BP's "Hilbert Questions" for the 21st century included finding an objective way of evaluating managers. I don't think its been done yet, but here's one guy's idea:

http://kcstarstatguy.blogspot.com/2005/04/measure-of-manager.html

(Note Torre ranks 3rd overall)

Torre has screwed up before, particularly when it comes to the 'pen - Weaver in Game 4, the ALCS last year, etc. But, to paraphrase Lincoln on Grant, the man wins. That doesn't give him a free pass when he screws up, but shoot, there isn't a manager in baseball who really uses his bullpen properly - except those few who have 4 or 5 really good relievers and so stumble into using one of their best guys against the heart of the opponent's order in close games. If ocassional bullpen mismanagement is Joe's worst flaw, color me excited.

Let's hope they at least give Graman a chance to see what he can do. Too often the Yanks just cycle through guys at the bottom of the pen, looking for a hot hand - they ought to know better.

Granted, with the all-stars the Yankees have, chances are that >>I<< (who is not nearly as smart as Joe Torre, incidentally) could manage them to 81 wins, minimum. I would just love to see Torre & Stottlemyre develop some bullpen talent instead of ignore it.

Great job by Small, by the way.

Giambi's SLG is now over .500.

Cano is a budding star.

Nice job of redemption by Tino to take away the save chance for Rivera.

Small had good command, while only topping out at 90 mph, and was able to use both sides of the plate.

I can't be happier for the production by Giambi, I think he has been the cornerstone for this great surge.

Break out the posts from April. I said Giambi would be the difference between going to the PS or not. Having THIS Giambi in the 6 hole makes the bottom of our lineup a whole different show.

At the beginning of the year I prdicted .290/.390/.480. Cliff said I was optimistic. I don't think he will bat .290 as he is NOT going to LF (unless he bunts more)... but his OPS may be better then .870. I believe he leads the league in OBP. I wonder if against righties, Torre might try Sheff/Giambi/ARod/Matsui to get that R/L/R/L thing going. Hopefully tonight will be the official end of 'time to DFA Giambi'.

By the by, we had Delucci (2 years?) ago. While I think he is playing over his head now, he has always been a solid player and a solid guy. I think we had him pretty cheap. Bernie was already in decline, and Matsui hadn't hit his stride yet. It's suprising the Yanks didn't think to keep him as a 4th outfielder. Even Karem Garcia looks pretty good now.

What was nice about today's win is that the 3, 4 & 5 hitters were collectively 0-for-13 but they still managed to slug out a win. It's good to know that when those guys are having a tough game the rest of the lineup can come up big. And how about Posada?

I can't say I have a problem using Mo to end the game. It was the meat of their lineup. Bring in someone else and the chances of them inching back are greater, especially in that ballpark. Mo only had to throw 10 pitches so I think he'll be ok to go for the next couple of games.

Let's hope ARod can once again beat up on Colon and we won't have worry about using the big 3 (if only so we don't have to hear the whining about Torre's inept use of the bullpen for one day).

murphy, I was thinking about Cano and ROY but I didn't want to jinx it. Much like I didn't want to say that Giambi is back.

Tonight the talent outed. Small came up big.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/21/sports/baseball/21pins.html?

[...]

Torre said that the veteran Buddy Groom, whom Torre passed over in the eighth inning on Tuesday, would be his preferred left-hander out of the bullpen. Torre said he did not know how he would use Graman until he talked with the pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre.

"Graman fits as a long man for us right now," Cashman said. "That's how he fits. He's a left-handed starter who's been in the pen for us at Triple-A."

Asked what role Steinbrenner had played in the Franklin-Graman decision, Cashman did not answer. "Graman is here for that reason," he said without elaborating on whether the reason was Steinbrenner or the team's need for a long reliever.

[...]

"Left-handers really haven't had a lot of opportunities to be of a major impact here," Torre said. "That's the best way to say it, only because of our late guys, with Sturtze and Gordon. I thought Franklin did a good job. I really did."

[...]

Graman made his first relief appearance for Columbus on June 29, the day after the Yankees' organizational meeting in Tampa, Fla. In seven relief outings, he went 1-1 with a 1.64 E.R.A., allowing 13 hits in 11 innings, but striking out 16.

Okay, one more 3) Simone, I enjoy your comments, don't go! You can't actually expect us to enjoy ourselves, could you?

Okay, one more 3) Simone, I enjoy your comments, don't go! You can't actually expect us to enjoy ourselves, could you?

I love that Weaver quote. Certainly thought it tonight when Cano hit that 3 run shot. He's a joy to watch hit, seems to nail the ball hard several times a game.

And yes, I'm worried that if he gets more attention (i.e., all this ROY stuff), he'll start pressing and stop hitting. Such is the curse of the surprise rookie in New York ...

The loss in the 2-1 game is still bad, and I don't think a great win like the last one covers it up. Torre still manages to stick by Franklin even after he was sent back down. Go figure.

On a positive note, you have got to believe in Giambi again. I think his confidence is back and his rhythm is as good as it was in his Oakland days. With him back in the groove and Cano emerging as a real player, all we need to think about is our CF situation. Who gets plugged in for the rest of this year to strengthen the D and drop down a few key hits? (Jeter will hit himself out of the current mini-slump)

I predict a split in Anaheim. They have a great slugging lineup and last years MVP. If we can outslug them in one of the question mark games we can duplicate the pattern we set up in Texas. Nice to return home in 1st again.

>

I meant to say 6 home runs, but I was sleepy. :)

"Tomorrow's pitcher is Aaron Small and we'll need to hit 5 home runs to stay in that game anyway."

[...]

Franklin was 0-1 with three blown saves and a 12.27 ERA in five appearances after coming up July 1.

"I thought Franklin did a good job," Torre said. "I really did."

Giambi surely has been a pleasant surprise! While I wish that he would go to LF more (the bunt he laid down - second this year, incidentally - was a joy to behold and resulted in several telephone calls between family members), he's been doing a great job getting on base and, lately, driving the ball hard. During one of my optimistic points of the offseason, I predicted .275/25/80 for him - goals that, right now, might not be that much of a stretch!

If Giambi can give the Yankees that much production, then it's going to be an interesting September!