FanNation

Joe Torre will address the media today, thus ushering this Yankee managerial circus to the next phase of its existence -- closure.

Pundits everywhere have opined "Joe didn't want to take a pay cut."  Maybe in their worlds, money is everything and the two-million dollar drop in base salary was an insult.  But in Joe's world, it's all about quality of life for his players, and what he felt the Yankees were trying to say to him.

Joe didn't reject this 1 year/5 million dollar incentive-laden deal because he wouldn't be able to afford another yacht on that kind of salary.  He didn't walk away from the Yankees and his players over what amounts to couch change in Yankeeland.

He walked away because he thought his players deserved more than yet another year of Torre job watching.  Another season full of post-games that include the ever reflective question "if this is your last year Joe, would it be disappointing to leave on a sour note?" 

He walked because this man is a Hall of Fame manager in waiting, one who doesn't need to have million-dollar carrots dangling at the end of the regular season, ALDS and ALCS to see the need to compete.

Because his players have enough distractions without having to play for their managers head like they did in the first week of October.

Two years.  That would have gotten a deal done.  George may not be aware of much these days, but he's well aware of that.

Today, the Yankee organization should be disgusted with themselves.  They low-balled the second-winningest manager in their history with a one-year deal to keep the blood off of their hands.  Tried to make Joe look like it was all about the money to him.