MLB Babble has now moved to the Most Valuable Network. The URL is still the same—http://mlbbabble.com—but I will no longer be posting on this WordPress blog. I have placed this update on all pages in an attempt to redirect visitors to the updated blog. Again, the URL is the same—http://mlbbabble.com. Thanks for reading!
The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to reach 50 wins this season, defeating the Colorado Rockies last night 1-0. Even with the 50 game loss of Manny Ramirez, the Dodgers have still been finding ways to win. But it is not as if they have been simply holding down the fort until Manny’s return (tomorrow); they have been winning and winning and winning.
And the man who has been leading the surge: Joe Torre.
Not many teams could bring in a player of Manny’s caliber when they lacked offense, lose that player, replace him with a guy with 13 career home runs over 10 seasons (Juan Pierre), and not just continue to win, but win better than any other team in the Majors.
There needs to be a presence in that locker room: someone who can control Manny when he’s there, answer the questions when he’s not, and win day in and day out regardless. There needs to be someone with no highs or lows, someone who stays on an even keel, so to speak, throughout. This tranquil, calming, serene presence is of course manager Joe Torre.
He won four championships with the Yankees. He managed larger than life personalities in the Big Apple. He worked for the most intense ownership in baseball history in George Steinbrenner. And he flourished.
The characteristic that I love about Joe Torre is his innate calm. Under no circumstance does his demeanor change. And I believe that, aside from his obvious knowledge of, and experience in, baseball, this is his most valuable asset. If a player makes a mental error, he doesn’t go Lou Piniella on them in the moment. Rather, he discusses the incident after the fact or he calmly approaches the player after the play.
He is the Phil Jackson of baseball. He understands how different players have different psyches; each’s personality has a different level of fragility and must thus be dealt with accordingly. He understands that his players are not machines, but humans. They have feelings, emotions, unique traits and abilities.
That is how you build a winning team, when you incorporate the human element.
I just don’t know if anyone in baseball understands that better than Joe Torre.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Colorado, Dodgers, Joe Torre, Juan Pierre, Los Angeles, Lou Piniella, Lou Steinbrenner, Manager, Manny Ramirez, New York, Phil Jackson, Rockies, Yankees
[...] I wrote previously about how Torre’s serene managerial style has always worked to his benefit. He is very laid back. And so is Manny. And that is why Torre lets the aforementioned slugger do as he pleases. Why bother the genius? Why potentially upset the prolific powerhouse? What good does a scolding do to the un-scoldable? [...]