Report: Steinbrenner says Torre’s job on the line against Indians
Managers, and indeed coaches in ANY professional sport, are hired only to be fired. Anyone who goes into this line of work knows this, and Joe Torre is no different. Even so, he’s handled his tenure as manager of the New York Yankees- which has GOT to be one of the toughest and most tenuous jobs in sports- with surpassing class and dignity. Would that his employer, George Stenibrenner, had it within himself to return the favor.
This isn’t to say that Steinbrenner doesn’t have the right to hire and fire whomever he chooses. The Yankees are, after all, his personal playground. Even so, would it kill him to treat Torre, who’s done so much for Steinbrenner and the Yankees over the years, with class and at least a modicum of respect?
If Steinbrenner wanted to go into yesterday’s playoff game against the Yankees regarding it as Torre’s last if the team lost, that’s his prerogative as the owner. But did he have to go and put it out there in the media? Did he really have to treat Torre so shabbily- win or you’re gone? After all that Torre has done? Yes, in any professional sport there’s a pronounced “What have you done lately?” prejudice. Joe Torre understands that, and he undoubtedly long ago realized what a mercurial DUMB@$$ he works for. Even so, it would be nice if Steinbrenner could at least have enough respect for Torre as a man and a human being to refrain from so obviously handing the sword of Damocles over Torre’s neck.
It’s too bad that New Yorkers can’t fire the Yankees’ owner….
