Joe Torre: Baseball's Next Commissioner?
With baseball still in shock over Joe Torre and the Yankees parting company after 12 seasons, which brought 4 world championships, fans are now asking what’s next for everyone’s favorite uncle, who had the rare gift of imparting a human element into a ruthless environment
Some say there will be a long line of suitors all too eager to have Torre guide their ship, possibly the St Louis Cardinals if they’re not able to come to terms with Tony LaRussa , the Los Angeles Dodgers, a team in need of strong leadership skills., is another possibility.
Putting on a headset as baseball analyst is yet another option for the Brooklyn native, a hat he wore once before, one in which all fans would benefit from his shrewd observations.
Or he could just kick back, enjoy retirement, and get better acquainted with his wife Ali and their 4 children.
A more challenging career path for the Yankees former manager, would be as baseball’s next baseball commissioner, with Bud Selig having already announced he plans to step down in 2009, when his contract is up.
Joe Buck suggested Torre’s name a few years ago, and I still think it’s a splendid idea, considering all the problems facing baseball, the most obvious being rampant steroid use, and player discipline; having someone like Torre’s love for the game, who's seen it all, both from a manager’s and player’s perspective-- might be just what the game needs at a very critical time of its stormy history.
Selig, I’m sure, could appreciate what Torre would bring to the table as the next baseball commissioner. Which is why I think he would be willing to step down a year earlier than expected, and pass the torch to Torre; the most appropriate time would be when baseball investigator George Mitchell issues his steorid report at the end of the year.
Not to diminish what Selig has accomplished during some trying times of his tenure, but naming Torre as the next baseball commissioner would send a clear message to fans, players, and team owners, that they’ll have a sympathetic ear occupying the commissioner’s chair, one who isn’t sleeping with the enemy, and most imporantly, one who won’t be afraid to read the riot act, when discipline and tough love is needed..
-Bill Lucey
billlucey@bellsouth.net
Some say there will be a long line of suitors all too eager to have Torre guide their ship, possibly the St Louis Cardinals if they’re not able to come to terms with Tony LaRussa , the Los Angeles Dodgers, a team in need of strong leadership skills., is another possibility.
Putting on a headset as baseball analyst is yet another option for the Brooklyn native, a hat he wore once before, one in which all fans would benefit from his shrewd observations.
Or he could just kick back, enjoy retirement, and get better acquainted with his wife Ali and their 4 children.
A more challenging career path for the Yankees former manager, would be as baseball’s next baseball commissioner, with Bud Selig having already announced he plans to step down in 2009, when his contract is up.
Joe Buck suggested Torre’s name a few years ago, and I still think it’s a splendid idea, considering all the problems facing baseball, the most obvious being rampant steroid use, and player discipline; having someone like Torre’s love for the game, who's seen it all, both from a manager’s and player’s perspective-- might be just what the game needs at a very critical time of its stormy history.
Selig, I’m sure, could appreciate what Torre would bring to the table as the next baseball commissioner. Which is why I think he would be willing to step down a year earlier than expected, and pass the torch to Torre; the most appropriate time would be when baseball investigator George Mitchell issues his steorid report at the end of the year.
Not to diminish what Selig has accomplished during some trying times of his tenure, but naming Torre as the next baseball commissioner would send a clear message to fans, players, and team owners, that they’ll have a sympathetic ear occupying the commissioner’s chair, one who isn’t sleeping with the enemy, and most imporantly, one who won’t be afraid to read the riot act, when discipline and tough love is needed..
-Bill Lucey
billlucey@bellsouth.net
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