The most perverse scene in the Yankees' new dark comedy, "Hank Steinbrenner: Debutante Meddler," isn't the dream sequence where he morphs into an exact replica of his dad and tries to exhume Billy Martin to replace Joe Girardi as the Yankees' manager. It isn't even the moment when he decides to teach Mike Mussina a new grip for his changeup.
The really disturbing part is when his bombast about Joba Chamberlain turns out to be half-right.
Chamberlain leaves the bullpen in a few months, precisely on the schedule established by Steinbrenner's wiser employees, and then thrives as a starter for ages, without a hint of infirmity. The outcome appears to vindicate the judgment of general manager Brian Cashman and his staff, now striving to limit the innings of this young power pitcher, who has a physically taxing delivery and a history of arm trouble. But Steinbrenner doesn't see it that way. He remembers only that he said Chamberlain should be a starter and forgets the part about "we need him there now."
Lacking evidence to the contrary, he can also tell himself that the caution was unnecessary, that accelerating Chamberlain's transition wouldn't have hurt a thing and that a gutless Cashman cost the Yankees a few months of glory. And we all know what that means. Empowered by an unimpeachable second-guess, he might never, ever, ever shut up.
The only way out would be for Steinbrenner's underlings to abandon all prudence, promptly take up the new blowhard boss on his challenge, put Chamberlain in the rotation and then watch him blow out his arm. A great talent would be destroyed, but at least he'd be martyred for a good cause.
For the moment, the New York media -- and perhaps Cashman, too -- appear to have effectively gagged and shamed Steinbrenner. He backpedaled from what he told the New York Times, changing "you have to be an idiot" to keep using Chamberlain as a set-up man to "we're not going to rush him" into the starting rotation.
Everyone is on the same page, holdings hands, roasting marshmallows and singing 'round the campfire. It's short-term damage control, and it can't possibly last. The Steinbrenner DNA inoculates its owners against chronic discretion.
Less than a month into his first season as George's primary successor, Hank contradicted a strategy devised by the entire organization, including himself. Over the winter, he agreed to a patient approach for 2008, and not just in terms of Chamberlain. The Yankees wanted to build toward a stronger future, which meant cultivating young pitchers Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes and holding onto Melky Cabrera rather than trading him for the instant gratification of a Johan Santana.
Then the kids pitched like kids, Santana gratified Mets fans, and Hank freaked.
PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 02: CC Sabathia #52 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during Game 2 of the NLDS Playoffs at Citizens Bank Ballpark on October 2, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** CC Sabathia
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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 02: Brett Myers #39 (C) of the Philadelphia Phillies talks with teammates against the Milwaukee Brewers during Game 2 of the NLDS Playoffs at Citizens Bank Ballpark on October 2, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brett Myers
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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 02: CC Sabathia #52 of the Milwaukee Brewers talks with catcher Jason Kendall #18 against the Philadelphia Phillies during Game 2 of the NLDS Playoffs at Citizens Bank Ballpark on October 2, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** CC Sabathia;Jason Kendall
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ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 2: Relief pitcher J.P. Howell #37 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches against the Chicago White Sox in Game 1 of the American League Divisional Series at Tropicana Field on October 2, 2008 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** J.P. Howell
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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 02: CC Sabathia #52 of the Milwaukee Brewers wipes sweat from his face against the Philadelphia Phillies during Game 2 of the NLDS Playoffs at Citizens Bank Ballpark on October 2, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** CC Sabathia
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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 02: CC Sabathia #52 of the Milwaukee Brewers wipes sweat from his face against the Philadelphia Phillies during Game 2 of the NLDS Playoffs at Citizens Bank Ballpark on October 2, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** CC Sabathia
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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 02: CC Sabathia #52 of the Milwaukee Brewers wipes sweat from his face against the Philadelphia Phillies during Game 2 of the NLDS Playoffs at Citizens Bank Ballpark on October 2, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** CC Sabathia
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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 02: CC Sabathia #52 of the Milwaukee Brewers wipes sweat from his face against the Philadelphia Phillies during Game 2 of the NLDS Playoffs at Citizens Bank Ballpark on October 2, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** CC Sabathia
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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 02: CC Sabathia #52 of the Milwaukee Brewers pictches against the Philadelphia Phillies during Game 2 of the NLDS Playoffs at Citizens Bank Ballpark on October 2, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** CC Sabathia
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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 02: Brett Myers #39 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers during Game 2 of the NLDS Playoffs at Citizens Bank Ballpark on October 2, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brett Myers
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In the big picture, the worst things he did last weekend were undermine Cashman and put Girardi in an awkward situation, caught between two dissonant bosses and perhaps uncertain whether the "idiot" remark applied to him, too. (A hint: If it doesn't now, it will someday.)
But it was a relatively trivial remark that put the Baby Boss' tantrum in a class of its own. He suggested that the 39-year-old Mussina cope with his fading velocity by learning to pitch more like the Phillies' 45-year-old Jamie Moyer.
When I read that, I wondered whether Hank was trying to parrot his dad and ended up parodying him instead. When Old George interfered and second-guessed, he did it pompously, without much regard for whether people believed he understood baseball. He coached football in his youth, and he just assumed that experience, plus his family's shipbuilding empire, gave him all the bona fides he needed.
Hank, on the other hand, sounds desperate to prove that he knows the game. The Mussina prescription was more pathetic than pompous: "Look at me, I can drop Jamie Moyer's name. I have ideas. I'm not just the man with the money."
When he took control of the Yankees with brother Hal, who runs the business end of the franchise, the scouting report on Hank said he was relatively shy and reluctant to run the team because he dreaded the scrutiny. But if people were expecting placid times, they weren't doing their homework. Even when he sequestered himself in Florida, running the family's thoroughbred business, Hank showed a talent for ruffling baseball people.
He once told the New York Times that he preferred horse racing because it didn't involve handing huge salaries to spoiled players.
"I don't think it's such a big deal to run around playing a damn game and getting paid millions of dollars for it," he said. The only ballplayers who deserved fat contracts, in his estimation, were home-run hitters, because they helped sell tickets. "Even a Pete Rose isn't a genuine drawing card," he said.
That was back in 1990, and by contrast to today, those insults seem almost tame. At the very least, they made sense. But Hank Steinbrenner was just warming up.
Gwen Knapp is a San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist.
Aw in hear we see the maddness of a true genius , See it's not about Joba starting it's about meida attention, Keep the Yanks on the Front Page \. When will you people ever learn Win Or Lose it's all about meida hype. And No one does it better than the Boss and it would seam Babby Boss learned it all to well.
Joba in the bullpen,being protected as much as possible until he starts getting his ears pinned back.If he is that good why not make him a starter?What value is he in the bullpen when Kennedy,Hughes and Mussina(forget about his last start because he only has 1 good start in every 6-7 games) exit after giving up 4or 5 runs.More Yankee B.S Joba,Joba,Joba you can only hide him so long.The Baby boss is right pitching wins games and what is Jobas value if he pitches an inning a game every other day.Should have been groomed in spring training to be a starter already.That way Kennedy or Hughes could be in the minor leagues where they belong
Hanky Panky knows Baseball like his dad, only he's younger and just as arrogant. let's suit him up and put HIM at the plate, or on the mound, and let him try :) THEN HE can TALK..... UNITL THEN..... STEINBRENNER!!!! CAN IT!!!!
