I just heard that the Royals have hired a long time Yankee minor league manager before going to Japan to manage the last five years. Maybe he can bring some of that Yankee mystique to the Royals and bring back 85!

Take care!

Well I guess I have to say that I was in no way expecting the turn of events that basically came to a head today. When I titled the post “Dealing with Loss,” I had fully expected Joe Torre to be back in 2008. In light of what has happened, I think that this post takes a bit more significance. Now we are not just dealing with loss in terms of defeat, we are dealing with loss as in the end of an era.

Joe defined the Yankees of ‘96-’07. He instilled the business-like calm demeanor that characterized the World Series Championship teams. He brought back the “aura and mystic” to a franchise that had seemingly lost its way in the ’80s and early ’90s, and, guiding the Yankees to collect 4 titles, he made them again a team to either love or hate.

Now there are question marks. Will the new manager be it Mattingly, Girardi, Valentine, or someone else be able to look forward to similar success? Will the new occupant of the clubhouse office be able to handle the New York media, the Boss, or whoever seems to be speaking for him these days? Will he be able to fashion a group of talented and highly paid athletes into the team that we enjoyed during our championship runs? Only time will tell. Of course that’s why we play the game. It’s just that we’ll have a different manager determining how the Yankees play it in 2008.

I am very sorry but I have to confess; my favorite day of the baseball season every year is the day the Yankees are eliminated. Maybe that would change if my Royals could ever turn it around, but until then I must continue to be a Yankee hater.

I was very happy to see Joe snub George today; as much as I dislike the Yankees, I do respect Torre.