Daily Archives: November 7, 2003

The Baltimore Orioles will hire Lee Mazzilli as their next manager according to the Associated Press. A press conference is scheduled for later this afternoon. This is not a surprising move. I’m happy for Maz, and hope he does well…but not too well, of course. Meanwhile, the Yankees will now need to find a new third base coach. Who do you think they’ll consider for the job?

One year ago today, I wrote my first post here at Bronx Banter. It was about Bill James going to work for the Red Sox. I had been thinking about writing about baseball for some time when my friend Steve hipped me to the world of blogs. In a short time, I set up my own page, with considerable help from John Perricone, and I was off and running.

One year later, writing about baseball every day–or almost every day–has become an intrinsic part of my life. I have made many new friends, and don’t know if I can express how meaningful that has been for me. After all, part of what attracts me to baseball is that it is a way to connect with people.

I never anticipated that I would have a core of regular readers or that I would have the opportunity to interview so many interesting public figures. It just goes to show what a little ambition and a lot of persistence can get you. I’ve always enjoyed reading long, meaty interviews, and it is gratifying to know that I’m not alone. (By the way, if anybody ever has a suggestion about someone they would like me to talk with, don’t hesitate to send me an e-mail.)

I don’t pretend to be a baseball expert. I just can’t bring myself to be that presumptuous. What I do know is what it’s like to be a Yankee fan. So I stick to what I know. I’ve rooted for the Yankees ever since I can remember, and have consciously followed each season since I was eight years old (1979). I try to write an honest, amusing and informative blog, and I think I’ve been able to do just that.

Thanks for coming through. I look forward to another great year with you.

Joe Torre’s father was an abusive lout. Torre will appear on NBC’s “Dateline” this Sunday to talk about his experiences.

Yesterday David Pinto linked a new baseball blog written by an openly gay man. That is a first of sorts. The site is called Ball Talk and it is written by a guy named Alex Ciepley, who is a Cubs fan. I would expect Alex to write more about the baseball from the perspective of a Cubs fan, and not specifically a Gay Cubs fan. Still, it’s great to have Ciepley’s voice out there. Welcome aboard.

Bryan Smith continues his Hot Stove Reports over at Wait ‘Til Next Year. He taps Ben Jacobs and Jeff Kuhn for the state of the Red Sox. This is a particularly detailed article (Ben Jacobs is especially thorough). Bryan contributes his own take this morning. This will be a fascinating year for Boston considering how many of their core players are up for free agency at the end of the 2004 season. I was struck with how measured and rational all three analysis’ were. There is no call for mega trades and huge free agent signings. One thing seems sure: In Theo We Trust.

If you have any interest in Red Sox Nation, you will do yourself a favor and brush up on your Bosox. Great job fellas.

The big news this morning involves Andy Pettitte’s decision to test the free agency waters. There is some speculation that the Yankees are not a lock to re-sign Pettitte, but I still think they are the front-runners. I expect that the Yankees will let teams like the Astros set the market before they overwhelm the southpaw with an offer of their own. Could he sign elsewhere? Of course. But again, Andy Pettitte will rue the day he signs with a team like Houston over the Yankees; he needs the Bombers as much as they need him.

Today’s gossip revolves around Arizona’s right-handed ace, Curt Schilling. Apparently, George would love to replace Rocket Clemens with the 37-year old Schilling. What the Yankees would have to part with (Nick Johnson?) is uncertain. I think Schilling is a loud mouthed shnook, but he is still a stud on the mound, and he probably has a few stellar years left in the tank. The question is: How many, and at what price?

Tyler Kepner has a good history of hitting and pitching coaches in the Steinbrenner era this morning in The Times (who remembers that Champ Summers once served as the hitting coach in the Bronx?). Boss George loves to tweek his managers by abusing their coaches. Rick Down offers some good insights.

Bob Raissman spoke with Yankee announcer Jim Kaat yesterday and as usual Kitty Kaat didn’t pull any punches:

“I thought the Yankees overachieved,” Kaat said over the telephone from his Florida home. “Go man-for-man with Boston, even the Marlins. Who would you rather have at this stage of their career? Well, a few years ago the Yankees would have had an overwhelming number of players you would pick. That’s not the case anymore.”

…”Because they are the Yankees, and they spend a lot of money, and because of the demands of George (Steinbrenner), everybody automatically thinks they should win the World Series,” Kaat said. “A lot of the money being paid to guys is being paid for what they did in the past.”

…’It’s not that Yankee players don’t have the right attitude, but there is such an atmosphere there that if they win it is a relief,” Kaat said. “Lately there has been no joy. No enjoyment. Now it’s like if you don’t win the World Series you’ve had a miserable year.”

Bah Humbug.

UNDER THE RADAR

By Tim Marchman

Tim Marchman writes about baseball for The New York Sun and is one of the brightest voices currently working in the alternative press. He had a piece today that is worth bringing to your attention, but because it is difficult to link to The Sun on-line, Tim has generously agreed to let me reprint the article for “Bronx Banter.”

Frank Coonelly may be the most powerful person in baseball youíve never heard of.

Coonellyís job title is chief labor counsel for Major League Baseball. One AL executive told me that so far as he knew,Coonelly “coordinates our side on the arbitration stuff” and that he is on managementís committee on salaries and relations with the union. Doug Pappas, who is the chairman of the Society for American Baseball Researchís Business of Baseball Committee, puts it this way: “Coonelly is in charge of monitoring compliance with suggested draft bonuses and free-agent negotiations.”

Aside from Pappas, no one I talked to wanted to say anything about Coonelly on the record, and he didnít answer a phone message I left at his office yesterday. But an article by the Seattle Post-Intelligencerís John Hickey on Mariners pitcher Freddy Garciaís salary arbitration case earlier this year is telling. Coonelly, in an unusual