Joe Torre

Joe Torre’s book


I haven’t posted about the fallout of Joe Torre’s book because most of the gossip and speculation comes from the New York tabloids. But, since I’ve followed Joe Torre on this blog, I think I will address the insanity:

1) The New York MEDIA had gotten hold of some excerpts and starting making headlines.

2) Yesterday, they found the real book.

3) The MEDIA focused on Torre’s hurt feeling with Brian Cashman at the end, players calling A-Rod “A-Fraud”, David Cone saying that he and his teammates knew something was in the protein shakes some players were drinking, David Wells was a clubhouse poison, and how hard it was to deal with Gary Sheffield, Carl Pavano, Randy Johnson, and Kevin Brown.

4) National news outlets reported that “a friend of A-Rod” [already a lie, since he has no real friends] defended A-Rod and disputed the story. This “friend” said that Torre lost control of the team by batting A-Rod 8th in the post-season vs the Tigers, and wasn’t close to A-Rod to make a judgment about him.

5) The New York MEDIA is calling Torre hypocritical for “attacking” players and management, and that his legacy is damaged. I saw an Internet headline that read: “Will Joe Torre’s new book hurt his reputation”? This is BEFORE they even read the book, folks.

6) Torre is apparently trying his best to downplay any negative things from the book, and has even called Cashman to set the record straight.

On a good note, Mike Lupica actually DID read the an advanced copy, and he said not to judge any of these quotes out of context. He said Torre and Tom Verducci made a great team, and the book is like a backstage pass. Lupica proceeded to write that the criticism of the book is too harsh, and that Torre and the other players who gave quotes just have their honest opinions about situations. For example, there is a quote from Mike Mussina in the book, which the New York MEDIA will undoubtedly use to turn against Mariano Rivera, but is was simply Moose’s assessment of losing the 2004 ALCS to the Red Sox.

For once, Lupica who generally goes against common sense, said in his book review something I have a feeling will ring true:

“The Yankee Years”… a terrific book and a terrific account of Torre’s time in New York. It is more than the headlines and the coverage it has generated. People who take time to read it will eventually find out.

Finally, I’d like to say that Joe Torre promised his publisher a book that doesn’t pull punches, and he and Verducci apparently created a great historical account of Torre’s 12 years- an invaluable resource. For those who attack Torre for not being politically correct, or for not being “loyal”, now who’s being two-faced? For years people attacked Joe for sticking up and blindly apologizing his players when he was manager. Now that he can finally disclose the details, he gets ripped? Come on, guys. Joe is a gentleman. I wonder what sort of book you would write if your boss screwed you after 12 years. I bet it would not even be close to the professionalism of Torre.


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