Posted on 10/10/2006 11:36:28 AM PDT by Mr. Mojo
Joe Torre will remain as manager of the New York Yankees, finally getting the word from owner George Steinbrenner after the team's surprise elimination from the playoffs last weekend.
Torre spoke with Steinbrenner on the telephone Tuesday, shortly before he walked into the interview room at Yankee Stadium and made the announcement.
"He gave me his support," Torre said. "I'm just pleased I'm able to stay on and do this."
Torre didn't go into detail about his conversations with Steinbrenner.
But Steinbrenner, in a statement issued through spokesman Howard Rubenstein, said:
"I spoke to Joe Torre today and I told him: `You're back for the year. I expect a great deal from you and the entire team. I have high expectations, and I want to see enthusiasm, a fighting spirit and a team that works together. Responsibility is yours, Joe, and all of the Yankees.'
"Yes, I am deeply disappointed about our loss this year," Steinbrenner added. "We have to do better, and I deeply want a championship. It's about time."
Torre said he also spoke to Steinbrenner on Monday "for probably 15, 20 minutes, and we discussed a lot of things: the team, what we do from here and things like that."
The Daily News reported Sunday that Steinbrenner was expected to fire Torre after the Yankees were eliminated by the Detroit Tigers, the Yankees' second straight elimination in the first round of the AL playoffs. The paper said the likely replacement would be Lou Piniella, who served two terms as Yankees manager in the 1980s. On Tuesday, the New York Post said on its cover that Torre's job was safe.
Torre didn't make any public statements Sunday or Monday as camera crews camped outside his home in suburban Westchester.
"I thought I had the cure for cancer or something," Torre said.
While the Yankees won four World Series titles in Torre's first five seasons, they haven't won any since 2000, angering the demanding Steinbrenner. They haven't even reached the World Series since 2000.
"He requires a lot. He expects a lot. We know that," Torre said. "You can't pick and choose the parts you like about working for George Steinbrenner. You have to understand the whole package. He requires us to be the best team out there and to be able to perform like it."
Torre, hired after the 1995 season, has one year remaining on his contract. He said he wasn't sure whether he wanted to manage beyond 2007.
Late in the season and during the playoffs, he made several controversial decisions. He moved right fielder Gary Sheffield to first base when he returned from wrist surgery, and put Hideki Matsui back in left in place of Melky Cabrera when Matsui came back from a broken wrist.
The most debated decision was when he dropped Alex Rodriguez, baseball's highest-paid player at $252 million, to the No. 8 spot in the batting order for Saturday's season-ending 8-3 loss.
Rodriguez was repeatedly booed at Yankee Stadium this season, his third with New York.
"I want to believe that, yes, as far as I'm concerned, Alex Rodriguez is one of the important pieces to this puzzle here," Torre said.
With 1,973 regular-season wins, Torre is 10th on the career list and third among active managers behind Tony La Russa of the St. Louis Cardinals (2,297) and Bobby Cox (2,171) of the Atlanta Braves.
Torre has the longest uninterrupted term for a Yankees manager since Casey Stengel held the job for 12 years from 1949-60. Under Torre, the Yankees have gone 1,079-699. He trails only Joe McCarthy (1,460) and Stengel (1,149) for victories among Yankees managers.
Inexcusable incompetence at the AP yet again -- the Yanks reached the WS in 2001 (when they lost to the Diamondbacks) and again in 2003 (when they lost to the Marlins).
Torre said he also spoke to Steinbrenner on Monday "for probably 15, 20 minutes, and we discussed a lot of things: the team, what we do from here and things like that."
One word: Pitching. Shaky starting pitching and, aside from Mariano in the pen, terrible relief pitching. I suspect (GM) Cashman is getting an earful.
2007 is Torre's final year on his contract and I suspect will be the last season he coaches the Yanks, whether they win the WS or not.
A "normal" owner would let Torre finish out is contract and retire at the end of next season. However, Steinbrenner is not a normal owner and could decide to do something as ridiculous as firing him in-between innings of their opening game next year.
While I like Torre I thought after the thrashing by the Tigers he would be out of there.
Wonder if pAy-Rod is sticking around.
On Mike & Mike in the Morning this morning one of the topics of discussion was what Lou Piniella will do if the Yankees job doesn't open up (as we now know it won't).
The Yankees not getting to or winning the WS gives joy to many of those with also ran teams like the Brewers.
Yankees defense stinks as well, and no one talks of addressing that. They are doomed to continue losing short series until they wake up.
Tankees need to develop their own younger pitchers and stop trading away all their young talent. Randy Johnson too old, Jaret Wright too inconsistent, middle relief bullpen is awful. Need a speedy player like Jose Reyes or Juan Pierre. Keep A-Rod but he should play in a winter league to practice his 3rd base fielding skills. Trading Jose Contreras and letting El Duque go were mistakes. Pitching is what the Blankees need BIGTIME. This is a good team that needs tweaking. Also want to see more energy out of all the Yankees. Glad Torre is staying on..he is not the problem.
Contraire to the media and publicity, its pretty much an open secret that Steinbrenner may sign the checks, but he has no control over the team anymore (he also has a few other problems).
He is good for a (revised) quote here and there, but the fact that he has problems remembering players names, or recognising reporters who have covered the team for years, or even problems walking suggests that he is now more of a figurehead.
The guys running the team are Steve Swindal (his son in law), Randy Levine, and Brian Cashman. Steinbrenner, who used to talk to the press often and blast people now uses a spokesperson to do everything (and the other day, forgot the persons name (Rubenstein), and referred to him as "the firm", that tells you everything you need to know about this team now.
Few things funnier in sports than fans of the 3rd place (in the division) Red Sox mindlessly chanting "Yankees Suck."
I can't believe Torre is staying, he played like crap!
Yep, the Boss isn't quite as sharp as he used to be. ...to understate the matter. Last couple times he's made TV appearances were embarrassing affairs.
Hey, for 7 million , I'd coach the Yankees too. ;-)
(and I'm an old-timer Hamm's&Twinkie fan.)
It wasn't about what the Yankees didn't do, it was about what the Tigers, DID DO. Beat the stuffing out of the media's darlings. Sheesh.
Whew! Went to Friday's masterpiece by Rodgers. (Whose Your Tiger?)
Please Lou...come to San Diego...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.