Joe Torre Inn Quotations

I think there's more of opportunity to win games in the National League than the American League because there are more decisions to make.

I believe anybody who is not afraid to fail is a winner.

One win­ter, when I was 12, my older brother Frank (20) said to my father, 'We want you out of the house. We don't want any­thing other than the house we live in. We don't want any­thing from you. Just leave.' And he left.

We can learn from past failures and mistakes, but we shouldn't get stuck there. We can keep future goals in mind, but we shouldn't get stuck there, either. The only way to reach our potential is to focus on what we must do now - this moment, this day - to perform effectively and win.

You can't win the Kentucky Derby unless you're on a thoroughbred.

Winning is a lot of fun. I remember having a meeting a couple years ago and telling the guys: 'You're not enjoying yourselves.' O'Neill said to me afterwards, 'Skip, it's not fun unless you win.'

I think that winning creates chemistry, as opposed to other way around. I've been on a lot of friendly teams that couldn't win, trust me.

If a club is winning, you never pay attention to a guy who's 0-for-10. If a club is losing, all of a sudden you'll find that he's the main reason why you're losing, which is absurd for me.

There will be a time when everyone on the team is going to contribute to winning a pennant.

I do love the feeling of a big win. But you don't have to have a World Series ring to be a winner. A winner is somebody who goes out there every day and exhausts himself trying to get something accomplished. Being able to get the most from their ability. That's what characterizes a winner.

I have one goal with all my decision: to do whatever is needed to win today's game. I'm loyal to my players, and I stick with people because consistency builds confidence. But if I feel I have to make a change in order to win, I'll do it. I don't ask players to like my decisions, only to accept that I'm doing my job with one thing in mind - winning.

A winner is somebody who goes out there every day and exhausts himself trying to get something accomplished.

Competing at the highest level is not about winning. It's about preparation, courage, understanding and nurturing your people, and heart. Winning is the result.

We're not thinking of either one; we're just thinking about winning every game. We'll win as many games as we can and we'll see what that gets us. That's basically our mentality right now.

We're in a situation where we can't be thinking about holding our own. We have to make an impact. The only way we can do that is by winning the first game.

We spoiled (Steinbrenner) by winning four World Series in five years. But it's certainly worth everything that goes with it.

We've been playing very aggressive baseball, very determined baseball. This game was as good as any game we've played this year in terms of winning this type of ballgame.

Instead of questioning the period, they're going to question the player for the whole time, and I don't think that's fair. Because he was a heck of a player as a skinny kid. He hit a lot of home runs against me. I would walk him intentionally even then, so that kind of respect was earned at that point in time.

That lacked respect last night. Winning and losing had nothing to do with it. I just thought it was time to acknowledge what he's done here.

The first four innings were really good, then it looked like he was elevating the ball a little. That's where they hurt him.

They are a thunder. They can put winning streaks together before you blink your eye.

They get men on base, they can run, and if you look at the formula, it's the same thing that Minnesota and the Angels have used to win ballgames. I don't see a soft spot; if you're ever going to get them, it's going to be their pitching, and we haven't had success against their pitching.

They get men on base, they can run, ... And if you look at the formula, it's the same that Minnesota has used to win ballgames, and the Angels have used. They play good defense. Their outfielders overlap. If you're ever going to get them, it's going to be their pitching, and we haven't had success against their pitching. ... Are they in our heads? How can I say no, when you haven't had success against certain pitchers and you face them?

I had finished dinner and was very comfortable, so I said, 'Fine,' ... From the scores of both games, I wouldn't have been comfortable watching them.

The only thing I've said to him is: 'You've already established who you are. There's nothing for you to do that has to be any different from that. The way I judge people is not necessarily where they go eat dinner or where they build a house, it's just how they play between the lines. And the way he plays the game, it would be tough for him not to fit in anywhere.