Comments on: An offer he had to refuse

By: T in Miami

T in Miami — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:13:27 +0000

I am a subscriber of this blog and usually think your right on point with your views, but I have to disagree with you vehemently and the rest of the media as well. I think some of you have entered the realm of la la land with many other baseball people. Baseball is a game but it is also a business, especially for the owners of the best franchise in the sport, and they needed to make the move they made from a financial standpoint.

When you think of it, it was quite brilliant because Torre would have still been the highest paid manager in baseball by at least 1.5 mil, so what is the problem? I mean he does not deserve a raise for what he did in the past, he deserves a pay cut because in many people’s opinion, he did not deserve as much money as he got 3 or 4 years ago. In reality, the contract was fair, very fair. The problem is they knew as stubborn as he is, that he would not accept the offer, and they can wash their hands clean of him.

He is 68 years old, and we need to shake things up. If Mo and Posada leave, so be it. I dont understand what type of loyalty they have? To the yankees, the boss that writes their freaking checks all these years? Or their manager?
Its almost insane when you try to apply it to any other facet of life.

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 15:44:59 +0000

I really think the unacceptable part of the contract was the length of one year. The option of an extension of a year if you win the World Series is a joke. With no option, does anybody believe that if the Yankees win the World Series next year, whoever is manager wouldn’t be back? So it was just a basic one year contract.

As to the “incentives”, Levine and company sure botched that explanation. Part of the problem with Torre’s contract was that is was essentially a reward for past performance. The trouble with that is it puts them where they were…. a manager being paid a sum to reward him for performances several years ago and now not quite winning it all. To look at this without emotion, consider any manager being given a very good salary, with significant rewards for post season success. When you win it all as they did in the past, the “incentives” kick in. You don’t have to get a new contract to reward you for the past, you get rewarded right now. If the postseason goes as it has recently, you are still the best paid manager in MLB. If you called it “profit sharing” of the extra income generated by post season success, rather than the foolish incentive concept, it makes good sense. Torre is smart enough to understand this, and could explain it such that the “cut” would not undermine his authority. What _would_ undermine his authority, is just a one year contract. That was unacceptable, and that is exactly why he rejected it. We will see how good a manager he was when he is no longer around next year. Somebody still needs to blend guys like Giambi, Mussina, Damon, etc. into a lineup their ability is struggling to justify a place in, but who are being paid way too much to just release or be reasonably able to trade. Good luck with that to whoever gets the job!

By: The Monarch

The Monarch — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 14:25:36 +0000

I wanted Torre back, and I do respect his decision. But I find this idea that the Yanks offer was insulting a bit much.

A star player earns $10M a year based on some outstanding seasons, then has a series of seasons that are good, but not as good as he had say, oh…7 years ago.

His contract is up, and his team offers him a deal that is a 30% cut, but still $7M, and the highest at his position? Player salaries rise and fall based on performance.

Is that really insulting?

Torre has his principles, and he stuck to his guns. And the concept of the incentives was silly, but still this offer was still higher than any other manager in the game.

This is a mess, and was handled badly by all parties.

By: Dr E

Dr E — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:21:20 +0000

If the incentives (ALDS, ALCS and WS)are largely out of Torre’s control, then why is he given credit for making the playoffs and World Series in the past. Weren’t they out of his control too?

By: Annie Savoy

Annie Savoy — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:06:36 +0000

When Yogi was disrespected by the Yankees he was away from the Stadium for over 14 years. Bernie Williams has not been seen there since he was treated like a newcomer. I don’t expect to see Joe Torre anywhere near the Yankees once he has cleaned out his office and said goodbye to the staff.

I’m wondering how many fans are cancelling their tickets for next year…………

This is the culture of the Steinbrenner Yankees.

By: Oscar Gamble

Oscar Gamble — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 05:22:24 +0000

I’m against you too Pete. And this crap about Torre not wanting to go through this again next year? Through what, an evaluation of his performance? Any other manager in baseball would have taken the deal offered to Torre. You think Eric Wedge, who made $1.025 mil wouldn’t have taken that and you think he wouldn’t have gotten just as far with the talent we have? How about Terry Francona, who interestingly, gets incentive bonuses for making the playoffs, winning the LDS, winning the LCS and winning the world series on top of his base pay of $1.65 mil? Hmmm, they are both still in the playoffs—–WE ARE NOT!!!!

By: Chuck

Chuck — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 04:16:09 +0000

Pete,

You and all of the talking heads are way off here. Torre is not a reporter or a lawyer or a short-order cook. He is the manager of a sports team. Should the Yankees have paid Bernie more when they gave him another year?

Torre was certainly not a failure — but he didn’t live up to the amount he was being paid. The Yankees offered him a fair salary based on what he had previously made and what he had accomplished. He would still be the highest paid manager in the sport.

Now, if Torre wanted a second year guaranteed, that is a different story. He may or may not have asked for it and the Yankees may or may not have turned him down. Either way, Torre was offered a fair contract and he had every right to turn it down.

By: Marc

Marc — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 02:54:16 +0000

I do agree that part of the reason he left was because of the pay cut. But, I also think he turned it down because the deal was setting him up to fail. I don’t think he wanted to have to go through all of this again at the end of next season if the Yanks can’t make it to the World Series. If they had offered him a 2-year deal for $10 million, I think he would have had a better chance of accepting it than he did this current offer.

By: nettles

nettles — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 01:57:15 +0000

Joe needed to go, but not this way. Totally classless, especially when Torre has been nothing BUT class for all his years with the franchise.

Looks like the Steinbrenner boys will be every bit the a$$hole their father is. It’s embarrassing to be a Yankee fan today.

By: Jim in CT

Jim in CT — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 01:51:03 +0000

“Welcome to the Hank and Hal Era.”
Welcome to the Peter Angelos era. Ask your Orioles fan friends (if they’ll identify themselves anymore) how much they like THEIR meddling owner.

If you’re going to offer a base cut/incentive deal to a Hall of Famer you at least need to show him the courtesy of doing it privately. It’s fine to decide to move on, Torre’s a big boy and knows how baseball works, but dragging on this sorry charade was appalling. What a ham-handed, classless circus. I’m serious about the Angelos comment. Cash must be taking his fourth shower of the day trying to clean this slime off.