Why the LA Dodgers Continue to Go Backwards with Torre Hire

It appears that an announcement of Joe Torre becoming the new LA Dodgers manager is imminent. It could come as early as Thursday and all signs from the Dodgers are in deep negotiations with the ex-Yankee manager. The New York Post has published supposed figures for the contract, purportedly worth $14.5 million for 3 years.

Don Mattingly will be joining his ex-boss in the dugout, after being turned down for the Yankees vacancy in favor of Joe Girardi. There has even been speculation that Torre has requested that the Dodgers explore the signing of free agent Alex Rodriguez as part of his overhaul of the Dodgers playing staff.

While the Dodgers fans must certainly be rubbing their hands in glee at landing a manager with a strong proven track record of postseason success, are they necessarily getting what they want - true success in winning championships?

First, let us look at the recent record of Torre. While the 67 year old led the Yankees to four World Series titles and a postseason appearance in each of his 12 years in charge, all those championship wins came in his first five years in charge and nothing since then. Even more glaring is the Yankees capitulation in at least 3 of their last 4 trips to the postseason.

The Yankees also have a payroll second-to-none, allowing the signing of any star they wished. This makes for a potentially devastating team that should have gathered more titles during their time with Torre. Unfortunately, injuries, loss of form and other factors have contributed adversely to their chances. Most of which are not Torre's fault, but a manager is still accountable for his team's performance at the end of each season.

The Dodgers' payroll does not fare much worse, but they do not command the same amount of lure to a player wanting to further their success by joining a potential championship team. The Dodgers might have roots steeped in baseball tradition, and originated from The Bronx, but they are like the Chicago Cubs who live on legend and lore more than anything else now.

Steinbrenner also made an off-the-cuff comment insinuating that despite his success with the Yankees, Torre was losing his touch and 'getting old'. They in turn have opted for youth in Joe Girardi. Boston did so to a certain extent with much success with Terry Francona. Baseball management appears to be a young man's game now.

Perhaps the Dodgers hope to bank on Torre's famed man-management skills, in view of the club's end of season run-in with player unrest. Veterans clashed with the younger players as the team crashed to a seven-game losing streak near the end. From a team that led all of the Majors in July, the Dodgers ended with only a 82-80 record. If Torre had been in place, he might not have suffered the same results as Grady Little.

The Dodgers have become just another ballclub that follows in the footsteps of another. Or rather, picking up the pieces from the remnants of another club in transition. No doubt that Torre could enjoy as much success at LA as he did with the Yankees, but he never did so prior to joining New York. It is hard to say who they could have gone after instead, and losing out on Girardi certainly did not help. But in going for Torre, I do not see a choice that would bring the club any more forward than what Little could already do. We shall see come the new season in 2008.