OCTOBER 26, 2007 --

Former Yankee manager Joe Torre, at his October 19 press conference, pulled few punches in indicating his displeasure with the Yankee front office.

He indicated that he was insulted by management's refusal to negotiate, resented management's posture, and could not say whether he would participate in future Yankee ceremonies, including the opening of the new Yankee Stadium.

(LPR IS thankful the ballpark apparently will not be named for, say, a corporate monolith --or, say, George Steinbrenner, even Rudy Giuliani. But, then, it also will not be The House that Ruth Built.")

LPR, following up on Torre's comment that the new manager will start a new legacy, asked him to comment on his. The former skipper pointed to his four World Series wins, singling out the victory over the Mets in 2000 as particularly noteworthy.

He added that as winning manager in the World Series he managed the American League team in the All Star game, the following season and indicated that was really special, to have the top players in the league turning to you for advice and accepting it. In discussing his role in All Star games as American League manager, LPR heard Torre say that Bud Selig (MLB commissioner) likes to win.

LPR regrets not following up on that; it leaves open the suggestion that Selig roots for one of the leagues in that mid-season event.

Now about Joe Torre and the presidential campaign. Rudy Giuliani commented that if president, he would name Torre to his cabinet. How is that? Hmm. Was that remark serious? Had Rudy found a way to get Joe to step down easily from his Yankee post?

LPR is curious how Rudy viewed Torre, in recent years. In public, Rudy has been supportive. LPR has personal reason to know that Rudy is not always straightforward. (Rudy denied knowledge of the Dayton Season property tax issue to a caller to a New York City radio station -- after the Queens borough president had sent him a letter urging him to settle the matter.)

Yankee president Randy Levine has been regarded, in recent days, ,as the spokesman for the anti-Torre group in the Yankee organization. Mr. Levine was a commissioner in the Giuliani administration. It seems to LPR more likely than not that Levine got his Yankee post through Rudy.

There are reports that, as mayor, Rudy got World Series rings when the Yankees won. Has Rudy been disappointed not getting a World Series ring since 2000.

LPR's hunch is that when it comes to the Yankees, Randy's views are not significantly different from Rudy's. And if Randy is taking a more active role in the Yankees, is Rudy somehow involved?

Now, who should address this to Rudy and Randy -- a reporter covering the presidential race, or a reporter covering the Yankees?

Torre's future

We don't know if another MLB team is interested in Joe. He noted that he won't be making $5 million (the Yankee offer he refused) in 2008. Hey, Joe, neither will most of us! He has already written one book, of the motivational genre. No one asked at the press conference, but it would seem likely he will write a book about his years in baseball -- perhaps in two volumes, the first dealing with his 12 years as Yankee manager.

He has been a baseball broadcaster and could go, on that score, from "has been" to "is now." Also, LPR understands that he gets up to $50 thousand for speaking engagements.. In that regard, the October 19 gathering served as de facto rehearsal, the questions from reporters indicating the kinds of questions he would get from audience members.

The press conference was not a paid appearance -- but he got tremendous publicity. Other appearances would likely yield less publicity, but oh those speaking fees -- which might well go up. (Just ten appearances at 50 thou and he would get what he told the media he was paid for 1996, his first year as Yankee manager -- $500,000.)

In Tampa, October 18, Joe Torre was given an offer he could refuse. In telling the media why he refused, Joe presented perhaps a bit more, in personal reaction, than is required in discussing a failed business transaction. (LPR does wonder of the role played by Yankee Chief Operating Officer Lonn A. Trost in all this.)

Responding to this writer's question about his legacy, Torre seemed to equate legacy with accomplishments. Legacy, for LPR, goes deeper than accomplishments. For LPR, Torre's tenure bought stability to a team that had become something of a joke with its revolving door managerial appointments. Torre's tenure also indicated that one could be manager of the Yankees with George Steinbrenner as "Boss" and maintain one's self-respect.

During the Torre years, the Yankees brought fans to the ballpark in record numbers, but LPR wonders that Yankee attendance was more a status matter than an expression of grassroots support. There were only some 25 onlookers outside the press gate the day after the Yankees lost their division series to the Cleveland Indians -- not an expression of deep backing for the Bronx Bombers. But, then, gathering of fans near the press gate had been discouraged in recent years, with signs posted advising "No Autographs".

The room and some of the media.

Torre arriving.

Joe Torre answering questions.

LPR is not certain Joe Torre realizes how far he is from the people who once could afford to go to a major league baseball game. The times LPR watched Torre walk from the parking lot to the press gate, he never acknowledged cheers from the fans held back, at some distance, by metal barriers.

And with the opening of The House that Ruth Did Not Build eighteen months away, what happens if, within a few years, the fans stay away? In the event, shall Yankee Stadium II be called Ruth's Revenge?

Torre told the media that he resented the reduced pay offer, plus motivational bonuses. He thought the offer was insulting. The circumstance here, however, was contract renewal, not firing before the contract term was up. (For LPR, if only corporate America reduced pay packages of execs in charge of companies with declining profits --and did not give such execs, if removed, "golden parachutes.")

However badly Joe Torre thinks he was treated by the Yankees, LPR doesn't think it comes close to the shabby treatment the Yankees have given the memory of George Herman ("Babe') Ruth, leaving the plaza named for him in shambles, with the ballpark that is rising across from the plaza looking down with, as perceived by LPR, a smirk.