Torre to Dodgers

[TookaChinchilla]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3086202

For a kid who grew up in Brooklyn, maybe it's a perfect fit.

Multiple media reports late Monday night said that former New York Yankees manager Joe Torre could replace Grady Little as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney that Little will be fired -- as soon as Tuesday.

Olney reported on Monday evening that sources close to the situation said that the Dodgers had maintained contact with Joe Girardi in the hope that his negotiations with the Yankees fall apart and they can try to hire him.

Girardi was reportedly Plan A for the Dodgers, while Torre was Plan B. With Girardi's discussions with the Yankees moving ahead into Monday night, the Dodgers may have also changed course.

If Torre is hired, his bench coach in New York, Don Mattingly, would likely move with him to Los Angeles as a coach -- joining the organization that drafted his son, Preston, in 2006.

Torre appeared on the "Late Show with David Letterman" on Monday night and was asked about his job prospects.

"Maybe Dodgers, maybe Angels?" Letterman asked.

"Well, the Dodgers have a contract, I mean, a manager," Torre replied. "The Angels have a very good manager [Mike Scioscia]."

Torre went on to say: "That's a bad question to ask. I know what's been rumored. The local paper today is talking about going to LA. There has been a time or two that something that has been in the newspaper hasn't been true."

Little has one year remaining on his contract with a club option for a second year.

The Dodgers, from team owner Frank McCourt on down, declined comment late Monday.

The 67-year-old Torre managed the Yankees to 12 playoff appearances in as many seasons before turning down a one-year, $5 million offer for next season, with an additional $3 million in incentives, earlier this month.

Torre, who completed a three-year, $19.2 million contract this year, ranks eighth on baseball's all-time list with 2,067 victories and has won a record 76 postseason games.

Little, the Dodgers' skipper the past two seasons, managed the Boston Red Sox in 2002-03 before being fired despite two playoff appearances.

The Dodgers had baseball's best record in July but faded down the stretch to finish with an 82-80 record, good for fourth place in the NL West.

Clubhouse unrest surfaced between veterans and young players during the season's final two weeks, when the Dodgers lost seven straight games to the Colorado Rockies while falling out of contention.

http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...TS01/710290436

The Los Angeles Dodgers have decided to fire manager Grady Little and replace him with former Yankees manager Joe Torre, The Journal News has learned.

Torre, 67, could be named manager as soon as tomorrow, according to two sources close to the situation. Don Mattingly is expected to accompany Torre to Los Angeles as his bench coach. Torre is also interested in hiring Kevin Long, his hitting coach with the Yankees.

The Dodgers were 82-80 this season under Little and were beset by clubhouse unrest. Owner Frank McCourt, a Boston native, decided Torre is best suited to quell that situation.

Torre turned down a one-year offer to remain as manager of the Yankees on Oct. 18. He had been with the Yankees 12 seasons, winning four World Series championships.

[boaz33]

Yeah that shit is awesome, Im an Angel fan and have been forever but my whole family is hardcore Dodger fans and that would be sick to see Torre on the West Coast.

On a side note if A-rod comes to the Angels Im gonna be fucking pissed that guy is poison to team morale.

[warrior06]

Hopefully, Torre going to the Dodgers is a great sign of things to come for the boys in blue. Now all they need is some pitching.

[The Sundance Kid]

I'm so putting 50 bucks on the LA to win the 2008 World Series.


I'm sure the odds are absolutly great.


Anyone know where I would make a bet like that? I only ever bet on MMA online.

[The Sundance Kid]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3088105


Not a done deal yet.

[Palma]

As a I Giants fan I will say "fuck me!"... unless we get Barry back and ARod... oh yeah, and some fucking relief pitching!

[Salvy_Mic]

Originally Posted by warrior06

Hopefully, Torre going to the Dodgers is a great sign of things to come for the boys in blue. Now all they need is some pitching.

Dude, we have pitching. Even without Jason Schmidt, our pitching was the best part of last season. What we need are bats. When Jeff Kent leads the team in HRs with just a little over 20...that's very bad. Torre surely will be a better manager than Grady Little was, and I think he can get us pretty deep in the playoffs, but unless we get some power in the lineup (think A-Rod...Andruw Jones is also a free agent), then we're not a true title contender yet unless we drastically overacheive. I must say though, things are looking great for those of us who bleed Dodger blue.

[Omoplata]

Dont start buying your World Series tickets just yet. When did Joe Torre ever do anything worth note as a National League Manager? The NL is alot tougher to manage than the AL is. Dodgers have deep pockets and should be able to put out a good team but that NL West is deep. It's gonna be a hell of a tough road for them.

[Mac]

Come on now Torre wasn't anything as a manager until he came into the Yankee's deep pockets. From 1977 to 1995 he managed the Mets, Braves and Cardinals. He won 894 games while losing 1,003 and made 1 post season appearance. The only way this guy is going to be good in LA is if they open their pockets and get him a load of talent because this guy is better at stroking egos than managing baseball.

[Salvy_Mic]

Well, at the very least, Torre can get Kent to play nice with his teammates. Bringing a guy like A-Rod to the Dodgers is a longshot, but meanwhile, Andruw Jones is a free agent. I'd like us to go after him at least. But you know, one small step at a time. The WS is still a ways off unless we drastically overachieve next season, especially in a competitive NL West.