by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright November 6, 2007
All Rights Reserved.

ormer New York Yankee manager Joe Torre found out the hard way that money, prestige and glitz don't compensate for a lack of class. Acting like Donald Trump, “His job is on the line,” Yankee owner George Steinbrenner told the Sunday edition of the “The Bergen Record” of New Jersey, after losing Saturday, Oct. 6 2-0 in the best-of-five League Division Series with the Cleveland Indians. “I think we're paying him a lot of money. He's the highest paid manager in baseball, so I don't think we'd take him back if we don't win this series,” cavalierly pressuring his $7.5 million per season manager that brought the Yankees four World Series titles in his first five seasons since 1996. As if Torre didn't know his owner, Steinbrenner showed why he's the most reviled owner in all of baseball. Paying Torre 7.5 million doesn't give Steinbrenner the right to act abusive.

      No matter how highly paid, Torre is regarded as one baseball's best managers, leaving little doubt he's heading for Cooperstown. Torre won 1,173 regular-season games, led the Yankees to 12 consecutive post-season appearances, 10 AL East titles and two Wildcard spots. No other living manager has enjoyed Torre's success thanks, in no small part, to the Yankee's hefty payroll and skillful general manager, Brian Cashman. Steinbrenner complained about Torre's salary but doesn't publicly question the post-season performance of baseball's most extravagant payroll. No Yankee ballplayer can feel good watching Torre flogged by the front-office for not advancing in the post-season. “If we don't perform, it shouldn't be a reflection on his abilities. The reflection should be on us, not on him,” said Yankee pitcher Mike Mussina, disgusted by Steinbrenner's public display.

      No one knows better than Torre that ballplayers are human beings first before spoiled athletes. Managers, too, aren't immune to eccentric, abusive or otherwise inexcusable behavior by the front-office. While Torre would have liked to stay with the Yankees, he rejected Steinbrenner's offer to pay less base salary and more bonuses contingent on performance in the playoffs. “It's difficult, near impossible, to accept a salary cut,” said Torre's agent Scott Boras, speaking for Torre, reacting Steinbrenner's insensitive public hazing. “This has been a great 12 years,” said Torre, showing the kind of class that defined his legacy. “Whatever the hell happens form here on out, I'll look back on these 12 years with great, great pleasure,” not realizing that Dodger owners Frank and Jamie McCourt pounced on the opportunity to bring Torre and his coaching staff to Los Angeles.

      By firing Torre, Steinbrenner, in his infinite wisdom, eviscerates Yankee morale, making it difficult for his best players to remain motivated. While told there's no better place to play or manage than the Bronx, Torre learned the hard way that there's no substitute for gratitude and appreciation. When introduced Oct. 5 as the new manager in center field at Dodger Stadium, Torre met 30 cameras and 200 reporters with his characteristic charm. “The opportunity to manage the Los Angeles Dodgers, is one of the handful of organizations you automatically say ‘yes' to,” said Torre, graciously accepting the helm of a storied franchise needing new leadership. When Torre rejected Steinbrenner's last offer, the Dodgers wasted no time asking for manger Grady Little's resignation. Unlike Steinbrenner, who showed contempt for his former skipper, the McCourts heaped on the praise.

      Dodger co-owner Jamie McCourt said it best: “It's all about the people here.” Working for Steinbrenner lost sight of what's important running a major league baseball franchise. “It's time for the Yankees to move forward,” said Yankee president Randy Levine. “We feel we needed to go to a performance-based mode. We thought it was very fair. It clear was the top of the market, but we respect Joe's decision,” reacting after Torre told the Yankees to shove it. After hiring and firing 20 managers before landing Torre in 1996, Steinbrenner waited 18 long years before winning his next championship. Torre told a frenzied crowd at Dodger Stadium that winning is not about robotics but personal relationships. Unlike with Steinbrenner, he'll find himself on the same page with the McCourt's philosophy of treating Dodger personnel with the same warmth and respect from top to bottom.

      Torre at 67 learned an important lesson that there's no substitute for living a philosophy-of-life where success is about competing, working hard and showing respect to all gracing the path of success. Whether or not Steinbrenner decided to change managers, he showed no class threatening to fire Torre pending the outcome of a division series. If the Yankees are really about winning championships, then the place to start is how ownership treats its key man and personnel. Steinbrenner can't set high standards for his team and low standards for himself. Arrogance, bluster and conceit make good reality TV but have no place on the ball-field or any other place where human beings work hard and strive for perfection. Steinbrenner's treatment of Torre disgraced the Yankees and Major League Baseball. Poor sportsmanship has no place on the field or in the front-office.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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