R.I.P.

Here is an excerpt of Ken Auletta’s profile on Howard Rubenstein, which appears in this week’s New Yorker:

Rubenstein’s signature client in recent years has been George Steinbrenner, the owner of the Yankees. For decades, Steinbrenner—the Boss, as he loved to be called—did not hesitate, when the spirit moved him, to ridicule his players and abuse his managers. He once called the pitcher Hideki Irabu “a fat pussy” toad and paid a professional gambler to dig up dirt on the outfielder Dave Winfield, and he had fired a succession of managers. Until recently, Steinbrenner was, like [Donald] Trump, one of the city’s sacred monsters, capable of saying almost anything. Then he vanished, and in his stead were ghostly anodyne quotes attributed, of course, to his spokesman, Howard Rubenstein. When the Yankees had a losing streak, Steinbrenner now said, though his spokesman, that he was “disappointed,” or even, “I have tremendous faith in my players, my manager, and the leadership of the team.” Requests for interviews with Steinbrenner, so often granted in the past, were now invariably denied. “Rubenstein is good at coming up with irrelevant, obfuscating responses,” the Times’ longtime baseball columnist Murray Chass wrote. “For instance, when asked about a year ago if Steinbrenner had sustained a medical setback, Rubenstein responded, ‘George lifts weights every day.'”

The description of a hale and vigorous Steinbrenner did not correspond with what reporters believe to be reality. They saw a frail man of seventy-six slowly getting into his car at Yankee Stadium; they saw Steinbrenner seemingly dazed by the summer heat at the ground-breaking for the new Yankee Stadium. One reporter who covers the Yankees, and who does not want to risk his access, told me, “I’ve know George for thirty years, and on the elevator he sometimes doesn’t recognize me.” He added, “How has Rubenstein helped him? The statements are a joke. He makes George look like some cartoon version of the cartoon version he used to be.”

One could argue that Rubenstein has helped to turn Steinbrenner into a more benign and even sympathetic figure. But mainly he has shielded an aging man from public view with a series of ventriloquisms and, at best, half truths. Richard Sandomir, who writes about television sports of the Times, said that he has not been able to speak with Steinbrenner for about three years. “All my conversations are with Rubenstein,” Sandomir said. “I like Howard a lot…But few of his quotes match George’s personality. Is he taming him, or just creating a new George? No one knows.”

When I asked to talk with Steinbrenner in person or on the telephones, his assistant, Judith Wells, e-mailed me, saying, “Speaking from personal experience, Mr. Steinbrenner becomes a wee bit impatient on the telephone and he will spend a lot more time reflecting if he can respond via the written word.” Two weeks later, I received a personal letter signed by Steinbrenner. I had asked for an example of good advice that Rubenstein had given, and he wrote, “Perhaps the best advice that he’s given me is to stay ‘compose’ and say ‘les.'” How did he feel about the suggestions that he was enfeebled and that Rubenstein was inventing a new Steinbrenner? “Not very positively.” I have no idea if that was authentic Steinbrenner or pure Rubenstein. Rubenstein, for his part, insists that he told the truth when he said that Steinbrenner was lifting weights: “It’s true. Next time you’re here, I’ll put you on the phone and you’ll hear him breaking.”

I’ve long thought that the biggest pending story for the Yankees is what life will be like after Steinbrenner. But, as the events of the past year have shown, that transition is already taking place. Maybe it won’t be as big an event as I once imagined.

Anthony McCarron has a piece on Derek Jeter in the News today:

Jeter resumed baseball activities three weeks ago for the first time since the end of the season. It’s a way to put the disappointment in the past.

“It takes a long time to get over it. That’s what people don’t realize,” Jeter said as several Yankee prospects took batting practice nearby. “It’s a whole year you’ve played. The worst phrase in all of sports is saying, ‘Ah, get them next year.’ Well, next year is another 12 months. It’s not like you’re going to have the opportunity to play forever.

“Every year that goes by is one less year on your career, so it takes awhile to get over it. But that’s what makes spring training so fun. Everyone starts over.”

Jeter admits that it would be odd not playing with Bernie Williams anymore.

Also in the News, a feature on Yankee youngster Dellin Betances.

One week to go until Pitchers and Catchers. As reported yesterday via LoHud, Jorge Posada and Kei Igawa are already in Tampa. MLB.com adds Derek Jeter, Miguel Cairo, center field prospect Brett Gardner and fifth starter hopefuls Jeff Karstens, Humberto Sanchez, Tyler Clippard, and Phil Hughes. Hey, that’s enough for a pick-up team!

During the 1990s, the most influencial Hip Hop show in New York, and possibly the world, was The Stretch Armstrong Show, which featured Strech and Bobbito Garcia (originally, Kurious Jorge was the house MC). The show aired on Thursday nights from 1-5am, and I was one of many fans who waited up half the night with my finger on the pause button of my tapedeck waiting to record the latest gems. When the show folded, Bobbito went on to write a seminal book about New York City Sneaker Culture, and currently works for MSG, covering the Knicks. I hadn’t heard about Stretch for a minute, but was recently hipped to his blog. There are some cherce downloads, including the legendary Busy Bee v. Kool Moe Dee battle from the early ’80s. For those in the know, now you know…

Multi-media time, folks. Check out frequent Bronx Banter commenter and author of Canyon of Heroes and Matsuzaka Watch and proud new papa Mike Plugh as he discusses the Red Sox’s new ace on Baseball Prospectus Radio. Also, check out Matsuzaka Watch for Mike’s counter interview with BP Radio host Will Carroll and a pretty bad-ass Matsuzaka/Red Sox-themed Japanese beer commercial.

Another audio hit for you iPod owners out there, and a bit of shameless semi-self promotion, check out this podcast with Newsday‘s David Lennon and the Daily News‘s Roger Rubin, authors of The Great New York Sports Debate, a book I had a part in editing (more like a cameo, but a part nonetheless).

While we’re on the interview tip, check out this Sports Illustrated piece with Baseball-Reference’s Sean Forman (hat tip to Dodger Thoughts for the link). The new features on B-Ref that incorportate Retrosheet’s box score data are tremendous, if you haven’t full explored the splits and game logs and other additional features added this winter, be sure to take the time to do so.

As for actual Yankee-related news, the best I can do right now is this item on Mel Stottlemyre joining the Diamondbacks as an organizational pitching instructor, which also points out that Goose Gossage will be in Yankee camp as instructor for the first time in a few seasons, neither of which is really new information. Speaking of Yankee camp, Jorge Posada and Kei Igawa are already there, according to Peter Abraham. Man, I can almost taste the hot dogs . . .

Cory Lidle’s back in the news as the National Transportation Safety Board has released the details of its investigation into his fatal small plane crash. Unfortunately, they have been unable to determine whether Lidle or his flight instructor, Tyler Stanger, who was also killed in the accident, was actually flying the plane when it crashed, which leaves Lidle’s family in a lurch regarding a $1.05 million accidental death benefit. In fact, there’s very little new information in this AP story whatsoever. What they have determined is that the ban on small planes flying below 1,100 feet over the East River enacted after Lidle’s accident should be made permanent, but even that is merely a recommendation to the Federal Aviation Administration.

In other news, the Associated Press noticed that Jorge Posada’s contract is up after this year and that he doesn’t yet have an extension. I’m sure he’ll get one in time. The only other Yankees playing on multi-year deals whose contracts expire after this season are Mike Myers and Joe Torre, and Mariano Rivera, who is playing out his option this year. Bobby Abreu and Andy Pettitte have options for 2008. This season could change a lot, but I expect extensions for Jorge and Mo and Abreu’s option to get picked up. Myers won’t be back. As for Joe and Andy . . . difficult to see, always in motion is future.

Football is my second favorite sport after baseball, and the stretch between the Super Bowl and Opening Day has always felt like a long, dreary, entertainment-free wasteland to me. I can’t force myself to care about college sports, so March Madness leaves me flat (even though I finished second in the only NCAA bracket pool I ever entered), and the selection of movies this time of year is the absolute pits, especially once the Oscars pass and the re-released contenders looking to build buzz disappear from the theaters. Of course, some of that has changed since I started blogging, as the need to cover spring training involves me in those games even though precious few of them are aired even on the Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network, which tends to stick to the Yankees’ home games, and none of them count. Of course, the day we all look forward to all winter is Pitchers and Catchers, which is just ten days away, but really that’s a whole lot of nothing. There are no games to watch until March arrives and all the reports prior to then are all the same sort of empty optimism that occurs every year. Heck, we’ve already heard that from Crash Pavano. (Incidentally, Pavano is technically not on the 60-day DL, but he’ll be listed that way on the sidebar until he throws in his second spring training game. In the words of our president, “Fool me once, shame on . . . shame on you . . . you fool me . . . you can’t get fooled again.”)

Between then and now, all that’s left is Bernie Williams’ decision on the Yankees’ offer of a minor league contract and non-roster invite to spring training. The latest is that he’s leaning toward accepting with the idea that he’d retire if he doesn’t make the team. That sounds reasonable enough, though I worry that would leave the final decision in Joe Torre’s hands, and I can just see Joe finding a way to squeeze Bernie onto the roster should he have a few good spring at-bats. In other roster news, Matt DeSalvo, who was designated for assignment to make room for Miguel Cairo on the 40-man roster, cleared waivers and has accepted a non-roster invite of his own.

In the meantime, here’s a fluff piece on Joe Girardi, who will rejoin the YES team this year as well as co-host a show called “Behind the Plate” with John Flaherty, and some fluff on former Mets prospect and new Red Sox hitting coach Dave Magadan. Lastly, Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith coaching in the Super Bowl prompts a less than encouraging look at baseball’s hiring practices.

Congrats to Tony Dungy, Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and the Colts. Not a terrible game, though I’m sure it was maddening for Chicago fans. I loved the fact that the weather had an impact. Manning won the big one. Good for him. Also, I thought Prince killed at halftime. A lot of lesser performers would have wilted under the conditions, but I think they were ideally suited to his sense of drama and theater. He made the most of it; nice guitar work too.

I was a devoted football fan from about 1979-87. I rooted for the Cowboys during their declining years and, locally, for the Jets, during their typical Jets years (some promise, much frustration). My favorite players were Tony Dorsett and Tony Hill, Wesley Walker and Kenny Easley (the AFC’s answer to Ronnie Lott). The greatest game I ever watched was the Chargers-Dolphins playoff overtime game, a week before the most painful game I ever experienced—“The Catch.” I would religiously get together with friends growing up, play a big game of pick-up football on Super Bowl Sunday, no matter how cold. Then we’d go to one of our houses to watch the (usually lousy) game.

I don’t care much for football anymore, though I will watch games during the season. It’s hard for me to make it all the way through one though (I get bored so easily), and I don’t know many of the players and coaches in the sport. Still, I was thinking the other day, that I’ve watched every Super Bowl since 1979. Haven’t missed one. To my mind, the first one I saw is still the best, in terms of sheer excitement and great plays: Super Bowl XIV between the upstart Rams and the powerhouse Steelers, Jack Youngblood playing the game with a broken leg, Vince Ferregamo almost pulling off a Joe Nameth, John Stallworth’s brilliant receptions, Jack Lambert’s game-ending interception. After that, Super Bowl XXIII (49ners over Bengals) was incredible, as were XXV (Giants v. Bills), and Super Bowl XXXIV (Rams over Titans). Recently, the Patriots have played in two damn good games too.

So, will you guys be munching away, watching the game, or at least the commercials, later this evening? I’m rooting for the Colts, but wouldn’t be terribly upset if the Bears won (so long as Manning has a good game in defeat). Whatta ya hear, whatta ya say?

Carl Pavano spoke with the media yesterday.

Couple of few tidbits:

Tim Marchman on Phillip Hughes; Steve Lombardi on the best seasons ever by a Yankee shortstop (peace to Repoz for the heads up); also, there are a bunch of good new Yankee blogs out there–two of the best are Yankees for Justice, and Bronx Liaison. Oh, and Sweeny Murti is going to blog about the Yanks this season over at WFAN’s site. He won’t really get rolling for a couple of weeks, but that’s one to keep an eye on.

Every so often on my way to work on the IRT, I’m on the train with a real cut-up of a conductor. He’s a cheery guy who likes to make many announcements. “Good morning New York, we’re doing Fridays today, not Mondays, not Thursdays, this is Friday.” Some people smile, others roll their eyes. The man is nothing if not persistent. Today, he offered this gem. “Today is February second, Manhattan. Since we don’t have any ground hogs in New York this is what we are going to do: If you see two rats, we’re in for a long winter, if you see one rat, then we’re going to have an early spring.” That got some laughs in my car. Then I overheard a high school kid tell his friend, “I saw ten rats the other day.” Watch the closing doors.

Mel Stottlemyre will not be at spring training in Tampa with the Yankees this year. Speaking of Mel, just where would you guys place him on a list of the greatest starting pitchers in team history?

I think most of us will agree that the addition of Mr. Minky represents the worst move the Yankees made this off-season. And while I believe that many think the team would be better off without the services of Bernie Williams, other fans don’t want to see him go. What to do? Jon Heyman has the latest over at SI.com.

Elsewhere, Mike Mussina tells it like it is; David Pinto links to a story about Melky Cabrera; Steven Goldman compares the Yankee and Red Sox hitting, and according to the AP, the Yankees will host the All-Star Game in 2008.

While the Todd Helton trade talks have stalled (for now), the Times has one nifty headline.

In other news, Billy Martin’s old drinking partner, Art Fowler passed away yesterday. If I get a chance, I’ll take a look through my Yankee literature tonight to see if I can find a good Fowler story.

Todd Helton might not be the offensive beast he once was, but he ain’t chopped liver, either. If he lands in Boston, the Sox will have some kind of formidable line-up, no?

There have been great players who never had a great moment; men who went on year after year, running up formidable statistics, but were no more fearsome than anybody else in the few, crucial moments of their careers. They popped up or flied out in key at-bats, or did not even fail that spectacularly. They simply singled when they should have homered, cut the ball off from going into the gap when they should have made the diving, sliding catch. They played on no great teams, took part in no immortal moments, and passed quietly and respectably from the game, vaguely admired by all.

From Sometimes You See it Coming, a novel by Kevin Baker

I ran across this passage the other night and it got me to wondering: How many great baseball players can we put into this category? (And I think Baker is talking about great playoff moments, really.) Ernie Banks, Dick Allen, Jeff Bagwell, and Alex Rodriguez come to mind. I might even be wrong about them. What do you guys think? Something to chew-over on a bright, but brutally cold day in The Big Apple.

When the Yankees announced their spring training invitees a little less than two weeks ago (see the list under “Players” on the sidebar), I was struck by the absence of one name: J. Brent Cox. As it turns out, Cox, who is widely regarded as one of the organization’s ten-best prospects, has a broken bone in his pitching hand and will thus get a late start to his third professional season. Mystery solved, thanks to super sleuth Peter Abraham.

Peter also provides this link to Michael Kay’s Tuesday interview with Bobby Murcer, who plans to return to broadcasting as soon as spring training. Much as hearing Kay’s voice (and dreadful theme song) makes my skin crawl, it’s great to hear Murcer. In addition to his good spirits and strong voice, his graciousness with Kay’s callers is tremendous.

The Yankees will hold a press conference today to announce a new “international venture,” which Murray Chase believes will have something to do with Randy Levine, Brian Cashman, and Jean Afterman’s upcoming trip to China and Japan.

Jorge Posada made a few comments about Bernie Williams before Tuesday’s Baseball Assistance Team (BAT) dinner, unleashing a torrent of articles all of which have used the same quotes. The gist of Jorge’s jive: Bernie won’t play for another team, Bernie won’t sign a minor league deal, Bernie wants to play one more year. Sounds like Bernie’s in denial. Tyler Kepner‘s version of the story suggests that Bernie could take that minor league deal and then retire in a Yankee uniform in spring training like Al Leiter did last year. Jorge suggests that Bernie might take the Roger Clemens rout and stay in shape in the hope of being needed at some point during the season. Again, I think Bernie’s setting himself up for disappointment.

Major League Baseball will officially announce on Wednesday January 31 that the 2008 All-Star Game will take place in Yankee Stadium. The announcement is expected to take place at City Hall.

Bob Timmerman over on the Griddle has a link to a story about Aaron Guiel and his decision to play in Japan this year.

Finally, on the topic of erstwhile Yankee first basemen, the Devil Rays appear to be close to inking former Columbus Clipper Carlos Peña to a minor league contract. They’ll already have Hee-Seop Choi in camp. Either of those lefties would have been preferable to Stinky Minky.

The big story yesterday was that Robinson Cano has switched his uniform number from 22 to 24 in anticipation of the still entirely speculative arrival of free agent Roger Clemens, who has worn number 22 for the Yankees and Astros since early 1999. The story was broken by the New York Post‘s Michael Morrissey, who reported that the team asked Cano to make the switch. Subsequent articles on ESPN and MLB.com reported that it was Cano that approached the team with the idea for the switch. An MLB.com radio interview with the writer of the later piece, Bryan Hoch, provided a clue to the most likely scenario. Since rosters are currently being finalized and uniforms tailored, the Yankees likely approached Cano about the possibility of having to switch numbers mid-season, offering to let him switch now instead. Cano likely opted to switch now–no doubt with some gentle nudging from the team looking for some cheap headlines in a slow news cycle and a chance to make an overture to Clemens–and the team subsequently spun the decision as Cano’s. For what it’s worth, Cano wore number 14 when first called up in May of 2005 and is named after Jackie Robinson, whose number 42 is the inverse of 24 (and is already taken by Mariano Rivera and otherwise retired throughout baseball). Tino Martinez was wearing number 24 during Cano’s rookie year when he switched from 14 to 22. Last year 24 was only used briefly by Sidney Ponson.

As for Clemens, he was seen sporting one of his Yankee World Series rings at the Sundance Film Festival over the weekend, which suggests to me that the chances of him returning to the Bronx are excellent. Last season Clemens made public appearances wearing Astros gear prior to resigning with the team. Per Morrissey’s article, Clemens’s agent, Randy Hendricks, recently said that Roger’s decision won’t come until after the start of spring training and possibly not until after the start of the regular season. Last year, Clemens didn’t sign with the Astros until May 31 and didn’t make his first start for them until June 22 (there’s that number again). By then the 20-year-old Philip Hughes very well may have eliminated the Yankees’ need for the 44-year-old Rocket. Either way, by June the Yankees look to be in a great position regarding the rotation spot vacated by the Randy Johnson trade.

In other non-news, Bernie Williams‘ retirement is looking increasingly imminent as the Yankees don’t appear to be willing to offer him anything beyond a minor league contract and an invite to spring training where he really wouldn’t even have a job to fight for.

Finally, Yahoo!’s Tim Brown takes a look at former Yankee prospect and 1998 World Series hero Ricky Ledee who has been through seven organizations in his nine-year career and may very well have run out of employers at the age of 33. Whenever I think of Ledee, who was sent to Cleveland in the David Justice deal in mid-2000, I recall his pre-game interviews with Michael Kay on WABC in which Ricky, fighting Shane Spencer and Chad Curtis for the left field job, repeatedly insisted “I weel heet” in a tone of voice that betrayed his lack of belief in what he was saying. Outside of a few small samples, he never did hit.