Clarion Content

A-Fraud just after striking out with men on base, again...

The New York metro area is aflame with the news that Joe Torre has co-written a book with Tom Verducci. The book isn't even out yet, but the tabloids are running with the pre-release blurbs. The Clarion Content will have to withhold comment into we have actually read the book. However, to comment on the commentary; what people are surprised that A-Rod was known as A-Fraud in the Yankee clubhouse?!? Have you seen the guy play in the post-season? It is not exactly a surprise to the Clarion Content. Seriously, Joe dropped him to 8th in the batting order in the A.L. playoffs against the Tigers because he sucks. He is the king of the "we are already winning or losing 11-0, three run homer." But the bigger the moment, the faster he wilts. (We'll see this season if Madonna and a little Kabbalah meditation have been able to cure him.)

The other point that folks are blowing up out of the previews of the Torre-Verducci book is that General Manager Brian Cashman didn't go to bat for Torre's contract extension the 2007 off-season. Again, this is news? Everyone in the know in New York knew this at the time. Cashman was lukewarm on Torre at that point, and Torre knew he needed a two-year deal for job security. Apparently, the book reveals that not only didn't Cashman want to give Torre a two-year deal, but he didn't even present that to management as the key sticking point of Torre's contract negotiations.

The New York media's histrionic reaction to the forthcoming book was entirely predictable. They mirror their audience, a New York Daily News poll shows that over 80% of readers already have an opinion about the contents of the as yet unreleased book. How's that?

In other Yankee news, old reliable stalwart Andy Pettitte was resigned to a $5 million incentive laden deal. Barring injuries the Yankees will head into the season with a starting rotation of Chien-Ming Wang, C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Pettitte and Joba Chamberlain. Looks good on paper, but can the curse of the A-Fraud be overcome? Even with half a billion dollars in free agent signings? The Clarion Content doubts it.

Labels: baseball, Predictions, sports, Sports Economics