Hank, aka The Apple
Earlier today, I thought I was reading excerpts from the transcript of ESPN’s “The Bronx is Burning” - the story of 1977 in New York, focused around the Yankees and the drama headed by George Steinbrenner. But, no - the following comments were from George’s son, Hank - and are indeed quite current.
It seems like The (Big) Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, eh? Hank’s apparently going to be the voice of the franchise now. And if these arrogant rantings are any indication, he’s going to offer a lot of entertainment value (just like his dad):
——————————————————————————————
October 29, 2007
For Rodriguez and Yankees, It’s All but Over
By JACK CURRY and TYLER KEPNER
“It’s a shame,” Hank Steinbrenner, who is now
running the Yankees, said late Sunday night. “But
we are all in agreement: myself, my dad, my
brother, all the baseball people. If you don’t
want to be a Yankee and paid what you’re being
paid, we don’t want you, that’s the bottom line.
You’d be hard-pressed to argue that point. If you
don’t understand the magnitude of being a Yankee
and understand what that means, and being the
highest-paid player in baseball, I think it’s pretty obvious.”
“If we’re going to make you rich and we’re going
to give you the privilege of being a Yankee,” he
said, “you’ve got to show us you want to be here.”
In an interview before Boras’s announcement,
Steinbrenner said he would try to impress on
Rodriguez the value of winning titles and making
his legacy as a Yankee. He related a story of
talking to Joe DiMaggio, who told him his
championships would not have been half as
meaningful if he had won them for any other team.
“Does he want to go into the Hall of Fame as a
Yankee,” Steinbrenner said, “or a Toledo Mud Hen?”
Murray Chass contributed reporting.
October 29th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
I’m perfectly willing to believe that the Sons of Steinbrenner are as bad as their pedigree implies, but not because of this.
Look, every team has fans that think it is special, but no other team comes close to the sustained Championship-caliber squads fielded by the Yankees across nearly a century. I don’t see a lot of room to dispute the notion that 26 World Series titles give the Yankees an objective claim to a uniquely glorious history. And while not every player feels a desire to be a part of that, it seems eminently plausible to me that many, perhaps most, do.
October 29th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Understand. But in the 80s, back when the Celtics were *the* NBA team with the uniquely glorious history, I don’t recall them being that obviously arrogant in the press. Perhaps I didn’t notice it, entirely possible. But if it was pointed out to me, I would’ve had to concede… ah, that is indeed arrogant and humorous.
The Yankees are no longer *the* team for FAs to sign with to give them “the best chance at a title”. Indeed, I submit that ARod signing with Boston or Anaheim (my personal guess in the ARod pool) actually gives him a better chance, all things considered - but that’s debatable, which is the point.
As for the privilege of playing for the Yankees… I get that - indeed I believe it was a factor in Jason Giambi signing there (well, along with the fact that they offered the most money)… based on how Giambi would talk about his dad’s love affair with Mantle and the Yankees, and Jason’s desire to make his dad happy. But that said, Giambi would’ve stayed in Oakland (and disappointed his dad) if they offered the most money - or he would’ve signed with Tampa Bay, if they’d offered the most money. In the end, it’s… about… the money…
ARod got the privilege of being a Yankee, and the subsequent privilege of being dogged as a loser who is “not a real Yankee” despite two MVP seasons - and apparently decided that the Yankees offer will not be the highest he’ll receive, so he’ll be moving onto his fourth ML team. And that team will be the one that offers the most money (like Texas, circa 2001), regardless of what (if any) spin ARod and Boras try to put on it.
Sure, if ARod had accepted the Yankees extension offer, we would’ve been treated to soundbites from ARod, Boras, and Yankees management about wanting to retire a Yankee, wanting to be part of Monument Park, wanting to break all-time records (like HRs) as a Yankee, wanting to go to the HOF in a Yankee cap, wanting to win a WS as a Yankee, yadda yadda yadda… but that would’ve all been BS. The only reason he’d stay a Yankee is if they’d given him the most money. He and Boras have determined they can get more elsewhere, so he’s gone.
I simply find it exceedingly arrogant and downright amusing that Hank and his crew apparently truly believed that ARod The Mercenary would take a hometown discount. Or is it a “privilege” discount?
And my hope is that Hank will pick up where George left off many years ago by providing us endless entertainment with similarly blustering soundbites for many years to come… hopefully in addition to running his franchise into the ground like his dad did in the late 80s and early 90s.
Unfortunately Cashman will probably prevent that from happening cuz he’s a very good GM… but a guy can dream, right?
October 29th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
Actually… I’ve got more thoughts on this: Did ARod agree to the trade to the Yankees cuz he was dying for the privilege to be a Yankee? Really? Then why did he try to get traded to the Red Sox first and/or why didn’t he just sign there in 2001?
Did Damon sign with the Yankees for the privilege of being a Yankee, or was it cuz they offered the most money? Clemens? Damon? Sheffield? Mussina? Pavano? Do I need to go on?
I get that guys like Jeter, Posada, and Rivera - homegrown, long time with organization - will likely feel a very strong desire to remain Yankees. Then again, since spring training, Rivera’s been talking like a guy who’s leaving… unless the Yankees offer the most money. Its possible that Rivera and/or Posada stay with the Yankees for less money due to the privilege of being a Yankee - but I’ll believe it when I see it.
Until I see them turn down more money elsewhere, the cynic in me will firmly believe they re-signed with the Yankees cuz… the Yankees offered the most money.
And no, that’s no different in Boston or pretty much every other city without almost every other player… which is the point. Varitek re-signed with the Sox after 2004 cuz… nobody was gonna give him more money. Manny signed with the Sox from Cleveland cuz… nobody was give him more money. Drew, Lugo, Foulke… go right down the list.
Sorry Tank, the Yankees aren’t really any different than any other team - if they offer the most money, they’ll probably sign the FA… if they don’t, they probably won’t. Heck… Andy Pettitte left for Houston cuz they didn’t show him any love with the money - course then he told us it was to be closer to home, etc, etc… but it was the money. And he came back to the Yankees cuz… they offered him the most money.
Does this fact truly elude you? Or are you just so punchdrunk from the success of the Sox and Pats that you’re just not thinking straight?
October 29th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
I don’t think there’s an inherent conflict between wanting to earn as much money as one can, and acknowledging the uniquely rich tapestry of Yankee greatness. Owners are greedy bastards. Players are more than justified in deciding that if an economically sub-optimal transaction is to take place, it might as well be at the owners’ expense rather than his own.
I’m bummed that A-Rod is gone, and I still can’t get my head around how underappreciated he was by the fans here, but I can’t say I blame him. Somebody is going to make him a foolish offer that is going to leave them paying $30mm+ per year for a DH five years from now. I’m pleased that for once the team making the stupid offer to a great player whose performance can only deteriorate isn’t mine. Even if we stipulate that playing for the Yankees is a privilege, it is worth eight figures? Probably not.
And for less highly compensated players, its even less rational to forego income for pinstripes; ARod will likely never need the money he is earning today. Most guys will, so taking less money from the team with the most of it isnt going to sit right. Money is respect.
Plus, if he really wants to maximize the chance of winning a WS, the parlous condition of the Yankees pitching staff makes it clear he should go elsewhere. Boston is likely to win one (or more) before the Yankees capture their 27th. Anaheim also affords a better chance.
But I am sure that if one were to poll every MLB player on where he would like to play, few if any teams would have a higher average rank. Who in their right mind would rather play for Tampa Bay? Or Cincinnati?
October 30th, 2007 at 6:07 am
Your last two paragraphs seem contradictary to me. If MLB players were polled, I submit they’d have two things driving their decision: (1) where can I get paid the most, and/or (2) where do I have the best chance to win a WS? In the late 90s, and arguably into the early 00s, the answer to both those questions was the Yankees… so I suspect at that time, the Yankees would’ve indeed gotten the highest average rank.
But as you note in your second-to-last paragraph, the Yankees are no longer *the* place that give one a best chance for a WS - and I agree that Boston and Anaheim are at least on par with the Yankees if not higher (in Anaheim’s case, especially if they overpay ARod).
And Boston is becoming Evil Empire North, as their payroll climbs over the other side of $150 million… as they get closer to the Yankees payroll then to the #3 MLB payroll.
Given that the Sox just won a WS, with a good nucleus and a bunch of young pitchers which bodes well for the immediate future, as well as their ability/willingess to spend a lot of money… I submit the Red Sox will be high on that list. And Anaheim’s Arte Moreno doesn’t seem averse to spending some money as well (again, we’ll see if ARod indeed ends up there). I’d guess those two teams would end up on par with the Yankees, if not higher.
Clearly the Yankees have the most accomplished history in MLB. This is indisputable. But I submit few ML players know that and even fewer care. Sure, there will be the odd player who’s dreamed of playing for the Yankees… but there will be the odd player who’s dreamed of playing for the Red Sox or… yes, Cincinnati (you may have heard of Ken Griffey, Jr?).
MLB players care about two things - money and winning, probably in that order for most - and *that* will drive their desire to go to one team over another… little else.