The zen has left the Bronx. Torre saved face and refused the Yanks 5 mil one year contract. According to Bristol, the greatest baseball manager who ever lived just retired. Truth be told, old Joe left a great deal of questions unanswered regarding his managing ability.
He inherited a very young, talented team from Showalter. They went on to beat up on a then weak eastern division for years. But as the Yanks once again abandoned the youth program, Torre was challenged to get out of the ALDS these last 3 years. Worst of all, Boston has owned them in recent memory.
When your players love you to the last man, we know that you're not pushing your players. They should dislike, but respect you. In the end, Torre will be judged by the success of his replacement. He was in the perfect storm for so many years, but in the end New York got the best of him.
4 comments:
I think Torre is so overrated. He has turned the Yankees into the Atlanta Braves with a 200 Million payroll.
Wow, I think you should stick to your beloved Cubbies. I know Sweet Lou's job in this year's post-season has you spoiled for any other manager, but my God.
How about some simple facts. In twelve years, Torre's Yankees won the ALEast 10 times. When was the Division weak? In the mid-late 90's the Orioles were very good and actually had higher payrolls. In his first year the Yankees defeated the heavily favored Braves (despite losing the first 2 games) 4-2 in the W.S. That started a run of 14 straight wins in world series games (which includes the 4-game sweep of Braves in '99 -- but "he turned the Yankees into the Braves.") In his first 6 years with Yanks they won 4 titles and were 3 outs away from a 4-peat (19-7 record in W.S. games). Which of course became the problem because it was these absolutely sick results that Torre and the Yanks would be measured against from then on.
It was then that the payroll really exploded because they rewarded the players who won with long-term higher money but also felt the pressure to keep winning by bringing in big money free agents. That led to horrible personel decisions that Torre was not responsible for but had to deal with. (Pavano & Wright!!) Starting Kevin Brown in a game 7 of the 2004 ALCS for example (which was the only time the Red Sox have beaten the Yanks in "recent" or any memory -- I guess you forgot the 5-game sweep in Fenway and the Sox's 3rd place last year and the Yanks clinching the division with a win in Fenway in '2005, Jesus I think they took 8 of the last 9 against the Sox this year!)
Torre's job this year was arguably his best. Early injuries and slumps forced numerous rookie starters and a 21-29 start in the toughest division in baseball (the Blue Jays would have had 90 wins in the NLCentral). He kept everyone together, seemlessly incorporated the young guys (Yanks often started 6 or 7 home-grown players) and made the playoffs for the 12th straight year.
Finally players should not "dislike" their manager -- what is this Texas H.S. football? These are professionals playing a 162-game schedule in the NY media fishbowl. You think some guy putting his fist through a chalkboard is gonna impress Mariano Rivera? Torre was perfect for this time and place. Was it time for a change, perhaps. But these criticisms were both factually off and crazy. Nothing personal though -- any time you have an extra ticket for Wrigley give me a call and I'll second-guess Lou with you.
Well said gallo! They are after all the N.Y. Yankees. Perhaps Torre was a victim of his own success. Like the Bulls of the 90's you take winning for granted and when they can no longer bring the title home, all criticisms attempt to find some validity.
Thanks for the venue to vent. It's been a very emotional 2 weeks (or 12 years). Being the manager of the Yankees always reminded me of the scene in Goodfellas were the restaurant guy goes in with Paulie (ironically played by Paul Sorvino who also played Joe Torre)and then has to torch the place because he can't make the juice payments. Every excuse was met with the response "F... You, Pay Me! With the Yanks, every excuse is met with "F... You, Just Win!" With the history and the financial advantages I understand this and would not have it any other way but sometimes a great guy like Joe takes the hit.
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