OMEN
11-02-2007, 12:30 AM
Joe Torre was hired Wednesday as the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, filling the void left by Grady Little's resignation.
Contract terms were not disclosed, but reports suggested he negotiated a three-year, $14.5-million US contract.
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/sports/photos/2007/10/10/torre-joe-cp-071008.jpg
Joe Torre led the Yankees to 12 straight playoff berths as manager.
"Joe Torre is one of the most respected men in baseball," Dodgers owner Frank McCourt said in a statement.
"As a player, a broadcaster, a manager, and in his life off the field, Joe is a winner through and through. Joe's dedication, desire and ability will help lead the Dodgers to our ultimate goal — a world championship."
Two weeks ago, Torre spurned a $5-million US offer to return for a 13th campaign with the New York Yankees, a team he led to the playoffs in each of his 12 years at the helm.
The offer contained an additional $3 million US in performance incentives, but Torre, who earned $7.5 million US last season, turned it down Oct. 18 — two weeks before his three-year, $19.2-million US pact with New York was due to expire.
Torre, however, remains true to his New York roots, becoming the eighth manager of the Dodgers since they relocated west from Brooklyn in 1958.
"Having grown up in Brooklyn, I have a great understanding of the history of the Dodgers organization," said Torre, who ranks eighth all-time with 2,067 victories.
"As a player, to me, the Dodgers were the Yankees of the National League because you either loved them or you hated them," he told New York's WFAN radio on Thursday.
The Yankees replaced Torre with Joe Girardi, his former bench coach, signing him Tuesday for three years and $7.8 million US.
Hours later, Little resigned as Dodgers skipper amid speculation that they were pursuing Torre.
Little led the Dodgers to an 82-80 record this season, but they lost 11 of their last 14 outings to finish eight games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West Division.
Friction in the clubhouse fractured the Dodgers over the final two weeks of the season, especially when they lost seven games in a row to the Colorado Rockies.
Torre, who has won a record 76 playoff games, is known as a player's manager adept at maintaining chemistry in the clubhouse.
Asked if he quit to make room for Torre, Little responded: "I have got my own personal reasons. It was a mutual resignation."
Won 4 World Series
Torre won four World Series (1996, 1998-2000) with the Yankees, but rumours that he would be let go began to surface when New York was swept from this year's playoffs by the Cleveland Indians in the American League Division Series.
It marked New York's third straight opening-round exit, and Yankees owner George Steinbrenner hinted Torre might not be back.
Instead, he walked away, ending the longest tenure as Yankees manager since Casey Stengel (1949-60).
"Few managers in the history of the game have accomplished what Joe has delivered," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. "Throughout his career, he has demonstrated the ability to turn a vision for success into results on the field and we welcome his passion and leadership."
Torre is the latest in a legendary list of managers in Los Angeles, joining Walter Alston (1954-76), Tommy Lasorda (1977-96), Bill Russell (1996-98), Glenn Hoffman (1998), Davey Johnson (1999-2000), Jim Tracy (2001-05) and Little (2006-07).
CBC
Contract terms were not disclosed, but reports suggested he negotiated a three-year, $14.5-million US contract.
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/sports/photos/2007/10/10/torre-joe-cp-071008.jpg
Joe Torre led the Yankees to 12 straight playoff berths as manager.
"Joe Torre is one of the most respected men in baseball," Dodgers owner Frank McCourt said in a statement.
"As a player, a broadcaster, a manager, and in his life off the field, Joe is a winner through and through. Joe's dedication, desire and ability will help lead the Dodgers to our ultimate goal — a world championship."
Two weeks ago, Torre spurned a $5-million US offer to return for a 13th campaign with the New York Yankees, a team he led to the playoffs in each of his 12 years at the helm.
The offer contained an additional $3 million US in performance incentives, but Torre, who earned $7.5 million US last season, turned it down Oct. 18 — two weeks before his three-year, $19.2-million US pact with New York was due to expire.
Torre, however, remains true to his New York roots, becoming the eighth manager of the Dodgers since they relocated west from Brooklyn in 1958.
"Having grown up in Brooklyn, I have a great understanding of the history of the Dodgers organization," said Torre, who ranks eighth all-time with 2,067 victories.
"As a player, to me, the Dodgers were the Yankees of the National League because you either loved them or you hated them," he told New York's WFAN radio on Thursday.
The Yankees replaced Torre with Joe Girardi, his former bench coach, signing him Tuesday for three years and $7.8 million US.
Hours later, Little resigned as Dodgers skipper amid speculation that they were pursuing Torre.
Little led the Dodgers to an 82-80 record this season, but they lost 11 of their last 14 outings to finish eight games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West Division.
Friction in the clubhouse fractured the Dodgers over the final two weeks of the season, especially when they lost seven games in a row to the Colorado Rockies.
Torre, who has won a record 76 playoff games, is known as a player's manager adept at maintaining chemistry in the clubhouse.
Asked if he quit to make room for Torre, Little responded: "I have got my own personal reasons. It was a mutual resignation."
Won 4 World Series
Torre won four World Series (1996, 1998-2000) with the Yankees, but rumours that he would be let go began to surface when New York was swept from this year's playoffs by the Cleveland Indians in the American League Division Series.
It marked New York's third straight opening-round exit, and Yankees owner George Steinbrenner hinted Torre might not be back.
Instead, he walked away, ending the longest tenure as Yankees manager since Casey Stengel (1949-60).
"Few managers in the history of the game have accomplished what Joe has delivered," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. "Throughout his career, he has demonstrated the ability to turn a vision for success into results on the field and we welcome his passion and leadership."
Torre is the latest in a legendary list of managers in Los Angeles, joining Walter Alston (1954-76), Tommy Lasorda (1977-96), Bill Russell (1996-98), Glenn Hoffman (1998), Davey Johnson (1999-2000), Jim Tracy (2001-05) and Little (2006-07).
CBC