Life hasn't gotten much better for the Yankees since they walked off the field World Series losers.
There has been criticism over losing Andy Pettitte to Houston. Rumors that Roger Clemens might unretire with the Astros. Controversy as the Gary Sheffield negotiations dragged into absurdity. A series of acquisitions (Kenny Lofton, Kevin Brown, Javier Vazquez) that raise as many questions as they answer. A $50-million-plus revenue sharing/luxury tax bill to go along with a payroll headed toward $200-million. An eye-opening scare following George Steinbrenner's fainting episode.
And, after David Wells' I-got-the-last-laugh defection to the Padres, there is this: the reality they may have some serious flaws.
Signing Lofton to play centerfield means they're moving Bernie Williams to DH. That's a problem because a) Williams may not want to go and b) they might need the DH slot for Jason Giambi, whose surgically repaired knee may not hold up to playing first base daily. And that's a problem because they traded their best first baseman, Nick Johnson, and are replacing him with journeyman Tony Clark.
There are serious concerns about third baseman Aaron Boone, who had one very big hit but a .232 average in pinstripes, and second baseman Alfonso Soriano, whose inexplicable inconsistency led to a Series benching.
But the biggest issue appears to be the rotation.
Together, Pettitte, Clemens and Wells went 53-24 with a 4.02 ERA, made 96 starts and pitched 633 innings. Most important, they were known commodities - big-game pitchers who not only could handle the pressures of New York but thrived.
While their staff is talented, there are serious questions - along with a lack of lefties and big-game success. Can Mike Mussina be a leader? Can temperamental Kevin Brown handle the media scrutiny, as well as stay healthy? Can Vazquez, acquired from Montreal, do well in games that matter? Can Jose Contreras pitch consistently enough to be a starter? Can Jon Lieber make it back from reconstructive elbow surgery?
Wells, at the least, was an insurance policy. The Yanks thought he'd agreed to a minor-league deal, but he apparently objected to the weight clauses they insisted on. He instead turned his surgically repaired back and went home to San Diego for an incentive-laden deal that could be worth $7-million.
Without him, the Yankees are considering what could politely be described as "creative" alternatives, the likes of Chuck Finley, Orlando Hernandez, Scott Erickson, Rick Helling and Robert Person.
Said Wells: "They lost a lot of guys at once, and I think they're in shock."
That's one way to put it.
RAYS RUMBLINGS: The spring training schedule, which had to be reworked to accommodate the season-opening trip to Japan, should be released this week. ... According to the Bill James Handbook, Lou Piniella in 2003 ordered the second-most stolen-base attempts (184) of any AL manager, the ninth-most bunts (50), seventh-most intentional walks (37) and sixth-most pitchouts (23). His 129 lineups (for 162 games) were seventh most, and he used the most pinch-hitters (159). ... To see what ex-Ray Wade Boggs has been up to, take a look at his before and after pictures on medicalhairrestoration.com.
HALL CALL: When Hall of Fame voting results are announced Tuesday, Paul Molitor, with 3,319 career hits, would seem to be the only sure inductee. Dennis Eckersley, who had 197 wins and 390 saves, is the other first-time candidate with a chance for election. Top holdover candidates, in order of votes received: Bruce Sutter, Jim Rice, Andre Dawson, Ryne Sandberg, Lee Smith and Goose Gossage. ... Boggs will be on the December ballot for 2005 induction.
B(U)Y THE BOOK: Pete Rose is going to be all over the news this week with the overly hyped release of his book, My Prison With out Bars. With extraordinary prerelease secrecy, and a lengthy list of postrelease interviews lined up, the buzz is that Rose - finally - will admit that he bet on baseball.
A public acknowledgement of guilt is believed to be one of commissioner Bud Selig's conditions for reinstatement, and Rose - no surprise - apparently figured a way to profit from doing so.
The release date was moved up from spring to Thursday, which seems to be more than a coincidence to tie it to the latest Hall of Fame news. Rose has only two more years of eligibility to be voted into the Hall by the writers, and if a one-year probation is part of his reinstatement, he had to act now.
MISCELLANY: With the Orioles refusing to raise their five-year, $65-million offer, Vladimir Guerrero seems to be waiting for something better from the Dodgers or Marlins. ... St. Paul is working on a new stadium deal for the Twins. ... Ivan Rodriguez acknowledged that if he doesn't get a big-money deal he could end up back with the Marlins, though he couldn't play until May 1. ... Do the Tigers really think they are getting better by signing Rondell White, Fernando Vina and Jason Johnson?
- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.
