Say it ain’t so, Joe?!

Well, sadly, it’s no surprise that Joe Torre isn’t returning to manage the New York Yankees.

Not because he didn’t want to be in New York, not because the players didn’t want him, and certainly not because fans didn’t want him back. It was Yankees management who made it clear they wanted him out. And for the last two weeks team corporate brass tried to dress up a 1 year offer that had just the right balance of “fairness” on the outside while also making it a tough contract for someone of Torre’s accomplishments to accept on the inside. Less to actually do with money than it does with respect, or the lack of it for that matter.

I’m glad Joe Torre turned down the contract, not because I didn’t want to see him come back to manage the Yankees but because the offer itself was a slap in the face. After 12 years as the Yankee skipper he lead them to the playoffs every year, won 10 AL East division titles, 6 American League Pennants, and 4 World Series championships. All that while coaching for a George Steinbrenner owned franchise that always demands the World Series to be won every year. My hat goes off to Joe for keeping his dignity and professionalism intact all the way through the end by turning down that lame ass offer. Definitely not an easy thing to do with Steinbrenner at the helm.

It’s the end of an era in New York. Joe Torre is a true Yankee and is sure to go to the Hall of Fame, and rightfully so. But it’s sad that he couldn’t stay a couple more years to manage the Yankees through their last season at Yankee Stadium before the open up their new ballpark across the street in 2009. It would have been a great way for Torre to bow out bridging the old & new. Whichever manager comes in next will have heavy shoes to fill.

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