Fire That Bum!

 

Yankees manager Aaron Boone
(Photo: AP/John Minchillo)

The Yankees stink right now.

Can't put it any clearer than that. 

They've been almost unwatchably bad.

It felt like it bottomed out after a horrific weekend in Texas with a 15-2 drubbing on Sunday.

In fact, last night, the Bombers came home and were having a nice evening against Cleveland. They led 2-0 into the top of the ninth behind the brilliant pitching of Domingo German who had thrown a two-hit shutout.

But therein lies the problem: the second hit.

It brought the hook as manager Aaron Boone pulled him to go to closer Clay Holmes.

Now, as I saw Boone come out of the dugout, I'll admit I was uneasy. Holmes has not been good since last July. German had only thrown 88 pitches and had plenty left in the tank. At least I thought so.

But, on the other hand, Holmes is the closer. It's his job to close the game.

There was one out and Holmes induced a bouncer to the third base side of the mound. But, he flubbed it and Cleveland had life.

It all unraveled from there for New York. When it was over, Cleveland had scored three times and took the lead. They closed it out against a beleaguered Yankees lineup in the bottom of the ninth.

The howling began immediately.

"FIRE BOONE!" the mob began.

I got into a text snit about it.

Look, I have never been a fire-the-manager/general manager/anyone type of guy. Managers basically babysit, etc. They can't make players play.

By virtually every account, Aaron Boone is well-liked by his players and that goes a long way. Joe Torre knew how to massage egos and still make decisions back during his time. Few (David Wells, for one) had problems with him

There's a lot more that goes into this stuff than the reactionary sports radio phone callers understand. A lot more than I understand.

By this morning, the heat began to get turned up on Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant following an utterly lifeless performance in Game 7 against the Devils.

Many want Gallant fired as well.

But what are you expecting and who do you want the fired manager/coach?

Is it the different voice in the room that will automatically foster winning?

The examples of that actually happening aren't that common but they certainly have happened. 

I guess my gripe here is that I get tired of the "quick fix" mentality that is firing people. It's a pet peeve of mine groomed in the late 70s and 80s as George Steinbrenner went through managers and coaches with regularity. The hirings and firings of Billy Martin were an embarrassment. Boss George did the same with Lou Piniella and drove Yogi Berra away from the organization for 14 years.

Think about that: Yogi Berra had nothing to do with the New York Yankees from 1985-1999 because he was fired early in the '85 season ... and replaced with Billy.

Those were insane times, friends.

The old saying is, "You can't fire the players, so fire the manager."

Fortunately, the chorus is a little quieter tonight

The Yankees just won, 4-2. No managerial decision seemed to impact the victory.

As for the Rangers, they have all off-season.

And, oh yeah, there are the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Who have had four coaches in my lifetime:

- Bill Austin (four losses in 1968).

- Chuck Noll

- Bill Cowher

- Mike Tomlin

And there are six Vince Lombardi Trophies spread among the last three.

I like that loyalty.