Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Jeff Passan says Torre is overrated.

"One look at Alex Rodriguez this postseason, just killing everything he sees, and it’s evident: Something is different. Left unsaid is the reason he dare not mention, because A-Rod has finally learned that sometimes the truth is best read between the lines.

Joe Torre is gone from New York, and the Yankees are better for it."

I actually agree with that conclusion.

First of all, the bullpen management that Girardi is currently being criticized for ... I mean, c'mon, get serious. Torre would have thrown Pettitte for 7 2/3 innings, invoking the 1996 World Series, and then Torre would have brought in Bruney for the rest of the game.

Or, more likely, the Yankees wouldn't have a bullpen. They'd all have been Scott Proctored during the regular season.

Also, while the player is ultimately responsible for their on-field performance, Torre was a prick. Torre only cared about the Four Ring Club and everybody else was treated like a dog.


"It also reinforces the double standard that exists for Torre as he skates to his ninth straight season without a championship after winning four in five years with the Yankees."

That's why it's offensive to listen to Torre continually bring up the past successes. He even did it after the Yankees lost to Detroit in the playoffs.


"Torre starred in a commercial before he managed a game in Los Angeles. He wrote a tell-all book about his decade with the Yankees after spending a year with the Dodgers. Torre is about Torre."

Yep.

"The pregame scouting report, Mr. Torre? Bigelow Tea moved 650,000 units and your cut is $24,000."

" 'Ain’t nothing Mr. Torre can do,' Dodgers second baseman Orlando Hudson said. 'His playing days are over with. All he can do is put the lineup out there and tell us to go about it.

'What can he do? Come over here, bend us all over and spank us?' "

No, he wouldn't bend you over and spank you. He'd ask you to sit on his lap while he tells stories about Warren Spahn.

Perhaps there's nothing Torre can do.

Perhaps managers receive too much credit and too much blame.

If so, Torre may need to refund his $4 million.


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