Torre to Boss: NO!

God bless Joe Torre!
George M. Steinbrenner, III, bought the New York Yankees in 1973 from CBS for $10 million. He has proceeded to act, for 34 years, as though he knows as much about baseball as he does shipbuilding, where he made his fortune. He does not.
He has treated human beings like cattle. He has autocratically banished players from the major league team throughout the years, humiliating them, as he did this year in sending Kei Igawa not to the AAA team, but to A ball in Tampa. His disregard for managers is legendary. While King George rants and raves about "being Yankees" and demanding that his people "act like champions" all the while acting like an impetuous, spoiled brat, pitching fits indiscriminately. Billy Martin was clearly a disturbed person, so maybe it is understandable that allowed himself to be moved in and out of the manager's office repeatedly. But the way that Steinbrenner abused decent, respected baseball men like Bob Lemon, Yogi Berra, Gene Michael and, now, Joe Torre, is inexcusable.
Managers are confined to using the players afforded them by owners and general managers. But the old adage holds that it is easier to fire one manager than it is to fire 25 players. As Terry Francona says, managers are hired to be fired; the later date just isn't filled in yet. Especially in today's game, the manager is expected to be the magician that can make it all work, in most cases without input on the makeup of the team.
Joe Torre has taken the New York Yankees to the postseason for twelve straight seasons. And for that, the Yankees' minor league pitching instructor was allowed to devise rules by which Torre and Ron Guidry could use Joba Chamberlain. If the kid can't pitch, leave him in the minors! Steinbrenner announced, in the middle of the ALDS, that if the manager didn't produce a series win, he wouldn't be back next year. And then, at the end of the season, the team that gave Jason Giambi a $120 million contract, offered Joe Torre a one year deal for $5 million with an option for 2009. The offer included a $1 million bonus for reaching the ALDS, $1 million for reaching the ALCS, and $1 million for reaching the World Series. Sounds darned good to me. But Joe Torre, a future Hall of Famer, 4 World Series rings on his hands, 10 divisional series and 2 wild card titles in his pocket, made $7 million this year. For his Yankee career, he has been the most successful manager they have ever had. For all of that, he was offered a pay cut of 29%, and performance incentives. Performance incentives, not for a rookie player or rookie manager, but for a man who has taken the team to postseason play every year for twelve years! And got them there this season after a 21-29 start when the starting pitchers couldn't even find their way to the mound.
The Yankees clearly didn't want Torre back, but they also didn't want the onus on themselves for letting him go. Their offer didn't even cover the time to let Joe manage in the coming new Yankee Stadium.
And for all of that, Joe Torre said, "Thanks, but no thanks." For once, George's money didn't get him his way. For once, someone who has made enough money could say "crap on somebody else." For once, an individual's integrity and credibility was strong enough to tell George to go jump.
Joe, I've followed you since you were a catcher for the Braves. I attended my first Major League game at Busch Stadium during your NL MVP season in 1971. I was thrilled when you led the 1982 Braves to their first pennant of any sort since 1969. I heard all of the crap when you followed Herzog, and later when you took the Yankee job. I will root for your next team when you decide the time is right to manage again. And I will respect your strength and courage forever!