Joe Torre

Joe Torre trudged through the spring training clubhouse at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla., the same way he walks out to the pitcher's mound late in an important game. There was that distinctive lumber: dogged, plodding almost, head down, long arms station- ary, eyes not giving anything away. He threw a poker-faced glance at his players, many of whom were sprawled in front of their stalls chatting, slowly pulling on their uniforms. Most paid little attention to him, as if they didn't even notice he was there.

Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp might be the best player in baseball, former manager Joe Torre said Tuesday. Torre, who attended the Dodgers home opener as a representative of the commissioner's office, added this qualifier: "Because of his age. " Of Angels first baseman Albert Pujols , Torre said, "We know what Albert is all about, but Albert's a little older. So I think, age being considered, you would have to put [Kemp] in that category. It's tough to say there's one guy that belongs in that category, but he's certainly one of them because he's a game changer.

Joe Torre's return to the National League is slightly more than a season old, yet he has already been selected an All-Star. Philadelphia's Charlie Manuel, who will manage the NL team in the All-Star game in July, last week offered Torre a spot on his coaching staff and the Dodgers manager accepted. "I'm definitely going," Torre said Wednesday. "It will be fun." The game will be played in St.

Joe Torre got his old job back Friday. Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig restored Torre as executive vice president of baseball operations, the position Torre vacated Jan. 4 to join Los Angeles developer Rick Caruso in bidding for the Dodgers. Caruso and Torre withdrew from the bidding last month, citing Frank McCourt's refusal to sell the Dodger Stadium parking lots along with the team. The five remaining bidders all want McCourt to sell the parking lots too, but final bids have not been submitted and negotiations have not taken place.

Joe Torre got his old job back Friday. Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig restored Torre as executive vice president of baseball operations, the position Torre vacated Jan. 4 to join Los Angeles developer Rick Caruso in bidding for the Dodgers. Caruso and Torre withdrew from the bidding last month, citing Frank McCourt's refusal to sell the Dodger Stadium parking lots along with the team. The five remaining bidders all want McCourt to sell the parking lots too, but final bids have not been submitted and negotiations have not taken place.

Although the Dodgers' middle-relief corps remains in flux, Manager Joe Torre said Wednesday he's not overly concerned because the team has several pitchers who could fill the role. Asked for his take on the situation, Torre replied, "I don't have a take yet, to be honest with you," but added, "I'm not concerned. I think we have a lot of options." The options have been pared lately, with Ronald Belisario still in Venezuela because of visa problems and Cory Wade undergoing shoulder surgery Wednesday that's expected to keep him sidelined up to three months.

Joe Torre had seen enough. The Dodgers manager called a rare postgame, closed-door meeting with his club after their mistake-riddled, 2-1 loss to the Angels on Wednesday night. Players said Torre told them that the defending National League West champions couldn't continue making such game-changing miscues if they wanted to stay in contention again this year. "He just said we can't continue to beat ourselves," said Reed Johnson , who was running toward home to score the tying run in the ninth inning when Russell Martin was thrown out after overrunning second base — for the final out — before Johnson reached the plate.

Nov. 1, 2007: Named manager of the Dodgers, signing a three-year, $13-million deal. Torre becomes the eighth manager in Los Angeles Dodgers history. March 31, 2008: Torre's first regular-season game with Dodgers, a 5-0 victory over San Francisco. Sept. 25, 2008: Dodgers clinch the NL West title, giving Torre his 13th consecutive postseason appearance. Oct. 4, 2008: Dodgers defeat the Chicago Cubs, 3-1, to sweep an NL division series, 3-0. It is the Dodgers' first playoff series victory since the 1988 World Series.

Manager Joe Torre says he expects the Dodgers will re-sign free agent outfielder Manny Ramirez. "I definitely would be very surprised if he's not a Dodger," Torre said. But, quickly quashing thoughts that he might have inside information, he added, "I'm just saying that because that's the way I want it to be." General Manager Ned Colletti said that talks regarding Ramirez are moving forward. "I think there's been some progress made but obviously not enough to consummate a deal," he said.

Joe Torre, soaked with champagne and satisfaction, walked hand-in-hand with his wife from interview room to Dodgers clubhouse, so many experiences already in the baseball bank. What's one more? Well, everything. This is why he gave it another run after a disappointing finish in New York, why he travels from city to city, 162 games in 180 days at age 69, still amazed at what young people can do when given the opportunity and a little direction. "Different contributions," he says, and he says it over and over as he shakes off the champagne chill, the reward for sweeping the Cardinals in the NL division series.

Each of us, like it or not, finds his own calling in life. Frank McCourt has found his. He parks cars. We all stretch for bigger things. It is human nature. Draftsmen see themselves designing skyscrapers. Five-foot-eight high school basketball players see themselves in the NBA. McCourt saw himself as the owner of the Dodgers. After a while, we saw otherwise. We aren't sure exactly when the Peter Principle set in with McCourt, but the day he got on the plane in Boston and headed west is as good a guess as any. In the sports vernacular of the day, we thought we had put him behind us. He had walked down a dusty street at high noon, and Bud Selig drew first.

Los Angeles developer Rick Caruso and former Dodgers manager Joe Torre have withdrawn a joint bid to buy the Dodgers. Caruso and Torre cited owner Frank McCourt's refusal to include the Dodger Stadium parking lots in the sale, according to a letter, dated last Friday, that the men sent to Major League Baseball. The Times obtained a copy of the letter Thursday. Caruso and Torre would reenter the bidding if McCourt would agree to sell the parking lots, people familiar with the sale process but not authorized to publicly speak about it said.

This is the text of a letter from Rick Caruso and Joe Torre to Major League Baseball, explaining why they have withdrawn from the Dodgers bidding process: "As you are aware, we have been preparing a bid for the Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Club and related assets. Our team has worked very hard over the past few months to develop what we are confident would be a compelling and competitive offer. As you know, the parking lots surrounding Dodger Stadium are not in bankruptcy and were not officially part of the bid process.

The bidding on the Dodgers has moved into the second round, with 11 parties cleared to advance in the process. With various bid groups discussing mergers and/or trying to acquire additional financing, and with the investment bank handling the sale receptive to substantial offers even at this late date, the list below is subject to change. The lineup of Dodgers bidders, as of Wednesday: Magic Johnson/Stan Kasten: Could soon be joined by richest man in L.A., Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong.

On the day after Frank McCourt agreed to sell the Dodgers, billionaire Ron Burkle issued a statement that indicated he would consider buying the team. "It is one of the best brands in all of sports," Burkle said. "And, like many people, I'd be very proud to be a part of its future. " Burkle did not bid on the Dodgers, but he might still play a part in the future of the team. With the opening round of bidding concluded, Burkle might consider backing groups led by Rick Caruso or Stanley Gold, according to a person familiar with the sale process but not authorized to discuss it. McCourt and his bankers cut the list of prospective owners Friday.

The owner of the reigning NBA champions will not be the next owner of the Dodgers. Mark Cuban was eliminated from the Dodgers' ownership sweepstakes Friday, along with baseball executive and former agent Dennis Gilbert, according to two people familiar with the process but not authorized to discuss it. At least eight bidders advanced to the second round Friday, including a group led by Magic Johnson and veteran baseball executive Stan Kasten...

Dodger Stadium will be turned into a circus of sorts today for the Dodgers' home opener, decorated with flags and roamed by stilt walkers and face painters. What is likely to be an over-the-top ceremony will precede the first pitch Chad Billingsley throws against the San Francisco Giants. But the truly absurd already took place Sunday in Arizona, where Manager Joe Torre manufactured a run with his voice when the Dodgers had trouble doing so with their bats.

Dodgers Manager Joe Torre on Thursday danced around the subject of who would be the team's fifth starting pitcher. It's a topic of interest because Ramon Ortiz , who was a last-ditch effort to fill the role while Vicente Padilla is out, has underperformed in two starts. The next time the fifth starter would potentially be used is Tuesday when the Dodgers open a three-game set in Chicago against the Cubs. But because the team has an off-day the day before, Torre could potentially skip using a fifth starter and hold off on that decision until sometime in that series or the one after with the Colorado Rockies.

The Dodgers received "more than 10" opening bids for the team by Monday's deadline, according to a person familiar with the sale but not authorized to discuss it. As the bankers handling the sale evaluate the bids, prospective buyers can evaluate whether to join forces. In addition, because the bankers can waive the deadline at their discretion, new bidders could emerge. St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke has explored whether to bid for the Dodgers, two people familiar with the sale process said Monday.

Joe Torre entered the Dodgers sweepstakes on Wednesday, joining forces with developer Rick Caruso in a bid to buy the city's beloved baseball team. The Dodgers ownership derby is fast becoming the most intriguing reality show in Los Angeles, with athletic legends, civic icons and assorted billionaires jockeying for control of a team mired in bankruptcy proceedings. Magic Johnson is in. Mark Cuban, owner of the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks, is in. Steven Cohen, a billionaire eight times over, is in. Dennis Gilbert, the onetime agent for Barry Bonds and champion of amateur baseball in Southern California, is in. Ron Burkle and Tom Golisano, billionaires with experience as National Hockey League owners, are in. Peter O'Malley, the owner when the Dodgers last won the World Series in 1988, is in. So are Fred Claire, the general manager that year, and Orel Hershiser, the star pitcher that year — but the three men are in separate groups.