So Long Joe

Some current Yankee fans are not even old enough to remember a time when Joe Torre was not the Yankees manager. I’m almost one of them, only vaguely remembering the Buck Showalter regime. Torre has been the Yankees manager for the past 12 seasons, compiling a 1173-767 record as the Yankees skipper, winning four World Series, 6 AL Pennants, and appearing in the playoffs for all 12 seasons. Think about it for a second, Joe Torre went to the World Series in HALF the years he was manager of the Yankees. Those World Series appearances combined with his .605 regular season winning percentage still are not enough to satisfy George Steinbrenner. Torre is on the verge of likely being “fired” (his contract is technically up but it is essentially a firing) despite the success he has had. Steinbrenner seems to desperately want another World Series ring before he passes and Torre’s recent failures in the playoffs have tested the Boss’s temper for long enough. The new Yankees manager will likely come from a list of Tony Larussa, Don Mattingly, Joe Girardi, Buck Showalter, or Bobby Valentine, but what exactly are any of them going to do that Joe Torre would not have done (except perhaps manage the bullpen a little better). This isn’t about whether or not the Manager’s role is overrated (which it is) but if Torre already has the player’s respect and proves he can get to the post season year in and year out then why dump him? Say what you will, but Joe Torre is still the best man for this job, as the other candidates are either unproven, proven but not proven to be any good, or seemingly unable to handle the pressure in New York as opposed to that in say Oakland or St. Louis. Throw in the fact that keeping Torre may help significantly in keeping Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettitte and it almost seems like a no-brainer to keep him. Alas, Torre still remains unlikely to return next season, the end of an era that has seen as much success for the Yankees as any other. It’s sad, but nothing can last forever, and Joe Torre should be remembered as a great Yankee, have his number retired, and always be cherished in the hearts of the fans who were fortunate enough to witness this monumental run.