I am inclined to disagree.

Just so we're all clear on the award in question, it's called "Manager of the Year" and not "Manager of the Second Half":

"SECOND RUNNERUP:

Joe Torre, New York Yankees. Managers with absurd payrolls and rich in All-Stars don't generally gather many post-season plaques, but Torre has survived a crazy baseball summer in the city that defines crazy."

It's been one wild, wacky, crazy baseball summer ... all in the city that defines crazy!


"The tabloids had him fired last fall, then again in the spring."

I wish the tabloids had the authority.


"In his first five games, Torre started Carl Pavano, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, Kei Igawa and Darrel Rasner. Among seven or eight starting pitchers, there were about 10 healthy hamstrings. Remember Tyler Clippard? Matt DeSalvo? Chase Wright? All Yankees starters."

Alex Rodriguez? Derek Jeter? Jorge Posada? Hideki Matsui? Bob Abreu? Mariano Rivera?

Which reminds me: Why is Abreu still batting third? Can anybody anywhere justify this?


"They were 6½ games out in April, 14½ in May, 13½ out in June, and still as many as 7 out in September."

Manager of the year!