Please, Bernie, Just Retire
Bernie Williams has been a New York Yankee for more than half of my life. I have a vague recollection of his 1991 debut, which is to say I remember little more than hearing my dad say his name once or twice.
But as long as I have been an engaged fan, Bernie has been there, conducting himself with humility, passion, and class. His mastery with the bat, selflessness, and calm demeanor were instrumental to New York’s success over the last sixteen seasons, but there comes a time when that’s no longer enough to warrant a roster spot.
Bernie claims that he is neither ready to retire nor willing to play for another team, so when the Yankees offered him a minor league contract with a non-roster Spring Training invitation, I thought he’d jump on it.
Sure, twenty-year-olds playing for the Trenton Thunder can manage as much but what better way to prove the front office wrong than to take the offer, tear it up in Tampa, and earn a spot, right? Nah. Turns out that’s an insulting proposition. Williams rejected the offer, or is leaning toward doing so, at the very least. To make matters worse, he plans to stay in shape at home until the Yankees call with a guaranteed contract.
Williams said, he would maintain a waiting game of sorts by staying home, staying in shape, spurning offers of guaranteed contracts from other teams and waiting for the Yankees to change their minds and offer him a guaranteed spot on the roster… – New York Times
Hey Bernie, unless the contract is for a one day stretch, they’re not gonna call. You’ve been around two years too long and everyone knows it. And it’s not just the front office, it’s also the fans. The wild cheers for you at Yankee Stadium over the last two years have been as much a sign of love, respect, and appreciation as gentle nudges out the door.
Since 2003, I’ve been concerned that something like this would happen but never thought Bernie would be the type to allow it. Someone had to step aside when he made the 25-man roster 16 seasons ago and I assumed he’d realize when it was his turn to do the same.
So when Johnny Damon came into the fold and Cashman gave Williams a one-year extension, I figured the end was nigh. 2006 would be the Bernie Williams Farewell Tour. Then in 2007, he’d return to Yankee Stadium for Bernie Williams Day, John Sterling would yell "Bern, baby, Bern" across the radio waves one last time, and we’d say our final goodbyes to a legend. Sounded like a plan, yeah? But no. That’s not how Bernie is choosing to play it. Instead of walking away from the game with class and dignity, he’s taken on the "rip the jersey off my back" mentality, which only works on an organization if you’re Brett Favre.
At 38 years old, Bernie Williams is no more suited to play center field than first base. His slow legs and noodle arm make him a defensive liability and while he can still be effective at the plate, he can’t provide what the Yankees truly need and have lacked on the bench for so long – the ability to pinch hit, steal, or lay down a bunt. The only thing Bernie’s rocking right now is a fading talent for batting against left-handed pitchers and he doesn’t even bat all that much. Please tell me how that aids our side in a World Championship run.
Now, it’d be nice if the front office could do a one-day, send-off contract but with Williams still thinking he’s a gold glover, he’d probably take that as an insult as well. The truth is, the front office has treated him with respect and done their due diligence. They didn’t want to reach the point where Cashman had to say,"Hey fella, you’re the #5 outfielder and you aren’t good enough;" where Joe Torre had to unceremoniously cut him before Opening Day; where Bernie would get the dubious honor of the non-roster Spring Training invite.
They tried to nudge him gently, they tried to push him quietly, but he refused and here we are. Bernie was a great Yankee and I’ve loved and appreciated what he’s given us but his time is done. Soon enough, he’ll see that being kept on this team as a reward for years of production would be a disservice to his legacy. And as callous as it sounds and likely is, I applaud the Yankees front office for recognizing this and putting sentimentality aside to do what’s best for this team.
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I am a jaded, sarcastic girl prone to unreasonable fits of rage. This site is my outlet. I am not classy, nice, or fair. It's best you know that up front.
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Well put, that’s basically how it is with Bern. It’s just sad to see his career end this way. I don’t know what he did last season to make him think he could pull out another. He filled in reasonably well for Matsui while he was out but that doesnt’ change the fact that he’s the #5 OF and the #2 or #3 pinch hitting option. He’s nothing but a warm body at this point. Hopefully, Cashman’s hard stand is pounding that point home.
Saying stuff like “if they wanted me they woulda signed me” but then saying that he’ll wait for them to change their minds is just crazy. On one hand he knows it’s over and on the other, he can’t deal with it. His common sense is gonna kick in real soon and it’s all gonna be done but it’s sad that it has to end like this.
Lewis Black does a bit about a guy named Bob sitting next to him in a bar and being friendly with the guy, buying drinks back and forth, showing him pictures of his kids and then he tries to sell him insurance
“Thats when you have to say FUCK YOU Bob”
Replace Bob with Bernie and thats the situation the Yankees are in. Bernie has been good for the Yankees and the Yankees have been good to him.
But at this point, Bernie is just damaging his good name amongst Yankee fans and tarnishing his proud legacy.
Bernie can’t hang it up..how many baseball players have a hard time saying adios? lots..its not like football where your getting your head beat in and you walk with a limp from Monday thru Wednesday.
What’s interesting about Bern is he’s got something to fall back on. Most ball players (pro athletes in gen) don’t have anywhere else to turn. But he’s one helluva musician and he’s got prospects after baseball. I’m surprised that wouldn’t make the transition easier for him.
And the ST offer was just a PR move. They aren’t extending it beyond that. He’ll wise up.
This only turns out bad if he can’t walk away and winds up playing for a shitter like Tampa Bay.
“how many baseball players have a hard time saying adios?”
With the current demogrpahics of baseball, I think that is a trick question.
It doesn’t matter how many aging players have trouble saying adios, Dusty. Most don’t even get the option. They get cut or retire before the humiliation of getting cut. And that especially goes for football where GMs don’t let their emotions impact the roster unless you’re in Green Bay.
Say what you want about them giving Williams a fair shake but they’ll never do that to Derek Jeter. Jeter will be on the 25-man until he decides its time.
Williams did this to himself. It’s not the Yankees fault that he can’t come to grips with being too old and not good enough.
He acts like the Yankees have 400 at-bats for him to take. Unless two outfielders get hurt, he wouldn’t take 40 bats all year.
Planning to play fantasy baseball this year and get another ulcer, Flash?
DEAR SIR IAM A 76 YEAR OLD ARDENT YANKEE FAN WHO CAN SEE VERY FEW YANKEE GAMES BUT SINCE 1996 HAVE LOVED THEM SOMEWHAT BECAUSE OF JOE TORRE BUT MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THE BEST PLAYER IN THIS ERA IN AND OUT OF THE LINES, DEREK JETER IM WORRIED ABOUT DEREK EVER SINCE MENTAL CASE A ROD WHY ARE PEOPLE DISSING DEREK BECAUSE ALEX IS SO SELF ABSORBED? THANKS FOR ACCEPTING MY E MAIL