SI.com: Have you been surprised and/or frustrated at all by the initial reaction to the book? Or, are you pleased that it is causing a buzz?
Verducci: I was somewhat surprised initially by the amount of attention, especially created by the early misrepresentations of the book. It was somewhat frustrating to hear people, especially in the media, react to a book they had not read. But when people read the book, and this was quickly evident from the major reviews, they understood the context, scope and tone of the book.
SI.com: Torre is taking some heat in New York for the timing of the book as if it is sour grapes on his part. What do you believe was his motivation for wanting to tell his story now?
Verducci: His motivation was clear from start to finish: to inform the reader with insight into an incredibly successful era of Yankees history. He wanted to share his view from a front row, center seat to history. There never were any sour grapes. He left the Yankees, as the book details, with a sense of relief.