Torre might regret this one

Joe Torre loved having his name tossed around with Rudy Giuliani and Derek Jeter during his twelve year tenure with the Yankees, so it makes sense for one of the most famous men in New York City to take his act to the land of celebrity, the way Phil Jackson once did.

But Joe better know that Russell Martin and Brad Penny aren’t exactly Shaq and Kobe, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are a distant third in the sports pecking order of a city that really doesn’t care all that much about sports to begin with. Make that fourth if David Beckham is healthy next year.

Lakers. USC. Beckham. Dodgers. Fourth in their own city. Fourth behind soccer.

And just to pour salt into an open wound, they also happened to finish fourth in the National League West.

That’s why Torre is taking a major risk by agreeing to manage a team that was led in homeruns by a 39 year old second baseman. He’s being asked to do something he has never done before: lead a youth movement in the National League’s best division.

Talk about an ego killer. Torre’s new job won’t come with the fame or success of his last one. And it might even tarnish his legacy.

Baseball’s most famous manager made one bad call this time.

Great Reads
Joe Torre and the Dodgers – The Diamond Fan
Joe Torre + Dodgers = Problem? – Iyankees
Buying My First Ever Dodgers Hat – True Talk Blog