The Side Line

In 2009, Bud Selig, the current commissioner of Major League Baseball, told MLB.com that he planned to retire once his contract ended in 2012.

A new commissioner is closely approaching, and a familiar face may already be the lead candidate. Joe Torre, a 17-year player, five-year manager, and the recently named executive vice president of baseball operations is climbing his way through the commissioner’s office. Torre accepted an unverified $2 million annual base salary to serve as the commissioner’s liaison to general managers and field managers of all 30 MLB teams. His job title is focused with on-field discipline, operations and umpire supervising. Selig revamped his entire office to solidify a deal with Torre, and many of those surrounding baseball are concerned with how the process is unfolding. There are seven executives in the office, and Torre is now one. Three senior officials were laid off: Mike Port, vice president of umpiring, Ed Burns, vice president of administration and Darryl Hamilton, senior specialist. Torre has never held any executive or supervisory position in his ascent to the top. His new job didn’t even entail relocation. Selig has agreed for Torre, who moved west for his years with the Dodgers in 2008, to orchestrate business via satellite communication with the headquarters in New York. This could be unsettling watching Selig implement his preferred choice in a questionable fashion. Maybe the owners and players and even fans should have a say. But regardless of how we want it to be, this is how it’s going right now. And despite Selig’s abrupt changes, I can’t say I disagree. Major League Baseball needs to join the 21st century in terms of replay concerns, publicity and appealing to the next generation. Torre can be that man. He’s dealt with players for most of his life. He won four World Series, and handling the high profile players that come along with a world series is not easy. He was a Gold Glove winner in 1965, and the MVP in ‘71; he has a deep understanding for baseball in many facets. From the mind of a stressed-out player in the World Series to the manager of a new club, Torre would help keep the players and managers satisfied with his previous knowledge and personal familiarity. Secondly, he knows a lot of the players  and managers in the league. Not by the name on their back or because he’s kept scouting charts on most of these guys for decades; he’s managed so many players and worked with numerous officials. A mutual respect has been built from one-on-one sit downs with players, discussing issues off the field and on. In any organization people need someone to guide them with familiarity for the subject. Submersed in America’s pastime as a player, coach, broadcaster, and now vice president of baseball operations, Torre’s hasty selection should not deter one from seeing what he can do.