But what brings me here is a letter in today’s sport’s section from a person who says his name is Steven A. King and who says he is from NY. Far be it from me to criticize anyone who isn’t a part of the revisionist bio of the team’s recently late owner, but you Banterers should seek this guy out and educate him. The Vermont thing aside where everything is touchy-feely and everyone has the right to their opinion. Good enough, so long as you are not an idiot, especially one who hasn’t been to the Hall of Fame of followed the game. I never said the boss didn’t try hard to win; I just despised his methods and his despicable treatment of people, except the ones who did what he wanted and succeeded. Those of us who are unexceptionable and human deserve better treatment.

Mr. King’s position is that none of the people who managed the Yankees during the Steinbrenner years will be in the Hall of Fame, except maybe Torre. Frankly, Torre’s induction should be a no brainer on a number of levels, but let us not forget what a wonderful baseball player he was before he became an announcer and then, later in life, a manager whose early years were nothing to write home about, until he came to the Yankees. Some have and will argue as they did about Casey that he was a push button manager, which if he was, a point I would suggest may not make it in knowledgeable circles, he still had to push the right ones.

Mr. King brushes aside Yogi, saying he made it as a player, despite the fact that the plaque carries credit for 1964. Casey’s, by the way, begins “Casey” and covers his years as a manager and as a player. Let’s start with Houk, a person whose death this week was dwarfed by the bosses, Sheperd’s and Dan Shor’s. Not too shabby, but he comes close to the Hall. Led those ailing, aging teams. Three pennants and two Championships in first three years. 45 ejections. Players loved him.

Following managerial switches in the early “70′s,” George brought in Bob Lemon to tame the zoo, a feat that led to the 1978 Championship. I’d suggest that Mr. King check his credentials, though he would say that the gentleman from Cleveland made it as a player, too. If his kid didn’t die in an auto accident, he may have had some staying power. And while Lou may not have the most amazing numbers, he contributed to pennants and World Championships as a player and manager. He won one World Series, divisional titles with three teams in two leagues, and was honored as a manager of the year.

I would also suggest that the jury will not be sent out on the present manager for quite a while. He has been named Manager of the Year and has a title in his short career on the bench. Joe 2 had a significant career as a player, though not as high quality as Joe 1, but not bad. And he should be credited with the development of Jorge Posada, who could be in the Hall also.

Just a note with respectful retrospection: Berra, Houk, Torre, and Girardi were all catchers.

Scorching here too..time for the sofa, last day of the summer Sumo tournament, and bottle of Hefe-Weizen bier…

after the run preventing error, a 2-run homer. M’s in the lead!

i don’t expect it to last, but this is quite nice…

motherfucker!