Never Dull In Yankeeville
According to this report on MLB.com, the Yankees are considering whether to insert a confidentiality clause in the contracts of players, managers and coaches in the wake of Torre’s book. Sounds like an overreaction, but it doesn’t surprise me. There’s been a lot of finger-pointing over the last few days; when Jeff Nelson and Boomer Wells hit the airwaves to discuss the breached “code of silence,” you know things have gotten out of hand. But a confidentiality clause? In baseball? Seriously?
It’s very common for employees of celebrities to sign such agreements – specifically so they won’t write books about their experience. But a ballplayer? A manager? Come on. I can certainly understand the impulse to want to enforce the rule: What happens in the clubhouse stays in the clubhouse. But I’d also hate to be deprived of such wonderful entertainment as “Ball Four” and “The Bronx Zoo.” And rather than create a climate of trust, wouldn’t a confidentiality clause engender a mood of mistrust in the organization – that a guy’s freedom of speech is being denied? No small matter.
I say the Yankees should lower the volume. The furor over Torre’s book won’t last past the next news cycle or two. Once he’s in Arizona presiding over the Dodgers’ spring training camp, that’ll be that.
And speaking of spring training, I got my tickets yesterday for the March 6th game against the Tigers. Sweet!
They’re in section 104, row MM. I’ll be looking right out over my new first baseman.
In my fantasy, here’s what’ll happen when I get to Tampa.
I’ll have my Barnes & Noble signing that afternoon, then head to Steinbrenner Field.
When I get to the ballpark, my Yankees will be thrilled to see me. (I said it was a fantasy, O.K.?)
Jeter will give me a fist pump.
Jorge will break out in joyous laughter.
CC and AJ will look at each other and say simultaneously, “So this is the She-Fan our wives keep telling us about – the one who’s taking them shopping.”
And Mo, my favorite Yankee of all, will get down on the ground and thank the Lord that I’ve come to watch him play.
Yankees aside, I’m looking forward to having dinner with some of the media people who were so helpful to me during the ’07 season. Tampa has plenty of good restaurants, so let the fun – and the eating – begin!
Confessions of a She-Fan 
It’s a split-squad game that day and Tex will be playing in the B game over in Lakeland. Bwahahaha…just kidding. Am sure that will be a great day at the ballpark!
So…one day I want to know more about that story of your husband on the day of Maris’ 61st. Just saw your comment on Pinstripe Pride about that one. Amazing. I hear someone is working on a book that could use such input. 🙂
Everyone read Jane Heller’s new book now:
http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-She-Fan-Course-True-Yankees/dp/1594868980/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228927307&sr=1-4
Mark/MLB.com
http://mlblogs.mlblogs.com
I agree that a confidentiality clause is a bit of an over reaction. For all we know, he could go on Oprah and his entire book could end up being a lie. I’ve been trying to keep up to date with the drama between the Yankees and Joe Torre, and it sounds like Torre is full of it. Obviously I don’t live in the clubhouse, so I have no idea, but it’s interesting.
Anyway, love the fantasy of spring training!
Emily
http://deconstructingthoughts.mlblogs.com/
Playing the Tigers on March 6, eh? That doesn’t seem fair. How can the Yankees NOT win?
–Jeff
http://redstatebluestate.mlblogs.com/
Bwahaha is right, Mark! He’d better be there. I have to take a look at this guy for myself! My husband’s story about Maris’ 61st is a good one and it’s in my book. He told me about it on our first real date, and that clinched the deal for me! Let me know if you want more about it for that certain project. And thanks for the link to amazon.
Emily, funny that you mention the Oprah situation with all the memoirs that have turned out to be false. I just wrote a piece for a magazine on that subject. You gave me the idea to post it! Thanks!
Let’s hope Allen doesn’t see that, Jeff. But maybe he’ll go easy on you because it’s your BIRTHDAY. How does 30 feel? I can’t remember. 🙂
Good fantasy. I liked it. I hope everything happens just like you said. That would make you like a fortune teller or something. 😉
Melissa
http://clemsongirlbaseball.mlblogs.com
I have to agree with you about the confidentiality agreement idea.. it’s downright ridiculous. “Over reaction” I think doesn’t even cover it. What kind of country would this be if all secrets were safe? Gosh.
p.s. Seems like a very plausible dream right there. 🙂
– V [ http://flairforthedramatic.mlblogs.com ]
I wonder what the Dodgers players think of the book and if that will change the way they think of Torre?
http://arizonaviaslough.blogspot.com/
Melissa, it was fun imagining that the players actually knew who I was. Don’t we all have that fantasy or am I the only one with such grandiose notions?
See that? V, you have the same grandiose motions as I do. Very plausible. LOL.
Russell, Jeff Nelson was asked that very question on the MLB Network yesterday – if players on the Dodgers would wonder if their manager would tell tales about them. He said it was a valid question, but that the players have to forget about it and go out and play. I have a feeling Torre will address all this at spring training and set everyone’s mind at ease.
Jane, I hope the Yankees win for you! And I’m looking forward to reading your book! I’ll be sure to blog about my experience in “picking it up”.
Julia
http://werbiefitz.mlblogs.com/
If it’s a big name free agent that they wanna sign like Teixeira and he says, “I ain’t signing no confidentiality agreement,” then what are they gonna do? Are they going to let that be a dealbreaker? And the only players that are even gonna have book deals are the stars who’ll have the ability to tell them to shove their confidentiality agreement. Plus, what’s to stop an enterprising player from telling his story to a guy like Tom Verducci or Mike Lupica or whoever, not having his name attached to the book, but being “compensated” for his time based on book sales? There’s no way such a contract additive is viable and enforceable, I don’t think.
http://paullebowitz.mlblogs.com/
Thanks, Julia. I hope nobody does you bodily harm!
The question I would ask, Paul, is which entity would a confidentiality clause protect? The organization from disparaging remarks? Or the players from damaging stories told by others? It’s just so murky. And as you say, who would sign a contract with that clause in it? These are millionaire ballplayers we’re talking about, not low-level employees. And yes, a player could go to a Verducci and spill the beans in a book anonymously, but without a big name attached, there wouldn’t be much of an advance/payoff.
That would be very interesting about the confidentiality thing. I’m not sure how I feel about that…anyways, I hope you have a GREAT time at your Spring Training game, that’s gotta be a lot of fun!!
http://kaybee.mlblogs.com
Jane,
I can just see the words coming out of the players mouths for your fantasy LOL. I’m not really sure what I’d think about a confidentiality code, it seems more like an unwritten rule to me. I guess they’re just afraid because Torre broke it. How long will you be in Florida? I might just have to make my way up to Tampa. Seeing that I can’t drive, I wonder how my father will take it when I tell him I want to go meet a Yankee fan (that I met over the internet nonetheless).
-Elizabeth
http://redsoxgirl46.mlblogs.com
She-Fan,
While in Tampa, if you get the chance, (and maybe a 50-foot head start and a clear lane), flatten the Rays catcher, snapping him like a Hershey bar, putting him out for at least half the season. Yes, there will probably be some criminal charges, and yes, there will be a court case involved. But somebody has to pay them back for Francisco Cervelli. el duque
Thanks, Kaybee. I really can’t wait. Just a little over a month away for my trip.
I’ll only be in FL from 3/4-9, Elizabeth. Basically, a long weekend. I know it would be asking a lot for your dad to drive you across the state to meet a Yankee fan. I understand, really I do!
Jane, I am envious of your trip to Florida. I hope you have a great time. I think that the Yankees do need confidentiality protection; more so than other teams because of the greater magnification of everything they do. I don’t want ‘sweet’ books about the Yankees, but on the other hand, Joe Torre shouldn’t be able to cause grief among the team. I have ordered my copy of Confessions of a She-Fan, and I can’t wait to read it. I’ll definitely be checking out some of your prior books too. Keep up the great work! You are an inspiration.
Scott
http://fotr.mlblogs.com/
I won’t be going to any games against the Rays, duque. But make no mistake. If I so much as see a Ray – whether it’s their catcher or their clubhouse attendant – I will take him out. Revenge will be sweet.
I just posted about this on your blog, Scott, so forgive me for repeating myself. I agree that it stinks that there’s a distraction just weeks before spring training starts. I hope the players will rally around each other, especially around Damon and A-Rod, and that it’ll all die down once Torre goes to Arizona and focuses on the Dodgers. But a confidentiality agreement? I don’t see it. On a happier note, thanks for ordering “She-Fan” and for making my day with your kind words.
Jane,
I agree, the Yankees’ reaction has been a bit extreme. A confidentiality agreement? Really? Wouldn’t it just be easier to say “no comment” and then wait until the whole thing blows over? I mean, all this publicity is probably just helping Torre sell copies of his book.
And any day the Tigers lose is a good day for me, so, yes, I’ll say it: Go Yanks.
-Erin
http://plunking-gomez.mlblogs.com
I’ll keep your rooting interest in mind when I’m at the Yanks-Tigers game, Erin. 🙂
WHOA! Guess his book is pretty torid.
http://ladyyankee.mlblogs.com/
Jane, you will see a Rays at the book signing, or did you forget. But I also was a third baseman.
Why do people bring up that garbage that happened almost one year ago. And the worst part of it all, Joe Girardi was a catcher and knows it happens all the time. It is not like you put Ray Fosse out there for Pete Rose to smack into retirement. I have forgot all about Shelly Duncan’s garbage, which he did get fined for…right?
I always thought it was a unwritten rule that you do not divulge anything negative about the team because it could hurt you in the long run in the wallet for not being able to due team sanctioned events and signings. I know Barry Bonds right now wishes his catcher has that agreement in his contract.
Maybe we should get Jenn to write up a preliminary writ to figure out if it would be iron clad in court. She is our budding law dog.
Rays Renegade
http://raysrenegade.mlblogs.com
Of course I didn’t forget, renegade. Never! And don’t mind the trash talk. Shelley did get fined and suspended, as did Melky Cabrera.
Ah, your book, a Barnes and Noble, Florida, sunshine, a baseball game…I feel a chorus of “These are a few of my favorite things” coming on.
-Kathy
http://redbirdchatter.mlblogs.com
I can’t think of anything better, Kathy. I’m really looking forward to going!