The Joe Torre Unsafe In The Bullpen Foundation

Hi. This is HBox. I am here tonight to speak to you about an issue near and dear to my heart. Reliever abuse.

There can be nothing more devastating to a reliever than inappropiate and over-use. The bullpen should be a sancutary, a safe harbor from every storm. Yet, for many Yankee relievers, the Yankee bullpen is a place of danger and fear of an abusive manager.

Paul Quantrill knows that fear. He lived it as a Yankee. Even in his early days, Paul stayed away from the bullpen, fearful of his own manager, who abused his closer.

I interviewed Paul about his experience in the Yankee bullpen.

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HBox: Tell me about your life in the bullpen before Joe Torre.

PQ: It was great.I was used sensibly and I pitched great. One year I had a sub-2 ERA!

HBox: What happened next?

PQ: He, Joe, he........

HBox: Did he pitch you?

PQ: (crying) yes....... he pitched me.........

HBox: Where did he pitch you? Show me on the box score.

PQ: One time....... he pitched me....... with an 11 run lead........... for almost 3 innings!!!!!

HBox: I'm sorry, do you need to take a minute?

PQ: No..... No..... go on.

HBox: How.......how often did he pitch you?

PQ: One time he pitched me 10 times in a 14 game stretch! 12 innings in 14 games! A MAN CAN ONLY TAKE SO MUCH!!!!!

HBox: And what happened next?

PQ: My ERA went up 3 runs! My beautiful ERA was gone forever. Next thing I knew I was in Florida, then San Diego. Now I'm out of the league. My...... MY CAREER IS OVER!!!! (hysterically crying)

HBox: I'm so sorry. Johnny, cut the tape.

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But poor Paul is not the only victim.

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My name is Tanyon Sturtze. Before I came to New York, no one wanted to pitch me anymore. But then Joe Torre entered my life. He pitched me all the time. At first I loved it. I was pitching great for the first time in my life! But then he kept on pitching me, and pitching me, and pitching me. HE WOULDN'T STOP PITCHING ME!!!!!! Pretty soon I was on the DL with a "tired arm." No one ever saw me again.

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Luckily there have been those who have escaped the Yankee Bullpen.

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HBox: Tell me about your time in the Yankee Bullpen.

Tom Gordon: Wow. That was a rough time. Two years that felt like ten.

HBox: How much did he pitch you?

TG: Let me put it this way. I pitched more in my two years in the Yankee bullpen than I did in the 4 years before that.

HBox: Oh my. What happened next.

TG: I got the fuck out of there bitch! No amount of money would have kept me there.

HBox: You must have really wanted out.

TG: I NEEDED out. I went to fucking Philadelphia! A team with a miserable fanbase, a lousy team at the time and a park the size of a Little League stadium! Speaks for itself.

HBox: Did you get out unscathed?

TG: Not really. My ERA is up a run even thought I went down to the junior league. And I ended up on the DL. I'll........ I'll never be the same. (starts crying)

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There are those who can survive the horrors of the Torre bullpen.

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I like to pitch the beisbol.

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IF SOME MOTHERFUCKER TRIES TO PITCH ME TWO DAYS IN A ROW I'LL RIP THEIR HEAD OFF AND SHIT DOWN THEIR NECK!!!!!!!!

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Unfortunately this horrible menace still exists in the Yankee clubhouse. The mere sound of the bullpen phone elicits tears from cowered relievers. Relief pitchers are so beaten down they cannot make eye contact. They live in fear for their very careers.

But you can help. Tanyon and Paul may already be lost, but we CAN save the next generation. It all starts with you.

If you see either of these men, Scott Proctor or Ron Villone, pitching in games with more than 3 run leads or on consecutive days call your local authorities immediately. If you don't want to see these talented relievers go the way of Paul Quantirll and Tanyon Sturtze you must help. It is up to you to help those who can't help themselves.