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Torre Breaks Important Rule

By Gary Armida

There are times when one gets a view into a person’s true character. Often, the reputation doesn’t live up to the reality. Yesterday, Yankees fans got a cold dose of reality when details from (the once beloved) Joe Torre’s new book, written by famed sportswriter Tom Verducci, were leaked. By now, the comments about Alex Rodriguez, George Steinbrenner, and Brian Cashman are well known. While it is wise to withhold judgment of those comments until the entire book is read (it’s ordered and will be in the FCP offices next week after which a final, more informed determination will be made), the repercussions of this “insider” look at the Yankees’ most recent dynasty are plentiful. Perhaps the leaked quotes are nothing more than a cheap publicity stunt to drum up interest on the book release (it worked), but the fact is that these topics are somehow broached in the book and are now in the consciousness of baseball fans and players. The truth is, however, that most of the repercussions have nothing to do with baseball as most deal with the legacy of Joe Torre and his tenure with the Yankees. While his reputation receives a huge blow, the fallout cannot take away his accomplishments. The change in public opinion cannot take away the four World Series titles and the 12 straight playoff appearances. Those are permanently etched into Yankees’ history. But, there is one consequence that may hurt Torre for the 2009 season. His business venture may actually hurt the 2009 Dodgers’ run back to the playoffs.  

The Great OZ is Exposed?

Let’s get the “unimportant to baseball” aspects out of the way. Joe Torre built his legacy in New York on not only the four World Series titles, but with his public conduct. Torre was seemingly the man above getting into some sort of silly argument or controversy. He was the manager who would hold dugout chats with reporters, cry every time the team won a playoff series, and the man who would protect his players from the nasty media creating controversies in the clubhouse. Torre went from “Clueless Joe” to a Hall of Fame manager who was more of a celebrity than 90 percent of the team he managed.

He would preach the concept of team, of being professional. Sure, he was given a roster of all-stars, but he was able to seemingly blend all the egos into a tranquil clubhouse. He had fan support when he decided that $5 million dollars was too little money for him to return to manage the Yankees in 2008. Why was everyone defending Torre? His public dignity, class, and calm demeanor during 1996 to 2000 were even more celebrated during his behavior after the 9-11 attacks. His reputation was pristine.

But, with this “insider” look into the Yankees’ clubhouse, Joe Torre violates one the most important unwritten rules in baseball. He violates the sanctity of the clubhouse, which, again, was something he preached during his 12 years in the Bronx. As an active manager, this “sin” is even worse (more on that in a bit). With details of Alex Rodriguez’s struggles in the clubhouse, Torre violates that trust he had with his players. It is the same trust that Yankees fans admired him for. He wasn’t celebrated as a great strategic manager, but as a master handler of players. This action seemingly contradicts that.

Additionally, the alleged complaints make Torre look like a person fueled by revenge, a person scorned by the lack of respect given, and a person fueled by greed. Instead of staying out of the fray (as he often preached and did during the World Series runs), he fired back at the Yankees where he would’ve likely been welcomed back into the organization after he retired from managing. And, he fired back just weeks before spring training. He details (again, allegedly) private conversations with Alex Rodriguez. While these events are most assuredly a minor part of the 477 page book, these are the book’s selling points. Joe Torre looks like he sold his reputation for a couple of million dollars.

The Real Issue

The hit on Torre’s reputation is inconsequential to baseball. The game is far greater than the once pristine reputation of Torre. But, there is one very real consequence to Torre’s book. As stated earlier, Torre supporters cite this clubhouse management rather than his in-game strategy. Torre was brought to the Dodgers for just that reason as the Dodgers were a clubhouse divided into two factions-veterans and first year players. In 2008, Joe Torre was able to guide the Dodgers to a playoff appearance with the odd group of veterans and young players. It was evident that Torre earned their trust.

Now, let’s look at the 2009 Dodgers. Do they still trust Joe Torre in the clubhouse? Would you? No, the fact is that his players will think twice when talking to him. The “magical way” he had with players is likely over as he lost the single most important ingredient-trust.

Athletes by their very nature are untrusting. If they cannot trust that their manager won’t recall a conversation and publish it in a book, then Joe Torre’s strength as a manager is effectively neutered. The Dodgers are entering a season in which there are expectations, but having lost key players like Derek Lowe, Takashi Saito, Jeff Kent, and possibly Manny Ramirez, the Dodgers will need the steady influence that Torre had in late 90’s with the Yankees. With that trust lost, the dynamic from the 2008 clubhouse is likely gone forever.  

Closing Thoughts

It is very likely that the crux of the book is nothing more than a look at baseball during Torre’s 12 years. But, just the mere fact that these ideas are floating out there taints Torre’s reputation and leaves the door open for controversy. It is everything that Torre opposed during his time in New York, a time that gave him his fame and fortune.  

The move to publish this book is quite hypocritical of Torre. First, the timing is quite odd. Spring training is just a couple of weeks away. The excitement of baseball should be (and will be) reigning supreme. The salacious excerpts undermine the importance of spring training. The poor timing is made worse by the fact that Torre is still a manager and the majority of the players he allegedly speaks with are still active. If this was something written after his retirement, one could at least rationalize a good reason for writing the book.

 Secondly, he was part of the Yankees’ organization that fined David Wells for writing his own “tell all” book. It is the same concept that led to Torre wanting Wells out of the clubhouse. The hypocrisy of the book is mind numbing.

Finally, the reputation of Joe Torre means nothing. He has to live with his choices. Hopefully, he is receiving a nice check as he may have just cost himself a place out in Monument Park with his slam against the Yankees. Even more importantly, he may have just lost the Dodgers’ clubhouse which will be interesting to observe. Trust was the cost of a salacious opening for a book. Hopefully, the loss of trust was worth it.

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