You’re right, MJ. It’s not all Torre’s fault, especially the whole baserunning thing and I shouldn’t be getting this frustrated this early in the season. It just keeps getting uglier and Torre is the most visible consistent factor. But just because he’s the easy target shouldn’t make him the only one.

About the lineup thing, you’re absolutely right that Torre should shake the lineup while Giambi’s on this crazy OBP streak.

As for “all the prospects in the minors or on the bench while Cairo and Williams [eat] up PA” and “learn[ing] nothing from the Tony Womack debacle” all I can say is that you have to blame Cashman if you’re going to blame Joe. You can’t blame a manager if his GM won’t control the minor league roster and schedule some call-ups. Last I checked, that was still the GM’s job. I’m not saying Torre doesn’t have influence but if Cashman did it last year with Cano/Wang, then he can do it again.

And I still maintain that last night’s loss was out of Joe’s hands. Cano and Crosby ran us out of potentially productive innings and that’s on them.

“…our problems were mainly offensive — something Torre can’t really control while he’s picking his nose on the bench.”

Who sets the lineup where Giambi has an OBP well over 500 with all the RBI guys in front of him? How did they end up with all the prospects in the minors or on the bench while Cairo and Williams are eating up PA? Who learned nothing from the Tony Womack debacle? Why do we have this discussion every year?

For me, the Mo thing last night was DIPs Theory at work. That Travis Lee hit was a great example. They just blooped and bled him. What can you do?

Sorry, maybe I’m not the sabermetric genius you guys are but I don’t see how it’s Torre’s fault that:

1) Robinson Cano still hasn’t passed “Baserunning 101″ (should’t Larry Bowa have reminded him about what to do in that instance);
2) Our roster depth includes a pinch-hitter who is slugging a “robust” .261 (Bernie, retire already, the #51 will hang on the wall sooner); and
3) Despite 14 walks, we still had jumpy hitters hacking and making one-pitch outs

Sure, Torre makes some bonehead decisions with increasing frequency. But Rivera didn’t look sharp out of the gate last night and our problems were mainly offensive — something Torre can’t really control while he’s picking his nose on the bench.

That was a frustrating game to watch last night.

I’m not sure he understands the concept of actual wins.

Chad Orvella, in the words of Lou Piniella, sucks. All kidding aside, he ain’t all that. After all, Miceli’s the closer not our boy Chad. Is it me or does Joe Torre lose any last shred of sanity when he faces the Devil Rays? He treats Mo like a hothouse flower all season but, today, against a team we should have destroyed (14 walks!), he feels the need to make Rivera throw 40 pitches in vain. Wouldn’t use him against the friggin’ A’s but, oh those Rays… I’m hoping desperately Cashman starts making some “adjustments” soon. Why give the man 12 pitchers if he’s going to manage intermittently like he’s helming the 1973 Oakland A’s with its 8 man staff? The team’s had 3 off days in the last 10 and Torre decides to “rest” Damon while Matsui (horrible slump) and Sheffield (disappearing defensive skills) get to play 10 innings. Why do I feel Torre hates the concept of “pythagorean” wins?