Joe gave much to the Yankees over his twelve year reign:  4 WS championships; 12 consecutive playoff appearances; and a significant increase in stadium attendance.  For this he was well compensated.  He was the highest paid manager in baseball.  He also made mega bucks in endorsements that only come from the New York City market.  None of this was possible if GMS did not take a chance with “clueless Joe.”  The Yankees gave Joe the talent to win and no expense was spared to achieve the annual goal of the WS ring.  This was the criticism of the Yankees and Joe Torre over the years that he/we won because of the expansive wallet of GMS.  You can’t deny this.

 

A decade plus of grace and dignity (at least appearance wise since none of us know Joe Torre personally) was undone immediately with a silly discourse on his Yankee years.Â