Say it ain't so Joe

I have loved baseball my entire life with a passion that words cannot even begin to describe. I cried as Cal Ripken ran around Camden Yards after passing Lou Gehrig's record, I was choked up with emotion as Ted Williams threw out the first pitch in the 1999 All-Star game at Fenway Park, and I have never came closer to a heart-attack when Boston came back and won the 2004 ALCS and of course the World Series. Again I find myself filled with emotion as Joe Torre held what is presumably his final post-game press conference in pin stripes after the Yankees loss to Cleveland in this year's ALDS.

I sit back in my chair now and begin to collect my thoughts. My thoughts on the State of the Yankees, my thoughts concerning Posada and Rivera's looming free agency, but more importantly my thoughts about the end of an era.

I was eight years old and in the second grade when Joe Torre took the reigns of the Bronx Bombers. Now here I am a twelve years later; 1,173 wins, 12 postseason appearences, 10 AL East titles, and four world series later, witnessing first hand as arguably the greatest managers of all time walks away from the position he has held with such grace (and the occasional smile.)

He's managed Rookies of the year, MVPs, Cy Young award winners, and world series champions. He's managed Hideki Irabu, Paul O'Neil, Tino Martinez, and Derek Jeter. He's taken every punch The Boss and the New York Media have thrown at him with a grain of salt. He's a class act and one hell of a baseball manager- a Hall of Fame Manager.


This offseason the Yankees might lose Posada, they might lose Rivera, there is even a chance they could lose soon to be MVP Alex Rodriguez. While all three are intricate parts of the Yankees success none are bigger than Joe Torre.

Torre has won games with Roger Clemens and games with Kei Igawa; he's won games with Bernie Williams and Ricky Ledee. No matter who Torre has put on the field the players have always been up to the challenge.

With his recent postseason struggles one can only wonder why did Torre turned down a one year $5 Million dollar deal from the Yankees. It could be because he wants to retire, it might be because he wanted more money, maybe Torre didn't like the road the Yankees are heading, or very simply it could be because Joe realized he deserved to be treated better.

If the Yankees executives and management can react before it's too late there is always hope that number six, the stern faced, grumpy looking coach with the heart of gold is back in the Bronx for his 13th season next april.