Thank God Joe is Back
Since the end of the 2005 season, there has been much talk that Joe Torre would not return to manage the Yankees. At a tad over 6 million dollars per year, (more than 1/5 of the Devil Rays payroll, Joe Torre has proven to be one of the great managers of all time...Ever?
894-1003...
again.
894-1003...
These are not jinxed #'s like those of 4-8-15-16-23-42.
This is the managerial record of one of the greatest managers of all time, BEFORE HE GOT TO THE YANKEES.
Joe Torre may be the most overrated of all the Yankee greats. As a manager in the American League his only real job is to manage a bullpen. A skill that i will later talk about being him being very bad at.
In the late 90's all he had to do was this.
"Jeff Nelson, you face the righties."
"Mike Stanton, you face the lefties."
"Mariano, close out the game."
Rocket science.
Im pretty sure ive even seen Joe asleep thru the first five innings of a game. In the late 90's the yankees were simply the best team. They had the best pitching, lineup and bullpen in baseball. They were also perfectly assembled and balanced. There were not a lot of conflicting egos as a perfect combo of veterans and youths led to a stable Yankees clubhouse.
Things have changed since. With the 15mil per guys that the Yankees have been bringing in throughout the new millenium issues have arisen.
Is it Arod's or Jeter's team?
Joe Torre is considered the master of a calm clubhouse. If this is the case how do the Yankees ever lose?
On paper, the yankees should never lose a game. They have what should be the greatest lineup of all time, great pitching and a great bullpen.
Lets look back over the last couple years to show how good old Joe shanked in every dept.
The Lineup: 2,3,4,5.
These are the places in the batting order that Alex Rodriguez, arguably the best hitter in the game, has hit in the Yankees order.
The second the Yankees lose two games, Joe Torre fumbles his lineup searching for the fix. While short term this may work, thus pleasing your always watching boss, this is not a consistent long term solution.
The bullpen: This is my favorite.
Paul Quantrill was brought on board in 2004 to be the Yanks 7th inning guy in front of Tom Gordon and Mariano Rivera.
Quantrill was amazing in this role, until he tired.
95.2 innings later.
Tom Gordon was brought in to be the lights out 8th inning guy. Which he was, until he tired out.
90.2 innings later.
Combined: 2004 post season 15.6 inn, 10 ER ( 2 might important scapegoats)
Gordon and Quantrill were maligned for their postseason ineffectiveness. They were also both in the top 5 in innings pitched among relivers.
A tired bullpen, no one's fault but the manager's.
Finally the clubhouse...
Take a look at the Red Sox. Take a look at the A's. Take a look at the Angels. Now take a look at the Yankees.
Which one of these four teams doesnt fit.
While these other big namers in the American League appear to be having more fun and appear as loose as possible,(see: smiles, hoody's in the dugout) the Yankees appear to be the stiffest bunch in town.
Sure they cant have long hair or tattooes.( Sorry Dan Johnson, the Yanks might not be for you in 4 years ) But this doesnt mean that the team shouldnt be relaxed. Or that Gary Sheffield should be calling himself the leader of this team. Or that Arod should secretly hate Derek Jeter's "can't do anything wrong" presence.
This is all the manager's job.
If he can't manage a bullpen, can't find a consistent lineup, and can't a good clubhouse, why exactly is he so great.
Is it because the Yankees make the playoffs every year? The Yankees would make the playoffs every year with my brother managing the team. (For those who know the big Momo, he's not into the whole sports thing)
But for 6.2 mil per year and the amount of credit that he has received, Joe Torre should be able to handle all of this.
But he doesnt, and the Yankees continue to lose.
In which case.
Keep Joe around.
Surfing's the source.
Sippy Momo
894-1003...
again.
894-1003...
These are not jinxed #'s like those of 4-8-15-16-23-42.
This is the managerial record of one of the greatest managers of all time, BEFORE HE GOT TO THE YANKEES.
Joe Torre may be the most overrated of all the Yankee greats. As a manager in the American League his only real job is to manage a bullpen. A skill that i will later talk about being him being very bad at.
In the late 90's all he had to do was this.
"Jeff Nelson, you face the righties."
"Mike Stanton, you face the lefties."
"Mariano, close out the game."
Rocket science.
Im pretty sure ive even seen Joe asleep thru the first five innings of a game. In the late 90's the yankees were simply the best team. They had the best pitching, lineup and bullpen in baseball. They were also perfectly assembled and balanced. There were not a lot of conflicting egos as a perfect combo of veterans and youths led to a stable Yankees clubhouse.
Things have changed since. With the 15mil per guys that the Yankees have been bringing in throughout the new millenium issues have arisen.
Is it Arod's or Jeter's team?
Joe Torre is considered the master of a calm clubhouse. If this is the case how do the Yankees ever lose?
On paper, the yankees should never lose a game. They have what should be the greatest lineup of all time, great pitching and a great bullpen.
Lets look back over the last couple years to show how good old Joe shanked in every dept.
The Lineup: 2,3,4,5.
These are the places in the batting order that Alex Rodriguez, arguably the best hitter in the game, has hit in the Yankees order.
The second the Yankees lose two games, Joe Torre fumbles his lineup searching for the fix. While short term this may work, thus pleasing your always watching boss, this is not a consistent long term solution.
The bullpen: This is my favorite.
Paul Quantrill was brought on board in 2004 to be the Yanks 7th inning guy in front of Tom Gordon and Mariano Rivera.
Quantrill was amazing in this role, until he tired.
95.2 innings later.
Tom Gordon was brought in to be the lights out 8th inning guy. Which he was, until he tired out.
90.2 innings later.
Combined: 2004 post season 15.6 inn, 10 ER ( 2 might important scapegoats)
Gordon and Quantrill were maligned for their postseason ineffectiveness. They were also both in the top 5 in innings pitched among relivers.
A tired bullpen, no one's fault but the manager's.
Finally the clubhouse...
Take a look at the Red Sox. Take a look at the A's. Take a look at the Angels. Now take a look at the Yankees.
Which one of these four teams doesnt fit.
While these other big namers in the American League appear to be having more fun and appear as loose as possible,(see: smiles, hoody's in the dugout) the Yankees appear to be the stiffest bunch in town.
Sure they cant have long hair or tattooes.( Sorry Dan Johnson, the Yanks might not be for you in 4 years ) But this doesnt mean that the team shouldnt be relaxed. Or that Gary Sheffield should be calling himself the leader of this team. Or that Arod should secretly hate Derek Jeter's "can't do anything wrong" presence.
This is all the manager's job.
If he can't manage a bullpen, can't find a consistent lineup, and can't a good clubhouse, why exactly is he so great.
Is it because the Yankees make the playoffs every year? The Yankees would make the playoffs every year with my brother managing the team. (For those who know the big Momo, he's not into the whole sports thing)
But for 6.2 mil per year and the amount of credit that he has received, Joe Torre should be able to handle all of this.
But he doesnt, and the Yankees continue to lose.
In which case.
Keep Joe around.
Surfing's the source.
Sippy Momo
posted by Sippy Momo at 12:26 PM
2 Comments:
Just testing, you can delete this message
I remember a few years ago I heard or read somewhere that Joe Torre holds the distinction for being the fastest manager in major league history to amass 1000 losses. Not sure if that's still the case, but quite a feather in the guy's cap nonetheless.
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