The Mets Police

Off-season prior to 2008.

The Mets are coming off one of the biggest chokes of all time (you'd have to look at that Phillies choke, and the 1951 Dodgers too - and I guess the '78 Red Sox) and Willie Randolph is on the ropes.

Across town, the Yankees decide that going to the playoffs every single year isn't good enough.

The Mets could have had a winning manager, one who even had some Mets roots, who could handle veterans (and Omar loves his 40 year olds) and the New York media.  They kept Randolph for two months too many.

So Joe went to LA with some ridiculous perception that he only won because of the expensive roster.  While I don't doubt that there were plenty of days that I could have sat there and asked Mel if we should bring in Rivera now - apparently it's not that easy or Girardi would have done it.

Joe manages for a full season.   This time last year you could have talked about how he wasn't so special without the roster.  At the end his team was in the playoffs, the Mets were watching - and Joe even managed to tame Manny Ramirez.

This year, with Manny out of the lineup and with the Padres having recently ran off a 10 game winning streak, Joe wakes up with an 8.5 game lead.

At some point you need to give the man credit.  At some point you wonder if he could have coaxed one more game out of the 2008 Mets.

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@metspolice

A couple of things to say out front.

I'm just a loudmouth with a blog and a laptop. I was just as guilty of Torre outrage as anyone else when I first heard the book, and wrote about it on metspolice.com several times.

I also haven't actually read the book. I've ordered it from Amazon and hope it's waiting for me at home. Yes I could have gone to the bookstore but I'm lazy and have a job other this blog that draws nearly four million dollars in revenue every month.

So I'm guilty of all that.

Joe Torre spoke with Bob Costas on the MLB cable network last night. I thought both Joe and Bob were excellent.

Some things that drew my attention:

Joe mentioned that A-Rod is way more talented than Jeter. My initial reaction was that of a typical New Yorker. The hairs on my back went up and I was thinking, "Yo, don't diss Jeter!"

Then I thought about it. Joe is right. Alex is way more talented.

Jeter is one of those ballplayers you will have to have seen. I always tell the "kids" I work with that they don't understand how the game has changed. Look at Dale Murphy's MVP numbers some time. Half the time, Manny Ramirez has those numbers on June 1st. I will need to explain to my kids how good Jeter was, because his numbers won't tell the story (other than a likely 3,000 hits and 4 rings - not too shabby). Jeter is clutch. Jeter makes the flip play when you need the flip play. He's always in the right place at the right time....but A-Rod has more talent.

Hi folks.  I don't know why CNN can't use the same embedding technology everyone else does, or maybe I'm just stupid, but I am unable to embed the video of Torre and Larry King into this post.  If you're reading this on RSS or somewhere else, visit Mets Police where I have the video at the top of the page and will leave it there for a few days.

As I said last night I thought Joe was pretty convincing.

What did everyone else think?

www.metspolice.com

Joe Torre spoke to Jack Curry of The Times:

Knowing that my name is on it, I know I’m going to have to answer for it.

I don’t think I said anything about A-Rod that I didn’t say already.

I’m comfortable with what I contributed to the book, even though I’m probably going to get more credit or more blame than I deserve, whichever way you want to look at it.

Joe will be on Larry King Live on Friday night.

www.metspolice.com

(This is a re-post from yesterday.  The sense I'm getting is that people are just hearing about the book for the first time this morning).

Joe Torre, I'm not here to bury you.  I'm not here to claim that I'm better than you (I'm even posting a link to your book, I too am a capitalist.).  I'm here to ask why did you do it Joe?

Joe you somehow swam in shark infested waters for a decade and emerged as Saint Joe.   You even left town looking classy while turning down a job that would have paid you millions.  You gave one of the greatest exiting press conferences of all time.   Joe Girardi & Brian Cashman helped to make you look even smarter in 2008.

Now you write a book.   Why?

It can't be the money can it?   The Daily News says you make two million a year in speaking engagements.   The Dodgers are paying you around four million dollars a year.    It can't be the money.  Can it?

Did the Steinbrenners hurt you that much?  Did making the playoffs yet again last year (while the Yankees missed) not make you feel like a million bucks?

Are you that hurt?  Are you that mad at Brian Cashman for not sticking his neck out for you?

Was "A-Fraud" that horrible to you?

Why would you release the book on February 3rd and create a media stir right at the start of spring training?   You were always so good at diffusing such things.  Now you go and create one.   It can't be for the money can it?

Why not just continue to hold your head high, say little, ride out your days with the Dodgers and then show up at the new Stadium on the wrong side of 161st street some sunny Sunday afternoon and let them hang a #6 on the fence?   Were you that hurt that they ignored you at the final game at the old new Stadium?  Are you looking for a hug?

The synopsis for the book doesn't sound like you.   Are you really going to call out a grown man for crying?  That's not the Joe Torre I knew.

The high-priced ace who broke down in tears and refused to go back to the mound in the middle of a game. Constant meddling from Yankee executives, many of whom were jealous of Torre’s popularity. The tension that developed between the old guard and the free agents brought in by management. The impact of revenue-sharing and new scouting techniques, which allowed other teams to challenge the Yankees’ dominance. The players who couldn’t resist the after-hours temptations of the Big Apple. The joys of managing Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, and the challenges of managing Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi. Torre’s last year, when constant ultimatums from the front office, devastating injuries, and a freak cloud of bugs on a warm September night in Cleveland forced him from a job he loved.

The book is out on February 3rd from Doubleday Publishing, and Tom Verducci is credited as co-author.  It can't be for the money, can it?

...

Author's note:  I don't claim to be better than Joe Torre.   Yes I am selling the book on my blog.  Yes I am doing it for the money.   I never claimed to be anything more than a loudmouth with a keyboard.   I just thought Joe was a better man than I am.   We'll wait until the book comes out, maybe he is.

www.metspolice.com

The Veteran's Committee made their selection yesterday.
They selected a guy named Joe who

• Was an All-Star 2B
• A former MVP
• A manager of several teams
• Once wore a Yankee uniform

The problem was his last name was not Torre.

As I said yesterday, there was no valid reason for the Veterans Committee - either the pre-1943 group or the post-1942 group - to select anyone. The Hall of Fame has been watered down so many times by various committees over the years. Joe Gordon furthers that decline.

However, if there is anyone whose selection yesterday would not have brought down the quality inside the halls of Cooperstown it is Joe Torre. Torre was a borderline candidate as a player. Factor in his managerial career and his total contribution to the game merits him a plaque.

Him....not Gordon.

www.metspolice.com

Joe Torre, the man who does not exist, was not mentioned at the closing ceremonies of Yankee Stadium.  Torre did not accomplish much with the Yankees and is not a significant part of Yankee history.

Oh you think I'm nuts?  Good call.

Here's all you need to know about why the Yankees ignored Torre.  The words of Hank Steinbrenner:

"Baseball went to a multidivision setup to create more races, rivalries and excitement. But it isn't fair. You see it this season, with plenty of people in the media pointing out that Joe Torre and the Dodgers are going to the playoffs while we're not.

"This is by no means a knock on Torre - let me make that clear-but look at the division they're in. If L.A. were in the AL East, it wouldn't be in the playoff discussion. The AL East is never weak."

Good For Torre.

SPORTS OF THE TIMES

Without Yankees, Another October Awaits Torre

By GEORGE VECSEY

Published: September 18, 2008

While all is gloom and doom in New York ball parks, there is one constant in baseball: Joe Torre is going to the post-season.

Joe should be in the Hall.  He was a pretty good player, plus the whole Yankee thing....

Dick Allen, Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Tony Oliva, Al Oliver, Vada Pinson, Ron Santo, Luis Tiant, Joe Torre and Maury Wills will be considered for election by the Veterans Committee for enshrinement in 2009, with votes to be cast by Hall of Fame members this fall. Any candidate to receive 75 percent of the vote among all ballots cast will earn election to the Hall of Fame and will be enshrined on July 26, 2009. There are 64 living Hall of Famers.

I wish I hadn't fallen asleep during the 10:53 commercial break last night so I could have seen Phelps win his 8th.  I did however wake up at 11:15 to see NBC was already selling DVDs.

This is interesting (quoting the Times here): The international swimming federation said it would not release the official images of the finish of the Olympic men’s 100 butterfly, in which Michael Phelps beat Milorad Cavic by one-hundredth of a second.  I thought I saw one on NBC last night.  Regardless, half the time I watch it I think Cavic won.

I find myself wondering "what now" for Phelps.  He'll get his wheaties box, maybe a pretty good deal with Nike - but what does he do with himself now?  Become an investment banker?  Join the WWE?  Announce Olympic swimming every 4 years?   Nothing wrong with whatever he chooses, I just find myself wondering.

I touched upon it the other day, but if you missed it Ocho Cinco Chad Johnson claims he can outswim Michael Phelps.   That's silly of course, but Phelps should take him on the challenge.

Remember the 70's when there would be things like Bobby Riggs vs Billie Jean King and Foolish pleasure vs Ruffian - and in the movies Rocky vs Hulk Hogan - we need a sideshow like that.

Put it on in primetime and make a big to-do.   Phelps will crush him, but also make a ton of cash for himself and the network (for some reason I see this on ABC).  You'll watch.

You would also watch Gladiators vs Lions if they showed that.  Sure you'd complain about how inhumane it is, but you'd watch.   That one I see on FOX, with Joe Buck telling us that Brad Garrett (star of Fox sitcom that shall not be named) happens to have front row seats!

You would also watch a real life version of The Running Man with bounty hunters chasing awful criminals.  That seems more like a Don King Pay Per View.

1965 has come to the Bronx again.  You remember 1965 don't you - there was a new manager, and the Hall of Fame catcher had gotten old (and went to Flushing).   Jorge should get a first baseman's glove for the spring and the NYY's should wish Giambi farewell.

The Big Yankee Fan At Work is convinced that the Yankees will sign Manny Ramirez.  I agree.  They can spin it that he's from Washington Heights so it makes sense.   Then George can get his wish of getting David Ortiz, they can sign Formerly Four Inning Pedro as a free agent, reintroduce everyone to Johnny Damon - and the 2004 Red Sox can all play together on the north side of 161st street in the Bronx.   At that point they might as well put names on the back of the uniforms and wear "navy" on Sunday.

I should probably mention the Mets at some point, right?   Taping 15 hours of Olympics has kept me pretty busy, but they are oding what good teams do - feasting on the lousy teams.   It's nice that Joe Torre is making another playoff run at the hands of the Phillies (Joe is one game out this morning. come on dude).

Even Formerly Four Inning Pedro has found a way to pitch more than four innings.   I can't rip the man today.

It was interesting to see Favre play in front of a half empty stadium last night.  For all the Jets talk around these parts, a lot of people were more interested in hitting the beach.    Let me know when the PSL bill arrives.

Final thought - a question really, open to anyone to hit the comments section.   When was the last time Seaver (The Former Franchise) was at Shea for anything other than an announcing gig?  I'm trying to conjure up memories of him down on the field, waving, maybe even throwing out a pitch and I can't.  Anyone?

Tom you do know you're needed on September 28th right?

I was looking at the standings (I need to know how the Rays did, they won), and I see that the Formerly Brooklyn Dodgers are a half game out.  I thought that might make Fred Wilpon happy.

With all the hype this year about the final season at Yankee Stadium, MLB has been going out of their way to honor the House That Ruth Built, yet I think they missed the boat on what could have been something really fun during interleague play.

The Red Sox have always been the Yankees great rivalry in the AL, but who has been there foe more often than not in the NL? Of course I'm referring to the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Dodgers have played more games in Yankee Stadium than any other NL team (35, all but 3 in the World Series). The rivalry between these teams in post season is legendary and MLB should have honored that.

Plus, you would have also had the added drama of Joe Torre returning to Yankee Stadium - talk about an instant ratings winner.

What was MLB thinking about when they scheduled the Padres and not the Dodgers?

For the record, the Mets have played 32 games at Yankee Stadium.

Here's that Torre commercial I liked:

There will be two managers at Shea tonight. One will get booed terribly (including by me as I will be there). One will be cheered.

You kids that don't know who Lee Mazzilli is probably think I photoshopped the photo on the left. Nope kids, Joe Torre once managed the Metsies, and he was awful. Not that he had anything to work with. Craig Swan, Steve Henderson and a bunch of other guys you've never heard of.

Anyways, take another look at the picture and ask yourself (or Omar if you happen to see him) - why isn't this a current picture of the Mets manager. Maybe with a little less hair, maybe wearing 6 not 9 - but why didn't they call Joe five minutes after his press conference announcing he was leaving the Yankees. The Mets could have had a manager that got his team to the postseason every year (the Mets have every financial advantage the Yankees do, so stop whining about that). Joe even had to manage from an awful start, say being 6.5 back on Memorial Day.

It's too late now, but I'll be cheering for the manager tonight, just not the one in the first base dugout.

MLB.com says: