Joe Torre: Pulitzer Prize winner?
"The Yankee Years," co-written by Joe Torre and longtime SI scribe Tom Verducci, will hit stands Feb. 3. In those pages are details involving team-wide disdain for A-Rod and a strained relationship between Torre and the pinstripe brass that began long before the manager left town. Only excerpts have been made available but a media frenzy has ensued, particularly in New York, which is shocking since it's a journalistic base that tends not to jump all over items of a potentially sensational nature before every detail is known.
And assuming it's not abundantly clear, yes, that description of Big Apple writers was indeed sarcastic.
Before I form an opinion of the book there are a few things I'd like to do ...
1) Read the book. I know it's a crazy way to actually learn what's in there, but also just crazy enough to work.
2) While reading the book, pay close attention to the ratio of dirt/criticism/shots in the book vs. dirt/criticism/shots offered directly from Torre's lips. As Verducci reminds everyone, this is not a first-person account. Torre co-wrote the book, but he wasn't the only source of info and opinion (some of which belonged to Verducci, who spent a lot of time around the team).
3) I would like to get an idea of why Torre participated in the book to begin with. Is he looking to set records he feels aren't straight? Vent against those who screwed him over? Quell his jealousy over the Kamenetzky brothers and "Fishing on the Edge"? I'd like to think it's not about the money. But whatever the case, Torre's rationale for co-writing this book is a big piece of the puzzle. Hopefully, there will be an opportunity to learn. And frankly, that impetus for writing is a lot more interesting to me than the gossipy kinda stuff (many of which I doubt are truly revelatory items that haven't been already reported in some way, shape or form, if I had to guess).
It'll be interesting to see how much heat Torre takes after the book hits stands and everything is out in the open. For the most part, I think "tell-all" projects are best left alone. Yes, Phil Jackson obviously repaired a relationship with Kobe Bryant detailed in "The Last Season," and for all the focus on the tabloidy muck, there were many genuinely insightful passages as well. But I still don't think The Zen Master came off particularly well for having penned a work violating a code most within the athletic fraternity look to uphold: What happens in the locker room stays there. Ultimately, it wasn't a great idea. Hopefully, Torre won't find himself accused of violating the same credo.
AK
Subscribe to this Blog | What is RSS?
I heard of stray-rod, 1/2 billion $-rod, pay-rod but now A-fraud sounds pretty darn good. Hats off to a man who will be known like Barry... a great all time player who will never win a championship because they will never realize its about the team and not just them.
Lets hope Torre writes a book after he leaves the Dodgers "Dodgerland blues" on how the Mccourts run the dodgers like disneyland. All show for the kids, but in reality a bunch of over hyped over priced pieces of crap set to extract every last cent of the fan base.
Posted by: poppinfresh | January 26, 2009 at 03:40 PM
I don't know why and don't care. I'm just proud of Joe. As a Dodger fan, you are obliged to kick dirt on the Yankees whenever you get a chance. Joe, after one year you have exercised your NY demons are now officially a Dodger for life. Welcome to LA. Now sign Manny!
Posted by: Dodger Dude | January 26, 2009 at 03:57 PM
Shershow is a lanz, and I kicked BK's butt in the fantasy league.
Posted by: Dan Lazar | January 26, 2009 at 04:14 PM
As I said earlier(with some changes), the next book should be titled "D-Fraud" , subtitled "How the Dodgers Spent $1.3 Billion and Went No Where".
The Dodgers will need to be careful about what they say in the locker room. Torre's name is on the book. He and Verducci are sophisticated men. Torre spent 18 years coaching in NY and a couple years playing. Torre has to take responsbiliy for the content.
Other news: The Mets Manager said today he would like to see Manny on the Mets. So now both Manager and GM want Manny. Wilpon's son (Steve?) said last week that ownership is waiting for management to present a deal for Manny.
Posted by: Joe the Plumber | January 26, 2009 at 05:19 PM
A-Fraud is to Yankees as Kent is/was to the Dodgers
Posted by: benzojones | January 26, 2009 at 07:04 PM
CHEAP DODGERS!!!
GIVE ETHIER $1 MIL MORE!
Ugh, Dodgers make the dumbest FA signings of all time, and then they won't give Ethier $3.65 mil?
Posted by: Steve M. | January 26, 2009 at 11:07 PM
I think Joe just wanted to set the record straight and didn't care as much any more what people thought. I think he truly felt betrayed by the Yankees and wanted to share truth, even if people didn't like it.
I read a story that he called Cashman to warn him of the book before the news broke....and yet you didn't see any harsh comments by Cashman back. I do wonder how much of this is hyped by the exerpt we got rather than reading the whole thing.
I haven't read any stories about him calling A-rod though. After benching him in the playoffs, I bet their relationship is still a little rocky.
Scott
www.sfdodgerfan.com
Posted by: SF Dodgerfan | January 27, 2009 at 07:37 AM
Sorry, but as Torre said about David Wells years ago regarding Boomer's co-written book, "His name is on it, he's got to be accountable for what's in it." This is a man who constantly preached about the sanctity of the clubhouse; here he is, at the very least approving if not providing accounts of private conversations and clubhouse strife, even commenting on inter-player relationships he wasn't a part of. His hypocrisy, it seems, knows no bounds. We'll see how you feel in a few years when the bloom is off the rose and St. Joe writes a book about the Dodger's clubhouse. .
Posted by: NYJ | January 27, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Mr. Torre was treated like a saint in NY and became very wealthy as a Yankee employee. He was given every big ticket player who was ever available and only had to write out a lineup card on a daily basis. He's an ingrate and you Dodger fans can have him. You'll be a good team with Manny but without him, dont expect Joe to make a difference.
Posted by: YankeeFan | January 27, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Torre is T-Fraud like A-Rod is A-Fraud.
He won 4 world series because he had better players then, not because he knew how to manage.
If it's not Manny, Dodgers won't be in post season last year.
Posted by: mmx | January 27, 2009 at 11:37 AM
I agree with YankeeFan. Torre is the real fraud. He was a lousy manager before he came to the Yankees - check his stats. The Yankee players made Joe a winner. I think the true fans really began questioning Joe's moves - especially with the bullpen - over the last few years he managed the Yankees. IHe made some really stupid moves and made his own exit happen.
Posted by: DiamondMan | January 27, 2009 at 01:53 PM
No doubt, with his name on it, he takes some credit for the content. But since its opinion, and pretty well chronicled that the Yankees clubhouse is a mess, what exactly does he need to be held accountable for? Maybe some see it as disrespectful but its not like you can punish a guy for having an opinion. And with the way the Yankees handled his departure, I think he deserves to throw some jabs.
That being said, is anyone else sick of ESPN's coverage of this?? If you just watched them you would have no clue that Verducci had any part in writing this book. It is not "By" Joe Torre, it is by Verducci WITH Joe Torre.
Alot of things in the sports world would not even be a story if ESPN didn't glorify/shun them. ESPN creates their own news, because in reality there is not always something to report 24/7 on a 24/7 sports channel.
I could rant for hours about what ESPN has become but i'll spare myself the high blood pressure.
Remember when sportscenter was cool?
Posted by: Mike G | January 27, 2009 at 02:08 PM
Ken Rosenthal nails the (possible) Dodger deal for Manny (from Fox Sports):
"The Dodgers would sign Ramirez for two years with a player option for a third — a three-year contract, in other words, if that is what Ramirez chose.
In exchange for the team's concession, Ramirez would agree to receive no-trade protection only for the first two seasons. After that, the Dodgers could move him, probably to the American League, where he would become a 39-year-old DH.
The Dodgers do not want to offer Ramirez a third year, especially when they might be bidding against themselves. But signing him would be a counter-productive if Ramirez was unhappy with the deal.
In essence, Ramirez would be rewarded for his bad behavior in Boston; the fear that he would act up again would compel the Dodgers to relent on the third year."
Posted by: Joe the Plumber | January 27, 2009 at 02:30 PM
Congrats to Joe Torre and Tommy Verducci for generating tons of publicity, thus ensuring strong sales of their co-authored book. But as a Dodger fan I am not pleased based on the excerpts from the book that I have read and from what I have heard.
Whatever happen to the speech he gave the Yankees, and presumably the Dodgers, that what is said in the club house stays in the club house? How can the players trust Joe? Whatever the Dodgers say is now subject to be repeated in some future book. Joe's book may be a detriment to the cohesiveness which a team usually needs to win a championship.
Joe gets paid as manager, what?, $4 or $5 million a year. Joe couldn't wait to retire to write his tell-all book and to express his thoughts about individual players? He needs the money this badly? Meanwhile, I continue to wait for a championship.... its been 20 yearfor God's sake!
I'm posting again on this subject because I just heard that Joe took a shot at Randy Johnson. This is the Randy who the Dodgers had an interest in sigining and who they will face this year. Nothing like giving Randy and whoever else is pissed an additional incentive to beat the Dodgers or to never play for the Dodgers as long as Torre is the skip.
Posted by: Joe the Plumber | January 27, 2009 at 04:38 PM
3yr/90 for Manny... I could be right....
Posted by: benzojones | January 27, 2009 at 05:51 PM
Just hope that the Mets don't get really interested in Manny. They could definitely afford him.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3865005
Posted by: Brooklyn Dodger | January 27, 2009 at 07:41 PM
Benzo
You are always right!! Pay the man his money!!
Package
Posted by: Package | January 27, 2009 at 08:12 PM
Bad mouthing management after you leave an organization is one thing, but bad mouthing your players is flat out wrong.
He, and some or all of the players, may not like A-Rod, but that has to stay in the locker room.
Part of the job description of major league manager is to protect your players. In my opinion that protection is a never ending deal.
This whole thing just seems wrong to me. But I will keep an open mind until I read it for myself. I never trust media accounts.
Joe the plumber - I don't see your point about Manny being rewarded for his bad behavior. The fact the Dodgers insist on no-trade protection in the third year, is not rewarding. If they give in, then maybe they will be rewarding him for his bad behavior.
If the third year with no trade protection is what keeps him happy - DO IT! all ready.
Posted by: ApaulO | January 27, 2009 at 08:13 PM
JTP,
Where did you hear that Torre "took a shot at Randy Johnson?" I haven't seen it anywhere.
Posted by: Brooklyn Dodger | January 27, 2009 at 10:18 PM
Hey Joe - where you go'in with that gun in your hand?
As mentioned earlier, Joe is a sophisticated man.
He understands what he is doing and what the fallout will be from the words (actions) that he has sanctioned.
Could Joe still be harboring some bitter feelings toward Yankee management?
Just win Joe - then vent all you like.
Posted by: 68elcamino427 | January 27, 2009 at 11:37 PM
Well, if the authors and if others don't want conclusions made based on the published exerpts--THEN DON'T RELEASE EXERPTS in advance of the book release. As far as the exerpts, it is apparent that Torre has violated an age old baseball rule of disclosing clubhouse confidences. Jim Bouton did this and was pilloried for it. And now that the you-know-what has hit the fan, Torre is trying to backpeddle on some of the comments. Also, Torre and Verducci are trying to construct deniability because the book is written in the third person. If everything is true, what is there to deny? Did Torre really need to money that badly to sully his stature?
Hey Dodger fans, what will Torre do after he leaves his current team. Another book? Except for managers who die in harness, most managers are hired to be fired--and that day will come for Torre--again. Torre's detractors always said he was a prima donna----he needs to be mature enough to own up to the consequences of his words--whether they are true or not.
Posted by: Martin L. | January 28, 2009 at 01:34 AM
Mike G. Sportscenter was last cool when they had Keith Olberman (pre-tirades) and Dan Patrick.
http://videos.espn.com/m/video/21112147/this_is_sportscenter_yahtzee.htm
Yahtzee!
Posted by: poppinfresh | January 28, 2009 at 07:05 AM
Mike G--you and most everyone I know enjoyed sportscenter and espn about ten years ago, and since then they have become a joke. Espn is simply a disney-powered hype machine; they stopped doing any actual reporting or holding themselves accountable to journalistic standards once the Mouse took over. Of course, like the Fox network, they have become ridiculously profitable aiming for the lowest common denominator, so what do they care about thinking fans like you and me?
I don't blame Torre for speaking his mind about management or players. Anybody making pro baseball salaries can stand some criticism.
Regarding the Manny-turn on this thread, here's what I don't get: Manny is not being sought by many teams because of his bad history with the Sox, right? He's not getting his $25mil per long-term deal because other GMs don't want to be burned by him the way the Sox feel they were burned, right? And yet Manny is confident in his abilities beyond the next two years, right? So wouldn't it be totally in Manny's interest to sign a high-money, short-term deal, prove he can be nothing but positive for his team over that period, then re-hit the FA market being sought by EVERYONE!?! I would think that Manny proving he can be a team player would go a long way to earning him huge money on another deal when he's 39... and hence a two year deal actually makes more sense for both Manny and the Dodgers.
At what point is Boras' megalomaniacal pride getting in the way of what is best for his client?
Posted by: VA Blueblood | January 28, 2009 at 09:03 AM
- On Torre's book, who cares, won't buy it.
- On "Manny held hostage" or is it "LA held hostage?", day 90, get on with it already!! Every freaking morning I check the Dodgers site, LA Times sports, Fox sports and ESPN sports online to see if he's signed up yet and...NOTHING. It's getting old people!!! DO SOMETHING!!!
Posted by: steve02001 | January 28, 2009 at 10:05 AM
Yank fans,
Please take it personally, it’s meant to be.
I am so worried about Torre leaving the Dodgers and spilling the beans about how money hungry McParking lot is, how Ned is not a genius, how AJ was a total looser, and Kent was an angry guy. It’s much better to shut-up about the clubhouse such as steroid and hormone use so we can dig a deeper hole to defame baseball. What’s he trying to do, start making people accountable for their actions? Crazy guy.
But you're right we will suck without Manny. This is the time for Manny to sign a multiyear deal because at his age he has an inevitable decline. If he waits to next year, he is even more of a risk. All signs point to a big year next year at least with the Dodger because of his one-sided success with the Dodgers four months ago. He has so far bucked the trend but eventually time will win. He fits best with the Dodgers because their power hitting outfielders, Kemp and Ethier, will be coming into their prime just as Manny starts to wane, so it is a natural fit, and he has already proven to work as a Dodger, and the guy has a quite temperamental history. Also if the Dodgers don’t sign him after letting all of their pitching go, they are dead. If the Dodgers have already decided to take a risk for two years, why don't they just sign him for Manny money for two years, with old guy money for another two with an option for Manny to opt out?
But can someone just start making something up and pretend something is happening signing Manny? I mean the whole season next year is on the line and this is like watching paint dry.
Posted by: Crash Burn | January 28, 2009 at 10:12 AM