A-Rod and Boras trump the Red Sox in the media

Baseball has always been a kids game played by over paid grown up men. But it is becoming more-and-more bizarre as the players become more-and-more greedy and the owners become less-and-less "baseball people."

The events in the Yankee playbook in recent days are quite remarkable.

First the Yankee hierarchy fired (offered obviously unacceptable terms to) Joe Torre. Why did they do this? Torre had brought the Yankees to the post-season every year he managed the team. The Yankees were the only team to repeat from last season's post-season participants. Torre is probably the only manager who could have righted the ship after the disastrous first half of the season.

So, a failed manager or failed ownership? Is there anyone outside the Yankee hierarchy who really believes that Joe Girardi is a better manager than Torre?

One of the main reasons for the Yankees failure was the continued failure of their superstar third baseman to perform in the post season. For some reason Alex Rodriguez seems to continue to be "Mr. April-Sept." rather than "Mr. October." Great players perform at their best, when the spotlight shines brightest.

Now A-Rod, despite dire Yankee warnings, is going to test his value on the free-agent market rather than re-sign with the Yankees. His agent Scott Boras told a reporter that "Alex's decision was one based on not knowing what his closer [Mariano Rivera], his catcher [Jorge Posada], and one of his statured pitchers [Andy Pettitte] was going to do," Boras said. "He really didn't want to make any decisions until he knew what they were doing." But, of course, that's exactly what he did. Make a decision - at least 10 days before he had to. At that point he also didn't know whom the manager would be. But, as Len Berman said on NBC News, it's really all about money. Clearly for people like A-Rod and Boras dollars trump loyalty.

I also believe that Boras has had discussions with several teams about A-Rod and there are quite likely a couple of owners (probably on the West Coast) who are dumb enough to pay A-Rod the exorbitant price Boras will demand.

The best irony would be if Red Sox third baseman and World Series MVP Mike Lowell, who also can become a free agent, signs with the Yankees and helps them to get back to the championship contest.

One more thought. The New York Daily News quotes several Yankee fans bemoaning the loss of A-Rod. I wonder if they are the same fans who went to the stadium and booed him.