Thank you Joe. These last twelve years have been incredible. I've had meaningful baseball through the dog days of summer since you've been in Pinstripes. The Yanks have won four World Championships, been in six World Series and made the playoffs twelve straight years. I've seen some of the greatest baseball in my life and also witnessed some bitter defeats, but when you're in it every year that's what happens.
I'm sad to see you go. I thought he had taken the offer (thanks media) so when he turned it down I was stunned. I hope he'll be candid (he usually takes the high road) when he tells us why he declined, but it's not hard to figure out. I do think that Cashman seemed a bit shocked also in the conference call. No other manager would have made it to the post season this year after all the injuries and the horrible signings to the pitching staff. And it was a cowardly move to cut his salary! Screw you Levine: "We just think it’s important to motivate people," Randy Levine said.
Did Joe sign or trade for Farnsworth, Viz, Igawa, Wright, Brown, Sturtze, Meyers, Vazquez, Felix Rodriguez, Steve Karsay, Wayne Franklin, Alan Embree, Buddy Groom, Gabe White, C.J. Nitkowski, Jeff Karstens, Sidney Ponson, Chase Wright, Esteban Loaiza, Felix Heredia, Jeff Weaver, Chris Hammond, Juan Acevedo, Armando Benitez, Bret Prinz, Raul Mondesi, Todd Zeile, Enrique Wilson, Kenny Lofton, Travis Lee, Gary Sheffield, Tony Womack, Mark Bellhorn and Wil Nieves to name a few?
That's enough for now. I didn't include Carl Pavano because most everybody thought that was a good move at the time including me. Add to the list if you wish...