If Mel Stottlemyre had been the brains behind the decision to ignore Jon Lieber in the offseason (or to pursue Randy Johnson instead of Pedro Martinez), I might be able to understand why he’s a candidate for immediate termination. More so than Brian Cashman, that is. Of course, owners usually don’t fire themselves.
Steinbrenner, clearly frustrated by the Yankees’ poor start, all but blamed pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre by name in USA Today on Friday, implying that his job is in jeopardy.
Torre took serious exception, insisting that he should be blamed before his close friend and longtime pitching coach is. “If you’re going to give anyone the blame,” the manager said, “I’m the captain of the ship and the one who is really responsible.
“It crosses the line when you’re talking about Mel Stottlemyre.”
Steinbrenner was quoted as saying: “Our pitchers are not improving. That’s what a pitching coach is supposed to do – make your pitchers improve … We’re just not getting the pitching. I don’t know whether we have to think of some changes there or what.”
When told of Steinbrenner’s comments, Stottlemyre shrugged and said: “I have to take it right now. We’re not pitching well. But I’m not going to lose any sleep over it.”
The Yankees entered Friday with a 5.16 ERA, the worst in the American League. But Torre doesn’t think Steinbrenner is justified in his criticism of Stottlemyre, whom he credited with bringing a broken rotation within three outs of reaching the World Series last year.
“You hate to think you’re blaming a guy who has given his body and soul to this organization, has sat here through the good times and bad and has been an upright, standing gentleman,” Torre said. “… He hasn’t lost a step as far as I’m concerned.”
Asked if he will relay that to Steinbrenner, Torre said: “If I have to communicate that to George, then I don’t think I can communicate that to George. If people aren’t aware of that just by watching this club for 10 years, they haven’t been paying attention.”
If nothing else, Mike Mussina’s compete game 4-hitter might provide Stottlemyre with a reprieve, New York’s 5-0 win over Oakland sparing them the indignity of matching the worst Yankee start through 31 games since 1922.
Letting Jon Lieber go proves the Yankees are more money than brain power. Phillies fans can thank Mark Bellhorn as had Bellhorn not got enough of a 2 out full count pitch to plunk a opposite field HR during game 6 of the ALCS and Lieber gotten the third strike/out, the outcome of that game and series could have went to the Yankees, Lieber would have been a hero for matching Schilling, and he would never have never been allowed to walk. Lieber, Brett Myers and Billy Wagner have kept the bottom from falling out for the Phils thus far.
I think for the past week George was more concerned with the horse he had running in the Kentucky Derby than the Yankees as his commentary
in US Today re Stottlemyre posted above was the only thing I read of him all week, even after the Yankees dropping 3 of 4 to the D-Rays and the NY sports media starting to shovel the dirt on them. With todays 7th placing by Georges horse, George will be in no mood, back to the Yankee business full-time and we can look forward to some serious tirades from the Boss if they drop the series with the A’s tomorrow.