Joe Torre announces retirement
After serving as the team's general manager for the past three years, Joe Torre will call it quits after this season, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced on Friday.
Torre, who was once tagged as "Clueless Joe" when he was still with the New York Yankees, will be replaced by the team's hitting coach Don Mattingly, who expressed his excitement about his
new role with the team.
"The opportunity to manage the Los Angeles Dodgers is truly an honour," Mattingly said in the team’s official statement. "There are few organizations in the world with the history, tradition,
and track record of success as the Dodgers."
Mattingly, who has never managed a team, added that he's looking forward to continuing what Torre has started, which he believes will lead the Dodgers to a world championship.
The 70-year-old Torre, who led Los Angeles to NL West titles during his first two seasons with the team, might still be hired to handle a new role in the organization.
"It has been an incredible honour to wear the Dodger uniform and I will always carry with me some very special memories from the past three seasons," Torre said in the release. "This was
not a decision I took lightly but I believe it's the right one for me and my family"
Torre, who also spent 12 seasons with the New York Yankees and has compiled 2,318 wins in his entire career, believes that Mattingly will be more than ready for the biggest challenge in his
baseball career.
General manager Ned Colleti is also convinced that Mattingly, who has been the Dodgers' hitting coach since 2008, is the most deserving person for the job. Colleti added that Mattingly's
baseball knowledge and high-level of leadership will help Los Angeles in the long run.
"I've had the opportunity to work with Don closely and have gotten to know him both personally and professionally and I'm convinced that he's the right person to lead the Dodgers," Colleti
said.
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