Keep Torre

So, clearly, I bleed orange and blue, but that doesn't preclude me from having an opinion on the three-ring circus in The Bronx. I'll say this: I don't root against the Yankees.

Some pinstripe-faithful, however, go out of their way to root against the Metropolitans (last year's NLCS game seven was spent next to a grease ball clapping for the home run by _Fuckin'_). I think it's lame, dude. I think they do it because it's not fun to be a Yankee fan anymore. This excellent Page 2 opinion column by Jeff Pearlman explains how there's no joy in the journey if all the fun is predicated on the ride's success.

That said, it must suck to be a Yankee fan. Mets fan took shit at the end of this year, but we were in contention on the last day of the season. There's tons of fans around the country that can't say that. And, with all this talk about the Mets' historical collapse, all they did was play .500 ball since June. It's not like it was a surprise that they didn't pull it out to any fan that paid close attention.

Torre should stay. Being 14 1/2 back, when? In June? And still being able to make the playoffs, and have the team perform and grow? You don't think Torre did a good job this year? You're out of your fucking mind if you think Torre should be fired. The Indians were just a little bit better. There was nothing Torre could have done to make Wang a better big-game pitcher, nothing to make Roger Clemens five years younger, no way to make Jeter hit slappers down the line. He couldn't hit, pitch, or field. But he turned that team into one that more resembled a '96 or '98 Yankees team than a 2003 Yankees team, and for that alone, he should stay.

BOLD PREDICTIONS:
A-Rod signs unthinkable $30 million a year contract with the Chicago Cubs, with part ownership of the team built into the back-end of the deal.

Jorge Posada, upset with the contract offer he receives from The Bronx, moves crosstown to Queens to sign a 3-year, $21 million deal to catch for a young Mets pitching staff.

Mariano Rivera signs an unreal 3 year, $45 million deal. He blows three saves next year, seven the second, and his fastball tops out at 89 in the third.

Joe Torre becomes a broadcaster for ESPN baseball the same day he's fired from the Yanks.

Don Mattingly (or Joe Girardi) becomes manager of the club, leads the Yanks to World Series title with Hughes and Chamberlain as the future's 1-2 in the rotation.

Mets trade OF Lastings Milledge and P Mike Pelfrey to Florida Marlins for P Dontrelle Willis.

Mets win the World Series next year, after signing Andruw Jones to play right field, and fielding a staff of Pedro, Dontrelle, Olllie and Mr. Maine.