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
Years ago, you never concerned yourself with pitch counts. Now, with statistics telling you that between this number and that number bad things happen to this particular pitcher, you have to pay attention to it. The bullpen has become a huge part of what happens now.
I played for 18 years, but the only thing that meant anything to me was the World Series.
I wish I could paint that picture. As a 20-year-old kid, that was a big thrill.
When I was 16 years old, my brother Frank said, 'You'd better become a catcher, because you're too big and fat to do anything else.' Well, I took his advice. It was a quick way to get to the big leagues, and I've never regretted it.
A lot of pitchers today are afraid of the ball. Warren Spahn pinch-hit for me when I was a rookie. He hit a sacrifice fly. I couldn't argue. I was 20 years old and just happy to be in the big leagues. And Spahnnie was a good hitter.
My 12 years in New York were very, very special, the fans were very special, and it's something I will take with me wherever I go and into retirement.
After you manage the Yankees for 12 years, it's really tough to envision going somewhere else. But then the Dodgers called.
I'm very comfortable working with Brian and I certainly hope that they find a way to get it done.
In games that Alex does not contribute with his bat, he's helped us win ballgames, so I think that should be part of the equation. I think it's a part David doesn't have.
(In) Game 6, the way he came into Yankee Stadium and pretty much dominated us - that's a memory that will be hard to lose. That had to be one of the most pressure outings you'll ever see in that situation.
I know the players were all happy for him because for a long time, he really wasn't getting it done, and they knew how hard he was working. So I'm just very pleased for him.
I knew he would embrace it, but you don't know how he's going to be able to do it. He's been situated in one place for so long, and coming off the bench is different than playing every day. He's been doing a little bit of everything here.
It's still apparent that it's there. He's throwing and doing all that stuff, but we're still trying to get past that feeling. It doesn't hurt, but he knows it's present.
It's still all about pitching, ... and being able to control the game.