12/21/24
June 29, 2005
"You must let the young elephants into the tent." : George Steinbrenner names son-in-law Steve Swindal as his successor, but refrains from naming a date when he'll pack it in.
posted by lil_brown_bat to baseball at 09:08 AM - 9 comments
he loves that team so much That's one way to put it.
posted by justgary at 10:32 AM on June 29, 2005
Swindal sounds like a perfect name to run the Yankees. Might as make it the name on the top as the actions of the ownership too.
posted by Rob at 10:46 AM on June 29, 2005
It just happens at this point in time my kids are further along, and I can spend more time in New York. The other boys have younger children, and they have to stay closer to home. Boys? They are grown men. And what about the girls?
posted by bperk at 01:06 PM on June 29, 2005
Think of George like the last pope. He's more fart than shit these days, sure, but whenever he opens his mouth, even to belch smoke, it's still news. The success of failure of his fiefdom isn't as much under his control as it used to be, and most of what he says and does is just the rote almost-pre-scripted reactions of a doddering puppet, but the empire over which he presides as figurehead pretty much runs itself these days, for good or ill. When he dies (and he won't give up the reins before then; he just couldn't), there will be a power grab, even with this appointment, and depending on the strength of Pope Swindal II, the Yankees will spend the next glorious generation, wad of TP in hand, wiping up the rear of the AL East. Deo volente.
posted by chicobangs at 02:33 PM on June 29, 2005
chico, he unfortunately isn't entirely a figurehead and still has input in running the team. he was still involved in off-season signings (i believe jaret wright was his doing). however, word is that stick michael (their vp of scouting) has recently been brought back into the mix. stick has been credited for rebuilding the team in the 90s when he was gm, during big stein's "vacation" from the game. (here's an excerpt from buster olney's book about stick and showalter and how they helped shape what would eventually become the dynasty teams of the late 90s, something they rarely get credit for. it's a bit long but it's worth a look.) i've also heard over the years that his sons really aren't interested in actually running the team so we may not have to worry about a power grab. (by "we", i mean yankee fans, since i know the rest of youse couldn't give a shit) i've never really heard about the kids being involved in negotiations, whereas swindal has been over recent years. if i'm not mistaken he was involved with torre's last contract.
posted by goddam at 03:40 PM on June 29, 2005
True, goddam, though the Pope still has a bit of pull with the rank & file too. But if George has been starting the process of offloading things, and if there's someone he trusts who's both able and willing to do the job, then more power to him, Swindal, and the Yankees. (May they lose and lose and lose forevermore and ever from this day onward :) .)
posted by chicobangs at 04:32 PM on June 29, 2005
(i'd wish the same on the leafs but they seem to be doing a fine job by themselves :-)
posted by goddam at 08:06 PM on June 29, 2005
Pope never wears a turtleneck.
posted by yerfatma at 08:53 PM on June 29, 2005
I envision Steinbrenner, hooked up to an artificial lung, giving his final words on his death bed about firing someone in the organization. I would be surprised if he gives it up before he's physically incapable of doing the job, he loves that team so much.