02/04: "The Yankee Years": Posada and Damon Defend Torre; Torre Defends the Book; Bernie Comments
Posted by: Patrick
I thought I'd highlight a number of interesting "The Yankee Years" related articles.
Yankees catcher Jorge Posada has come out in defense of Joe Torre, in an interview with The Daily News.
Johnny Damon, Bernie Williams and Carlos Beltran - all mentioned in "Years" - attended the Thurman Munson awards dinner on Tuesday. All 3 of them were asked to comment.
Like Jorge, Damon came out in defense of Torre.
Bernie didn't have a lot to say, but:
Lastly, Beltran said the following:
Mariano Rivera is planning to pick up a copy of the book, but had no other comment on it.
Sam Borden reports from a New York City book signing, saying that there wasn't much in the way of negativity - mostly, it was "smiles and cheers" for the Yankees former manager. Borden shares audio of Torre speaking with the media. He covers the subject of clubhouse sanctity.
Borden also has a transcript of Joe Torre's appearance on NPR News. Here's a snippet:
See the AP's Ronald Blum's take for more.
Finally, Ken Davidoff shares details on a book excerpt dealing with Don Zimmer's time as the interim manager in 1999.
Yankees catcher Jorge Posada has come out in defense of Joe Torre, in an interview with The Daily News.
After his workout, Posada said he might visit a Tampa bookstore to buy Torre's book, which was released yesterday. Posada hasn't read the book, but plans to, and said he was basing his initial opinions of it on media reports. He tried to call Torre recently, he said, more to say hello than anything else, and left a message. "It really isn't explosive," Posada said of the book. "We'll have to sit down and read it, but what's been said in the media, nothing's been surprising to me. I think he's just talking about his experiences with the winning teams and all that. He hasn't really said anything we didn't know.
"Joe's done nothing wrong, in my eyes. He's been a father figure to me, so I don't think he can do any wrong."
"Joe's done nothing wrong, in my eyes. He's been a father figure to me, so I don't think he can do any wrong."
Johnny Damon, Bernie Williams and Carlos Beltran - all mentioned in "Years" - attended the Thurman Munson awards dinner on Tuesday. All 3 of them were asked to comment.
Like Jorge, Damon came out in defense of Torre.
"I have no reason to not trust Joe," Damon said Tuesday. "I enjoyed playing for him. He showed me a lot with the way that he handled the media, the way he handled the team. I was able to go and talk to him at any given time, so yeah, I can trust him. Unfortunately, a book comes out and there's always going to be questions. But you know what? Until Joe does something crazy to me, he's fine in my book."
Bernie didn't have a lot to say, but:
"As far as I'm concerned, I've had a real close relationship with him over the years, and I really don't see that changing," ...
While conceding he was "surprised" that Torre would write such a revealing book, Williams added, "I need to see the context of the things that were said, and how he said them."
While conceding he was "surprised" that Torre would write such a revealing book, Williams added, "I need to see the context of the things that were said, and how he said them."
Lastly, Beltran said the following:
“First of all, I don’t know Joe Torre personally, so I don’t know what kind of person he is,” Beltrán said. “The second thing I have to say is that when I met with the Yankees when I was a free agent, he wasn’t there, so you know, he didn’t know that we talked, so I didn’t meet him. So if he did say what he said, then that’s his opinion. I don’t have to comment on that. I feel very happy where I am.”
Mariano Rivera is planning to pick up a copy of the book, but had no other comment on it.
Sam Borden reports from a New York City book signing, saying that there wasn't much in the way of negativity - mostly, it was "smiles and cheers" for the Yankees former manager. Borden shares audio of Torre speaking with the media. He covers the subject of clubhouse sanctity.
Borden also has a transcript of Joe Torre's appearance on NPR News. Here's a snippet:
SIEGEL: Throughout your book, two players emerge as representing different versions of being great baseball players. Derek Jeter, who you obviously adore and think the world of, and who is a selfless player and a winner; and Alex Rodriguez, who is a better hitter, for all I know, and you’d never say this, he could be a better shortstop in the field, too, than Derek Jeter. And yet a player who is mostly about Alex Rodriguez.
TORRE: But you know what Robert, I love him too. It was just tough, and continues to be tough, I’m assuming, just to have him relax. But he puts so much pressure on himself because he has enormous ability. He needs baseball in a way that I needed baseball years ago because, you know, I had very low self esteem. And when I was fortunate enough to be able to play baseball at a high level, I realized that what I did on the baseball field helped my self esteem. And when you need it that badly, you tend to get in your own way.
SIEGEL: But when you say you also love Alex, you also mention that he was a guy – A-Rod is how he’s referred to in the headlines. A-Fraud among players is how he is referred to, someone resented in the locker room, not well liked.
TORRE: I don’t know if it’s a resentment in the locker room. He was a little different than the other guys I had. And the A-Fraud stuff was done in front of him, none of that stuff was behind his back. I think this has been a tough grind for him because of the expectations he has of himself.
TORRE: But you know what Robert, I love him too. It was just tough, and continues to be tough, I’m assuming, just to have him relax. But he puts so much pressure on himself because he has enormous ability. He needs baseball in a way that I needed baseball years ago because, you know, I had very low self esteem. And when I was fortunate enough to be able to play baseball at a high level, I realized that what I did on the baseball field helped my self esteem. And when you need it that badly, you tend to get in your own way.
SIEGEL: But when you say you also love Alex, you also mention that he was a guy – A-Rod is how he’s referred to in the headlines. A-Fraud among players is how he is referred to, someone resented in the locker room, not well liked.
TORRE: I don’t know if it’s a resentment in the locker room. He was a little different than the other guys I had. And the A-Fraud stuff was done in front of him, none of that stuff was behind his back. I think this has been a tough grind for him because of the expectations he has of himself.
See the AP's Ronald Blum's take for more.
Finally, Ken Davidoff shares details on a book excerpt dealing with Don Zimmer's time as the interim manager in 1999.
... Torre says that naming Don Zimmer as his interim replacement in 1999, as Torre underwent treatment for prostate cancer, was a mistake. That he should have appointed Mel Stottlemyre as the interim skipper, instead.
The Yankees went onto win it all in '99, anyway. But Zimmer's time as manager did permanently damage the bench coach's relationship with George Steinbrenner, and that led to myriad tensions down the road.
The Yankees went onto win it all in '99, anyway. But Zimmer's time as manager did permanently damage the bench coach's relationship with George Steinbrenner, and that led to myriad tensions down the road.
