Still Bossy: Steinbrenner spouts off, again
Posted: Friday, May 25, 2007 4:53 PM
Since when did George Steinbrenner become qualified to tell people when to shut up?
Mount St. Steinbrenner has been in a quiescent mode for several years, but he’s blown up often enough to have long ago lost the right to tell others when to speak and what to say.
Yet here he is sounding off on the state of his Yankees in an Associated Press story. Among other things, he throws a javelin at his DH, Jason Giambi.
“With his New York Yankees struggling, George Steinbrenner says Joe Torre is safe for now, general manager Brian Cashman “is on a big hook” and Jason Giambi “should have kept his mouth shut.”
He’s referring to Giambi’s comments to USA Today about being sorry for having done something - presumed to be taking steroids. He also said everyone in baseball should apologize. By sheer coincidence, less than a week later, someone in baseball leaked the confidential information that Giambi had tested positive for amphetamines last year.
I thought Giambi should be congratulated for saying what commissioner Bud Selig should have said long ago: “I let it happen. I’m sorry.” I think he should sit in the dunce’s corner for taking uppers last year when he knew the game’s drug police had taken dead aim at the big target he’s got on his back.
As much as we’ve been waiting and wishing for Steinbrenner to do something to let us know that there’s still a scrap of his inner Boss still kicking around, it’s beyond comprehension that he would be telling Giambi when it’s appropriate to speak. Yeah, he made an honest statement and now he’s in trouble. But it’s time someone told something resembling the truth. Isn’t that what Selig wants?
Another statement that is beyond comprehension is Steinbrenner’s assurance that Torre’s job is safe. OK, Torre was the right man for the right team from 1996-2000, when the Yankees won four titles in five years. But he hasn’t won one since and has been embarrassed a couple of times in the playoffs. If Torre got the credit for the wins, when does he get even a teaspoon of blame for the failures?
At least Bryan Cashman is on notice. He’s the G.M. who assembled this underachieving crew.
Finally, the Boss praised Roger Clemens. I’m wondering why and for what?
Clemens hasn’t pitched for the Yankees since the 2003 World Series. We have no idea what he’s going to do when he comes up to the big club this year. All we know is he got slapped around by Class A players in his last start and then said he felt good. Friday, the Yankees announced he’ll need at least one more minor league start before joining the team.
Clemens is the greatest right-hander at least since 1930. That case is closed. But George is kidding himself if he thinks the Rocket came back the Bronx glare just because he wants to help the Yankees. He insisted on a salary that, if he played a full season, would be the highest in baseball by a fair amount, a salary that is greater than Tampa Bay’s payroll.
He’s a mercenary, George. Be glad you got him, but don’t kid yourself about why he’s there.
