Baseball Guru
07-16-2001, 10:14 PM
Torre Confident Yanks Will Rebound
by ROB MAADDI
AP Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Joe Torre isn't worried about the results. He wants better effort.
''If I felt the effort was as good as it could be and the concentration was as good as it could be, we wouldn't have meetings,'' Torre said before the New York Yankees played the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night. ''We just need to play better baseball. We need to make people beat us. We need to get outs.''
After Sunday's sloppy 9-3 loss to the Phillies, Torre lashed out at his team in a closed-door meeting that lasted more than 20 minutes. Torre didn't say much about the meeting after the game, but was more specific Monday.
''I'm not saying anything to these guys that they are not in agreement with,'' Torre said. ''These are things they understand are necessary for our success. They were all listening. I guess it's time to walk if they're yawning and reading the newspaper.''
The three-time defending champions won 10 of 11 heading into the All-Star break, but are 1-3 since, getting outscored 29-7 in the losses.
Still, New York had a half-game lead over the Boston Red Sox in the AL East entering Monday's games.
Torre said he simply needed to get a few things off his mind and expects the team to respond well.
''It wasn't a punishment. I was just telling them what I saw,'' Torre said. ''They weren't happy about yesterday. They weren't satisfied. They have experienced the winning. They know what it feels like.''
The players weren't surprised Torre held the meeting.
''With the way we're playing, you certainly have to expect hearing it from him,'' center fielder Bernie Williams said.
Said shortstop Derek Jeter: ''We figured he'd say something.''
Torre's biggest concern is the team's defense.
The left side of the Yankees infield -- Jeter and third baseman Scott Brosius -- have committed 31 errors. Jeter's 13th error Sunday led to a costly run. Catcher Jorge Posada had three passed balls raising his season total to 13 -- two more than his total last year.
''I told him don't carry it over,'' Torre said. ''I know he felt bad. You're out there every day, some days it will be ugly.''
by ROB MAADDI
AP Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Joe Torre isn't worried about the results. He wants better effort.
''If I felt the effort was as good as it could be and the concentration was as good as it could be, we wouldn't have meetings,'' Torre said before the New York Yankees played the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night. ''We just need to play better baseball. We need to make people beat us. We need to get outs.''
After Sunday's sloppy 9-3 loss to the Phillies, Torre lashed out at his team in a closed-door meeting that lasted more than 20 minutes. Torre didn't say much about the meeting after the game, but was more specific Monday.
''I'm not saying anything to these guys that they are not in agreement with,'' Torre said. ''These are things they understand are necessary for our success. They were all listening. I guess it's time to walk if they're yawning and reading the newspaper.''
The three-time defending champions won 10 of 11 heading into the All-Star break, but are 1-3 since, getting outscored 29-7 in the losses.
Still, New York had a half-game lead over the Boston Red Sox in the AL East entering Monday's games.
Torre said he simply needed to get a few things off his mind and expects the team to respond well.
''It wasn't a punishment. I was just telling them what I saw,'' Torre said. ''They weren't happy about yesterday. They weren't satisfied. They have experienced the winning. They know what it feels like.''
The players weren't surprised Torre held the meeting.
''With the way we're playing, you certainly have to expect hearing it from him,'' center fielder Bernie Williams said.
Said shortstop Derek Jeter: ''We figured he'd say something.''
Torre's biggest concern is the team's defense.
The left side of the Yankees infield -- Jeter and third baseman Scott Brosius -- have committed 31 errors. Jeter's 13th error Sunday led to a costly run. Catcher Jorge Posada had three passed balls raising his season total to 13 -- two more than his total last year.
''I told him don't carry it over,'' Torre said. ''I know he felt bad. You're out there every day, some days it will be ugly.''