Good-bye Joe

After twelve years at the helm of one of the most high-profile coaching jobs in the world, Joe Torre has made his exit as manager from the New York Yankees.
His playing career, which lasted 17 years with three different teams, was one of outstanding quality with a career batting average of .297, five All-Star Game appearances and a golden glove. His managing career started in 1977 with the New York Mets before making stints with the Braves and Cardinals. Torre ended his National League tenure with a .471 winning percentage after being fired by St. Louis in 1995.
Then in 1996, he arrived in the Bronx to lead the New York Yankees. He won the World Series in his first year and after falling in the ALCS in 1997, he lead New York to three straight World Series titles from 1998-2000. Those teams were some of baseball’s best featuring such outstanding players as Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams, Paul O’Neill, Tino Martinez, Roger Clemens and Mariano Rivera.
But the past few years have been less than satisfactory, at least according to George Steinbrenner’s standards. New York reached the World Series in 2001 and 2003 but lost both times. Since then, they have reached the playoffs every year, they have reached the playoffs every year under Torre actually, but have failed to cause much of stir once there. The past two seasons have been extremely disappointing, going down without so much of a fight in the ALDS.
And now the rebirth of the team is set to begin with Torre’s departure. Alex Rodriquez, whose October performances have been less than outstanding, isn’t likely to pick up his option for next year. Other cornerstones of the team could also leave, including Posada and Rivera. Steinbrenner’s health seems to be declining every day with his sons Hal and Hank slowly taking over. General Manager Brian Cashman has produced a fine young crop of players in Joba Chamberlin, Phil Hughes, Robinson Cano and Melky Caberra. Not bringing back Torre was the catalyst for remaking the entire team.
In fact, not bringing back Torre probably isn’t an accurate statement, firing would be closer. By only offering a one-year deal with a pay cut and most of that incentive-based, the attitude was clear that Torre was not wanted. Popular consensus seems to be that Cashman was the only one who wanted him back among the top-level brass. And Torre isn’t stupid; he knew they didn’t want him back calling the offer “an insult.” It really was a terrible way to handle the situation. If they didn’t want him back, they should have just been honest and told him that they wanted to go in another direction. Now they have ruined what should have been a celebration of his tenure with Torre saying he won’t even return to clean out his office saying that he has left for good. It has been a sad end to great 12 years.
Five years from now, the Yankees will probably be in the same place. They will still be contenders and but will struggle to win in the postseason. They got rid of a manager who wanted to stay in New York and knew how to win in New York. Torre knew how to handle the pressure of the spotlight and his bosses. They will have a hard time finding another person who will have those same abilities because Torre was never the problem. They gave him too much high-priced offensive talent and not enough pitching these past years. Management went away from the formula that won them their four titles and Torre paid the price: a price he should have never paid and the rebirth they are looking for may put them in a recession. Torre brought the Yankees their first World Series after an 18 year drought in 1996 and they could fall into that slump again. Finding a coach who can excel in New York is one of the hardest tasks in sports and the Yankees let one go when they could have had. The Bronx faithful better prepare for another decade or so of wandering through the wilderness.