Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul "Joe" Torreis an American professional baseball executive, serving in the capacity of Major League Baseball'schief baseball officer since 2011. A former player, manager and television color commentator, Torre ranks fifth all-time in MLB history with 2,326 wins as a manager. With 2,342 hits during his playing career, Torre is the only major leaguer to achieve both 2,000 hits and 2,000 wins as a manager. From 1996 to 2007, he was the manager of the New York Yankees, whom...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionAthlete
Date of Birth18 July 1940
CountryUnited States of America
I saw a draft of this year's schedule halfway through last year, and you had to see this series right away. The schedule might have been preliminary. But I knew this series wasn't.
You'd like to believe they still want you, ... I knew that they had me whether they wanted me or not, because I had a contract. But I didn't feel, going down - 'Aha, I got you.' I still needed to have what I always needed, and that's the support, to tell me that they trust me.
Reggie was one of those guys who knew how good he was and let people know how good he was. Some players resented that during those times.
I know I alluded to it with my players at one time or another, ... I said, with everything we went through, if it was May or June, you'd have given your right arm to be in the position we are right now. Yeah, we're not in first place, but where we were then, and where we were going, if you knew the last 20 games of the season you're fighting not only for a wild card but for a pennant, you'd be tickled to death.
I know the players were all happy for him because for a long time, he really wasn't getting it done, and they knew how hard he was working. So I'm just very pleased for him.
I knew he would embrace it, but you don't know how he's going to be able to do it. He's been situated in one place for so long, and coming off the bench is different than playing every day. He's been doing a little bit of everything here.
Small we knew from Spring Training, but Chacon, I didn't even know the name, ... To get him here and see how consistent he's been in key situations, it's been great.
I thought today was very significant for him. This the most pressure you could be asked to pitch under when everybody expects you to win, you get one run and pitch up to those standards.
I think we have to change. We have to improve our bullpen somewhat and find someone to play center field.
It gets to the point where they just stopped thinking, went out there and reacted. It was sort of a playful determination that they had out there.
I think there's going to be a lot of people interested. Even going back to Houston, going back in May, I don't think is going to be any big deal for him. It'll probably benefit him, the fact that he won't have to pitch the whole time.
I said that I have no problem, ... I know him. He's a good guy. Obviously, he's very good at what he does.
I said I thought the umpire was quick on the trigger but I thought you snapped. I also told him I certainly don't want to take that emotion from him. I don't want him out there worried about what he's going to say or do. Hopefully, I'll get to him before it happens again. I never want to take his passion away from him because I think he needs it to pitch.
Opening day is very special. We've waited a long time for this. I left for spring training about two months ago.