Joe Torre Year Quotations

It's a time of year that they're not used to being competitive. Whether it happened because of that, or the fact that it's just part of getting in shape, I don't know.

We're hoping he's healthy. That's No.1, first and foremost. All the reports that we've had is that he's been on a regular routine throwing ? not throwing off the mound, but everything seems to be good. He's a big horse for us. When he was a free agent last year he was at the top of my list. We were fortunate enough to be able to sign him. He just never was right. Mel can tell you, from spring training on he just didn't feel right. It was just something that nagged him all year. Finally we shut him down. Hopefully that stuff is behind him.

He's really enjoying himself, ... especially if you go back 12 months and where he was a year ago. He's worked hard. It's not something that just dropped on his doorstep. It's something he's had to work through mentally and physically.

We're not trying to rush him to get ready for any particular date. But compare this year to last year and it's night and day for him.

It's nice to have the opportunity to win every year but it wears on you to know you have to win the World Series for it to be deemed a good year,

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.

There was more public stuff this year than the other years.

I've talked to him all year about thinking small, and big things will happen. When you're fighting for a pennant, everybody here will remember that at-bat (on Saturday) rather than a two-run home run when you're up by six runs. I don't think he would have done that last year because he would have been trying to do something bigger.

This is a very proud moment for him. I'm very pleased with the year he had. He's getting more comfortable here in New York. Alex helped us win so many games, both offensively and defensively, and he continues to improve.

This is the time of year Bernie is used to playing.

Very satisfying. Coming back in a place where we haven't been comfortable playing in this year and at this time of year, it shows you what kind of players we have.

They pitched well last year and they didn't do anything to change my mind this year.

Years ago, you never concerned yourself with pitch counts. Now, with statistics telling you that between this number and that number bad things happen to this particular pitcher, you have to pay attention to it. The bullpen has become a huge part of what happens now.

I played for 18 years, but the only thing that meant anything to me was the World Series.

I wish I could paint that picture. As a 20-year-old kid, that was a big thrill.

When I was 16 years old, my brother Frank said, 'You'd better become a catcher, because you're too big and fat to do anything else.' Well, I took his advice. It was a quick way to get to the big leagues, and I've never regretted it.

A lot of pitchers today are afraid of the ball. Warren Spahn pinch-hit for me when I was a rookie. He hit a sacrifice fly. I couldn't argue. I was 20 years old and just happy to be in the big leagues. And Spahnnie was a good hitter.

My 12 years in New York were very, very special, the fans were very special, and it's something I will take with me wherever I go and into retirement.

After you manage the Yankees for 12 years, it's really tough to envision going somewhere else. But then the Dodgers called.

I feel better about him this year than I did last year. Knowing that he never felt like everything was there, just with what he's volunteering this year and the way he's moving around, I sense he's feeling a lot better about himself, physically.

I don't think that's outside the realm of possibility. Bernie, obviously I think he enjoys being here. It's the only place he's ever been. I think he's ? I don't want to say got used to it but I think he understood this year with his reduced role that maybe this is where he should be concentrating.