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Shameful or Not?
November 5, 2007
The New York Yankees have recently let go of longtime manager Joe Torre after the Yankees lost to the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS. Although they made Torre an offer, it wasn’t enough to keep him with the team. The offer included a one-year contract worth $5 million in base pay with incentives, cutting his pay by $2 million. He would get $1 million for each achievement of making the playoffs, making it to the ALCS, and making it to the World Series. If they made the Series, Torre would have an option for the next season as well.
Torre held a press conference the following day after declining the offer saying, “I just felt the contract offer and the terms of the contract were probably the thing I had the toughest time with.” Almost two weeks later, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced that Torre would be managing the team beginning in 2008. The contract he signed was reportedly worth $13 million over 3 seasons. The Yankees proceeded to sign former Florida Marlins manager Joe Girardi to a 3-year $7.5 million deal.
The Yankees are now losing more key members of their personnel. Third baseman Alex Rodriguez has decided to opt out of his remaining 3 years and declare for free agency. Also, RP Mariano Rivera and C Jorge Posada have filed for free agency. The team has exercised their option on OF Bobby Abreu, though, keeping for at least one more season. However, if the team were to lose those three players and possibly more, Girardi may see a repeat of what happened to him in Florida.
The Marlins let go of P Josh Beckett, P A. J. Burnett, C Paul Lo Duca, 1B Carlos Delgado, and 3B Mike Lowell to name a few after the '05 season. Girardi responded by leading the team to a 78-84 record and a 4th place finish in the NL East in '06. With Torre gone, some of the Yankees players may decide to jump ship as well.
Torre has led the Yankees to ten 1st place finishes in 12 years with 6 pennants and 4 World Series rings. Buck Showalter led the team to a division series loss the season before Torre got there. Excluding the strike shortened ‘94 season, the Yankees failed to make the playoffs 12 consecutive years before Showalter’s last season. Then Torre was hired and it’s been 12 consecutive playoff appearances since.
Dropping Torre sounds like one of the worst ideas ever on paper. They may win the next 5 World Series. Then again, they may go the next 12 seasons without a playoff appearance. Torre meant more to the team than just letting him get away the way he did. Will the team capitalize or demoralize without Torre? Give us your comments. E-mail us at shamefulornot@athletehos.com