Joe Torre loses his job, but keeps his dignity

Shortly before 2 p.m. yesterday, Joe Torre walked into George Steinbrenner's office on the fourth floor of Legends Field in Tampa, where The Boss and his Yankee high command were waiting with an offer Torre knew he was going to refuse. In the days leading up to this momentous summit, Torre had been advised by Yankee GM Brian Cashman that an offer to remain as manager would be forthcoming from Steinbrenner & Co., but that it would be for less money than the $7.5 million per year Torre had been earning as the highest-paid pilot in the game. Privately, Torre had expressed to friends and associates that he wanted a multiyear contract.

So when Hal Steinbrenner, The Boss' youngest son, read him the terms of the contract the Yankees were prepared to give him to continue what has been the fourth-most successful managerial term in the Yankees' championship-filled history - right up there with those of Hall of Famers Miller Huggins, Joe McCarthy and Casey Stengel - Torre listened without expression: $5 million base salary for one year, with incremental $1 million bonuses for reaching the division, League Championship and World Series, plus a vesting $8 million option for reaching the latter. "We all want you back," Hal Steinbrenner added, "and we hope you'll accept this offer." Continue

Comments

[Gonzo]

Just wanted to put this out of control Joe Torre garbage into perspective. About three blocks from his office at Yankee stadium there is an elderly woman who worked for forty years in the garment district at a sewing machine 12 hours a day. She is now on social security and medicare. While Joe is turning down the “insulting” offer of 5 million dollars for one year’s “work”, she has just spent the last of her monthly check on needed medication and is trying to decide which Mighty Dog can she should eat from for dinner tonight. Ain’t that Amercia!