Torre Welcomed to LA

Joe Torre took the stage at center-field at Dodger Stadium for his introduction as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Torre signed a 3-year, $13 million contract to replace Grady Little who quit last week after two seasons.

Torre will bring with him Don Mattingly and Larry Bowa as additions to his coaching staff, both of whom coached under him in New York. Torre expressed his (and his team's) excitement at coming to LA in an article by the Los Angeles Times.

"When I think of the Dodgers I think of efficiency, I think of pride, I think of measuring stick," Torre said. "You always measured yourself by the Dodgers because they did everything right. They had a stature that you always looked up to."

Torre said it was an honor to move from one prestigious organization to another and he has great plans for the Dodgers, who haven't won a World Series since 1988. "The goals as far as I'm concerned — you go out there and you play hard and you play smart and you hope to get a good result," he added. "I can talk about it all day long. We're going to have to prove it out here." (FoxSports.com article)

ESPN's Page 2 columnist Eric Neel said that although Torre may not make vast improvements in the 2008 season, he brings a spark to the Dodger franchise:

"What matters here and now is that Joe Torre is the freakin' manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The same Joe Torre who led the Yankees to 12 straight playoff appearances and won four World Series rings, the same Joe Torre who just got up out of Letterman's chair. He's the new headman in charge.

There's no analytic to assess the impact of this. It isn't a move measured in runs or even wins. It's an emotional event. It's a bolt, a shot of adrenaline, to a flatlined franchise."

Neel explains that LA sports fans are up for grabs at the moment and it's up for the Dodgers to grab them. "Once upon a time the Dodgers owned Los Angeles. Then it was the Lakers. And then it was SC. And now, in these strange, tumultuous, entertaining days, everybody's into the pool, everybody's kung fu fighting for our attention and wallets."

Sports fans have the opportunity to watch a new era of the Dodgers unfold as Torre takes over management. Will they make a vast improvement in their next season or will it take a while for things to click or will virtually nothing change? We will have to wait and see.