Hypocrisy knows no end and the saga of Joe Torre is living proof. Am I calling Torre a hypocrite? Absolutely not.  I think he's a genuine person who carries himself with integrity.  What I am referring to is the way that literally thousands of people can resort to revisionist history to suit themselves.

Prior to the 1996 baseball season, the hiring of Joe Torre by the Yankees was almost universally questioned and criticized. The tabloids tactlessly referred to him as “Clueless Joe”. His managerial record was atrocious during his stints as skipper of the Mets, Braves and Cardinals. He had the reputation of being a good human being who was a bad manager due to a simplistic and passive style of leadership (hence the title of Clueless). Quite frankly the description of Joe the person still remains exactly the same. How is it though, that after 12 seasons with the Yankees many of these same people now contend that he is a great manager?

I’ll tell you why. To their many legions of haters, everyday is a great day to criticize the Yankees. On top of that, this is exactly the type of story the media will exploit to no end.

Ask yourself this. Why is it that the majority of people who now defend Joe Torre are not fans or even followers of the Yankees? I may not have conducted a Gallup poll but I do know LOTS of Yankees fans. Most of the ones I know aren’t disappointed to see Joe go. Sad perhaps but not angry. Somebody will no doubt tell me that these Yankees fans are not upset to see him leave because Yankees fans are… and always have been… total A-Holes. Yeah, that’s a great argument…but bring it if that’s all you got. Besides, that would only serve to reinforce my point about the blind hatred of all things Yankee that so many have.

I remember when the team was on its run of 4 World Series titles in 5 seasons. The common perception of Joe Torre was that he was not an elite manager and that a #### could lead the club. The team had great players and anything they were lacking could be easily attained using their vast finances. All Torre had to do was kick up his feet, get caught picking his nose on camera at least twice a game, collect his check and enjoy the ride. The Yankees were the Evil Empire, they were “ruining” baseball by winning all the time and it had nothing to do with the ability of “Clueless Joe” (their words not mine).

Now that New York hasn’t won a title for 7 straight seasons Joe Torre suddenly becomes a great... no make that legendary manager.  Somebody please explain to me how that works. His teams win in the late 90s and according to his critics he had little or nothing to with it. Since 2001 Torre’s teams lose and these same pundits claim the players are a bunch of overpaid bums that are wasting the efforts of their divine leader.  The fact that he managed the team to post-season appearances every year of his tenure is now proof of his abilities, but it wasn't before? WHAT?!?!?!

It doesn’t matter if the Yankees win or lose because no matter what the situation there are those who will look to discredit someone or something within the organization. When they were on top Torre got zero props. Now that the team keeps falling short these same people use Torre as a means to take pot shots at the players.  Hate the Yankees all you want but at least keep your stories straight. Torre is the same manager he always has been… and that would be an average one.

The fact that so many Yankees players spoke up for Torre should surprise no one. For Jeter, Posada and Rivera he is practically the only manager they have ever known. They briefly played for Buck Showalter in 1995 but that was as late season call-ups. Other players would support him too. Why wouldn’t they? He doesn’t get on their backs when they play poorly and he lets them do their thing. He’s an emotional fatherly figure with a kind heart. How could they dislike him? They certainly wouldn’t blame him, nor should they have.

I’m not saying that teams need to fear their managers or love them to be successful. Ultimately it is a working relationship or at least it should be. Things obviously haven’t been working in Yankees Land during the last 7 post-seasons. You know... the land where only a championship will do. Yeah, if that were the case then Joe would have been axed no later than after the 2003 World Series loss to the Florida Marlins. Just pointing that out since "championship or bust" is another misconception Yankees haters harp on.

In reality the blame is shared between Joe and his former team. As we know you can't fire all the players and keep the manager. However, there is a fine line that separates an elite manager from an average one such as Torre. People only remember this next point when it’s convenient, but so much of achieving success in any sport is mental. The elite coaches are the ones who can provide their teams with an edge where it matters most. That would be in their heads. This ability is lacking in Torre and it always has been.  It just got covered up during the early years of his tenure with New York. The team won 4 World Series in spite of Joe Torre, not because of him. The real leader was Paul O’ Neill. For all intents and purposes he was virtually a player manager.  Paul led by example on the field and in the clubhouse. It’s no coincidence that the fire has been missing since he retired.  

George Steinbrenner should have conducted his business behind closed doors. Joe Torre was owed that. I’ll tell you this though. Joe Torre owes Steinbrenner and the Yankees a lot more than they owe him. They hired him when everyone else scoffed. They used a “blank check” policy to lavish him with players to field an elite level team year after year. They made him the highest paid manager in professional baseball…AND despite knowing better they still made him an offer to come back next season. An offer they knew he might refuse…but an offer that would have still kept him the most highly compensated manager in the sport by far. Just because it was a one-year deal that implied, "this is your last chance to win it all", doesn’t change the fact the Torre is the one who decided to leave. Point blank, the Yankees provided him with the opportunity to enjoy the best 12 years of his managerial life.

 I love you Joe Torre but good riddance. The distraction you had become to the team, along with your managerial flaws, is not worth 5 million dollars. Change is good.