LAist: Who's Sipping the Joe Torre Kool-Aid

ishXdavid

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 13:46:42 -0800

I'm not a conspiracy theorist so I'll take Little at his word that he had been mulling stepping down as manager since before the season ended as was reported. I don't believe hiring a big name manager significantly increases the Dodgers' chances of making the playoffs, but he's capable of preventing the type of clubhouse strife that undermined the team's chances last season. More than anything, the Torre hiring is a shot in the arm for franchise that has been drifting into LA sports obscurity the past 20 years. This isn't a rehash of the Davey Johnson hiring, this is Joe Torre and his 4 World Series rings who was able to walk away from Steinbrenner unscathed. I'm a bit leery about all the trade rumors swirling around Miguel Cabrera and the combination of names the Dodgers might have to give up to acquire them. From what I've read the only kid that's untouchable is Russell Martin. I've also read reports that Billingsley is someone the Dodgers brass is firmly trying to hold onto. That leaves the obvious pieces -- Kemp, Kershaw, Ethier, Hu, Loney, Meloan, McDonald. It would probably take two players on the 40-man and a high-level prospect like Kershaw to get Cabrera. As much as I would love to see big bat in the line-up, I don't think it's worth trading three of our most coveted youngsters to get him -- especially Kershaw. I've been following this kid's career since I first heard about him before the 2006 amateur draft. He was considered the top high school player in the draft and the Dodgers were very fortunate that he fell into their laps at #7 in the 1st round. His quick ascension from rookie-ball to AA in only a year is evidence of the kid's amazing talent and make-up. Teenage southpaws who can touch high 90s and is consistently in the mid-90s with a plus curveball AND a plus slider don't come around that often. The Dodgers fell apart last season because they couldn't overcome the injuries to their pitching staff. Trotting out Mark Hendrickson and Brett Tomko out there didn't help either. While the lure of acquiring a big bat may seem tempting, it isn't worth the cost of our future staff ace especially when Matt Kemp has the potential to be that feared bat in the middle of the lineup.

AsherBaruch

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 12:19:21 -0800

If it wasn't for Depo not re-signing Beltre-- not even offering him a number until he was offered two over-the-top contracts (Detroit and Seattle)-- we wouldn't have a hole at 3rd base. Losing Beltre, winner of the Gold Glove (again) meant that we got to deal with 2 seasons of over-the-hill shortstops trying to man the hot corner (one of whom lost a ball in the chalk). Yeah, we got Penny, but he wasn't able to finish the year we traded our starting catcher at the trading deadline to get him for. A lot of good his 2007 season did for seasons of 2004-2006. Still, wouldn't it be funny if 2004 was the Dodgers' best chance at going late into the postseason with a team that was mostly ripped apart and cast away by McCourt and his lap dog Depo? We were real strong up the middle, had a bullpen that narrowed games to 6 innings, and notoriously came back in the late innings. We were also the hottest team in baseball at the time of the LoDuca trade. As the French say, "C'est la vie. Now pass me a snail."

misterseven

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:33:45 -0800

Holy crap! A pro sports team negotiated with a new manager/coach before getting the old (unsuccessful) one to retire? OMG OMG OMG! Torre brings proven leadership and an unmatched résumé. The Dodgers had the money to get him, so good for them. Sure, they could have taken a chance on someone without a track record, but why?

sofubi

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:13:32 -0800

Jim Tracey got canned after a few winning seasons and a trip to the NL post-season, so Grady got off easy. Speaking of the "olden days", Depodesta's moves don't look so bad in retrospect since Penny and Lowe have done well (and since Beltre and LoDuca are distant memories, not to mention Sean Green). Girardi would have been great longterm. Torre is good for now. But he needs players -- pitchers and hitters. Hopefully Torre is the first of a series of good moves from Coletti.

solracg

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:09:50 -0800

wrong...we all know a manager isn't a fix all for a struggling team. but the 2nd hiring of phil isn't the same thing as torre coming to the dodgers. dodgers were in 1st for most of the 1st half of the year last season, and arguably had the tools to stay there. Signing pitchers to big contracts is always risky...and their arms tend to die out. chemistry and getting old grumpy dudes like kent to play nice with the kids can really help. I guy like torre can do that...hopefully he won't keep a broken down nomar in the line up for half the year, when he's obviously no longer the nomar we once knew. if you preach that the youth movement is the future let them play.

thedarkocean

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:28:46 -0800

I completely agree. The Dodgers have been in a panic for years now, making rash/incorrect signings (Pierre, Schmidt) just to try to make a splash and Torre is no different. We should have just taken Mattingly and started fresh with a new face and new era. It wasn't Grady's fault, anyways; our players completely lagged and had no chemistry. World Series are won with chemistry, emotion and peaking your abilities at the right time. Santana would be great if we can resign him immediately for a decent price. Arod will never win a championship; big name players are usually distractions.