12/21/24
June 08, 2007
Charter member of the 2000/2000 club: Victories/Hits
posted by tommytrump to baseball at 11:47 AM - 13 comments
I am far from a Yankee fan but it is almost impossible not to like and respect Joe Torre,great manager,player and gentleman extraordinaire.
posted by sickleguy at 03:30 PM on June 08, 2007
Joe Torre is a class player and manager and is extremely well respected by all in baseball even Steinbrenner likes him.........Good for you and good for baseball. He has been taking a lot of crap from the fans in New York but one thing that everyone has to remember is he ISN'T playing the game and can't play it for his players. Some deliver and some don't or can't whatever. He has done something that will be in the record books forever more. I sincerely hope that the Yankee fans know what they have and if they keep booing him and blaming him for what isn't his doing they will be without one of the best managers in baseball.
posted by The Old Man at 04:22 PM on June 08, 2007
You'd think with all that money, the guy could invest in a little rhinoplasty. Christ, he makes W.C. Fields look positively tame. Seriously, Joe, congrats from an old Cards supporter.
posted by wfrazerjr at 04:44 PM on June 08, 2007
But not J.P. Morgan. I saw an un-retouched photo of his nose once and almost puked.
posted by yerfatma at 05:10 PM on June 08, 2007
Congrats to Joe!
posted by jojomfd1 at 05:14 PM on June 08, 2007
Every time I hear about NY fans getting down on Joe Torre, I feel that they really don't deserve to have him managing there. He is class and excellence personified. Good on you Joe Torre. (This from a rabid BoSox fan)
posted by Howard_T at 09:56 PM on June 08, 2007
Every time I hear about NY fans getting down on Joe Torre, I feel that they really don't deserve to have him managing there. I agree Torre is a class guy, one who handles himself well in practically all situations, and never makes an ass of himself. But as a strategist, I still think Torre is mediocre at best. Taking Mussina out of this game after he had thrown so few pitches is a good example. He had a perfect chance to get more innings from a veteran starter, and not rely on the bullpen, but didn't do it. Winning as many games as he has with the Yankees, with the talent he's given year in, year out, should be a given. He's managed to do what's necessary to stay in New York, managing the Yankees, by using his calm demeanor to absorb the criticism from the media, front office, and fans.
posted by dyams at 07:25 AM on June 09, 2007
I agree with dyams on this one. The thing that makes Torre special is his personality. The fact that he can handle the New York Yankees' media/fans/owner/star players in stride and never seem to lose his cool. The thing that makes him normal is winning games with the New York Yankees.
posted by DudeDykstra at 03:17 PM on June 09, 2007
He hasn't been the right man for this Yankee team for several years now, but he's still a class act, great guy, and special talent for being able to reach both of these milestones. Congrats to him. And how bout those Yankees? Five wins in a row. About time they got on a roll.
posted by Bernreuther at 05:48 PM on June 09, 2007
I remember thinking the Braves were insane for firing him.
posted by olelefthander at 06:28 PM on June 09, 2007
As a White Sox fan it is impossible for me to like the Yanks.....But I respect the hell out of Torre.Anyone that can put up with the "Boss" and not lose his mind while still putin a contender on the field is ok in my book.
posted by jda at 09:02 PM on June 09, 2007
The thing that makes him normal is winning games with the New York Yankees. There is nothing normal about winning four World Series, I don't care how high your club's payroll is. That said, Sparky Anderson sums up the role of manager best in the following quotes: "A baseball manager is a necessary evil." Source: (Widely Attributed) "I don't believe a manager ever won a pennant. Casey Stengel won all those pennants with the Yankees. How many did he win with the Boston Braves and Mets? I've never seen a team win a pennant without players. I think the only thing the manager has to do is keep things within certain boundaries." Source: Los Angeles Times (August 8, 1974) "My idea of managing is giving the ball to Tom Seaver and sitting down and watching him work." Source: Late Innings by Roger Angell (Simon & Schuster, 1984) "The players make the manager, it's never the other way." "I hope the car they (Sport Magazine who awarded it to the World Series MVP) give him (Brooks Robinson) has an extra large glove box." (I only put that last one in because I love it.) I think what Torre has accomplished is amazing, but a good part of it is the luck of having players who can win 2,000 games for you. I have questioned some of Torre's strategy day-to-day as well, but I look on the baseball manager in the same way I view any president -- while I may not agree with his decisions, I acknowledge that he is likely operating with a good deal of relevant information to which I am not privy, and I am quite willing to make some allowances for that. As a Yankees fan, I am thrilled that Torre manages the team, and I am very pleased, though not at all surprised, that he has reached this miilestone.
posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 09:27 PM on June 10, 2007
Good for you, Joe. Good for you.