Yankee 21
02-13-2002, 06:11 PM
Torre carries same expectations for Yanks
Despite new look, Yankee skipper looking for title
By Paul C. Smith
MLB.com
TAMPA -- Joe Torre began his seventh Spring Training as manager of the New York Yankees on Tuesday knowing that his team's makeup and personality are going to be very different this season -- but not its expectations.
Torre has guided the Yankees to five of the last six World Series, and won four, and he knows everyone from Yankee fans to the Yankee owner are counting on more late-October excitement this year.
While he's still not sure exactly what he has to work with, Torre said he believes the team's focus and makeup will again make the difference.
"This has been a great run with how hungry these guys have stayed,'' Torre said. "I've always said effort, and not necessarily results, was the key. This year, we will try to continue the work ethic."
After adding talented veterans such as Jason Giambi, Rondell White, Robin Ventura, Steve Karsay and David Wells during the offseason, an obvious question emerges: How well will these guys get along?
"The club will take on its own personality depending on the personnel,'' Torre said. "People know we're going to be professional and businesslike. We just try to make sure everyone knows what is expected. I don't try to throw a wet blanket on them.''
Giambi and Wells, in particular, are two free-spirited individuals who have been able to make a little more noise because they have been so very good on the field.
"No question, Giambi will have a presence, although I warned him not to make too many promises,'' Torre said. "He doesn't need to put any extra pressure on himself.
"I don't think we'll have one definite leader. It took Roger Clemens a year and half to figure out what we're all about as opposed to what he thought we were all about.''
Wells was considered a leader while with the Yankees in 1997 and 1998 but he and Torre did not always wear matching pinstripes.
"David and I had a falling out at one game in Texas,'' Torre said. "We went over it. I gave and he gave and we're OK now.''
Wells, Karsay and the rest of the pitchers and catchers report to the Yankees' training complex in Tampa for physicals Wednesday, and then Torre will start to get an idea of what he has to sort through this spring.
"I'm curious about (Wells) because of his back surgery last season,'' Torre said. "I haven't seen him since we were (playing at the Devil Rays) late last year. I heard he's in good shape and, if he is, he can really help.''
But before Torre could start looking ahead to this season, he was compelled to look back on last season, which ended with the Yankees losing Game 7 of the World Series in Arizona.
"It's disappointing that the ring is not going to say World Champions on it,'' Torre said. "We are used to winning and we didn't. Arizona beat us at our own game. It makes you realize how important pitching is.
"We went through Oakland in the playoffs and the best team in baseball record-wise (Seattle). But we didn't go into the World Series just assuming we were going to win. That's the thing I'm most proud of.''
Torre said he thought pitching made the difference for all the Yankees' postseason foes and that is why New York felt the need to add to its well-stocked stable of throwers. At this point, the Yankees have Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, Wells, Sterling Hitchcock and Orlando "El Duque'' Hernandez -- all quite capable of quality starts.
"To have six starters at this point is terrific for me,'' Torre said. "I've been on teams where you didn't know your fifth starter until the last cut of Spring Training.
"We've got six starters and they're all going to be helpful to us. You need them all to look at this situation as a challenge. You don't need them to come into Spring Training throwing 100 mph or anything, but we need to pay attention to detail.''
Torre warned the assembled media not to jump to the conclusion that Hernandez would be the odd man out or traded.
"Duque can pitch,'' Torre said. "I imagine he's just happy to be healthy again. And he's never been one to back down from a challenge.''
Torre said his biggest challenge will be sorting out the players in the outfield. With Chuck Knoblauch and Paul O'Neill gone, the Yankees will have new fielders in left and right, flanking Bernie Williams.
"The biggest curiosity this spring will be the outfield,'' Torre said. "Where does (Shane) Spencer fit in? I would like to see him (get the right-field job) because he's been here. He's done the work. But for whatever reason, mostly injuries, he has not gone into a season with a job in hand.''
White was signed as the expected left fielder and Torre said he has no plans to use him as DH.
"We know Rondell White can play,'' Torre said. "His only problem has been getting enough at-bats. It's not his ability that we're wondering about. We know what kind of player he is.
"We've just got to be aware that he has been hurt in the past -- running into walls or sliding into a base aggressively -- but we should not be shocked if it happens again. But, if he's going to get hurt, we want it to be during the course of the year, not down here.''
The only health concerns the Yankees have right now is how quickly All-Star catcher Jorge Posada can recover from offseason surgery on his right (throwing) shoulder.
"Posada seems really good, I'm not concerned about him,'' Torre said. "He may DH the first 10 days or two weeks just to save his arm.''
Torre said he also may use Nick Johnson, a former first baseman, in the outfield mix or at DH.
"Nick is going to get an outfielder's glove,'' Torre said. "He's going to be on this club, it's just a matter of where.''
This spring also will be a chance to sort out the lineup, Torre said. But, at this point, he's not even sure who is going to lead off.
"Derek Jeter? It's a natural to say he'll bat leadoff. Soriano? We'll look at that a little, too,'' Torre said. "Right now, I'm don't know if Giambi is going to hit third, fourth or fifth.''
One thing Torre doesn't have to worry about is his status with the team. He managed the last three games of the World Series last year without a contract but signed a three-year extension just more than a month later. Not that a little thing like a contract would concern Torre.
"It's not fair to the rest of the team if I spend time worrying about it, thinking about it,'' Torre said. "I remember my final season in St. Louis when, after every road trip, there was a camera crew in my front yard at 3 a.m. asking about my contract.
"I would rather have all that settled, as it is. Then I'll be able to concentrate on the game instead of answering questions about when I might retire. I'd rather spring that on you somewhere down the line.''
Despite new look, Yankee skipper looking for title
By Paul C. Smith
MLB.com
TAMPA -- Joe Torre began his seventh Spring Training as manager of the New York Yankees on Tuesday knowing that his team's makeup and personality are going to be very different this season -- but not its expectations.
Torre has guided the Yankees to five of the last six World Series, and won four, and he knows everyone from Yankee fans to the Yankee owner are counting on more late-October excitement this year.
While he's still not sure exactly what he has to work with, Torre said he believes the team's focus and makeup will again make the difference.
"This has been a great run with how hungry these guys have stayed,'' Torre said. "I've always said effort, and not necessarily results, was the key. This year, we will try to continue the work ethic."
After adding talented veterans such as Jason Giambi, Rondell White, Robin Ventura, Steve Karsay and David Wells during the offseason, an obvious question emerges: How well will these guys get along?
"The club will take on its own personality depending on the personnel,'' Torre said. "People know we're going to be professional and businesslike. We just try to make sure everyone knows what is expected. I don't try to throw a wet blanket on them.''
Giambi and Wells, in particular, are two free-spirited individuals who have been able to make a little more noise because they have been so very good on the field.
"No question, Giambi will have a presence, although I warned him not to make too many promises,'' Torre said. "He doesn't need to put any extra pressure on himself.
"I don't think we'll have one definite leader. It took Roger Clemens a year and half to figure out what we're all about as opposed to what he thought we were all about.''
Wells was considered a leader while with the Yankees in 1997 and 1998 but he and Torre did not always wear matching pinstripes.
"David and I had a falling out at one game in Texas,'' Torre said. "We went over it. I gave and he gave and we're OK now.''
Wells, Karsay and the rest of the pitchers and catchers report to the Yankees' training complex in Tampa for physicals Wednesday, and then Torre will start to get an idea of what he has to sort through this spring.
"I'm curious about (Wells) because of his back surgery last season,'' Torre said. "I haven't seen him since we were (playing at the Devil Rays) late last year. I heard he's in good shape and, if he is, he can really help.''
But before Torre could start looking ahead to this season, he was compelled to look back on last season, which ended with the Yankees losing Game 7 of the World Series in Arizona.
"It's disappointing that the ring is not going to say World Champions on it,'' Torre said. "We are used to winning and we didn't. Arizona beat us at our own game. It makes you realize how important pitching is.
"We went through Oakland in the playoffs and the best team in baseball record-wise (Seattle). But we didn't go into the World Series just assuming we were going to win. That's the thing I'm most proud of.''
Torre said he thought pitching made the difference for all the Yankees' postseason foes and that is why New York felt the need to add to its well-stocked stable of throwers. At this point, the Yankees have Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, Wells, Sterling Hitchcock and Orlando "El Duque'' Hernandez -- all quite capable of quality starts.
"To have six starters at this point is terrific for me,'' Torre said. "I've been on teams where you didn't know your fifth starter until the last cut of Spring Training.
"We've got six starters and they're all going to be helpful to us. You need them all to look at this situation as a challenge. You don't need them to come into Spring Training throwing 100 mph or anything, but we need to pay attention to detail.''
Torre warned the assembled media not to jump to the conclusion that Hernandez would be the odd man out or traded.
"Duque can pitch,'' Torre said. "I imagine he's just happy to be healthy again. And he's never been one to back down from a challenge.''
Torre said his biggest challenge will be sorting out the players in the outfield. With Chuck Knoblauch and Paul O'Neill gone, the Yankees will have new fielders in left and right, flanking Bernie Williams.
"The biggest curiosity this spring will be the outfield,'' Torre said. "Where does (Shane) Spencer fit in? I would like to see him (get the right-field job) because he's been here. He's done the work. But for whatever reason, mostly injuries, he has not gone into a season with a job in hand.''
White was signed as the expected left fielder and Torre said he has no plans to use him as DH.
"We know Rondell White can play,'' Torre said. "His only problem has been getting enough at-bats. It's not his ability that we're wondering about. We know what kind of player he is.
"We've just got to be aware that he has been hurt in the past -- running into walls or sliding into a base aggressively -- but we should not be shocked if it happens again. But, if he's going to get hurt, we want it to be during the course of the year, not down here.''
The only health concerns the Yankees have right now is how quickly All-Star catcher Jorge Posada can recover from offseason surgery on his right (throwing) shoulder.
"Posada seems really good, I'm not concerned about him,'' Torre said. "He may DH the first 10 days or two weeks just to save his arm.''
Torre said he also may use Nick Johnson, a former first baseman, in the outfield mix or at DH.
"Nick is going to get an outfielder's glove,'' Torre said. "He's going to be on this club, it's just a matter of where.''
This spring also will be a chance to sort out the lineup, Torre said. But, at this point, he's not even sure who is going to lead off.
"Derek Jeter? It's a natural to say he'll bat leadoff. Soriano? We'll look at that a little, too,'' Torre said. "Right now, I'm don't know if Giambi is going to hit third, fourth or fifth.''
One thing Torre doesn't have to worry about is his status with the team. He managed the last three games of the World Series last year without a contract but signed a three-year extension just more than a month later. Not that a little thing like a contract would concern Torre.
"It's not fair to the rest of the team if I spend time worrying about it, thinking about it,'' Torre said. "I remember my final season in St. Louis when, after every road trip, there was a camera crew in my front yard at 3 a.m. asking about my contract.
"I would rather have all that settled, as it is. Then I'll be able to concentrate on the game instead of answering questions about when I might retire. I'd rather spring that on you somewhere down the line.''