Swindal situation not so dire--Bill Madden, NY Daily News

• Bill Madden's take on the Swindal situation sounds right with one surprise. Bill says it wasn't Swindal who saved Torre's job, it was Torre's own words:

"First of all, it is important to know that Steve Swindal, who is being divorced out of the Yankee hierarchy, was never inheriting the Earth, as was the popular belief. When George Steinbrenner designated Swindal as his heir apparent a few years ago, it was nothing more than a means to quell speculation about the fate of the Yankees amid recurring reports of The Boss' declining health.

• Maybe he isn't as actively involved in all the highly complex aspects of owning a baseball team anymore, and maybe he has designated baseball and business decisions to others, and maybe he's lost something off his fastball, but as long as he's alive, Steinbrenner is still The Boss and the final authority on all things Yankee.
• It has been widely reported that Swindal had offered the most influential opinion in Steinbrenner's relenting on the firing Joe Torre last October.

• The fact is, no one's voice in the Yankee high command had more import in that decision than Torre's himself. While none of the others dared make a case either way, Steinbrenner was ultimately swayed after Torre talked to him personally, told him why he wanted to continue managing for him and subtly reminded him of all he had accomplished for him."

From Bill Madden's NY Daily News column, 3/30/07, "George Needs a Pinch Heir."

Tweet Stumbleupon StumbleUpon