Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul "Joe" Torreis an American professional baseball executive, serving in the capacity of Major League Baseball'schief baseball officer since 2011. A former player, manager and television color commentator, Torre ranks fifth all-time in MLB history with 2,326 wins as a manager. With 2,342 hits during his playing career, Torre is the only major leaguer to achieve both 2,000 hits and 2,000 wins as a manager. From 1996 to 2007, he was the manager of the New York Yankees, whom...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionAthlete
Date of Birth18 July 1940
CountryUnited States of America
You're getting a chance to look at these kids with the number of at-bats they're getting early in the game compared to what they would be getting if you had your whole team healthy and here. It's a little bit different, but you're getting to find out a little bit more than normal.
In situations like that, I am. I was so elated for the team, but for this kid . . . We've sent him back and forth to Columbus. He waited for the tap on the shoulder with some of the moves we've made and he didn't get it.
He's got a legitimate swing; he's got no fear. He's very relaxed for a kid in his first spring.
Kids are much more intuitive these days. Not that I'm crazy about what's on TV, but they know so much these days.
I wish I could paint that picture. As a 20-year-old kid, that was a big thrill.
I knew what the Dodgers uniform represented as a kid growing up in Brooklyn.
The kid has been through a lot, but we were sort of up against it. He's certainly had a tough week.
We just want to get home, ... Not many guys have had their families with them the entire time and we want to get back.
When a guy like that goes out there you feel you have the edge.
We had them on the ropes early and couldn't put them away. That's our fault.
We certainly need him in the lineup, whichever way he's better for us. Whichever way is easier for him, that's the way we'll have to go.
I've talked to him all year about thinking small, and big things will happen. When you're fighting for a pennant, everybody here will remember that at-bat (on Saturday) rather than a two-run home run when you're up by six runs. I don't think he would have done that last year because he would have been trying to do something bigger.
I've talked to Bernie and I think he's comfortable with it. Emotionally, he is fine with it. It is just that the last day of July was the day it had to be done. It was in his contract.
It was uncomfortable sitting in on that press conference. It must have been 10 times more uncomfortable for him. With that all behind him, I think he's going to enjoy spring training.