Well, it could be so for Joe. Not that one, the other one.
UPDATE: Looks like Grady could get canned either way. He's reportedly not all that happy with how this is playing out. Can't say I blame him, either. Not that it should change what the Dodgers do. So whether it's Torre or someone else, the Blue seem destined have a new skipper next year. FYI, Girardi has agreed to a three year deal with the Yanks.)
Joe Girardi has been offered the Yankees gig, but that doesn't necessarily mean the Dodgers will be Joe-less in '08. Published reports say that the Blue are major players in the Joe Torre business. Some to the point that they're declaring that the deal is essentially done. Grady Little will be fired, Torre will be hired, and former Yankees bench coach Don Mattingly will join him. Don't forget, Donnie Baseball's kid is in the organization.
The Dodgers aren't talking, but there seems to be an awful lot of action behind the scenes.
Watching SportsCenter, they had Tony Jackson of the Daily News on, who warned against putting this one in the books. "All I'm being told at this point is that the reports are premature. In fact, one source told me I would look like an idiot if I wrote that this was about to happen," Jackson said. "It's anybody's guess right now what's true, what's not true." Jackson did say that he thinks talks are going on, and they're at the ownership level. He doesn't think anything will happen within 24 hours, but Jackson seemed to indicate he thought there was "too much smoke" for there not to be some fire on this one.
Call that point. For a counterpoint, or at least something of one, the show turned to Peter Abraham of the Journal News (back in New York). "I was told by somebody who's very close to the situation that I should write it and would be correct if I did. I got this information at about ten o'clock this evening (presumably EST) and was able to confirm it independently." As the links above show, other papers in New York have picked it up as well. "It's going to happen very soon," Abraham told the SC anchors. Within 24-36 hours. And they'd better get him, because if the Blue miss on Torre, after flirting with him and Girardi, it'll be awfully tough for Little to come back in the spring. Stay tuned...
Once again, Google and my DVR get together to help me deliver available news. I'll now go back to polishing my Pulitzer.
BK
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whatever. grittle sucks and the dodgers are outclassed by the OC boys. get torre here and send grits to his shrimp boat. make it happen!!!
Posted by: the WOLF | October 29, 2007 at 11:58 PM
You know it's really not inconceivable that after Torre the Dodgers could sign A-Rod and then Mariano Rivera....he's supposedly bitter with the Yankees because they didn't sign him to an extention during spring training and he must be extremely close with Torre.....hummm, could get very interesting...
Posted by: 10milliondollarzen | October 30, 2007 at 12:40 AM
Ah man thats great if they get Torre, but id be happy to get Joe Montana, cuz Grady Little is part of the reason why this season went down the drain.............Let us not forget how many times he put out RIDICULOUS lineups
Posted by: Aryan | October 30, 2007 at 02:03 AM
Best said by ESPN:
The last time Grady Little was replaced as manager of a team, that team won the World Series the next year.
The last time Joe Torre took a job as manager of a team, that team won the World Series the next year.
Sounds like a win-win to me. If only it were guaranteed to happen, life would be so sweet.
Posted by: Brian | October 30, 2007 at 06:21 AM
Torre = Good (even the red sox were touting him. AK/BK I thought someone said the manager doesn't really make that big a difference?)
Mattingly = Good (heir apparent)
A-Rod = Bad (I admit at once I thought it was a good idea, but now he just seems like a younger version of Kent with a touch of Bonds (personality wise)(and that schtick they pulled in the world series was BS))
Rivera = Really bad (washed up, and Sammy is way too good)
Posted by: benzo jones | October 30, 2007 at 07:19 AM
Fantastic! I hope Torre really does come to the Dodgers.
Posted by: Steve | October 30, 2007 at 07:55 AM
The dodgers already have an awesome closer in Takashi. Mariano would make a good reliever though and one where the kids could actually learn something from not like the crap that Hernandez was.
Posted by: James | October 30, 2007 at 08:14 AM
Im a big fan of Mr.T,I was a yanks fan.If Joe goes to LA.so will I...GO DODGERS 2008
Posted by: mark | October 30, 2007 at 09:36 AM
Torre knows what it's like to work for a jerk, but I'm trying to understand why he'd want to take a job for another jerk.
Posted by: hashpipe | October 30, 2007 at 09:44 AM
ESPN just reported that the Dodgers still haven't spoken with Grady Little, that's totally disrespectful now that the rumors seem legit.
Posted by: 10milliondollarzen | October 30, 2007 at 12:25 PM
McCourt may be a jerk... but he's OUR jerk.
Posted by: benzo jones | October 30, 2007 at 12:30 PM
This begs the question, if the Dodgers really wanted Girardi (as most of the bloggers did) why didn't they target him as soon as the season ended?
Then they might have had a change to get him.
Did it take the Yankees wanting him to make him a legitimate candidate?
Posted by: Andy B | October 30, 2007 at 12:47 PM
BK,
Get ready to become the Dodger manager. When Torre turns down the offer, Forrest will also be toast and the Dodgers will be scrambling. Please, no LaRussa-like micromanaging. Leave that to the bloggers.
Posted by: Chunkdog32 | October 30, 2007 at 01:07 PM
I'm with WOLF . . . send Forrest to the shrimp boat (still laughing over that one) -- and while they're at it, find a way to send bleeding-heart-brain-numb Plaschke with him!!
Posted by: LossLeader | October 30, 2007 at 01:07 PM
benzo, love the beerfest reference.
Alright, so the whole A-Rod argument seems pretty split. Personally, I am all for it. In the past seven or so years, the Dodgers have muffed up two of the biggest free agent signing availiable when they let Griffey get to Cincy and Vlad down to OC. Let's not let this one get away too. Think about it...LA fans come out in droves to support the lackluster Blue (I love the kids as much as anyone, but in Hollywood, stars sell!) Imagine the trickle down effect of signing A-Rod. If the Galaxy sold tickets by signing a guy who played less than one entire game for them, how will the Dodgers sell if they sign a bonafide superstar in a sport that is far more organized than American Soccer?
The extra revenue created by the A-Rod signing can be re-invested in socuting and development (much the way the Red Sox have begun to operate) and we truly could have a perrenial winner on our hands.
SIGN A-ROD. SIGN TORRE!
Posted by: nick | October 30, 2007 at 01:08 PM
How long is this gonna take???
Posted by: Steve M. | October 30, 2007 at 01:17 PM
HIRING TORRE IS A GOOD MOVE.BUT ARE THE DODGERS WILLING TO PAY A-ROD 25-30 MILLION A YEAR.OR GO WITH A ROOKIE 3RD BASEMAN
Posted by: FRANK | October 30, 2007 at 01:31 PM
If the Dodgers are making a play at Torre then it has got to be with the thought of luring A-Rod, too.
Triva:
The year A-Rod was drafted by the Mariners who had the 2nd pick of the draft?
The Dodgers. They took Driefor or whatever his name is. The pitcher they signed for like 50 million and he wound up on the disable list most of the time.
The Dodgers tried every which way they could to get A-Rod back then and came up short.
A-Rod was always on the Dodgers wish list. This would be a big coup for McCourt. It would be like bringing a Yankee and Red Sox spending mentality to Los Angeles.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | October 30, 2007 at 02:12 PM
A-Rod supposedly has never been too fond of Torre especially after he batted him 8th in playoffs last year, it's been mentioned in various reports
....
Posted by: 10milliondollarzen | October 30, 2007 at 02:41 PM
benzo-
I've always said that I thought managers/coaches get too much credit/too much blame, but they certainly do matter. My big position has been that I've disagreed with some about where Grady fell on the managerial ladder. Some believe he was on the bottom rung, I felt he's somewhere in the middle with most candidates, and that it is indeed possible to do worse. So to assume any alternative is an improvement isn't accurate in my opinion. Joe Torre, though is an upgrade. So I'd make that move in a heartbeat.
Chunkdog-
I'm doing what I can. First, trying to figure out if I'll wear a jersey, or one of those tops a la Francona.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | October 30, 2007 at 03:07 PM
To the guys who trashed the Dodgers for not talking to Little. Who cares. Little took this team to a 4 place finish. If he was in New York or Boston. He would have been feathered and tossed months ago. I don't feel bad for him at all.
Posted by: Paul | October 30, 2007 at 03:17 PM
Tony Jackson is reporting on his blog that the Dodgers have scheduled a conference call at 4 pm, on which they are expected to announce the firing of Grady.
http://www.insidesocal.com/dodgers/archives/2007/10/its_official_gr.html#comments
Posted by: Brooklyn Dodger | October 30, 2007 at 03:36 PM
I, GRADY LITTLE, HEREBY RESIGN MY POSITION AS MANAGER OF THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS OF LOS ANGELES...
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AqlgLbFlcYP.p3BqU5Ygeps5nYcB?slug=ti-brown103007&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Posted by: GRADY LITTLE | October 30, 2007 at 04:07 PM
BK,
Be careful. The MLB fashion police might check on you during an inning, forcing you to leave newly reaquired Bombko in for too long.
Posted by: Chunkdog32 | October 30, 2007 at 04:08 PM
What ever happened to Dodger Ball?
Continuity?
Why should we become Yankees West?
Lets go young and build within the organization.
I (and many others) would much rather have a season or two of rebuilding and then have a true contender on the level of the 90s Yankees (that built their franchise with home-grown talent, supplemented with key free agents) than have a whirl in the free agent market, built with Kevin Brown clones.
Posted by: Ponch | October 30, 2007 at 04:26 PM