Talk about grinding your axes in your journalism, which Bergen Record/Fox Sports writer Bob Klapisch does a lot of these days, unfortunately. I say ‘unfortunately’ because I was once a big fan of his work. This was in the middle of what was otherwise a pro-Girardi piece:
But an uptight and overly anxious manager can still undermine the talent in his clubhouse. Why else would Sabathia have included an opt-out clause in his seven-year contract? He’d heard about the coup that took down Torre after 2007, heard that Girardi was trying (too hard) to be his own man. In fact, Sabathia had one question for GM Brian Cashman before deciding he could be a Yankee:
“What’s your clubhouse like?”
For a little background, Klapisch was a HUGE Torre supporter (like most of the Mets-friendly media). At Torre’s press conference after he left the Yanks, Klap asked him a question which went something like “Will you ever return to the stadium after the way they’ve treated you?” Not exactly a glittering example of unbiased journalism there.
If CC had any concerns about the Yankee clubhouse, it would be the long standing reputation that it had (under Torre) of being ‘stuffy’. That refers to the way Jeter and Posada ran the place while Torre was distant, usually in his office. Loose, free spirited players like Jason Giambi and Johnny Damon had to tone down their acts when they came here, and at times bumped their head against clubhouse etiquette. Yet somehow, Klap manages to speculate this being some sort of reflection on Girardi, despite almost a decade of prior evidence.
Sabathia’s a west coast guy and a family man, and much of his family lives in California. Most observers took the opt out clause as his way of testing the waters on the east coast, and seeing how he liked it here. That’s the first I’ve ever heard anyone inject “Girardi’s clubhouse” into his decision. Also, even using the term ‘coup’ tells you how irrationally pro-Torre he is. By Torre’s own account in his own book, he was offered a contract, that he declined. Some “coup”.
He concludes the article with this:
Such reflection doesn’t exactly fit with the Girardi’s public profile. To those who deal with him on a daily basis — specifically, the media — he’s seemed guarded, often combative, forgetting that diplomacy-challenged managers don’t last long in New York.
Diplomacy challenged managers don’t last. . . . ever heard of Bobby Valentine (7 seasons)? How about Buck Showalter (4 seasons)? Art Howe might have been the nicest, most media friendly man to ever manage in this town and he lasted just 2 years on a 4 year deal. It’s all about winning, if you win you could go on Tommy Lasorda-like tirades with the press and get away with it. Classic ‘tail wags the Dog’ journalist, who thinks sportswriters are bigger than the stories they cover. Sorry Bob, but nobody cares about you. Especially nowadays.
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0 Responses to Bob Klapisch still bitter that Torre's gone
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TIQ IQ
Sorry Bob, but nobody cares about you. Especially nowadays.
Those last 2 lines of your post sum it all up… He’s a foundering sportswriter who enjoyed his 15 min. of fame with his bogus insider scoops from “scouts”, un-named “executives” and assorted other confidants that became nauseating and difficult to read. Haven’t read his columns in years.
He’s probably trying, (single-handedly)in his own mind, to save the sports writing industry with his witty insights and comprehensive journalism. :)
Ha haaaaaaaaaa…. I’m lovin it, i’m lovin it, i’m lovin it…
U go, Moshe! I love it when a Stupid-a$$ sportswriter’s dumb rants is dissected and demolished like that….
Sweet Lou.
Joe Torre needed to go! That is just something everyone needs to realize and get over! He had gotten lazy with his managing style and was becoming more of a bench decorations than anything else and that’s the truth. He didn’t manage the bull pen well, he never called for a lot of steals, hit and runs were far and in between, the team had no emotion because Jot had no emotion. Was he a terrible manager? Obviously not and he was a huge part of 4 rings but he needed to go, Torre was completely comfortable toward the end just waiting for the bug HR to save the team every time and that just doesn’t happen. He needed to go somewhere else to start managing again because I think it got stale to him and I know his message got stale to players.
Does Bob Klapisch actually believe CC has that opt out clause to see what the Yankee clubhouse would be like after 3 years? How stupid/naive can he be? Any player who could get that in a contract would do it. If he has a bad three years he will not opt out. If he has an awesome year 3 he will opt out to get a bigger contract. It’s that simple Bob. It has nothing to do with “how he likes the clubhouse”….LOL