David Wells Goes After Joe Torre

First of all, I'd like to thank Tom Verducci and Joe Torre for providing us all with some baseball news in the week leading up to the Super Bowl. Normally, we'd have a quiet go of things here in MLB 'House, which is why we decided to run The Next Big Thing this week. Instead, we've got tons of juice -- and I'm not talking about Barry Bonds.

Anyway, add David Wells to the list of people who don't necessarily approve of some of the material in the book, though it seems he wasn't a fan of Torre in the first place.

"[Joe Torre] should be called J-Fraud. He managed guys like Jeter - guys that were very easy to manage - those everyday players. But when there were guys under the bubble that were struggling, or basket cases like me I guess, he didn't want anything to do with us.
...
Joe, he wasn't tough on guys, he just treated you like crap. If you weren't in his little circle - the circle of trust - then he could care less about you. I've had quite a few confrontations with him. It's like guys get to fly early ... I had to fly with the team - it's stuff like that. If you're going to do it for one guy, you might as well do it for the rest, and that's what he didn't do with the majority of guys."

Wow, where to even begin? We've got a "Meet the Parents" reference, accusations of favoritism, and a really bad retaliatory nickname.

I guess I'll start with the "J-Fraud" thing. C'mon, David. You've gotta be better than that. A-Rod and A-Fraud rhyme. Re-using the "fraud" part on Torre is pretty uncreative. You've gotta use a rhyme or, at least, alliteration. May I suggest something like "Traitor Torre" for future interviews?

On a serious note, Torre's always gotten gobs of praise for being such a genius at dealing with all the big egos during the Yankees dynasty, but Wells seems to contradict those sentiments a bit here. Wells is alleging the people who had a great relationship with Torre -- Jeter, for example -- didn't really need much managing. The guys who did need managing, Wells implies, weren't paid their due attention by Torre. If this is all true, what the hell did Torre do worth our praise? Just watch a bunch of great players win him games?

For the record, I'm still reluctant to completely bash Torre in the wake of all this news. First of all, I'd like to actually read the book before drawing conclusions. After that, I'm not sure how much credibility David Wells has when it comes to tell-all books saying too much. Plus, if Torre did show favoritism to players other than a guy who proclaimed he pitched a no-hitter half-drunk -- and later backpedaled in the statement -- can you really blame him?

If nothing else, you'd at least be advised to not include David Wells in your circle of trust.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-30-2009 @ 11:56AM

richcantwell109 said...

Very interesting post, also interesting is that we heard these exact sentiments from Mr. Sheffield and Mr. Lofton a while ago. Most fans dismissed it because of the source. If it was only one guy I would say it's sour grapes. However, Torre did always seem aloof. I believe Wells.

1-30-2009 @ 12:58PM

yamahawatercraft said...

Joe Torre had the easiest manageral job in baseball history with the yankee's managing a team of Allstars every year. from 1977 to 1995 he had 3 seasons over .500 the mets atlanta and st louis he did nothing. all of a sudden in 1996 he is one of the best managers in the leaugue only because of the Players the Yankee's bought. to me his is nothing and always will be one of the lamest coaches in baseball.

1-30-2009 @ 1:25PM

Jane said...

Yes, Torre watched a bunch of great players win games, and blubbered like a girly-man. End of story.

Torre is a mean-spirited, bitter, small person.

I wish more baseball players would have the balls Wells has and speak out. Also always thought Jeter was a total brown nose with Torre and it was pretty repulsive.

If all the rumors about what's in this book are true, Joe Torre is a phony and a low class, disgusting sack of sh*t.

1-30-2009 @ 2:12PM

mercuriojoe said...

David Wells criticizing anybody! Come on people he probably was unaware that Joe was the manager!

Of course it's easier to manage guys like Jeter. Assholes like Wells are simply not worth it.

1-30-2009 @ 2:39PM

cmgill11 said...

David Wells is a stand up guy. I probably could have managed the yanks myself and at least won a pennant. I dont like or dislike Torre, but I do think Jeter is a pretty-boy punk.By the way, Im born and raised in Beantown. PS Manny is a punk, too, but a natural-born hit machine.

1-30-2009 @ 5:17PM

mikerat42 said...

Amazing that Yankee fans can't tell a scu---g from a gentleman.Try not living your lives in reflected glory...Come out of your bunkers and get a life. If Joe was a shoe-in with that "loaded" team, why haven't they won???

1-30-2009 @ 9:54PM

Keith said...

Wells is truly a sad case of bad team chemistry!

1-31-2009 @ 4:49AM

eddie1128 said...

i havent read the story but im gusseing its not good news from the way everybody is pissed off about as for david wells personally i think he is a great yankee and was i first seen him as a yankee and he got my vote and about tore i really liked him as our manager i think he did a great job thats just my opinion im just speaking for myself i really hope he didnt shit on the great yanks beacause he would really digust me