The End of an Era.

After twelve years, six Pennants, and four World Series wins, beloved manager of the New York Yankees, Joe Torre, has decided to walk away from the franchise.

Owner, George Steinbrenner, gave Joe Torre an ultimatum on the day of Game 4 of the ALDS. He said “If the Yankees don’t make the second round of the playoffs, Joe is gone as manager.”  Some disregarded this, because Steinbrenner has made similar threats before, and when the Yankees lost Game 5 and had to go home for the Winter, some expected Steinbrenner to fire him at that very moment. Instead, they waited 2 weeks later, to have the annual meetings in Tampa to discuss the team.

They offered Joe a one year contract that was worth $5 million, plus bonuses for making the playoffs. Torre declined the offer, ending his historic era as Yankees manager.

As a Yankee fan, I am deeply saddened to see Joe go. He has been a great manager, and it is no way his fault for the recent Yankees postseason woes.
He had every right in the world to turn down that offer. After all he’s done for the franchise, Steinbrenner still treats him like crap. Torre brought respect to a club that was once knows for all fighting, arrogance, and corruption.
Torre is one of the most respected men in baseball, even by Yankee haters.
He does everything with class, and has handled the pressure of New York with ease.

The team will be very different year, with Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada possibly gone.
Also, Brian Cashman has difinitively stated that if Alex Rodriguez opts out of his contract, there is no way the Yankees will negotiate with him.
And of course they will be looking for a replacement for Torre.
Some of the possible candidates are Don Mattingly, Joe Girardi, and Tony LaRussa.
I really have no idea who will be the next manager, but I have no doubt in my mind that no matter who it is, they will never be as good, or as classy as Joe Torre.