NEW YORK -- The first tremor hit Yankee Stadium Wednesday.

 

After 10 seasons as pitching coach, Mel Stottlemyre told reporters he is resigning before the Yankees replace him. As some players emptied their lockers two days after the Yankees were eliminated by the Angels in the Division Series, Stottlemyre said he was leaving the franchise.

 

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His departure could be the first of a few significant changes at the top of the organization. General manager Brian Cashman, who refused to meet with the media Wednesday, was emotional Monday night, implying he may be leaving. Cashman's contract expires at the end of the month and he could be a candidate for the GM vacancy in Philadelphia.

 

Manager Joe Torre was expected to address the media Wednesday in his customary postseason talk. But Torre did not report to Yankee Stadium and team officials said he probably would not be talking until early next week.

 

Owner George Steinbrenner issued a statement through his publicist Tuesday congratulating the Angels and manager Mike Scioscia on their victory. Stottlemyre interpreted that as a dig at Torre.

 

"I laughed when I saw it," Stottlemyre said. "My first thoughts were, `What about Joe? Joe had done a hell of a job, too.' To congratulate the other manager and not congratulate your own after what he'd done this year ... I laughed."

 

Stottlemyre has been a target of Steinbrenner's for years. In May, Steinbrenner was quoted in USA Today saying he was concerned about the team's pitching.

 

Later that month, Stottlemyre decided this would be his last year. He said the decision was based on the cumulative effect of being second-guessed by Steinbrenner's inner circle in Tampa.

 

"It weighed a little bit on my thinking off the field," Stottlemyre said. "Basically, that's why I made my mind up. But I'm going to leave happy."

 

Said pitcher Tanyon Sturtze: "Mel was the same every day we came to the park."

 

Stottlemyre said the conflict between the front office in New York and Steinbrenner's baseball advisers in Tampa created a difficult work environment.

 

"Sometimes you have to satisfy two separate groups of people," Stottlemyre said. "I don't know how to repair it. ... Something needs to be done to get everybody on the same page."

 

It was especially demanding this season, although the team's late-season run made the year satisfying - but not enough to change Stottlemyre's mind.

 

"I guess I didn't forget very easily what went on during the course of the season," Stottlemyre said. "I never wavered from my decision."

 

Stottlemyre spent his entire 11-year pitching career with the Yankees, retiring in 1974. He coached with the Mets and Astros before joining Torre in 1996.

 

Nearly 64, he is unsure if he will retire. Stottlemyre lives in a Seattle suburb and could be a candidate to fill the vacant pitching coach job with the Mariners, although manager Mike Hargrove said Tuesday Stottlemyre's name has not come up.

 

Stottlemyre also could have a job with the Marlins or Devil Rays if either Florida team hires Yankees bench coach Joe Girardi as manager.

Candidates to replace Stottlemyre include bullpen coach Neil Allen, Triple A pitching coach Gil Patterson, and former Red Sox pitching coach Joe Kerrigan, who is an advance scout for the Yankees. Former Yankee Ron Guidry, a spring training instructor, could also be a candidate.

 

"It's time for somebody new," Stottlemyre said. "I've been here 10 years and they're probably going to want to make some changes. I'll help them out a bit. This is one change they won't have to make. I'll make it for them."

 

Whether the next pitching coach works with Torre is unknown. Torre is owed $13.1 million over the next two years, but Steinbrenner has an obvious replacement available in Lou Piniella.

 

Piniella told WFAN Wednesday that he is not angling for the Yankees job and praised Torre, whom he called a friend.

 

Stottlemyre said Torre did his best managing this season, given the challenges he faced. He scoffed at speculation about Torre's job status.

 

"I think it's absolutely ridiculous," Stottlemyre said. "I've been here with Joe for 10 years and this has, by far, been the toughest year for him. And it's the best job he's done."

Anyone?

I dunno....Would be cool, but if we are indeed going young, I'm not sure I want my pitching coach to be 23 years older than my manager.

I have no problem with hiring Stottlemyre as pitching coach. He's well respected around the big leagues. I am a bit concerned that he would do something to change Dontrelle's delivery, like a lot of pitching "experts" suggest. He ain't got to fix anything. Wiley did a great job with D-Train this past year and I wouldn't want to see him tinker with another delivery. D-Train being the nice guy that he is and respectful of coaches, he would go along with it if Stottlemyre suggested it.

Eh, who cares.

 

I've asked two of my friends who are Yankee fans, and both say he doesn't get the credit he deserves, but one of them says that the one thing he did was screw up a lot of players that came from other teams, but he's great at building pitchers from within the Yankee system. So, if that's true, it may not be a good thing.

Eh, who cares.

 

I've asked two of my friends who are Yankee fans, and both say he doesn't get the credit he deserves, but one of them says that the one thing he did was screw up a lot of players that came from other teams, but he's great at building pitchers from within the Yankee system. So, if that's true, it may not be a good thing.

 

 

That's what I've heard too. It kind of concerns me, especially when it comes to D-Train. I don't want some guy coming down here and messing with D-Train's delivery and derailing Dontrelle.

Wiley mostly help Dontrelle with his tempo, and helped him slow down and keep his composure on pressure situations. I think Wiley had a lot to do with Dontrelle's Cy Young caliber season

The one thing to remember about Mel is that he adores Beckett. I remember reading his comments after game 6 and he had nothing but the highest praise for Josh; while other Yankees were simply congratulating him, Stottlemyer was actually raving about him.

 

That could be interesting if you get the two of them together. :mischief2

 

Wiley mostly help Dontrelle with his tempo, and helped him slow down and keep his composure on pressure situations. I think Wiley had a lot to do with Dontrelle's Cy Young caliber season

 

 

Not to discredit Wley (because I think he did a bang-up job with the rotation, getting career years out of Beckett and Willis), but another thing to remember about Dontrelle is that he did two distinctly different things this year, pitching aside: he did that FAST program to help with stamina, and the team got him a jersey with an extra 2 inches of length so it stayed tucked in, meaning the other team couldn't ask for him to tuck it in to mess with his rhythm, something that I remember Dusty Baker doing.

I doubt Stottlemeyer would come in here and tinker with D-Train too much after the season he just had, he would most likey ask what Wiley worked with him on and just continue the same program.

I think Girardi would put together a well balanced coaching staff...Zimmer would be a lock and Stottlemyre would be a great addition as well. I would think a younger batting coach would also be a good move. Anyone come to mind???

Actually, I'd like to keep Wiley, but it would be hard to turn down Mel.