Jon Heyman, in Sunday morning’s Newsday :
Things are getting really ugly at the top of the Yankees’ hierarchy. George Steinbrenner is said to suspect that the rips on him in a competing tabloid by Frank Torre and Don Zimmer were orchestrated by none other than Joe Torre. Just another sign that if Torre returns – and where else is he going? – he and Steinbrenner won’t be breaking bread at Malio’s anytime soon.
Meanwhile, Yankees people also are wondering if Torre is merely being dramatic in delaying his post-year comments. Although, in-house detractors hope he’s spending the extra time scanning the help-wanted ads. (The ad for his current job would go like this: Dream Job, Great Pay, Nightmare Boss.)
It’s getting so bad that one Yankees person blames Alex Rodriguez’s no-show performance on Torre, suggesting that Lou Piniella never would have stood for it.
Dodgers owner Frank McCourt is saying he’ll be “very involved,” which could mean one of Tommy Lasorda’s two choices (Orel Hershiser or Bobby Valentine) for manager has a shot over Paul DePodesta’s first choice (Terry Collins).
While the Dodgers might take a guy who was run out of Anaheim (Collins), they see longtime Dodger Mike Scioscia thrive 45 miles down I-5 every day.
Maybe this is the Vladimir Guerrero the Mets feared they might get when they declined to offer him a solid five-year deal. He looks hurt. He must be. He’s making A-Rod look like a playoff hero.
Frankly, I’m baffled as to how Vlad can’t solve the White Sox starters. Maybe it’s because they’re throwing strikes.