Embree vs. Ortiz.

"Asked yesterday if lefty Alan Embree is an automatic pick for the postseason roster should the Yankees reach the playoffs, manager Joe Torre said, 'I want him to be.'

Embree took a step toward convincing Torre with a perfect inning last night, retiring Baltimore's 3-4-5 hitters on 15 pitches."

Two nights ago, when Embree gave up 3 runs in one inning during an 11-3 Yankee win, most Yankee fans rejoiced. They thought it was finally the end of the Alan Embree Project. Never again would we be forced to see him in Pinstripes. (Well, I don't know about "most Yankee fans," but me and my friends and a couple of blogs.)

After the game, Joe Torre focused on the three strikeouts instead of the three runs:

"It looked like the ball was coming out of his hand a little bit easier. After the game, Flaherty said the ball was jumping out of his hand. You still have to locate, but I thought he looked more comfortable."

Embree had good velocity. The ball was jumping out of his hand (and out of the ballpark). Embree looked comfortable. Embree has playoff experience. Embree was doing some things that will help us do some things that we're trying to do. Embree is an angel sent from Heaven to save the Earth. Embree is Lefthanded and, therefore, Embree is Perfect.

It seems impossible that Joe Torre could be that out-of-touch with reality. Torre is just spinning. He's just supporting his players. Right?

It seems impossible until you read another puzzling Torre quote:

"We took (Embree) here because we like all that: experience and championship experience," Torre said. "It depends who's up against him and what we think our needs are going to be."

Is Torre sticking with Alan Embree because Embree struck out Jason Giambi in the '03 playoffs? Does Joe Torre realize that the Boston Red Sox cut Alan Embree and didn't seem to concerned when the Yankees acquired him? Is Joe Torre living in a time warp?

Does this also exlain why Jaret Wright started over Aaron Small last weekend? Because Wright pitched well against the Yankees in the '97 playoffs?

Does this also explain why Tony Womack got the benefit of the doubt for 40 games? Because Womack had a big hit off Mariano in the '01 World Series?


When Alan Embree comes out of the bullpen to face David Ortiz on Saturday afternoon in a tie game in the bottom of the seventh, it will be the culmination of a pair of Joe Torre's flawed obsessions: Joe Torre likes players with Experience and Joe Torre likes Lefties out of the bullpen.

When the ball lands somewhere in the centerfield bleachers, fellow heartbroken Yankee fans, please remember that the manager of your favorite team is living in a dream world. When faced with the true facts, he ignores them. When faced with a Tanyon Sturtze reality, he chooses an Alan Embree fantasy world.

I can't guarantee that Sturtze can get Ortiz out. Heck, I can't guarantee that Mariano can get Ortiz out. But I know that just about anybody in a major league uniform has a better chance than Alan Embree.