Joe Torre barely survived last year's first-round loss to the Detroit Tigers before getting a reprieve thanks to impassioned pleas by Brian Cashman and others. People were calling for his head at the end of May when the Yankees were 14 1/2 games out of first, battling the Devil Rays for the cellar instead of the Red Sox for the division. He survived again, though, and the team thrived, but conventional wisdom held that the Yankees had to get beyond the ALDS, probably to the World Series, for Torre to have any shot at a 13th year in the dugout. That wisdom has been confirmed by George Steinbrenner in a phone interview with the Bergen Record.
"His job is on the line. I think we're paying him a lot of money. He's the highest-paid manager in baseball, so I don't think we'd take him back if we don't win this series."Big Stein hasn't been the fixture around the team and the Stadium that he once was, leading to speculation that he was ceding control to his sons but he told Ian O'Connor that he is "in full control" of the Yankee decisions.
He also denied rumors of declining health, called Bruce Froemming "full of s---" for allowing Friday's game to be played in a midge swarm and said that he thinks Alex Rodriguez will resign with the team. It was the most Big Stein has had to say about the team all season and, refreshingly, it didn't come via a letter or press release but straight from the mouth of the calzone-loving owner.
Steinbrenner made some similar comments about Torre right after last season's loss so prospective replacements shouldn't polish off their resumes just yet. That said, it's nearly impossible to see how he could return to the team if they should lose to the Indians. Beyond Steinbrenner's statement there are too many questions about the way Torre manages his bullpen and a general feeling that the team needs a new voice as the old guard of players clear out of the Bronx.
Derek Jeter, save a 2005 cup of java with Buck Showalter, and Jorge Posada have never played for another manager in the big leagues and have never shied from proclaiming their love for Torre. They should start showing their love with hits and not words. A-Rod always bears the brunt of October struggles but these two stalwarts have been awful, 1-for-15, through two games and, ironically, would be heavily responsible for the firing of the manager they love so well.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-07-2007 @ 12:28PM
Red Sox Fan said...
Bye Bye Torre... Bye Bye Yanks... Go Sox!!!
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10-07-2007 @ 12:40PM
sue said...
go tribe time for some teams other than yanks to get the chance at series
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10-07-2007 @ 12:45PM
OSU 1 ROX said...
JOE TORRE IS A GOOD GUY, BUT THE ENTIRE TRIBE ORGANIZATION HAS DONE MANY THINGS RIGHT THIS YEAR.GO INDIANS!
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10-07-2007 @ 12:53PM
carmine said...
Joe is tradition, just like the old stadium. what ever happened to loyality in this game.. I know baseball is now a bigger business than ever, but what ever happened to the joy of the game, instead of the greed of the industry. Joe and his team have soul. Money can buy alot of things, soul , not being one of them. That comes from the heart.Youor the best in the game Joe!
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10-07-2007 @ 12:58PM
joe said...
born and raised in NY...YANKEE blue in my veins...GEORGE is right...Torre has been a great politician in NY...but everywhere he has managed has been a looser...hasnt been able to win since ZIMMER...(the real brains on the bench)..left...taking the Yankees..to the post season is a no brainer..even if the Yanks should get hot and go all the way...Joe is a horrible tactical mang...bring on JOE GIRADE
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10-07-2007 @ 1:07PM
UNCLE T said...
HEY, I DONT THINK IT HAS A THING TO DO WITH TORRE AND THE YANKS I THINK THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE JUST SIMPLY UNDERESTIMATED THE TRIBE, THOSE GUYS HAVE BUILT A TRUE TEAM THEY PLAY TOGETHER NOT AS INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS LIKE THE A-ROD AND COMPANY DOES. MLB FANS SHOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THE INDIANS FOR BEING A GREAT BALL CLUB THIS YEAR!!!!!!!
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10-07-2007 @ 1:36PM
Greg said...
Just like the Yankees to take something good and throw it in the trash. They need a team, not a bunch of players.
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10-07-2007 @ 1:46PM
Chet Lewis said...
Joe has been a great manager for the Yankees, but I think he is unable now to take the Yanks all the way. He has lost that ability. He has had a good run with the Yankees, but it is now time for him to step aside, and let new blood take over as manager. This is what the Yanks need for the future success of the team. Also, say goodbye to A-Rod. He puts up the numbers, but never when they really count. He will not be missed by the Yankees, and the team will be a bigger success without him. The only way the Yanks will go all the way again is when they get really hungry, and win with players that are hungry and not super stars. They need to work on a new and improved pitching staff. This has been the problem for the Yanks for several years now, and they never do anything about it. Half of their pitching staff now is excess baggage. I have just one more thought. Roger Clemens is old and unable to really pitch anymore. He is excess baggage. He took the Yankees for 28 million dollars, and the Yankees bought it. What a deal for Roger. It is past time for him to hang it up. He is scheduled to pitch tonight against Cleveland. I say that there is a 75% chance that he will literally fall apart and lose this final game for the Yankees big time. What a shame to end like that. Maybe next year.
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10-07-2007 @ 1:50PM
ALAN said...
JOE TORRE DID WONDERS KEEPING THE YANKEE'S HEADS ABOVE WATER IN THE FIRST 3 MONTHS OF THE SEASON. HE HAD A SH*T PITCHING STAFF AND ABREU WAS A FAT PIG. HE GOT THE TEAM IN SHAPE DURING THOSE 3 MONTHS AND MADE A DRIVE FOR THE PENNANT THAT HAD THE SOX WORRIED THE LAST 6 WEEKS OF THE SEASON. IN THE ALDS HE CAN'T GO TO BAT FOR ZEROROD AND HE CAN'T GO TO THE MOUND FOR THE MOOSE.
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10-07-2007 @ 1:53PM
Rich said...
I guess it's Torre's fault that the Yankee bats are being silenced again by good pitching. Pitching wins in the playoffs 90% of the time. All anyone need do is look at all the other playoff series this year to see that. Even the Rockies won with great pitching over the Phillies.
It's not Torre's job to bring in great pitching, but I guess someone has to be the scapegoat.
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10-07-2007 @ 2:14PM
sue said...
salute to joe for the great job and preformances in past series pretty sad that a team owner would fire the best coach he had over losing a dumb playoff
is that called bad sportman ship or what
hey joe mind if i send a few canadian soldiers (midge bugs) to the statium tonight go tribe new york owner shooting himself in foot if he fires joe
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10-07-2007 @ 2:41PM
Brad Kinne said...
Mr Iorre has nodded of during games if he isn't standing up. When Don Zimmer left so did the brains of the Yankees---Joe is nothing with Zimmer.
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10-07-2007 @ 2:46PM
John said...
Torre is not to blame for the last two losses but he should be given a lot of credit for getting them there. I bleed pinstripes but the reality is thier pitching sucks............ Wang is a decent pitcher but when you think #1 pitcher for a championship team he is not exactly the first that comes top mind. The Moose needsa to be put out to stud. Clements put fannys in the seat but other than that a total waste. Pettite pitched a great game on Friday but has not been consistent. Their bullpen is a mess. Let A-Rod go, use the money for quality pitching, make Jaba the closerand for God's sake keep Torre.
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10-07-2007 @ 3:40PM
ron said...
Joe will end up probably with the Cardinals after Tony leaves. All he has is a bunch of millionaires playing that could care less about the post season. He can't make them want to play hard. Playoff money to them is like $5 to the rest of us. I am not even a Yankee fan.
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10-07-2007 @ 3:53PM
numba1stunna74x said...
fire torre and cashman..Joe Giradi time...joe torre has lost his passion.
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10-07-2007 @ 4:44PM
Mario said...
Joe Torre has managed the Yankees with intelligence, dignity, and aplomb over the years. He has mastered the task of dealing with big egos, the press, a relentless fanbase, injuries, aging pitching, and inexperienced rookies, and to top it off Mr Steinbrenner's cut-throat tactics. Quite a piece of cake, right?
Joe Torre deserves respect as one of the best in the business. Baseball is a team sport and all the players in the roster have to perform to win; not just the manager or any individual player, Alex Rodriguez or whomever else.
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10-07-2007 @ 6:38PM
Clay Coey said...
Personally, I have always thought Torre (and pretty much EVERY Yankee Manager since 1970) has been overrated. I mean, if you CAN'T win the World Series EVERY year with an obscene payroll like Torre has, then perhaps you should be fired.
On the Other hand, George Steinbrenner is an asshole, he has ruined baseball singlehandedly, and is a monster to work for. Since he is "always in full control", then exactly how much control can a field manager have anyway? A-Rod, Jeter, Mussina, and the rest of the over-paid prima donnas know EXACTLY to whom they answer, and it isn't Joe Torre. If they want to continue to make the long green that they do, they will leave Torre out to dangle in the wind.
Too many people think Torre is this "great manager." But they forget that he wasn't that great in St.Louis, and sucked when he managed the Mets. A TRUE test of Torre's ability would be to see if he could be a good manager on a team like the Pittsburgh Pirates. NO payroll, NO recent history of winning, NO upper management skills at all (so Torre would likely be free to manage his own way), but a bunch of promising arms, and some good outfielders to build a team around.
If I were Torre, I would tell Steinbrenner to shove it sideways, take the Pittsburgh job, manage in obscurity where there is no pressure, for a lot less money (he is set forever anyway), and if he REALLY is as good as he and his fans say...then try to win there. If he does, then Steinbrenner will once again be proven to be the jackass he is, and will accomplish nothing more than age some more, so that when he eventually kicks the bucket...baseball can return to normal in NY.
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10-07-2007 @ 7:01PM
Dora said...
Why does Steinbreener think he has to be in the World Series every year, what if all of the other owners went around pouting like he does if he doesn't win or get to the World Series, give me a break, it's about time for the other teams to shine.
Joe did the best he could I'm sure.
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10-07-2007 @ 7:08PM
phatpat253 said...
Joe has brought this team back from a 17 game deficit. Now, for George to say that he will be gone if they don't win the playoff's??
All I can say is, George, have a nice trip to hell!
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10-07-2007 @ 8:07PM
Gary Mayer said...
An owner can do whatever he wants; with that payroll the Yankees should blow every other team out - they should play .700 ball.
As far as the TBS broadcasting crew goes, they suck! Who said the Yankees lad the world in home runs with 201? The Brewers hit 231! Get your facts straight. And, Tony Gywnn, Shame on you, your son plays for the Brewers.
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