Joe Torre New York Yankees Manager is Out: Secrets of His Decision?

Joe Torre has brought us love for the New York Yankees for twelve seasons. We have watched him heart and soul dedicate himself totally to the legendary team of the Yankees. He has been there for the good, the bad and more. He has endured...

History of Joe Torre as Manager
Joe Torre, as manager, was able to deliver incredible performance for the New York Yankees during the twelve seasons. In the twelve seasons as manager, Joe Torre was able to bring the Yankees into the postseason every year, into the World Series six times, and with four World Series wins. This is pretty incredible for any team, even the New York Yankees.

However, it seemed that much of the success was lived early on for Joe Torre. Joe Torre's Yankees team in 1996 won a World Series championship the first year Joe Torre took over, after a dry stretch for more than 15 years! The last World Series championship had been in 1978 for the New York Yankees.

After that first season, the Yankees were in the World Series three out of the next four years, and won two out of three World Series. The New York Yankees made it to the World Series two more years, in 2001 against the Arizona Diamondbacks and in 2003 against the Florida Marlins. They lost both times.

The New York Yankees haven't been in a World Series since the 2003 season. The Yankees under Joe Torre as manager have made it to the playoffs each year, but they have not been in the World Series.

Stay or Go
There were arguments both ways for Joe Torre to stay or go. Why not keep someone with this great of a history with the Yankees and this many victories? He has the respect of all the players on the team, the ownership of the club, and the fans everywhere. He is part of the New York Yankees family. But, he may have lost his touch. He may not be able to get the Yankees to win anymore World Series victories.

Offer
The offer made to Joe Torre was respectable. Give him $5 million dollars to return for one year. He would get $1 million more for each level of post-season play that the Yankees make it to. THis means that if the Yankees make it to the World Series, then Joe gets $8 million. He would also be able to return for the 2009 season automatically then.

Secrets
Joe Torre flew to Tampa. He found out the offer. He turned down the offer. Why?

There has to be something to why Joe Torre would turn down this offer. Accepting the offer would have meant that many of the New York Yankees players such as Mariano Rivera that are becoming free agents would have stayed with the team. Accepting the offer would have given him up to $8 million more dollars. And, he would have had another chance to bring the New York Yankees to World Series victory!

Right now, we can only speculate what made Joe Torre come to this decision. Even after the press conference he plans to hold today at 2 pm, we may never know what is truly in his heart. Perhaps he thinks that the New York Yankees will be better off without him. Maybe he feels that new blood as manager is what this powerhouse team needs. Maybe he is having a return of his health problems. Maybe he doesn't think it's fair for him to take a paycut or to be subject to a paycheck contingent on the winningness of the team.

No matter what, I will guarantee you that Joe Torre is thinking not just of himself, but of his New York Yankees team family. He wants what is best for them, and this is what he will give them. This is all he has ever done, and no one can ever deny him of that. If he is leaving, there is purpose to his reason.

Now, we just have to sit back, and see who will be the next manager of the New York Yankees powerhouse for 2008 and beyond!

Thank you, Joe Torre, for twelve wonderful years. You will never be forgotten!

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Series
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071018&content_id=2271234&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy