How can one have the audacity to question Joe Torre?

Forget about Manny.

Forget about Casey Blake, Angel Berroa, and Greg Maddux.

Forget about the youth movement, "can't miss" prospects, and platinum arms.

The Dodgers are in the NLCS for the first time in 20 years, because for the first time in 20 years they have a championship caliber coaching staff. During the post-Lasorda era in Los Angeles, the Dodgers have burned through 5 managers (1), 5 general managers (2), 3 owner / presidents (3), and countless coaches.

The inconsistency of the tone at the top has translated into 20 years of aggravating underachievement by Dodgers squads (not to mention the wasted millions on poor free agent acquisitions and numerous head-scratching trades). Call it "Blue Balls" - pun intended.

After 20 years of 1 post-season-win-ball, one would think that the sweep of the Cubs in the divisional series would satisfy the fans appetite. But what do we do instead? 2nd guess Torre for replacing Derek Lowe with lefty phenom Clayton Kershaw? For replacing Hong Chi Kuo with Cory Wade? For bringing Jonathan Broxton into the game in the 8th? For starting Juan Pierre in center in place of Matt Kemp?

How fickle the Dodger fan can be. Shame on us! Have we forgotten what this team looked like before September? They only had 1 month in which they posted a winning record. They were 3 games under .500 at the end of August! But instead of collapsing down the stretch like they did in 2007, they ripped off their best month of the year and steam rolled the Cubs in the NLDS.

Joe Torre just managed a team to the post season for the 13th consecutive year. And one could make the argument that - due to the injuries, learning curve of the youth, and well-documented personality challenges in the clubhouse - that his 13th year was his finest.

Thank you Joe Torre. Thank you for your patience. Thank you for steering this ship with your always cool hand. Thank you, not just for leaving New York, but for poaching the cream of your New York coaching staff crop - Larry Bowa and Don Mattingly.

You are the Dodgers best acquisition in 2008...and possibly ever!


Dodgers 2008 win-loss records by month:
March / April: 14-13
May: 13-15
June: 11-16
July: 16-10
August: 13-16
September: 17-8

References:
1 - Bill Russell, Glenn Hoffman, Davey Johnson, Jim Tracy, and Grady Little.
2 - Fred Claire left in 1998 following disputes with Fox over control of player personnel. Since his departure, Tommy Lasorda, Kevin Malone, Dave Wallace, Dan Evans, and Paul DePodesta have all served as general manager.
(3) - Fox Entertainment Group acquired the club from the O'Malley family in 1998. Bob Graziano was the President. Robert Daly then acquired a minority stake in the team and became Managing Partner, Chairman and CEO of the club in 1999. In 2004, Frank and Jamie McCourt acquired a controlling interest from Fox Entertainment Group.