Why Torre Must Go
Posted by Steve L. on June 2nd, 2005 · Comments (11)
Something from a Newsday feature caught my eye today:
Things are getting bad quickly, and manager Joe Torre senses it.
After the Yankees suffered their fourth straight loss last night, this time falling, 3-1, to the Kansas City Royals, Torre closed the clubhouse for the fifth team meeting this season.
“I just didn’t like what I saw,” he said. “It’s as basic as that.”
Yes, that’s FIVE TEAM MEETINGS in FIFTY-TWO GAMES.
Think of it this way, that’s five team meetings in 60 days – or, 5 team meetings in 8 1/2 weeks.
Whatever Torre is saying is not working – or else there would not be the need for these meetings on such a frequent basis. It’s probably time for a change.
Yeah, let’s blame Torre for Steinbrenner’s badly put together and aged team. And for a thin farm system. All we need now is 42 YO Clemens and Geritol.
Now Torre is not a perfect manager, far from it, but this mess, which is no surprise to me, is on the front office and especially George. Giambi is George’s toy, and it has been downhill since.
Don’s right. This isn’t Torre’s fault. Thats not to say he hasn’t made mistakes. It seems he’s made a lot of them these past few years, but he didn’t sign Womack, Giambi, Wright, Pavano, or trade for Brown and the Big Ugly. Thats on management, whoever that is this week.
Guys – do you really think this should be a .500-or-thereabouts team?
I agree – the front office and owner have made some bad moves, like Giambi, Wright, etc. But, even with all those moves, a team with Jeter, Sheffield, and A-Rod in the line-up, plus some better than decent SP (like Moose, Unit, etc.) should not be just at .500.
Think of it this way – yes, the bad moves can explain why Boston beats NY. But, when the Royals roll over you, and you have some good players (like NY does), it says it’s something else – - like a lack of motivation. And, that’s Torre’s charge, no?
Something needs to change. Putzing around with the lineup so you can get Giambi’s and Bernie’s combined sub-.750 OPS and sparkling defense in the game is not going to cut it and management isn’t going anywhere. So Torre didn’t put the team together…he certainly isn’t pulling together what he has. What’s to lose by trying someone else?
True, Torre could probably construct the lineup better. Like maybe move Bernie up to 2nd and Womack to 9th. (If Womack gets on I like the hit & run combo with Jeter at the plate better than the other way around.) But what he doesn’t have is a bench. Something is wrong when you have to go Johnson and Sierra to pinch hit in big situations. I was hoping that Andy Phillips would pan out for them in those situations.
Does a team with this kind of talent need motivation from a manager? I would think just playing in this city for this team would be motivation enough. Then again, I’m not a pro athlete so I don’t know. All I know is I feel like someone shot my dog tonight.
Even the very talented screw up from time to time.
In 5 innings, the Yanks made Ryan Jensen throw 68 pitches = 13.6 pitches/inning. Jensen faced 20 batters = a pathetic 3.4 pitches/batter. Of the 174 qualifiers in MLB, only 16 see that few pitches per at-bat. Even Neifi Perez(!) sees 3.53 pitches per at-bat.
They’re up there hacking because they’re in a slump and they want out of it. I’m not surprised that they’re pressing, its human nature in this kind of situation.
Torre has correctly identified the problem, and the solution – just what the manager is supposed to do. If the players don’t execute, it’s not Joe’s fault. Until it gets through their thick skulls, have a meeting a day, whatever it takes.
And I can’t believe I’m about to write this, but shouldn’t Donnie Baseball be getting just a LITTLE heat, seeing he is the hitting coach and all?
See the Yogi firing. Stein would never take that on again.
Donnie is a god in the eyes of too many.
The team would have to be batting .198 for the public to accept Mattingly getting the axe.
I don’t think Torre has to go. Sometimes life is harder than it is at other times. Sometimes more work has to be done. Sometimes you have to get the point across more frequently. I don’t really consider it to be indicative of whether or not Torre needs to leave. Unless he wants to, of course.
What is it that Torre is doing that makes people think he is either helping the team out or will somehow help them out in the future? Inertia and sentiment are not reasons to keep a manager of a failing team.
The Yanks are scoring runs. Offensively, they’re one of the top teams in the league, IIRC.
The problem is the pitching.
I do believe that a change of pitching coaches is in order. Problem is Torre will fight for Stott tooth-and-nail. But his day is done and while not scapegoating Stott, he could be eased out gracefully. But Torre has too much loyalty to him, albeit misplaced loyalty. This calls for quiet diplomacy on the Boss’ part, but he’s too ham fisted to do that. The Boss craves headlines for the Yanks, regardless if they’re negative ones.