Torre Pimping Himself Out; Mets Should Not Solicit His Services

Harsh title I know, but that is exactly what it is. Joe Torre who "allegedly" said he wasn't interested in the Mets job this past weekend, now says:

_________________________________________________

"I am curious. When the season is over, I hope the phone will be ringing."

_________________________________________________

Now, didn't he say he was retiring from the managing? According to Dictionary.com, to retire is to:

withdraw from office, business, or active life, usually because of age: to retire at the age of sixty.

First off, Torre is now 70. Secondly, Torre was a good fit for the Yankees. Anyone with any baseball acumen realizes Torre has never been a brilliant manager between the lines. His skill was in being able to handle personalities, and have them accept their roles - i.e. Darryl Strawberry and Tim Raines; Tino Martinez and Cecil Fielder; Wade Boggs and Charlie Hayes, etc.

The Mets don't need this. They need a strong personality that will light a fire under the team that has become complacent and has accepted losing.

Joe Torre isn't the saint the press and fans make him out to be. He might be a great guy, but when he "retired" from the Yankees, he waited for the big offer from the Dodgers to "coax" him out of retirement.

Torre is simply doing what any free agent player does; he is getting NY involved to drive his price up. The Mets appear to be strapped for cash, regardless of what Jeff Wilpon claims. Money can be much better spent than on another retread.

Torre's years in the Bronx will surely secure his spot in Cooperstown, but he isn't needed in Flushing.

Torre has suddenly become nostalgic. As the NY Post reported, Torre is starting to turn down the path to Memory Lane:

___________________________________________

"That's where it all started for me in '77; it would really be weird."

____________________________________________

Torre concluded with a lot of double speak:

___________________________________________________

"I made the announcement about not coming back to the Dodgers and I left the door open. I don't really anticipate managing again, but I think it would be unfair not to listen just out of curiosity to see if something excites me. . . . I am not sure if something will intrigue me, but I am not shutting the door."

____________________________________________________

In other words, a huge pay day would excite him. Memo to Jeff Wilpon and the Mets: Do not drink the Torre Kool Aid. The Mets need to get a younger manager ( a la Wally Backman) rather than an older one ( a la Joe Torre). Torre has also said he plans on meeting with the Dodgers to see about a job in another capacity. He is out for the money, and the Mets need to first decide if Omar is their GM for 2011. If not, hire a new one (Kevin Towers?) and allow the new GM to hire Manuel's replacement.

Joe Torre is a bad fit, and the last thing the Mets need is to get caught soliciting Torre's services.