October 10, 2006
Purga-Torre Ends: Joe Gets to Stay
Joe Torre opened his press conference this afternoon by saying that he had “just gotten off the phone with George Steinbrenner and he has informed me that I will be the manager in 2007.” So closes one of the more bizarre 48 hours in Yankees’ history. First we heard Joe was gone, then he was coming back, and then no decision had been reached. (And somewhere in there, Giuliani called Steinbrenner to save Torre's job.) Now we know, Torre is returning.
The question is; what is he returning to? This team has to upgrade its pitching, so is Barry Zito going to be joining the rotation. After demoting A-Rod to the 8th spot, it is reasonable to assume that Joe might be sick of him and happy to see him go. Would the Yankees explore a trade with the Angels? The Angels and Astros made strong bids for Miguel Tejada at the trade deadline and the Yankees would be smart to see if they could receive similar deals where Ervin Santana or Roy Oswalt being the primary return.
Beyond the A-Rod soap opera, the Yankees have to decide whether or not to pick up Gary Sheffield and Mike Mussina’s options. Since Sheffield took another swipe at the organization on Monday, Gothamist votes to send him packing and see if they can get Mussina back at a lower salary next year.
What do you think, are you happy that Joe’s returning?
Photograph of Joe Torre during today's press conference by Frank Franklin II/AP
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There is no way that the Astros would trade Oswalt for A-Rod. He just signed an extension, and he is the only healthy proven SP on their roster. Brad Lidge might be a better place to start talking about a trade.
glad Joe is back. definitely shop a-rod but, with his postseason record only getting worse at every opportunity, i imagine his stock is lower now. sheff has got to go, it's too bad because when he wants to, he's a menace at the plate, but he's a total cancer. i'd like to see moose stay, they should explore shopping giambi as well while theyre at it (although i'm sure he's even less likely to waive any no-trade clauses than a-rod.) This would allow them to DH matsui more often and play melky in left almost everyday, which they should do. aside from that, this winter should be focused on pitching, pitching, pitching and pitching, with a little more pitching. oh, and they need to bring up a young catcher to learn from jorge while jorge is still good. sal fasano aint gonna be the starting catcher two or three years from now, which is all I think jorge's got left.
I am pleased to see Joe returning. He is a gifted manager and a beloved New York figure.
He managed a injured, elderly, pitching-impaired, ego-dystonic team to the best record in the majors. He played the hand he was dealt as best he could. Now, it's up to management to give him better cards for the next hand: A-Rod has got to go, Mussina and Sheff are no longer needed. Get Posada a decent back-up catcher, not a human St. Bernard (just put a miniature keg of whisky around Fasano's neck and send him to the Alps).
And, develop a farm system. Seems every promising minor leaguer becomes part of a trade for an aging star. Imagine a healthy Jeter, Cano, Matsui, Wang. Then imagine Zito and two other quality starters. And then, have patience: it may take a year or two to get back to the series.
Who gives a shit?
LET'S GO METS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let me first say that I'm a Mets fan, so take this for what you will.
Of course Torre shouldn't go. He's not responsible for this team, any more than his managing was responsible for the teams that won the World Series 4 times in 5 years. He was a mediocre manager with the Mets and Cards, and is still mediocre with the Yankees.
The Dynasty team was a real TEAM with chemistry and complementary parts. This team is just ill acquired pieces and poor planning. Hell, if Buck Showalter was given one more year, we'd be talking about his legacy now, not Joe's.
Cashman should go, and Steinbrenner should stick to writing the checks and not making personnel decisions once he gets a GM who knows what he's doing.
wow – there are no words to describe how little i care about this story.
i have a lot of respect for Joe Torre as a manager but seriously how is it that the yankees are still the news? they had "murderers row" and they still choked. let's go mets...you know the new york team still in the playoffs.
Does fucking Guiliani have to get his goddamn mug into everything? Jees, just go away... it's hard enough being a Yankee fan these days.
#8 i see you're not a Guiliani fan. can't imagine why.
glad 2C torre is back. i had a feeling he wasn't going anywhere soon.
#9, for a rudy fan, you sould learn how to spell his name.
anyway, if someone could please roll billy crystal and rudy giuliani up in a carpet and throw them off the willis avenue bridge, the world would be a better place.
sheff has got to be gone, but i hope he stays. didn't anyone notice how he threw joe under the bus after the loss to the tigers? classic.
#10... you're a true idiot, i repsect that.
my spelling has nothing to do with the fact that he giuliani was the best damn mayor the city has had in over 50 years. you're just to ignorant to see it straight, which i respect, it's your right.
btw, kudos on spell checking your own blurb. sadly, you missed some grammar. :P
ed, you are douche bag, and I certainly do not have any respect for you or Rudy the grave dancer G.
Thank God. I'm so glad Joe is here to stay.
So, which of Steinbrenner's relatives do you think Torre has explicit photographs of?