This is what Joe Torre means to the Dodgers

[fetters]

A level playing field.

He doesn't guarantee a world series, world series berth, or even a playoff berth.

He can't make Nomar hit better, Juan Pierre walk more, or Brad Penny pitch better in the second half...but he can possibly ease the tension between the young vs the old that was in the clubhouse last year.

Managers in baseball have always been overrated. Strategy is definately a part of the game, but theres a fundamental strategy that most managers can follow...which pretty much leaves it up to the players to go out and hit, field, and run hard.

The only real job of a MLB manager is to keep the players happy, fresh, and all pulling on the same side of the rope...and this is what Torre is known for being a master of. This is why we hired him.

Torre will command, and likely get, his respect. Torre is all business, and the fact that the McCourts spent 15 million on a manager shows they mean business too. The players will see and get this message, and hopefully put last season behind them.

Torre wasn't hired because of his 4 rings and 12 consecutive playoff appearances (I'm sure that had something to do with it)...Torre was hired because he's the one guy who can walk into the clubhouse and instantly have respect from every single player and tell them to quit being ****ing babies and go out and play baseball.

If some clown still has a beef with playing time or showing respect....well, then we know who to trade. It's easier to trade a guy like Matt Kemp if we know that even the most respected manager in baseball can't whip him into shape.

If Torre does manage to erase the clubhouse drama, then we're back at a level playing field with the Padres, Rockies, and Dbacks. He doesn't make our team better, he just makes us the competetive team we were last year before the bitterness showed up

That's my thoughts on this. Reply or dont

[realmofotalk]

Originally Posted by fetters Torre will command, and likely get, his respect. Torre is all business, and the fact that the McCourts spent 15 million on a manager shows they mean business too. The players will see and get this message, and hopefully put last season behind them.

So does the fact that the McCourts spent $200K (less than half the amount that Larry Bowa and Don Mattingly will each be paid) on Grady Gump shows that the McCourts didn't mean business before?

I should add: Joe Torre means no Mark Hendrickson starting every fifth game.

[love_that_reefer]

Torre had immediate impacts on the Cards and Braves. Problem is his talent ran out. Dodgers have great young talent that won't run out. Martin, Kemp, Broxton, Ethier, Billingsley and Loney give them a good core.

[realmofotalk]

But you know Colletti and Torre are crazy enough to trade all of them to get Erik Bedard and Joe Crede.

[love_that_reefer]

They will trade some but if they trade Loney, Billingsley or Broxton then I would be happy as a Giants fan but pissed as a baseball fan. I am really high on Loney.

[Witlon]

The only things Torre will do differently is bring press to the team when they don't win, and make Proctor's arm fall off.

That's about it, guys.

[realmofotalk]

If the only arm that falls apart is Proctor's, and not also Broxton's, it's all good, homey.

[realmofotalk]

Originally Posted by fetters He can't make Nomar hit better, Juan Pierre walk more, or Brad Penny pitch better in the second half...but he can possibly ease the tension between the young vs the old that was in the clubhouse last year.

He can remove Andruw Jones and the four automatic outs that he makes during every game, and replace him with Ethier, which the dumb**** of a manager refuses to do.

Managers in baseball have always been overrated. Strategy is definately a part of the game, but theres a fundamental strategy that most managers can follow...which pretty much leaves it up to the players to go out and hit, field, and run hard.

And that fundamental strategy is putting your best players on the field, which again, the dumb**** refuses to do. Managers in baseball have always been overrated, because they are actually stubborn old men who can't fill out a lineup card correctly.

The only real job of a MLB manager is to keep the players happy, fresh, and all pulling on the same side of the rope...and this is what Torre is known for being a master of. This is why we hired him.

Kemp and Ethier are really thrilled to be benched in favor for an overpaid fat washed up piece of shit who is hitting .164.

Torre will command, and likely get, his respect. Torre is all business, and the fact that the McCourts spent 15 million on a manager shows they mean business too. The players will see and get this message, and hopefully put last season behind them.

The fact that the McCourts spent 15 million on a manager shows only their lack of knowledge of the game.

If some clown still has a beef with playing time or showing respect....well, then we know who to trade. It's easier to trade a guy like Matt Kemp if we know that even the most respected manager in baseball can't whip him into shape.

Well, we know who the clown is, but it's impossible to trade him when he's collecting $18 million a year to hit .164.