It's a bird, it's a plane, no wait! It's just Steinbrenner fixing to clean house. Is Joe Torre to blame for the fall of the evil empire? I don't think so. Do you see Joe out on the mound every 7 days trying to throw a no hitter or batting in the 4 hole every night? No you don't! I see Joe Torre trying to bring a club from a 21-29 record to getting his team into the playoffs. When everyone had considered the Yankees out of the playoffs, he is still scraping to get the right players plugged into the right place to turn the season around.

  The problem is that George Steinbrenner spends all this money on superstars who can't get along and are getting up there in age. Being in New York doesn't make it any better either with the media frenzy surrounding the team like it does. I wouldn't call a lack of talent either because he has some talented players. Steinbrenner thinks that since he has the highest payroll in MLB he should automatically win the championship every year. Money doesn't buy you championships. The Rockies, The Indians and the Diamondbacks are proving that. Look at the last 2 World Series Championship teams they dont have an outrageous payroll.

  Now there is talk about Mattingly, LaRussa or Girardy replacing Torre. What do you think will happen if LaRussa gets stopped again asleep at a traffic light drunk. The media will have a hayday with that. That will get more publicity there and across the nation than it did this last time.

  With the possibility of A-rod opting out and Rivera and Posada testing the waters of free agency. Steinbrenner will have three big spots to fill, if not more. There is also talk about Pettit opting out also. Clemens is done. I doubt he will play baseball again. Why would he? He has enough money already. Plus this wasn't a stellar year for him anyway. What Steinbrenner needs to do is go out and get some of this young raw talent and start rebuilding. The better they get then pay them more money. Keep Clemens around to mentor & coach these young up-and-coming pitchers. Joba Chamberlain will be a superstar before to long. It seems to be working in Colorado, Cleveland and Arizona and other places. Keep Joe around to manage these players. Wouldn't Steinbrenner look like an ass if Torre were to go somewhere like Kansas City and lead them to a World Series Championship? Stranger things have happened.

  As far as A-rod, Posada, and Rivera go, let them test the waters. Maybe my Red Sox would let go of Gagne and get Rivera. There is something not clicking with the Yankees. Whether it is egos, media spotlight or lack of comradery I dont' know. Maybe someday they will figure out.