Should Joe Torre Be Fired?

[Mitchell]

As most sports fans know, the New York Yankees lost their playoff series to the Cleveland Indians last night, and the speculation is that Joe Torre, the Yankees long time manager, is going to be fired.
I figured that with this development for the Yankees, I would start a poll asking if he should be fired.

Mitch

 

[Mitchell]

My answer to this poll is no. While the Yankees should have perhaps gone farther than they did, I dont think a manager who makes the playoffs twelve straight years deserves to be fired. It isnt as if they finished at 500, or in last place.
My Braves made the playoffs fourteen years in a row, and over the last six playoff appearances, advanced past the first round only one time, in 2001. While I realize Atlanta is not New York, I still don't think you fire a guy for winning over 90 games, and winning ten division titles, Six AL Pennants, and Four World Series. Torre cant play for the players. If I were Steinbrenner, I would keep him, and, I think if he is fired, it would be wrong.
I will be very interested to hear opinions on this. According to the back page headlines in the New York papers, it seems very likely that Torre will lose his job, between what is being printed, and Yankee owner George Steinbrenner's comments the other day, that he quote "Couldnt see retaining Torre if the Yankees lose this series" Personally, Mr Steinbrenner, I think you are being harsh.

Mitch

 

[Goodieluver]

For making the playoffs every year he has been with the team

yeah, fire him :sarcasm meter explodes:

 

[milagros317]

It's a very easy thing to fire the field manager and it may make the owner feel better. But Joe Torre isn't the one who spent lots of money on aging pitchers over the years.

 

[ticklingfeet4fu]

The fact that they made the playoffs is a miracle!!! When you pay $28,000,000 to a pitcher who goes 2 1/3 innings and gives up 3 runs and then runs to the bank ( bad hamstring and all ) to make sure that George didn't decide to put a stop payment on his check is all you need to know about the HEART of Roger " I am the savior " Clemens!!! I mean the guy was a .500 pitcher during the season. You could have gotten a whole pitching staff full of .500 pitchers at that price. Then you have Alex Rodriguez who ( made $27,000,000 this season ) played his usual hide and go seek in October. I know he hit 54 homeruns and drove in 156 but when the chips were down he once again disappeared. Yeah, he hit a homerun in the 7th inning when the score was 6-2. But if he hit it in the 1st inning with a couple of guys on base it might have stretched this series to 5 games. Then Posada went 1 for 12. Derek Jeter ( and NOBODY has a right to knock this guy ) had his first bad series in the post-season. That is very unusual for Jeter. So I know I can't knock Jeter. Ching Ming Wang was awful and we found out that Joba DOES NOT rule when bugs are around.

For Joe to be fired off the season the Yankees have had is stupid. We will have to wait and see.

 

[Knox The Hatter]

I don't think it's right to fire a man who's done nothing but take you to the postseason year after year.

However, there has been a need for sweeping changes in philosophy for quite some time now. Milagros' point writ large: the evidence has been there for years now that signing over-the-hill pitching is a very shortsighted way to go, but no one seems to be listening. Anyone who actually believed Roger Clemens was the Messiah has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt to be a simpleton.

Joe Torre's got a plaque in Cooperstown waiting for him...

 

[CitY of MicA]

fire that man!

Should Joe Torre be fired? It depends on what the objectivie is. If they wish to duke it out with Tampa Bay for last place in the division, then I would say yes. Perhaps Steinbrenner waited too long. All this winning goes to your head, and you forget what it's like to dwell in the cellar. I was talking with a family member who is a Yankee fan this past August, and I expressed the thought that if the Yankees were to make the playoffs, it would be one of Torre's finest jobs as manager. Torre has done a great job of steadying the ship and shielding the players from distractions such as the New York Press and Steinbrenner. He has been a perfect fit for this team- a calming influence. I suppose after 12 years with this organization it's inevitable that Torre's presence will be taken for granted. Then again, Steinbrenner has gone back on his word so many times (particularly when it comes to firing managers) that I don't see where he should feel compelled to follow through on his actions this time.

 

[Mitchell]

Personally, I really dont like how the Yankees are handling this Torre situation at all. If I gave twelve good years to a company or team, I wouldnt want them to sit for weeks on end, and let me twist in the wind, while they talked about me, and there were headlines about me all the time.
I realize that this is a difficult decision. Basically, in my opinion, the Yankees dont have merit to let Torre go, an opinion shared by my fellow forum sports fans, based on the poll responses, and posts.
I'm aware that several players have said they would leave if Torre does, an understandable feeling.
Personally, if it were me, I'd bring Torre back. If they dont want to commit to him long term, offer him a one or two year deal. However, if they arent going to re sign him, I personally think they should make the decision already, and not let the guy twist for weeks or months reading front page headlines about his job. He's earned better than that, after twelve great years.

Mitch

 

[Mitchell]

I just came home. and read that Joe Torre turned down a one year contract offer from the Yankees worth 5 million, with a 1 million dollar bonus for each level of the postseason he reached for 2008. Joe walked away from the situation with dignity and class. In reality, with the twelve great years he had with the Yankees, if his tenure had to end, it is best that it ended in this manner, rather than having not been offered a contract, or having him resign, or be fired, next season.
Mr Torre will be a great asset to any team, and I personally hope to see him nanaging again somewhere. The man belongs in the Hall Of Fame, with his twelve straight playoff appearances, ten division titles, Six AL Pennants, and Four World Series wins, the record speaks for itself.
This is the end of an era, and now it will be interesting to see what the Yankees do next.

Mitch