Its 8:30 on a Friday night and I’m literally sitting here typing away while watching the replay of Joe Torre’s press conference from earlier today. As a former baseball writer - as a rabid Yankees fan, I must say that I am truly upset to see Joe go, yet I understand and support his decision not to return to the Bronx. The 2008 ‘offer’ on the table was clearly an insult for a guy whose team had just engineered a remarkable comeback during the regular 162-game season.

For most teams, making it into the playoffs would have been met with some gratitude, but not in New York. Simply stated, it’s another championship ring or nothing at all. This is not new of course. “The Boss” certainly invests huge sums of cash into his team’s line-ups; however Joe’s resume is filled with record-setting statistics and he deserved a much better departure than this. I will admit that this post-season collapse affected me more than any prior, but I still appreciated the great ride we had in the chase. Joe had a lot to do with that.

So tonight I sit here trying to come up with something poetic as I look back fondly on a Hall of Fame skipper’s tenure and smile. Unfortunately it’s a forced smile as I can’t help but feel a great deal of disappointment in Mr. Steinbrenner and the rest of the Yankees administration. For the last 12 years, Torre has been the mainstay for an organization that was reborn as a dynasty. He was always a first-class guy and will be missed very much. After all, the guy won 1,173 games (and a few AL Pennants and World Series in between.)

It will be interesting to see what kind of fallout this has on the Bomber’s free agent players who may or may not return (gems like Mo Rivera, A-Rod, and Posada) now that Torre’s gone. The timing IMO stinks as the Yankees dugout was brimming with plenty of fresh, young talent including Joba Chamberlain. These pups would have blossomed under Joe’s tutelage.

Even the Yankee haters out there have to give Joe Torre his props. No other coach has accumulated the numbers that he has. No other coach was as beloved by his players either. He will be missed by everyone in the clubhouse and in the stands. Now we must look to the future. I’m worried for sure. And I just realized that he won’t be there when New York hosts the All-Star Game next season. Maybe he will be there – but NOT in pinstripes. Whoever replaces Coach Torre better have BIG feet (to fill Joe’s shoes) and he better be a Yankee.

It looks like ESPN’s Baseball Tonight is doing a special segment on Joe’s career now. I’m going to go relive some wonderful memories. Thanks Joe. May God bless you wherever you go.