The YES Network is a hopeless mess and conveys no Yankee image

The NY Daily News' Bob Raissman has some Yankee vs YES gems today starting with alleged YES honcho John Filippelli's delivering orders from the Boss to the on-air guys:

• "What eventually exits the mouths speaking into YES microphones may sometimes be independent opinions. Nonetheless, there will be times when A-Rod commentary will not only reflect what's on the minds of the Yankee high command, but be passed down directly from Pinstripe Mountain through YES production boss John Filippelli."

"Remember last June? That's when someone up top encouraged - perhaps even ordered - YES pregame and postgame show analyst David Justice to put a verbal hit on Rodriguez."

Raissman remembers this while watching YES' "Yankees 2007: Pride, Power, Pinstripes."

• "After Kay asked the panel for its take on A-Rod's opt-out clause, Ken Singleton, a mild-mannered guy, basically told Rodriguez to shut up.

"Just play ball," said Singleton, showing more passion than usual. "Go out and try to win a championship. Get as close as you can. If you don't win it just give the effort. Show that you tried."

• Singleton went on to highlight A-Rod's miserable playoff performance (1-for-14, dropped to the eighth spot in the lineup) against Detroit. "That's not what Alex Rodriguez is supposed to be," Singleton said.

Girardi entered the discussion, saying A-Rod is already a major "concern" for Joe Torre.

• No one is suggesting that this was just another orchestrated hit on A-Rod. That said, George Steinbrenner is well aware how the media's reaction to everything A-Rod influences the overall perception of his team. Well-embedded moles say that on occasion, Steinbrenner still can find an issue on which to vent his anger."

(Now, Raissman shows why the Yankee message has been usurped and perverted. The so-called new PR flack for the team takes heat for a back page featuring Arod. It had made Arod look like a twirp, but the PR guy got in trouble anyway).

• "That's exactly what he did two weeks ago. In a rare old-Boss moment, Steinbrenner confronted new Yankees PR chief Jason Zillo at Legends Field and ripped into him over negative newspaper back pages regarding A-Rod's "I want to be wanted here" opt-out tempest. Spies say The Boss called Zillo a man "on thin ice" and then invoked one of his favorite nonendearing terms, which described a portion of Zillo's posterior."

"Steinbrenner's rant had nothing to do with what was said on YES, which means Singleton and Girardi are skating on very thick ice. Ever since Justice put the wood to the Yankees' third baseman last June ("If the game is 9-2, he might make it 9-4. If the game is 7-1, he might make it 9-1. But when it is 2-2 late in the ballgame he can't get it done.") it has been bombs away on A-Rod on YES."

• Raissman's article confirms my points that the YES Network and Yankee organization are completely disconnected, a ship being tossed in the sea. Arod is just one example. Items from his column, 3/30/07, NY Daily News, "It's Bonus Coverage."

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