For most of the summer, Joe Torre indicated that he was planning on retiring from managing after his contract with the Dodgers expires in 2010. Both he and people who have followed his career closely noted that he's made similar statements in the past, and he's still in the dugout. Accordingly, Torre admitted to T.J. Simers on Sunday that he's considering negotiating a contract extension with the Dodgers that would keep him in L.A. beyond the 2010 season. In his two years with the Dodgers, Torre's taken the team to the NLCS twice, but failed to get past the Phillies both times. Dating back to his years with the Yankees, he's taken his team to a playoff spot in 14 consecutive seasons. Unsurprisingly, Dodgers GM Ned Colletti indicates in the same story that he'd be happy to negotiate with Torre, should he want an extension.
The one person this might affect adversely is the Dodgers' hitting coach, Don Mattingly. Mattingly has long been thought to be a future major league manager and he was supposed to have interviews with the Indians and Nationals this fall, but he turned the Nats down and the Indians hired Manny Acta before he met with the team. Most people thought that was because he was expecting to take the Dodgers job in 2011 after Torre retires.
Mattingly says that it's not a big deal if Torre sticks around a few more years, but he's already been passed over once as Torre's heir (by Joe Girardi in New York). If Torre's not planning on retiring any time soon, Mattingly may not stick around L.A. long enough for it to happen again.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
At my age, I cheer for managers - the players are generally an insipid and spoiled bunch.
I've never cared much for the Dodgers, but with Joe Torre and Don Mattingly in LA - I've come around.
I hope Joe NEVER retires.
Maybe it is time for Joe to take a leave from managing. He gets more credit than he deserves.
When he took over the Yankees in 1996, he had a stacked and loaded team that was put together by Gene Micahel.
They were real good the two previous years and they were primed and hungry, as we know, to do some wonderful things.
Joe was the third choice to be the Yankee skipper.
He got the job by default not on merit.
He was considered a marginal candidate at best by many.He had a horrible track record as a Met and Cards manager, his teams never won anything.
He was labeled a genius with a magic touch after 2000. But, he lost his touch after that, losing his other Series appearance with loaded Yankee teams.
He blew the 2004 playoff series aainst the Red Sox with some of his lackluster moves.
He never retaliated or protected his players after they were constantly thrown at by the Red Sox in that series. He was asleep at the wheel against the Indians in 2007 when Joba was attacked by the BUGS.
Girardi has been the better manager this year.
Torre gets too much adulation for a guy that has lost more than he has won the last 10 years.
Please Joe, retire.