Surprise! Torre to Announce Decision on 2011 Season Soon

In the aftermath of the debacle that was last night’s Dodger game, one piece of news seemed to not get the coverage it deserved: Joe Torre said that he would make his decision within the next month or so on whether or not he would return as manager in 2011. 

The timing was a bit of a surprise, as Torre had previously said that he would wait until the end of the season to make this decision.  Why the change of heart?  It’s not like there is a pressing need to make the decision in the middle if the season.  Well, if I were Joe, I’m sure I’d be frustrated by the McCourt’s lack of willingness to loosen the purse strings and bring in top-tier starter and some veteran relievers that can help this club.  And coming over from the Yankees, he’s got to be a little bit spoiled by the resources he had available to him in New York.  The guy wants to win, and knows this team is built to win now.  It’s pretty clear that Torre only trusts a few arms in his bullpen, and he’s going to ride those guys into the ground if they don’t get some more help. 

And, for the record, I generally really like the moves Ned Colletti has been able to pull off at the trading deadline over the past few years.  Outside of Manny Ramirez, none have been blockbusters, but he’s been able to consistently help the club without adding a lot to the payroll. Colletti and Kim Ng are a crafty team, and I’m confident they will bring in some solid, unspectacular pitchers to help this team between now and the playoffs.

I’m not saying Torre’s announcement should be interpreted as an ultimatum to the Dodgers front office (or the players for that matter), but it shouldn’t be completely ignored.  Think of it as a warning shot across the bow of the good ship Dodgers.