Around The Majors Special Report

I heard Steve Phillips and Buster Olney say that the Yankee ordeal would come to a close today, and they were correct. But this scenario wasn't the one with the big odds (I'm sure there were Vegas plays on this subject). The Yankees ultimately got their just desserts, as Joe Torre rejected the Yankees' 1 year, 5 million dollar offer to stay with the team, and New York will have to look for a new skipper for the first time since the fall of 1995.
"It's a difficult day," general manager Brian Cashman said.
But it didn't have to be. Torre took this offer as a slap in the face. Not only would he have had a pay cut, but worse than that he would have had virtually no job security with a 1 year offer with an option and 2 million bucks more kicking in if he led the Yankees to the World Series. Torre was obviously great for this franchise, having brought the winning atmosphere back to The Bronx starting in 1996 when New York won their first championship in 18 years; one of four titles and six American League pennants under his leadership. But team president Randy Levine put it best:
"It is now time for the New York Yankees to move forward,"
But in which direction? My Crossroads article from Sunday is beginning to come to fruition, and the next manager is easily the most important decision the team will make, because it will have a domino effect on some of the other player decisons. Door number one, is everyone's favorite first baseman and bench coach, Don Mattingly:
"Don is reserving comment, at this time, out of respect to Joe Torre," Mattingly's agent, Ray Schulte, told 1050 ESPN Radio New York.
Hopefully, the Yankees reserve their offer to "Donnie Baseball", whose nickname doesn't apply to the dugout in my mind. He has as much managerial experience than me, and even I coached a little high school softball. And don't give me that former hero, PR garbage. This is New York, we smell that BS from miles away. Joe Girardi is THE MAN for this job, bar none and I'll tell you why. Not only does he bring a no nonsense approach to the game, which the Yankees would likely want, he could hold the key to bringing back Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada. Girardi taught Posada everything he knows about Catching, and helped groom and mentor Posada for the starting role in which he has held to this day. Girardi was also Rivera's first ever major league catcher, and perhaps that relationship will cause Mo to reup. Tony LaRussa would be a bad fit, because he can't handle the New York media. If Girardi really doesn't want the job, 3rd base coach Larry Bowa would be an excellent candidate. But this day is really about Joe:
"This has been a great 12 years. Whatever the hell happens from here on out, I'll look back on these 12 years with great, great pleasure,"
It was 12 great years for everyone involved for the Yankees, and it'll be sad to see him go. But the team must move forward, as it continues to remain at a crossroads.