Hey George- how do you feel about managing?

Everyone knows the George Steinbrenner likes to meddle. That has been one of his trademarks, ever since he took control of the Yankees. But it’s not only his involvement in the team’s day-to-day affairs that has gotten him in trouble. He has been suspended for paying gamblers to get dirt on his players, for making illegal contributions to campaigns, and then there was the fact that the Boss called one of his players a “fat pussy toad.” One of baseball’s most colorful executives, it’s no wonder that a man like George Steinbrenner, owns a team like the New York Yankees.In 1973 when George Steinbrenner bought the Yankees, not many people expected what an impact he would have on baseball. For a mere $10 million, the Boss bought the Yankees after his proposal to buy the Cleveland Indians was rejected. Funny, that in that same year, the Tribe was bought for $1 million less than the Yankees were, and haven’t enjoyed nearly as much success as New York.

Of course, Steinbrenner hasn’t been able to keep the mind level-headed businessman all the time. For on October 25th, 1981, he got into a fight with fans in an elevator, after his team lost game 5 of the World Series.

Two years later, the saga that was the relationship of Steinbrenner and Martin continued, as the Boss rehired Billy Martin in January as Yankee manager for the third time in eight years. The following December, he fired Martin and placed Yogi Berra in the manager’s position. And again in 85′, after a 4-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox, Steinbrenner fired Berra, and replaced him with Billy Martin. So it was no surprise that three years later, Billy was fired again, and replaced with an equally memorable character, Lou Piniella.

Two years later, former-baseball commissioner Fay Vincent, brought the hammer down hard on the owner of the Yankees. On July 30, 1990, Steinbrenner was banned from the day-to-day operations of his baseball team. The ruling was the result of a $40,000 payment to a gambler, for damaging information on Dave Winfield, who had since been traded to Anaheim.

But the Yankee owner always liked to have more money coming in on the side. So in 97′, baseball’s executive council voted to have him removed from the ruling body. This coming after controversy over the club’s 10-year, $93 million deal with Adidas. Most likely it was because it hurt Jerry Reinsdorf’s pride, because his ChiSox weren’t a very hot commodity.

The executives in baseball aren’t the only ones who would like to flatten George Steinbrenner. On April 30th, 1997, David Wells threatened to punch-out the owner, after a furious clubhouse argument. This coming after a fan in right field, grabbed a fly ball before Paul O’Neill could catch it. Wells then told Steinbrenner that they should have more security down in the right field corner, and George replied that Wells should stick to pitching. And in an exhibition game, when Hideki Irabu failed to cover first base on a groundball, Steinbrenner called the pitcher a “fat pussy toad.” Maybe it was because of this incident that Irabu’s ERA with the Yankees didn’t go below 4.43 for his entire three years with the club.

Now it’s no wonder that when his team has a payroll of over $200 million, and are 5.5 games back in the division, that Steinbrenner would find someone to vent his frustration on. And invariably, that someone is Joe Torre.

After Tuesday night’s 2-1 loss to Chicago, The Boss couldn’t resist lashing out at his manager.

“I’m not pleased with the manager,” growled The Boss. “I don’t know why they left the left-hander in. He had a good inning, and they kept him in there. He should have never pitched to Konerko — he’s their best hitter.”

Eh, Steinbrenner may have a point there. But he has been throwing snide remarks at his $6 million-a-year manager, all season long.

And truth-be-told, there’s not much more Torre could have done this season. With the pitchers that Steinbrenner brought to the team, all three of them have been out with injuries this season! Who is to blame for their choice in pitchers? Certainly not Torre! If anything, Steinbrenner should be wringing Brian Cashman’s neck!

This manager hasn’t been given much to work with…other than the $200 million payroll of broken-down starters, and an owner who is constantly breathing down his neck.

If Steinbrenner thinks he can do that much better, then he should go ahead.

What does he have to lose? He’s already lost his dignity with his $200 million team, he just lost a series to Reinsdorf’s $75 million team, and yet he still has the gall to call out one of the most brilliant managers of all-time.

For the next week, Torre should be sitting up in the corporate box, watching his boss try to manage in the same situation he has been in all year. The roles would be reversed, and Torre could call out Steinbrenner, for pitching Mariano Rivera for 15 innings!

It’s sad when the high point of the Yankees season, was moving ten games above .500 on Monday. Maybe George can get them to twelve.

For more stories by Kent Summer, check out
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