Cutting Through Levine’s Double Talk

Q: How do you know that Randy Levine is embarrassing the Yankees organization?

A: His mouth is moving.

This is not the first time that I have used that joke on this blog, but such words have never been more prevalent. The act Levine put on yesterday at the press conference was an education in spin.

“The goal of this franchise is to win the World Series. All of us get up every day knowing that is the goal and all us take that responsibility on. Unfortunately we have not met that goal for seven years.”

Levine claims that failure to win is everybody’s responsibility. Why then does he bring it up specifically to explain why a manager is not returning to the team? Why does he use it to justify a lowball offer designed to make Joe Torre reject it? Is Levine taking a paycut for the team’s failures? Lord knows he is always front and center to take credit at press conferences whenever the Yankees acquire a key player and typically getting praise.

“We thought that we need to go to a performance-based model, having nothing to do with Joe Torre’s character, integrity or ability. We just think it’s important to motivate people.”

The team had $1 million apiece in incentives in its offer for making the postseason, the ALCS, and the World Series. It would be one thing if these were supposed to act as a reward, but it is for motivation. Is Levine seriously suggesting that Joe Torre has lacked motivation? Does he think that Joe Torre is not fighting with every fiber of his being to win a World Series? Does he think that $1 million will motivate him when the glory of winning it all and saving his job will not? It is amazing that Levine can say Joe has not put maximum effort into guiding this franchise. It is downright shameful. I ask Randy Levine when his pay becomes performance-based. Did he not admit to being part of the failure?

“We thought it was very fair, clearly at the top of the market, but we respect Joe’s decision.”

Since when do the Yankees draw a line in the figurative sand when it comes to finances with somebody they really want? They sure as heck did not with Roger Clemens just a few months ago. Negotiation requires listening to the other side and reassessing offers. One does not make one offer to somebody one really wants. The word is that the Yankees did not even ask Joe what parameters he would find acceptable. They did not even consider anything for which Torre would ask. That does not sound like a guy that a team really wants around. If the Yankees sincerely wanted Joe to stay, they never would have set a hard cap at $2 million below what he made this year.

It is very telling that Levine was the one to make the announcement. It was not Brian Cashman or one of the Steinbrenners. This says that Levine is now speaking for the organization. In the power vacuum created by George Steinbrenner’s failing health and Steve Swindal’s departure, Levine has gained more influence. As a shameless self-promoter, it is what he does best. Randy Levine now has major influence within the organization. He just drove out one of his enemies, Joe Torre. Now he gets to gloat about it. Congratulations, Randy, the Yankees have lost a Hall of Fame manager because of you.