Comments on: LOOKING BACK, A TORRE ERROR ENDED THE TORRE ERA

By: Charlie Engelberg

Charlie Engelberg — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:31:46 +0000

Can’t agree more that it was an error on Torre’s part. Great article, Steve. I remember watching that game and wondering why the expert commentators (can’t remember who they were) weren’t making the same point. I guess the Torre mystique is such that they can’t question anything he does.
On the flip side, you’ve got managers who feel like they always have to anoint A CLOSER, and that guy has to be in the game at the end if it’s a save situation regardless of how he’s been pitching, who else is available, etc. How many times I’ve seen mgrs bring in their closer with a 3-run lead in the 9th inning, even tho the guy who was in was doing fine and even tho the closer had pitched the day before. Then they wonder why the closer has lost a little off his fastball the next day (when they REALLY need him) because he’s throwing 3 days in a row, or later in the season because he’s been overworked.

By: Steve Booth

Steve Booth — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:46:48 +0000

Mr. Kallas brings up an important point about the Yankees’ coaching staff. Mattingly and Gator didn’t bring Torre the experience of Zimmer and Mel, or even Girardi and Mazzili. And maybe ex-catcher and manager Tony Pena’s expertise would have been more helpful on the bench than in the 1st base coach’s box.

By: SlickBomb

SlickBomb — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:21:43 +0000

Interesting points, Steve. If you remember, Torre also failed to bring in Rivera in the 8th inning of Game 5 of the ALCS in 2004. Instead, he let Tom Gordon essentially lose the game. Had he brought Rivera in, NY already have their 27th World Championship.