinet of  "experts," including that proven procurer of high priced, worn out, lackadaisical mercenaries, Mr. Brian Cashman.  George, you should have trusted your gut and honored your first instincts.  You should have sent your dull, unimaginative, complacent and spineless field manager packing and on his way to his South Pacific paradise retreat complete with his valise stuffed full of the 7 mil you still owe him.  Because George, by not ending the Reign of Torre, your parade will be rained on once again next year.  And, of course George, by exiting the post season so early, you will once again lose alot more than 7 million not to mention more of your New York Metropolitan Area market share thanks to your former underappreciated employee, Willie Randolph and his upstart Mets. 

George, I've broken it all down into some catchy sub-headings.  Easier to remember that way.  Consider these points:

THE ARROGANCE OF ASSUMING - The Torre "led" Yankees assumed they would beat the slumping Tigers, just by showing up; especially after the game #1 dominance.  After all, how many "name" players did Detroit boast on its  65 million dollar payroll?  Pride goeth before the fall.  The over-riding complacent and cocky attitude trickled down from the top.  Water does not run uphill.   

NO GUTS, NO GLORY or IF IT A'INT BROKE, DON'T FIX IT  -   In a season challenged by the injuries to Matsui and Sheffield and marred again by marginal and inconsistent pitching, Torre did an admirable job of transitioning the Yankee home run derby mentality to the more practical and proven mindset of incorporating strategies that  "manufactured" runs.  This was done with bits and pieces of small ball, courtesy of Damon, Jeter, Bernie, Cano, and the surprise of the year, Melky Cabrera.  At times, this Yankee team reminded one of Torre's  World Series Championship teams ('96, '98, '99, '00) slashing basehits and two baggers down the lines and into the gaps.  And they did this despite the A-Rod melodrama.  It became a winning strategy as the team finished tied with the Mets for the best record in baseball.  But then Godzilla returned.  And then Sheff.  And they wanted to play. They wanted desperately to be part of this great thing that Torre and Co. had going, the victory machine that ran right over the Red Sox 5 straight times in August.  Immediately, Matsui demonstrated the swing and the results of that swing that had made him famous.  His performance in the final 2 weeks of the season proved that he belonged in the ALDS lineup.  But in left field?  George, you had Melky out there - stealing home run balls from over the fence, making diving catches, covering the deep terrain of left field better than anyone since Rickey Henderson, and with the best arm this side of Bobby Abreu, throwing out runners like an expert marksman at target practice in a penny arcade.  So Torre, in his infinite wisdom, benched Melky, who contributed more to the team's success than  A-Rod's 'after the fact stats' and put the still healing Hideki back in left.  DH wouldn't have worked?  A week later,  Torre surpassed his own level of stupidity by promoting the 'great instant first-baseman experiment' with Gary Sheffield...not in Spring Training mind you but in the ALDS.  But why?  The answer is a simple one.  Joe Torre doesn't have the guts to make the tough decision, to tell the millionaire cry babies and bullies and prima donnas that "you're on the bench, I have my starting lineup...I already have the lineup that wins games."  Joe Torre  cowers to Murderers' Row because he wants to be their friend or their father or their big brother or maybe their counselor.  George, this man is in the wrong business.  I thought this was about winning baseball games.  Joe Torre should do those benevolent things on his own time.  His lack of backbone has cost you many, many millions, and along with the millions of Yankee fans, has caused us all to go through a very difficult winter. 

SAME BOARD, DIFFERENT GAME or A  MAN SHOULD KNOW HIS LIMITATIONS - While Jim Leyland played chess like a grandmaster, Joe Torre dozed off next to the pot bellied stove while playing checkers.

Example #1:  Leland coins the phrase for the media sound bite: "Murderer's Row and Cano."  It's all we heard.  It's all the Yankees heard.  Obviously, they began to believe in their press clippings.  While the Yankees were strutting around in front of mirrors, Leyland was pumping positive thinking into the impressionable minds of his young Tigers.

Example #2:  Leland exploited the erratic throwing arm of Jason Giambi by having the speedy Granderson purposely get picked off first base.  This was done twice.  Both times the runner was safe via the wild throw by Giambi although the second time the umpire blew the call. 

Example# 3: Game #2, bottom of the 8th, Matsui on second, no outs, Yanks down by a run, Posada up.  This was the turning point of the ALDS. It is common baseball thinking that you play for the tie at home and the win on the road.  Inotherwords, being guaranteed last licks, if you can tie the game at home, it can then be won in the bottom half of the inning.  The situation called for a sacrifice bunt.  With Matsui then on 3rd and only one out, a groundball or a flyball could have tied the score.  Posada swings away.  Honestly, I don't recall if he popped out or K'd but the fact is that he, or a pinch hitter should have layed one down.  Miguel Cairo, after Jeter, the best bunter on the team just sat on the bench collecting dust.  And then the Yankees became dust.  (with sincere apologies and sympathy  to Cory Lidle's family and friends).  Game 2 was winnable and if the Yankees then went to Motown up 2- zip, it is doubtful the Tiger cubs would have come back. 

MURDERED ROW AND 'DIS'-SPLACED CANO - I will make this as quick as a New York minute.  Joe Torre pushed Robinson Cano into an emotional ditch called "batting ninth!"  The young man was the hottest and most productive hitter in the American league for the final 2 months of the season, barely missed winning the batting title (.342!!!), and is among the best place hitters in all of baseball.  He is young, enthusiastic, and impressionable.  All season he batted no lower than 7th but usually 6th.  For all of Cano's success, Joe Torre rewarded him with hitting in the 9 hole.  It was not only demoralizing to the All-Star second baseman, it was also stupid baseball.  Oh yeah, Cano bombed out in the ALDS.

TOO MANY CHIEFS, NOT ENOUGH INDIANS - With regard to his coaching staff, Torre has surrounded himself with former major league managers, all-stars, and yes-men.  With the mixed messages from all these egos colliding with the egos and juvenile temperaments of many of the players, it is no wonder the clubhouse is divided and the ship is adrift.  Torre lacks the core confidence to be his own man and lead effectively. 

SUMMATION: INSANITY IS REPEATING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS - Joe Torre is a lame duck manager.  He has been unsuccessful at bringing home the gold since the year 2000.  Except for Derek Jeter, does anyone really believe things will be any different in 2007?

It is late.  Maybe too late for this 2006 version of the Joe Torre Traveling Home Run Derby Show.  With Jim Leyland as the opposition's grand puppeteer, Kenny Rogers as its impersonation of the great Whitey Ford of post season's past, and the rest of the Tiger cubs roaring like they're full grown and believing they're in charge of the American League jungle, Murderer's Row (and Cano) seem to have taken the final bullet themselves. 

 I am tired...but not as tired as the same, lame Joe Torre post game jibberish which is interpreted as gospel by the intimidated press conference media.  But perhaps, that is not totally fair to Torre.  For some reason it seems that no one is allowed to ask the Godfather of the Bronx a tough but thoughtful question. 

 Such as:  Why Joe, in the few days before the playoffs, did you abandon the quicker, more balanced, more run-manufacturing lineup of Melky Cabrera batting 9th and Robbie Cano batting 6th that had produced by season's end, the best record in baseball?

Probable answer:  "blahblahblahblahblah..."

Real answer:  "George likes to get his money's worth." 

Or:  Within the last 2 games when it was obvious that the Tiger pitching was overpowering, why Joe didn't you move a runner over into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt?  

Probable answer:  "Blahblahblahblahblah..."  

Real answer:  "Those billionaire home run guys would get mad at me.  i just hate an argument."

And:  You seem to have trouble winning the close games.  Who do you think cracks under pressure more,  you or A-Rod?

Probale answer:  Blahblahblahblahblah....blah"

Real answer:  "Stop picking on us.  Just because I'm the highest paid manager in baseball and Alex is the highest paid player, is no reason to take that tone of voice.  it hurts our feelings."

And finally: "Joe, since the 2000 Championship Team, you lost the 2001 Series in the bottom of the ninth - game 7, have been outmanaged by Mike Scosia twice in the ALDS ('02 & '05), by Jack McKeon in the '03 World Series, and did the greatest choke job in the history of Major League Baseball by losing to the Red Sox in the '04 ALCS after being up 3 games to none and only one out away from a sweep.  If you are eliminated from this year's ALDS, courtesy of Jim Leyland and Co., do you think George Steinbrenner will renew your contract?

Probable answer: "Blah."

Real answer: "Only if George keeps taking his medication."

NOTE:  for further clarification, please look to Gamescribe's blog entitled, "Melky or Matsui: Team Chemistry Begins to Vaporize"