GOING BOLD: While some of his moves backfired this post-season, Joe Girardi’s bold and assertive decisions should be enough proof that he is exactly the type of manager the Yankees need (EPA)
The wound of getting swept by the Tigers in the ALCS was still raw and deep yesterday and isn’t going to heal for a while.
Yet, according to owner Hal Steinbrenner and club president Randy Levine, the Yankees aren’t going into the fetal position following the disappointment of losing four straight games to a good, but not great, Tigers team.
Levine promised that everything will be done to put a team together capable of reaching next year’s World Series. He also said general manager Brian Cashman, who has two years remaining on a contract, and Joe Girardi, who has one, did well considering the number of injuries to marquee players. And, no, there isn’t anything new on the Alex Rodriguez front.
Hurdles are certainly in play. Steinbrenner’s edict to have a $189 million payroll by 2014 is genuine.
Rodriguez, who Girardi turned into a platoon player, has five years and $114 million remaining. Closer Rafael Soriano is expected to opt out and become a free agent. Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Hiroki Kuroda, Russell Martin, Raul Ibanez, Ichiro Suzuki and Eric Chavez will be free agents.
POLL RESULTS: YANKEES FANS WEIGH IN ON ROSTER
And what to do about extensions for Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano who had awful postseasons? The club will pick up their options, each at $15 million .
“What’s an important point here is that we have a lot of experience dealing with contracts,’’ Levine said. “No matter good contracts or bad contracts, we know how to manage contracts and put championship- quality teams on the field. And under the Steinbrenner family that is not going to change.’’
As for Cashman and Girardi, they aren’t going to take the fall for being swept.
“They did good getting us to the ALCS,’’ Levine said. “There was one reason we didn’t win and that’s we didn’t hit. Why? I don’t think anybody knows why.’’
In a statement, Hal Steinbrenner expressed disappointment but wouldn’t discount leading the AL with 95 wins, copping the AL East title and advancing to the ALCS.
“We fell short of our singular and constant goal, which is a World Series championship,” Steinbrenner said. “However, I am proud of the accomplishments of this year’s team. We earned the best record in the American League and were one of the four teams to advance to the League Championship Series, despite having to overcome and fight through a series of long-term injuries to a number of our key players. …
“We may have fallen short [Thursday] but we never feel sorry for ourselves and never make excuses. We already are beginning the process to find a way to win our 28th World Championship.”
That process is tricky.
With Soriano expected to opt out, what does that mean for Rivera? How much money can he command? Can the Yankees keep Soriano and Rivera?
Who replaces Swisher? His calendar stops at September. Torri Hunter? B.J.Upton? Justin Upton?
Pettitte will be looking for a lot more money to return after making $2.5 million this season.
With the lack of a bona-fide replacement, free-agent catcher Russell Martin is in a great position to score.
Kuroda was solid. But is he worth two years?
Before the Yankees can chirp about getting to the 2013 World Series they need to address those problems that put egg on their faces in 2012.