October 20, 2007

Joe Torre Era (almost) officially over in the Bronx

The Joe Torre Era appears to be over in the Bronx, though it isn't officially over until the Yankees sign a new manager. And even then, it's not necessarily over.

Torre this week turned down a one-year contract worth $5 million – a pay cut of more than $2 million -- with $1 million bonuses for each playoff series won and a second year kicking in if he were to lead the team to the World Series. On Friday he took questions from the press for more than an hour, discussing the reasons for his decision.

Much has been made of principal owner George Steinbrenner's abdication of the throne and the ascension of sons Hal and Hank Steinbrenner. More important has been the power grab made by team president Randy Levine, who is clearly in the driver's seat. Asked about his relationship with Levine, Torre double-clutched before shaking his head and saying he didn't have one. This is nonsense.

But the true measure of Torre's anger at the Yankees could be seen when he was asked if he was open to coming back to the stadium for an Old Timers Day, he responded tersely, "I'm really not prepared to comment on that."

"Good for Joe," said Seattle manager John McLaren, after the news. "He gets to go out on his own terms. Class act all the way."

McLaren got it half right; Torre is a class act all the way. But don't think for a moment Torre went out "on his own terms." Torre didn't jump, he was pushed. If he'd packed up his locker the day after the Yankees got bounced from the playoffs, that would've been "on his own terms." Instead, the Yankees engaged in this foolish kabuki, trying to create the illusion that they wanted Torre back. This, too, is nonsense.

If the Yankees (read: Levine) wanted him back, they would've offered him a two-year extension, screw the pay cut and incentives.

Mike Francesca of WFAN was rightly outraged by the whole display. He called out the Yankees for suddenly tightening their budget following a season in which the team invested $26,000,194 just for the rights to Kei Igawa.

Francesca also considered the idea that Torre needed financial incentives to win as absurd. Torre learned how to win from John Wooden and Bob Gibson, two men who have forgotten more about winning then Randy Levine will ever know.

Of the incentives, Torre himself was clear about his disgust.

"I just felt the contract offer, the terms of the contract, were probably the thing I had the toughest time with -- the one year for one thing, the incentives for another thing. I've been there 12 years and I didn't think motivation was needed."

The obvious question is who will replace Torre? Don Mattingly's legacy is impeccable, whether he's willing to risk is a question. Joe Girardi already got fired after winning NL Manager of the Year because he wouldn't toe the company line, which is clearly a new job requirement. Tony LaRussa is a sexy "what if" guess, but he's a miserable churl who hates the media and even his 2006 championship team was terrible. Tony Pena is an absurd dark horse candidate who will be put through an interview per the Selig Mandate. A late-comer to the conversation is former Yankee minor-league manager Trey Hillman, who is currently pulling the strings for the Nippon Ham Fighters in the Japan World Series, but he just signed on to mange the Kansas City Royals.

Regardless of who lands the job, the Yankees front office is on a huge hook. Torre's departure makes retaining Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera all the more crucial. And God forbid the Yankees don't make it to the playoffs. …

Whether or not Torre is gone for good is unclear. There are any number of reasonable scenarios by which he could be back in pinstripes. But as the eighth winningest manager in the game's history he has earned himself a place in the Hall of Fame and left with his reputation and dignity fully intact.

Image credit: New York Yankees Replica Customized Home Jersey.

-- By NewYorkology contributor Scott Ross

October 20, 2007 11:53 AM in Sports

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