Dodgers introduce Torre as manager

Joe Torre agreed to a three-year deal to become the 26th manager
in franchise history.

Los Angeles, CA  - Joe Torre was formally introduced as the new manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday morning, in a ceremony at Dodger Stadium.

Torre had been named Dodgers manager on Thursday, and he agreed to a three- year deal to become the 26th manager in franchise history. Torre also announced Monday that Don Mattingly and Larry Bowa, who had been on his staff with the New York Yankees, would join him in Los Angeles.

“We introduce a great man who is a winner and a leader. No doubt, a future Hall of Famer,” Dodgers owner Frank McCourt said. “What impresses me most about this gentleman is that he has done it both on and off the field. (general manager) Ned Colletti and I agree, there is no substitute for a strong character to lead our team to the top…Unrelenting, he leads and he wins.”

In a speech steeped in nostalgia, set in the Dodger Stadium outfield, Torre talked about his ties to New York teams. He managed the Yankees, grew up rooting for the Giants, and now has the opportunity to manage the Dodgers, formerly of Brooklyn.

“This is one of the handful of organizations that you automatically say ‘yes’ to,” Torre said. “When I think of the Dodgers, I think of efficiency, I think of pride, I think of measuring stick…You always measured yourself by the Dodgers because they did everything right. They had a stature that you really looked up to.”

Torre said that he had never experienced winning like he did in his 12 years with the Yankees, when they made the postseason every season and won four World Series Championships.

But he said he was at peace with his decision to leave, and had been on an “emotional roller coaster” since. Torre indicated that after he decided not to go back to the Yankees, his representative presented him with scenarios, including sitting in the booth for the World Series.

“To me, that’s like seeing somebody else eat a hot fudge sundae,” Torre said.

Then he said he learned of some inquiries about the Dodgers, and the process accelerated from there.

“You say goodbye to one prestigious organization and you say hello to another,” Torre said.

The Dodgers were just 82-80 last season under Grady Little and finished fourth in the NL West. Little, who called 2007 the toughest year of his career because of bickering between the team’s veteran and young players, resigned earlier this week despite having one more year and a club option year left on his contract. He called the decision to step down a mutual one between himself and the club.

Meanwhile, Torre left the Yankees after balking at a one-year incentive- laden offer to remain as manager after 12 seasons in the Bronx. The club offered him a one-year $5 million deal that could have landed Torre as much as $8 million had the Bombers won the World Series.

But the team has lost in the first round of the playoffs in three consecutive seasons and Torre is just 4-13 in his last 17 postseason games. As a result, the Yankees made the change, officially naming Joe Girardi his successor on Tuesday.

Torre has 2,067 career victories for sole possession of eighth place on baseball’s all-time managerial wins list and ranks second on the Yankees all- time victories list. He’s also managed the Mets (1977-81), Braves (1982-84) and Cardinals (1990-95) during his career.

Torre becomes just the eighth manager in Los Angeles Dodger history, following Hall of Famers Walter Alston (1954-76) and Tommy Lasorda (1977-96), Bill Russell (1996-98), Glenn Hoffman (1998), Davey Johnson (1999-2000), Jim Tracy (2001-05) and Little (2006-07).

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