by Charlie Stalker

Created on: May 26, 2007   Last Updated: May 19, 2011

Yankin' the Plug
George Steinbrenner should award manager Joe Torre a medal, so that Torre can ram it right back down his boss's treacherous throat. Then, he should collect his final paycheck on the way out of fabled Yankee Stadium: the House that Ruth Built, the House that Torre Re-Built, and the house that King George broke.

For 11 protracted and wearisome years Joe has served his master unquestioning and obedient. FlashbackEven before manager Joe Torre put on the pinstripes in 1996 he was a marked man. The media frenzy that is New York pounced on him with the label of "Clueless Joe." His laid back attitude was vilified and Yanks devotees were crying for the return of popular ousted manager Buck Showalter. However, Georgy Boy isn't known for sympathetic showings towards his managers, Showalter was no exception. The Boss manages to chew through coaches like Takeru Kobayashi through a hotdog. Joe Torre is the 20th skipper to helm the Boss's Bombers since Steinbrenner took the reins back in 1973. The station of head ball coach is no cake walk in general, but playing the role field general for Steinbrenner's Yanks is more like walking through a mine field. Simply put, the New York faithful just saw Torre as the next head on King George's chopping block upon his arrival.

However, by late 1996, New York was singing a different tune when Mr. Torre led the Yankees back to the promised land with their first World Series Championship since 1978, ending the longest drought between World Series in New York Yankee history. How bout dem apples.

Anchored by big bats Paul O'Neill and Tino Martinez with a complement of proven veterans like Wade Boggs, Cecil Fielder, Tim Raines, and Darryl Strawberry, and spearheaded by an experienced pitching staff the next generation of Yanks were poised for the big time. And emerging as potent powers were young stars Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera. Calmly leading the charge was the beleaguered Joe Torre. Ever watchful yet silent, he sat quietly by, delegating, patient as one can be, and pushing his team forward into the future. He never made promises of fame, he never turned on the media or New York for their initial crusade against him, and he never disgraced, humiliated, or showed up owner Steinbrenner, he just took the good with the bad and moved on unwilling to coerce with the media at Steinbrenner's disposal.

And after piloting the Yankees to the Series in 1996 Torre went on to capture three

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