Why is Joe Torre so obsessed with veteran players?

Question

If he played the young guys the Dodgers would be in first now. and he still starts Jones, and Pierre. I found this in the Dodgers Blog i thought it was funny.

Joe: They say we're old and we can't see

Anything good about walks or OBP.

Juan: Well I don't care if all that's true

'Cause you got me, and baby I got you

Juan: Babe

Both: I got you babe I got you babe

Joe: They say our love won't win no games

But I don't care if we go down in flames.

Juan: I guess that's so, I don't care either

as long as I get to start instead of Ethier

Juan: Babe

Both: I got you babe I got you babe

Juan: I got 8....point 8 mil, and I put you.... in my will.

Joe: And when I'm sad, you're a clown

And if I get scared, you're always around

Joe: So let them say your hat's too big

'Cause I don't care, let them call me pig

Juan: Then put your little hand in mine

There ain't no hill or mountain we can't climb

Juan: Babe

Both: I got you babe I got you babe

Juan: I got you to write my name

Joe: I got you to lead the game

Juan: I got you to pull up my socks

Joe: I got you to take me on walks

Both: I got you babe

Answer 1

because he likes to win........

Answer 2

i cant see why dodgers fans are upset with Pierre either? he had done everything that he was asked to do. GET on base and steal. He was 2nd in the MLB last year in SB.  The dodgers are about pitching speed and defense. Why take out our best speedster. He is a veteran and knows how to do his job and will do it 100%.  When they signed him, they did not expect him to hit HR or anything of that sort, he got on base and steal bases and he gave us the added bonus of knocking in runs. Veteran are proven hitters and i would take Jeff Kent over anyone else on the dodgers roster because he is an established hitter. It is going to be such a shame when he retires because he led us in a lot of offensive categories and is a clutch hitter. No one on our team is going to replace him and his  production in the lineup.

Answer 3

Well, you make sense, but probably this lineup would've taken them cruising ahead of the D-Backs like what the Angels are doing.

No spec. batting order:

C: Russell Martin

1B: James Loney

2B: Jeff Kent

SS: Angel Berroa for now, but Garciapparra when he comes off the DL. But if they do fall out of contention, I would like to see Berroa and Pablo Ozuna get some time.

3B: Casey Blake

LF: Manny Ramirez

CF: Matt Kemp (Andruw Jones should be down at AA or A)

RF: Andre Eithier

Their rotation looks ok though, aside from Derrick Lowe. I would like to see Schmidt come back healthy, ready to take his spot

As of why Torre likes vets, its only one solution:

The veteran core in New York led him to the playoffs, and he thinks its gonna work with this weak veteran market in LA.  

Answer 4

Torre just does what he can.  

Answer 5

Joe is not a risk taker.  He is much more comfortable with those who have a track record.  Some might not agree but there is one thing we can all agree on.  His results!  Maybe it took those early managers jobs for him to figure that out.

Answer 6

The young kids have been extremely inconsistent. They go on hot and cold streaks, you can't count on them 100% yet. Granted they are better then Andruw Jones, but I wish my fellow Dodger fans could appreciate Juan Pierre. I love his game, but no one else seems to.

Answer 7

B/c they know what it takes to get it done.  

Answer 8

With veterans, you know what you're getting...they have an established track record.  

It's probably no more complicated than that.

Answer 9

baseball is a business

andruw jones and juan pierre are making alot more money then some kid still on his rookie contract

andruw just signed a big deal in the offseason

so hes going to play.

if your gunna pay him that kinda money idc whos behind him he will play. thats simply the answer. i agree with you when you say the youth movement may help the dodgers win, but it is not just torre alone making these decisions, realize that the gm and owner who signed and pay those players have a lot of say in who plays.

Answer 10

he wants his team to be the best like what he did to the yankees he thinks that veterens are smarter and wiser because they had been in baseball for a long time so they know what to expect