Yankees Chick - News, Rumors, and Opinions on the Bronx Bombers From a Brunette Babe

Former Yankees player and coach Willie Randolph has been skipper-ing for the Mets since 2005, and he's done Torre's mentoring proud: the Mets went 83-79 in his first year with the team and were just 1 game away from a World Series appearance last year (sorry to remind you, Mets fans...). This week he was rewarded by Mets owner Fred Wilpon with a new 3-year contract that will earn him $1.4 million in 2007, $2 mil in '08, and $2.4 mil in '09, making him one of the longest-tenured managers in Mets history; only Davey Johnson and Bobby Valentine have lasted longer.

Across town at Willy's alma mater there's another manager who is making big bucks, a man by the name of Joe Torre (not sure if you've heard of him...). Torre is currently the highest paid manager in baseball, bringing in a cool $7.5 mil for the 2007 season, but his boss is a bit harder to please than dear Wilpon. Big Stein has proven himself as a bit of a fickle pickle, hiring and firing managers like it was going out of style faster than that horrible emo haircut ever 20-year-old male was exhibiting a couple years ago, and Torre has spent most of his time with the Yanks knowing he could be kicked to the curb by the boss at any moment. After the Yanks soul-crushing loss to the Tigers last October, Big Stein was eager to cut Torre loose, and if not for some persuasive influence by Cashman and other front office bigwigs, we would have had to see Lou Piniella - or worse, Dusty Baker? - sitting on the bench with Mattingly this year instead of ol' #6.

Soul-crushing post-season as it was, I don't think many Yankees fans (or officials, save for Stein), wanted to rid the team of Torre. What Torre does for the team, and what he seems to have passed on to Big Willie Style, is create a sense of camaraderie and work ethic in clubhouse that fosters a winning attitude regardless of the different backgrounds of the players. There are plenty of teams with talented players, but much of the Yankees' continued successes can be attributed to the value Torre places on work ethic and his motivational style. The Mets seem to be responding in a similar fashion to Willie's influence, making the Yankees Chick all the more eager for a Mets-Yankees Subway Series World Series Showdown (I must trademark that phrase ASAP) in 2007. I'm happy to see a former Yank succeed in such a high-pressure job - - just as long as he remains just a close second to Torre's success!!