I don't think there's soul in the word that is under some strange ill-founded delusion that Big Stein is in any way a sane human that cares about people, but lest anyone forget for nary a moment what a whack-job the man is, he took care to remind us yesterday. Before the game last night, Big Stein decided that a high pressure situation like his team being on the brink of elimination would be the perfect time to publicly castigate his manager, saying - to the media, of course -

"His job is on the line. I think we're paying him a lot of money. He's the highest-paid manager in baseball, so I don't think we'd take him back if we don't win this series."

I understand Big Stein's frustration with the team and even with Torre, I honestly do; Torre has made some missteps this year and in the past, and what owner doesn't want their team to win? That said, though.... what is wrong with that man that he would think it is remotely OK to say something like that to the media just a few hours before the team's biggest game of the year? How, pray tell, does that make a positive impact on the team? As far as I can fathom, the only thing it accomplishes is making Torre (who, as we know, is the most sensitive and sentimental person on the planet aside from the Yankees Chick herself [what, you guys don't tear up when you pass a homeless person and you happen to not have any cash on you? It's just me?]) less effective at getting his team pumped up (how can you pretend to be gung-ho when your boss just told you that you're essentially a failure?) and putting a lot of additional pressure on the players - like they didn't have enough - to win not only for themselves but to save the job of the manager they love.

It is possible that I find this reprehensible simply because Torre seems like a good person (and I have that sensitive-as-a-2-year-old kinship with him) and I do think he has done a superb job with the team as a whole this year - imagine, if you will, what would have become of the team had someone else been the manager? Do you think for one moment that they would have been able to bounce back from all the injuries and early-season slumps to wind up just 2 games out of the division? I don't. Even putting that affection for Torre aside, though, I still cannot see how Big Stein's comment could be considered appropriate or effective. Differing opinions, please let me know.... perhaps I am just being emotional.