Giambino
02-17-2006, 12:33 PM
Boss feels WBC can sabotage a team's season
Friday, February 17, 2006
By PETE CALDERA
STAFF WRITER
<!-- start page_photo_right --><!-- end page_photo_right -->TAMPA, Fla. -- George Steinbrenner's well-known regard for patriotism now has its limits.
Irked that some of his most high-profile Yankees risk injury in the World Baseball Classic, the Boss' opinion conflicts with those of Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon and Al Leiter.
"We don't like that too well," Steinbrenner said, taking a shot Thursday at commissioner Bud Selig's prized new tournament. "If a player gets hurt, he's risking a lot. But it's Selig's idea, and if he wants to do it ... ."
Still, Steinbrenner was rather convivial as he emerged from lunch at Legends Field with general manager Brian Cashman in view of several reporters.
"It's going to be a good season. I'm feeling very good about the team," Steinbrenner said during a brief early-afternoon address from the driver's seat of his ubiquitous golf cart.
Asked if he were impatient after five years without a World Series championship, The Boss playfully replied he was "very impatient. Now get out of my way."
With that, Steinbrenner tapped on the pedal (his personal driver was in the passenger seat) and unintentionally ran over a reporter's foot. The Boss stopped for a few more moments. The reporter was unhurt.
Yet the WBC is suffering from public relations damage.
For a man born 75 years ago on the Fourth of July, who still commands that "God Bless America" be played at every Yankee home game, capitalism has trumped patriotism.
"I'm used to spring training being able to concentrate on the World Series, and that's what we'd like to see our players do," Steinbrenner said.
That stance couldn't be further from that of his field captain.
"I've never had a chance to play for my country. I'm very curious to see what the atmosphere is going to be like," Jeter said earlier in the day after a workout at the Yanks' minor league complex.
"I think the fans are going to be excited. To me, it's an honor to be selected to play for your country."
"It's the world bragging rights," Damon said last month. "And I'm proud to represent Team USA."
The Yankees' anti-Classic stance has been well known, but Steinbrenner stressed that it was a risky proposition "whether it's our players or somebody else's players."
In the final vote among the 30 major league clubs in August to approve the World Baseball Classic concept, the Yankees abstained. Only the Royals, Tigers and White Sox voted against it, while the Athletics voted a conditional yes pending unresolved insurance matters.
Jeter, Damon and Alex Rodriguez (USA), Bernie Williams (Puerto Rico), Miguel Cairo (Venezuela) and Ramiro Mendoza (Panama) are scheduled to participate, while Leiter believes he has "a legitimate shot" to join Team USA, "even though they've picked 14 pitchers."
Given time, Leiter said, people will "look back and realize how good this tournament will be for baseball. I think it's going to be more competitive than just an exhibition game."
But the quality of pitching is a serious question.
"You always want to represent your country, but I wouldn't be ready," said Mariano Rivera, who declined Panama's invitation despite intense pressure by his countrymen.
Hideki Matsui faced similar pressure from the Japanese, but declined in order to focus on the upcoming season. In Puerto Rico, Jorge Posada said his father has been grilled over the catcher's absence from the WBC roster. But Posada claims the Yankees made that decision for him.
Steinbrenner said Thursday that "we're not telling [our players] not to [accept WBC invitations]."
Brian Cashman filed a petition to exclude Posada from the WBC, and the GM said he vigorously exercised that right with other valuable Yankees.
However, Cashman said he preferred "not to comment about the WBC as much as I possibly can."
E-mail: caldera@northjersey.com
Friday, February 17, 2006
By PETE CALDERA
STAFF WRITER
<!-- start page_photo_right --><!-- end page_photo_right -->TAMPA, Fla. -- George Steinbrenner's well-known regard for patriotism now has its limits.
Irked that some of his most high-profile Yankees risk injury in the World Baseball Classic, the Boss' opinion conflicts with those of Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon and Al Leiter.
"We don't like that too well," Steinbrenner said, taking a shot Thursday at commissioner Bud Selig's prized new tournament. "If a player gets hurt, he's risking a lot. But it's Selig's idea, and if he wants to do it ... ."
Still, Steinbrenner was rather convivial as he emerged from lunch at Legends Field with general manager Brian Cashman in view of several reporters.
"It's going to be a good season. I'm feeling very good about the team," Steinbrenner said during a brief early-afternoon address from the driver's seat of his ubiquitous golf cart.
Asked if he were impatient after five years without a World Series championship, The Boss playfully replied he was "very impatient. Now get out of my way."
With that, Steinbrenner tapped on the pedal (his personal driver was in the passenger seat) and unintentionally ran over a reporter's foot. The Boss stopped for a few more moments. The reporter was unhurt.
Yet the WBC is suffering from public relations damage.
For a man born 75 years ago on the Fourth of July, who still commands that "God Bless America" be played at every Yankee home game, capitalism has trumped patriotism.
"I'm used to spring training being able to concentrate on the World Series, and that's what we'd like to see our players do," Steinbrenner said.
That stance couldn't be further from that of his field captain.
"I've never had a chance to play for my country. I'm very curious to see what the atmosphere is going to be like," Jeter said earlier in the day after a workout at the Yanks' minor league complex.
"I think the fans are going to be excited. To me, it's an honor to be selected to play for your country."
"It's the world bragging rights," Damon said last month. "And I'm proud to represent Team USA."
The Yankees' anti-Classic stance has been well known, but Steinbrenner stressed that it was a risky proposition "whether it's our players or somebody else's players."
In the final vote among the 30 major league clubs in August to approve the World Baseball Classic concept, the Yankees abstained. Only the Royals, Tigers and White Sox voted against it, while the Athletics voted a conditional yes pending unresolved insurance matters.
Jeter, Damon and Alex Rodriguez (USA), Bernie Williams (Puerto Rico), Miguel Cairo (Venezuela) and Ramiro Mendoza (Panama) are scheduled to participate, while Leiter believes he has "a legitimate shot" to join Team USA, "even though they've picked 14 pitchers."
Given time, Leiter said, people will "look back and realize how good this tournament will be for baseball. I think it's going to be more competitive than just an exhibition game."
But the quality of pitching is a serious question.
"You always want to represent your country, but I wouldn't be ready," said Mariano Rivera, who declined Panama's invitation despite intense pressure by his countrymen.
Hideki Matsui faced similar pressure from the Japanese, but declined in order to focus on the upcoming season. In Puerto Rico, Jorge Posada said his father has been grilled over the catcher's absence from the WBC roster. But Posada claims the Yankees made that decision for him.
Steinbrenner said Thursday that "we're not telling [our players] not to [accept WBC invitations]."
Brian Cashman filed a petition to exclude Posada from the WBC, and the GM said he vigorously exercised that right with other valuable Yankees.
However, Cashman said he preferred "not to comment about the WBC as much as I possibly can."
E-mail: caldera@northjersey.com