“He’s going through a very difficult situation and it’s tough. I talked to him for a few minutes. I think he’s going through a hard time. I don’t think it’s a situation anyone would want to be in. The way I look at it, all of us have probably done things we regret. Some of them might be worse than others and obviously this is a very sad story and situation, but I don’t believe you turn your back on people. He’s a friend to a lot of people and my heart goes out to the guy. He’s got three kids. Who knows what’s going to happen. My heart goes out to the lady. It’s not an easy situation.”
GM Brian Cashman coldly said:
“He was here locally doing whatever and he just wanted to swing by and see some of his old teammates.I don’t have any more than that.”
Leyritz, the self-proclaimed “King”, hugged Shelley Duncan and Andy Pettitte. He strutted around the clubhouse, and was happy and laughing. Many Yankees fans are once again split; they know that the new administration is different than George Steinbrenner’s old and unforgiving ways (and are happy), but they also believe that murderers would never be allowed back to socialize, especially during the trial.
I don’t know how I feel. Part of me is happy the Yankees didn’t shun a player. Girardi really didn’t have a choice; banning Leyritz would look bad to his players. I don’t believe in ostracizing a former veteran. But the other part of me says I don’t think the King should have been allowed to return to the clubhouse until he is found not-guilty. Seriously, it’s Girardi’s clubhouse, but if Cashman was against it, he should have stopped it.
Here are some comments culled from the message boards:
“Whatever. Based on what we know at the moment, Leyritz deserves to rot in prison, but that doesn’t mean friends and former coworkers should ignore him. It’s not like they had “Jim Leyritz Day” and made beers 2 for 1.”“…he shouldn’t be allowed to walk around the clubhouse like a returning hero. They could’ve gone to see him any time they liked over the winter.”
“That kind of value judgment, while understandable and quite common, depends entirely on a PR-consciousness which I’ve come to loathe in this country. While organizations’ increasing aversion to associating themselves with any sort of negativity was inspired by legal and/or commercial concenrs (i.e. can’t look like you’re associated with the bad behavior lest you be sued and/or suffer a boycot) it has gotten way out of hand. Allowing Leyritz on the property in no way condones his actions, and won’t subject the Yankees to any negative commercial fallout. There is a big difference between treating him “like a returning hero” and simply being decent to a person who was an important part of their history, and I applaud the Yankees for not treating him like a pariah.”
“No. But it enables distraction. I’m sure the players are big enough not to let Leyritz’s mere attendance get in their way. But all it takes is for one person not to want him there, one person who makes one comment, to allow the media to drive a wedge between players who agree with Brooks and players who feel their friend is being attacked unfairly. And that can bubble over. I’d think the team would do its best to minimize the opportunities for this kind of thing.”
“Hate the sin, not the sinner.”
“I wouldn’t have invited Leyritz to be with the team, but I’m not going to get worked up about it.”
“Reason #23,890,117 to hate the Yanks: they let murderers into their clubhouse.”
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Please make a christmas one. I would request it be Metal Meets All I Want For Christmas Is You.
Nice, like Office meets Peep Show
NYT: Hewlett-Packard Board Meets on Replacing CEO –
RIP: George Steinbrenner
I remember being at the game in 1990 when the White Sox won 4-0 against the Yankees. Sure sounds like no big deal, just another shut out, right?
Wrong.
The Yankees pitcher, Andy Hawkins, actually pitched a no-hitter and still lost. 4-0.
Here's the skinny from baseball-reference.com…..
“Yankees Andy Hawkins throws the season's 6th no-hitter, but still loses 4 – 0 to the White Sox. With two out in the bottom of the 8th, New York's Mike Blowers misplays Sosa's routine grounder for an error, and Hawkins walks two to load the bases. Outfielders Jim Leyritz and Jesse Barfield drop back-to-back fly balls to allow all four runs to score. Barfield loses Ivan Calderon's fly ball in the sun and the ball bounces off his mitt. Ken Johnson in 1964 was the last pitcher to lose a no-hitter.” [link http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/July_1
Yes, Mr. Stienbrenner does buy his teams.
He always gets all the top free agents.
Other teams may offer a top FA $30M an year, and the yankees will give him $35M a year.
The fact is, all those wouldnt be on any other team because george steinbrenner would not allow that to happen.
Mary, that is one of the reasons I dislike the yankees.
Plus they think they can always win. Money doesnt always buy championships.
I find it extremely funny that with a $198M payroll this year they wont win the World Series.
Jim Leyritz should name his next child after his criminal attorney David Bogenschutz
i love andy pettitte
Jim Leyritz is such a classless twit. He should NEVER have put Giraldi in this position to BEGIN WITH!
Leyritz is a leech, sucking the lifeblood off of anyone near him. He wants SYMPATHY for what he’s going through. Giraldi probably said yes just to get him to shut up.
Better that than being sucked dry by Leyritz the Karma Vampire.
i realize that murdering and being drunk is not one of the ten commandments, ” but he who has NO
sins, throw leyritz out of the club
house.!
i remember he was the best defensive catcher and hitter the
yanks ever had! he is my home run
hero! what has happened to him could have happened to any one!
i am just as stunned about this
murder just as i was stunned when
o.j. killed his wife and her friend. maybe it was a bit cocky for
leyritz to “strut” around the club
house smiling and hugging his team
mates, but Geraldi is just like
joe torre. he has compassion and
only gets pissed when some rookie
ass hole hurts one of his players!
this is of coarse is the correct
way to handle these situations!
If leyritz is found guilty by a
jury, then that will be the price
he will have to pay. we all know
that law. but i would love to see
my old friends too, before i was
hung!