Joe Torre's Next Stop...Cooperstown (Finally)

Friday afternoon, Los Angeles Dodgers skipper Joe Torre announced that after this season, a disappointing one that saw his run of 14 consecutive postseason appearances come to an end, he was calling it quits.

His replacement..."Donnie Baseball".

Now, I'm not going to bang the story over the head. If you care at all about baseball, you've heard enough about it already. It was breaking news on ESPN and is at the top of (shameless plug coming in 3...2...1) Yardbarker's "The Hot 40".

Sure, losing Torre from the baseball landscape is huge...the guy is an icon and, arguably, one of the most celebrated managers in recent history.

This guy won four World Series titles in New York and spent 12 years (the longest tenure for a Yankees skipper since Casey Stengel was at the helm) as the field general for baseball’s most successful franchise.

To understand how tough it is to remain employed by former Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, consider this…Billy Martin (941) managed HALF the games Torre (1942) did for the Yankees.

And that was spread out over FIVE different stints in the Big Apple!

To say Torre’s place as a Yankee great wasn’t already reserved in Monument Park would be like saying Derek Jeter actually got hit by that pitch Wednesday night.

Even in Los Angeles, all Torre needed to do was collect a few paychecks and when it was all said and done…go back to New York and secure his spot as the greatest manager they’ve ever seen.

Without a doubt, Torre is bound to find himself in Cooperstown before long, but the question is this...why isn't he already there? For me, Torre’s managerial career was the icing on the cake of an already terrific career.

Yeah…I said it.

I think the Veteran’s Committee has gotten it wrong by not inducting Torre into their exclusive club.

His career .297 batting average, 2342 hits, MVP award and nine All-Star games (at three different positions, I might add) is impressive given his peers at the time. Take away their home runs and Torre stacks right up there with Orlando Cepeda (whom he was traded for prior to the 1969 season) and the Willies McCovey and Stargell.

And all three are in Cooperstown.

His numbers are better than Ron Santo and every year, for some reason, people bang THAT Hall of Fame drum. And if it wasn’t for one Johnny Bench and the Big Red Machine…it’s possible that people would be calling Torre the best catcher of the 1960s.

He certainly was the best hitting catcher…that’s for sure!

I’d even argue that the best hitting third baseman of the 1970s ain't “This Old Cub”…it’s Joe Torre! From 1961 to 1968 (before the move to third base), Torre hit .294…twice over .315. Post 1968…Torre hit .301 and during his MVP season of 1971, he torched National League pitching to the tune of a .363 batting average and 137 RBI.

The one bit of the puzzle that is lacking for Torre as a player, ironically, is the fact that he never suited up for a post season game. I mean, here’s a guy who has taken three different teams to the playoffs and he had nothing to show for it as a player.

The playoffs without Joe Torre is kinda like the playoffs without, well, Joe Torre. The guy was a postseason staple.

But getting back to the case at hand. As the only manager with both 2000 wins (2318 and counting) and 2000 hits (2342)…the guy deserves his place in Cooperstown.

Don Mattingly on the other hand?

With 2153 career base knocks and zero career managerial wins...he's got a harder case to make.

It's so, Joe!

With a 3-2 victory over Oakland Thursday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers continued their league-wide dominance and increased their lead in the National League West to NINE games.

Why is this of any significance?

Prior to the season beginning, The Hall put out its Milestone Preview for the NL West and stated "off the field, manager Joe Torre is 44 wins away from leapfrogging Sparky Anderson and Bucky Harris and moving into fifth place on the all-time list."

Last night...was win number 44. Congrats, Joe...see you in Cooperstown!

Ten Milestones to Watch for This Season

Welcome to Opening Day!

Every season begins with a number of milestones on the horizon (and if you followed the divisional breakdown the last few weeks...you know them), and 2009 is no different. Gone are history-makers like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Greg Maddux.

So, before the Bronx Bombers open the doors to their newest version of Yankee Stadium, let's look at ten milestones to watch for during the upcoming baseball season.

And because of injury, you'll notice that I conveniently ignored Alex Rodriguez. I harbor no ill will toward the man.

Maybe.

Ron Villone, TBD

Ron Villone, who changes uniforms so fast, team photographers can't keep up with him, will inevitably suit up for his major league record-tying twelfth team. When he takes the bump next, he'll tie pitcher Mike Morgan on the all-time list. Close on their heels? Matt Stairs. Stairs is currently with Philadelphia, his eleventh team.

Adam Dunn, Washington Nationals

The Nationals enter their fifth season since re-locating from Montreal with little to no fanfare. For the four Adam Dunn fans out there, you’ll be glad to know that he’s 22 homers away from 300 for his career, and if he gets to 40 this season, he’ll have done so for six straight seasons. Only Babe Ruth did it more consistently when he hit 40 out in a record seven straight seasons.

Joe Torre, Los Angeles Dodgers

Aside from Manny Ramirez (more on him later), the Dodgers do have some milestones to watch out for. Off the field...or more specifically, in the dugout, manager Joe Torre is 44 wins away from leap-frogging Sparky Anderson (2194) and Bucky Harris (2157) and moving into fifth place on the all-time list.

Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals

When 2008 came to a close, Albert Pujols became the only player in major league history to hit at least .300, with 30 or more home runs and at least 100 RBI in each of his first eight seasons. The only other players to accomplish the 100 RBI feat were Al Simmons, who did it in eleven straight, and Ted Williams, who stalled after eight. All in all, “Prince Albert” is 31 home runs away from 350, 23 RBI from 1000 and 53 runs from 1000.

And oh yeah, he just turned 29.

Greg Maddux/Fergie Jenkins, Chicago Cubs

While not exactly a milestone, the Cubs are doing something pretty cool and pretty monumental on May 3. Before the “North Siders” take the field against the Florida Marlins, they’ll retire number 31 for Fergie Jenkins and Greg Maddux. Each hurler won a Cy Young Award and combined for 300 victories while wearing the pinstriped 31.

Carlos Delgado, New York Mets

Raise your hand if you ever thought Carlos Delgado was going to be a member of the 500 home run club. No one? After Gary Sheffield hits number 500, which should have come in the first week of the season...Delgado is up next. The slugger has 469 home runs and should, barring injury, close out the Mets’ first season at Citi Field with a milestone.

Manny Ramirez, Los Angeles Dodgers

Last year, Ramirez came into the season needing 10 home runs to get to 500. This season, Manny comes in with 527 and looks to pass up Jimmie Foxx, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt, and Reggie Jackson on the all-time list. Factor in his 2,392 hits and, by season’s end, you’ll be looking at just the sixth player to have more than 2,500 hits, 500 doubles, 550 home runs and 1800 RBI. The others: Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Willie Mays, Rafael Palmeiro, Frank Robinson, and Babe Ruth.

Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees

Mariano Rivera is 18 saves away from joining Trevor Hoffman as the only two closers with 500 saves. Next on the active list is Billy Wagner with 385. Savor save number 500, baseball fans. It’ll be awhile until we see it again. Saves are tricky to predict because it’s all dependent on how the Yankees fair this season. If you’re curious, Rivera has claimed his 18th save as early as May 29 (in 2004) and as late as August 6 (in 2007).

Gary Sheffield, New York Mets

A major leaguer at 18, Sheffield got off to a quick start by getting his first hit and first home run in the same swing. Now, 498 home runs later, Sheffield is on the cusp of becoming the 25th player to hit 500 long balls. Also worth mentioning, Sheffield comes into 2009 with 1633 RBI. Everyone who is Hall eligible and has more RBI than “Sheff” is enshrined in Cooperstown.

Randy Johnson, San Francisco Giants

Not since Bonds was knocking on the door of every home run milestone have the Giants had a milestone (or two) to watch for. Randy Johnson brought with him to the Bay a number of things worth noting. First and foremost, “The Big Unit” is five victories away from 300 wins. Only 24 pitchers have accomplished the feat. The closest active pitchers include Jamie Moyer (246), Kenny Rogers (219) and Andy Pettite (215).

And while he hasn’t hit 200 or more strikeouts since 2005, it’s worth mentioning that Johnson is 211 Ks away from becoming the second player to strike out 5000 batters. He won’t touch Nolan Ryan’s record at 5714, but burying his closest active competition in Pedro Martinez (3117) and John Smoltz (3011) has to be a little gratifying.

Also within reach for “Unit,” he is 15 hit-batsmen away from surpassing all-time leader Walter Johnson. He probably won’t get there (he has only 10 in the last two seasons), but passing up Eddie Plank (196) is a possibility. Something tells me that, deep down, Johnson wishes that hit-by-pitch magnet and former teammate Craig Biggio (who, ironically, “Unit” NEVER hit in 16 plate appearances) was still out there swinging a bat.

So...who told them THAT was a good idea?

Didja hear the one about the guy who had it all, but sold his legacy to whoever would pony up the most bread?

No, I’m not talking about now former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and his attempts to sell a vacant senate seat (oops)…I’m talking about former New York Yankees skipper Joe Torre. It seems like you can’t turn on the TV or radio without hearing about or seeing one of them.

And let’s face it…their hairlines aside, it’s becoming harder and harder to tell the two of them apart.
Their motives were simple. Blago was looking for sympathy on the eve of his eventual impeachment, while Torre is peddling his book. Both are in the midst of massive media tours and both of them seem to be completely oblivious to the damage they are causing each time they open their mouths.

Blagojevich is clearly crazy as he appears to not have a clue about the ramifications of what he did. His defense is that his actions were done as part of his duty to serve the citizens of Illinois.

Torre’s latest antics are harder to define.

By penning The Yankee Years, Torre pretty much ended any and all relationships he had with the Bronx Bombers by calling out owner George Steinbrenner, GM Brian Cashman and a gaggle of current and former players.

This guy won four World Series titles in New York and spent 12 years (the longest tenure for a Yankees skipper since Casey Stengel was at the helm) as the field general for baseball’s most celebrated franchise.

To understand how tough it is to remain employed by Steinbrenner, consider this…Billy Martin (941) managed HALF the games Torre (1942) did for the Yankees. And that was spread out over FIVE different stints in the Big Apple!

To say Torre’s place as a Yankee great wasn’t already reserved in Monument Park would be like saying Blagojevich isn’t foul-mouthed. Even in Los Angeles, all Torre needs to do is collect paychecks and when it is all said and done…go back to New York and secure his spot as the greatest manager they’ve ever seen.

You’re as much of a New York icon as Rudy Giuliani and Cooperstown has the space set aside for you, Joe…don’t mess it up!

But what if he already did? What if selling out the Yankees overshadows his twelve straight playoff appearances with that very club, a .605 winning percentage and two Manager of the Year awards?

What if The Yankee Years is just what the Dodgers need to decide to NOT pay attention to their skipper? I mean, if Torre is going to go public about his run-ins with Kevin Brown or David Wells…what possibly could a full season of Manny being Manny bring?

It doesn’t matter.

That’s right, I said it…it doesn’t matter. And no, not for the reasons you think.

For me, Torre’s managerial career is the icing on the cake of an already terrific career. Yeah…I said it. I think the Veteran’s Committee is getting it wrong by not inducting Torre into their exclusive club.

Why wait until he hangs it up? Put the guy in now.

His career .297 batting average, 2342 hits, MVP award and nine All-Star games (at three different positions, I might add) is impressive given his peers at the time. Take away their home runs and Torre stacks right up there with Orlando Cepeda (whom he was traded for prior to the 1969 season) and the Willies McCovey and Stargell.

All three are in Cooperstown.

His numbers are better than Ron Santo and yearly, for some reason, people bang THAT Hall of Fame drum. And if it wasn’t for one Johnny Bench and the Big Red Machine…it’s possible that people would be calling Torre the best catcher of the 1960s.


He certainly was the best hitting catcher…that’s for sure! I’d even argue that the best hitting third baseman of the 1970s ain't “This Old Cub”…it’s Joe Torre!

From 1961 to 1968 (before the move to third base), Torre hit .294…twice over .315. Post 1968…Torre hit .301 and during his MVP season of 1971, he torched National League pitching to the tune of a .363 batting average and 137 RBI.

The one bit of the puzzle that is lacking for Torre as a player, ironically, is the fact that he never suited up for a post season game. I mean, here’s a guy who has taken three different teams to the playoffs and he had nothing to show for it as a player.

The playoffs without Joe Torre is kinda like the playoffs without, unfortunately, Frank Caliendo!

So why wait until the aftermath of this book debacle to see where the Joe Torre chips fall. As the only manager with both 2000 wins (2151) and 200 hits (2342)…the guy deserves his place in Cooperstown.

Then, and maybe then, we can start getting back to normalcy where baseball players and managers are interviewed on SportsCenter and not Larry King and governors are interviewed on CNN and not The View.

And there you have it, gang…a post Super Bowl post with no mention of Ben Roethlisberger, Kurt Warner or Bruce Springsteen going all “The Grind” on a TV camera.

Wave goodbye, Joe!

***Note: E is back. Check out his normal ramblings HERE!***

So, the Yankees have been unceremoniously ushered from the postseason by a Cleveland team full of 26-year old nobodies. And, since this is becoming a fairly regular thing, the time of scapegoating is upon us. And, since a team not being to able to perform is always the manager's fault, of course Yankees' skipper Joe Torre has fallen directly in the crosshairs.

I, for one, think the Yankees' front office of George Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman are aiming at the wrong guy. They should be aiming at themselves.

It's no secret that the Yankees have a tendency to try and win championships by buying them, paying top dollar for the best talent available. It's also no coincidence that this practice started roughly the same time that Steinbrenner took over the team.

And, on paper, it's a great idea.

But it doesn't work (not all the time, at least). Del Webb owned the Yankees for 19 years; he won 11 Series in that time. Steinbrenner has owned them for 34 and counting; he's won six. In the Steinbrenner era, before Torre (who's been the manager for 12 years), the Yankees went to the postseason six times, winning two Series. Since Torre, they've gone to the postseason every year, and won four Series.

And they could probably win more, if, every year, Cashman and Steinbrenner didn't saddle him with their real-life rotisserie team that they've paid WAY too much money to put together. And they aren't getting much for their $195 million, which $50 million more than the second-highest team, namely because they just throw money away.

By contrast, three of the four teams remaining in the postseason are in the bottom eight in payroll.$28 million for Roger Clemens, who turns 56 this year, to pitch whenever the Hell he feels like it.

$23 million for Jason Giambi to, apparently, do nothing but blow the lid off the whole steroid thing.

$10 million for Carl Pavano to remain in a constant state of disability.They also love to sign players well after the iron has cooled.

Johnny Damon: Great player...with the Royals and Red Sox.

The Andy Pettitte they brought back from Houston (at top dollar) is not the same Pettitte that left for Houston.

And losing Soriano and assuming the debt load on Alex Rodriguez's contract may have seemed like a good deal at the time, but...hey, that A-Rod sure puts up some great numbers, don't he?

What Steinbrenner and Cashman don't seem to understand is that the Yankees of the '00s are not the Yankees of the '50s: they just aren't going to win every year.

And throwing more money at the problem isn't going to help.

Remember the Cleveland Indians? Two years after closing out the '90s with five straight division wins and two trips to the Series, they flushed the entire franchise down the toilet and started over again. And now they're playing for another trip to the Series.

I think the Yankees need to take a look at this strategy. They have close to $100 mil in contracts coming due, and it might not be wise of them to spend all of that in one place, as they usually would. There IS affordable talent out there. You don't have to sign the entire All-Star roster. Hell, the Yankees' best pitcher isn't even making $500,000; there are more (younger) players out there who are that good.

But, these are the Yankees.

They've fucked themselves by putting all of their eggs in the same basket, letting A-Rod's contract come up the same year as Posada, Abreu, and Rivera's. So, they either lose a good portion of their of their team and start over, or they resign the whole thing and end up with the same team next year that couldn't do anything this year.

And all this is Joe Torre's fault HOW?

There is a ray of hope: reports are coming down that Steinbrenner is giving up control of the team to his sons. Hopefully, they're a little bit more sensible than their old man. And they'll keep around the best manager they're likely to see in a long time.