And the hiring of La Russa, should it come to pass, would not be a boon for the Yankee players, management or fans. The only beneficiary of such a move would be the headline writers at the New York Post. And La Russa would lose out, too. (After all, in the American League, how do you bat the pitcher eighth?)
Joe Torre’s ability to manage the New York Yankees to 12 playoff appearances in 12 years was less about in-game strategy, and more about the talent for keeping his team even-keeled enough to win boatloads of games. Those who coached under him, like Girardi and Mattingly, certainly could absorb his moves—but his personality is another matter. Sitting near Torre, as Mets manager Willie Randolph did, certainly didn’t help him to keep the Mets on track late in the 2007 season.
The one manager with experience guiding both rookies and veterans to the playoffs, the one manager who has handled the New York media along the way, and the one manager who has proven able to keep from making a bad situation infinitely worse when the owner decides to act rashly is Joe Torre. Hire any of the other likely candidates, and at best, the Yankees get an unknown quantity. At worst, they hire a manager likely to justify the ire of George Steinbrenner.
