With a DREAM team like that I guess I would "Consider" staying another year for another ring
By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer
February 17, 2004
NEW YORK (AP) -- Joe Torre might be willing to stay on with the New York Yankees beyond 2004.
Torre, who took over after the 1995 playoffs, is starting the final season of a three-year contract and has said he won't discuss an extension. He has been noncommittal about whether he wants to manage in 2005.
``I'm just going to take one year and see if it works, if I'm excited about it,'' he said at Tuesday's news conference to introduce Alex Rodriguez to the Yankees.
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``I'm excited about it now, and I was excited about it before we got A-Rod,'' Torre said. ``I was on the phone a couple of weeks ago with (pitching coach) Mel Stottlemyre. I was in Hawaii. My wife had constantly asked me about it, `Have you had enough vacation? You ready to go back?' And I kept saying no.
``And then, after I got off the phone with Mel, she said, `You're ready to go back. I can just tell by the excitement in your voice.'''
Torre, 63, has led the Yankees to four World Series titles and six American League pennants, accomplishments that likely will gain him election to the Hall of Fame.
``It's still fun for me,'' he said. ``I'll go through the year, and then if I still feel that way, we'll have to make a decision.''
He wasn't happy last year with the interference of owner George Steinbrenner, who sent pitcher Jose Contreras to the minor league complex in Tampa, Fla., rather than to Triple-A Columbus. At times, the pressure is enormous.
``We're not here to win one World Series, we're here to set the bar high and be able to live up to ourselves,'' Torre said.
Heading into spring training, Torre is spending more time thinking about the pitching staff, which includes new acquisitions Kevin Brown and Javier Vazquez. While Mike Mussina is solid among the holdovers, Torre noted that Contreras struggled with health problems last year and Jon Lieber is coming back from elbow-ligament surgery that sidelined him all of last year.
``The reason we've been successful all these years -- and I know we haven't had the firepower that we have now -- is the fact that we've been able to pitch,'' he said.
``I think these question marks are things we're really going to focus on. Ithink the A-Rod thing will take care of itself.''
By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer
February 17, 2004
NEW YORK (AP) -- Joe Torre might be willing to stay on with the New York Yankees beyond 2004.
Torre, who took over after the 1995 playoffs, is starting the final season of a three-year contract and has said he won't discuss an extension. He has been noncommittal about whether he wants to manage in 2005.
``I'm just going to take one year and see if it works, if I'm excited about it,'' he said at Tuesday's news conference to introduce Alex Rodriguez to the Yankees.
ADVERTISEMENT
``I'm excited about it now, and I was excited about it before we got A-Rod,'' Torre said. ``I was on the phone a couple of weeks ago with (pitching coach) Mel Stottlemyre. I was in Hawaii. My wife had constantly asked me about it, `Have you had enough vacation? You ready to go back?' And I kept saying no.
``And then, after I got off the phone with Mel, she said, `You're ready to go back. I can just tell by the excitement in your voice.'''
Torre, 63, has led the Yankees to four World Series titles and six American League pennants, accomplishments that likely will gain him election to the Hall of Fame.
``It's still fun for me,'' he said. ``I'll go through the year, and then if I still feel that way, we'll have to make a decision.''
He wasn't happy last year with the interference of owner George Steinbrenner, who sent pitcher Jose Contreras to the minor league complex in Tampa, Fla., rather than to Triple-A Columbus. At times, the pressure is enormous.
``We're not here to win one World Series, we're here to set the bar high and be able to live up to ourselves,'' Torre said.
Heading into spring training, Torre is spending more time thinking about the pitching staff, which includes new acquisitions Kevin Brown and Javier Vazquez. While Mike Mussina is solid among the holdovers, Torre noted that Contreras struggled with health problems last year and Jon Lieber is coming back from elbow-ligament surgery that sidelined him all of last year.
``The reason we've been successful all these years -- and I know we haven't had the firepower that we have now -- is the fact that we've been able to pitch,'' he said.
``I think these question marks are things we're really going to focus on. Ithink the A-Rod thing will take care of itself.''
