During his tenure as the Yankees manager Joe Torre was treated like royalty.  He was the Teflon Man, as was Ronald Reagan, expect Reagan did not write a book about what went on in the White House behind closed doors.

 

During many of Joe years as Yankees manger the Mets were managed by Bobby Valentine.  No one would dispute that Bobby was an excellent field manager.  His problems were more press related due to his “personality.”  I suggest that Bobby was treated unfairly by the reporters in many instances while Joe was always given the benefit of the doubt.

 

Who could argue that Joe made many dumb moves on the field:  Batting A-Rod eight to “take the pressure off;”  Not bunting with Shilling on the mound;  Staring Brown in the seventh game of the Boston series;  Not protesting and taking his team off the field during the bug fiasco with Chamberlain.  Maybe Joe won in spite of himself.  Maybe he won because he had an excellent bench coach in Don Zimmer who enlightened Joe on every move.  This point was made by Joe several years ago.

 

The damage has been done and Joe can’t go back to explain away what he said in his book.  His legacy is forever tarnished as it should be.  I do not want to see his number retired by the Yankees.Â