When Javy Vazquez comes out of the bullpen in the second inning to pitch to Johnny Damon with the bases loaded, one gets the idea that Torre isn't trying to win that day's game. One gets the sense that Torre has ulterior motives: Save Mussina for the World Series, give Loaiza some confidence for the World Series and beyond, etc.
Torre isn't doing anything differently. It's just that a lot of his quizzical moves have a tendency to work out ... what with the good players and all. When his moves don't work out, folks start to notice that they were kind of dumb in the first place.
Really, it's not even the moves working out, it's just the team winning. Torre may have made some bad moves in Game Three, but his team scored 19 runs, so it's all forgotten.
As for his demeanor, I think he's so addicted to the calm, avuncular shtick, that he wouldn't be able to emotionally inspire his team even if the situation demanded it. Torre would dismiss this as a panic move.
Of course, no matter how clam his exterior demeanor was, the real panic move was bringing in Mariano in the 8th inning of game five.
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