A class act, to the end

The Joe Torre era in the Bronx has come to end. Throughout the 2007 season, I thought- many times- maybe it was time to move on. When the season ended abruptly with yet another first-round disappointment- I thought, maybe it's time for the Yanks and Torre to part ways. But when the news came down that Joe had rejected the Yankees one-year contract offer- I didn't know what to think, or how I felt. A day after his farewell press conference, I am sure of one thing: he deserved better. Maybe not from the Yankees so much- although that argument can be made- but certainly from the media.

Joe Torre went out of his way to hold his press conference yesterday- which he did not have to do. But as he has been throughout his tenure as Yankees skipper, he has handled the press corps with grace and tact- with fairness and openness. So yesterday the press flocked to the Hilton in Rye, New York, and were greeted by Torre with, among other things: "I'm here for as long as you need me." A pretty selfless act for someone who was in an awkward situation. The same guy who in 12 years, never had a notable run in with a member of the press: no arguments, no turning over his desk in is office. Yesterday, as he always did, he invited them in and leveled with them.

To show their appreciation to him, there were headlines this morning containing "Bitter Joe," and "Why I quit" (words never uttered in the press conference)- unfair treatment to a guy who had given his time freely to these very writers who turned around and decided to put a negative spin on the event. It is a reaction befitting of crazed fans maybe, but not of the supposed unbiased media. To be quite honest, Torre really could have said a lot of harsh things, about Steinbrenner, about the Yankees organization, about all the second guessers. But instead he remained a class act, spoke his mind- but never to the point of bad mouthing or pointing fingers or deflecting blame.

The next Yankees manager has some huge shoes to fill- and never mind Joe Torre's numbers. The way he handled the media, and protected his players; created an atmosphere in the clubhouse that was prone to winning: positive and always team- oriented. Hopefully the next guy is someone who has been watching closely the past 12 years, someone who can even come close to emulating those ideals.

Nothing lasts forever. And perhaps this is right time for this to happen. But I was hoping the press could give the guy a fond send off. Say what you will about his in-game management, second guess his pitching changes or substitutions- but characterizing JoeTorre as bitter, or a quitter; painting a picture of Joe Torre the man as anything less the gracious is something that I won't be a part of. Good luck, Joe. We were lucky to have you around all these years.