"Torre vowed all spring that he would not, would not, would not ask Rivera to pick up multiple-inning saves this year, hoping to maximize Rivera's platinum plated arm...Torre meant it, he swore he really meant it. And maybe he did. At the time.

"I lied," Torre said, still grinning. "What can I tell you? I didn't plan on lying."

-Mike Vacarro, today's New York Post

Who can blame Joe? If a manager as great as the be-ringed Professor Joe feels he has to go to his shut-down closer with the game on the line, even if it means risking the health of the bullpen ace, who could be expected to have the cojones to do otherwise?

Gentlemen, I give you Tito Francona.


Let us not underestimate the testicular fortitude displayed by the manager of the Olde Town Team in Friday night's contest to stay true to his word to young Jon Papelbon and to the medical staff by not bringing him in for a third night in a row. In the pressure-cooker of a Northeastern baseball market, even a man with four rings and national acclaim didn't have the spine to protect the health of the most vital arm in his bullpen and threw the closer, and caution, to the wind at the first opportunity.

Not Tito. When Francona tapped the southpaw from the Far East to baffle the heart of the Pinstripes order on Friday night, he sent three clear messages. One, Papelbon will be protected and kept healthy throughout the season, even if it means putting a game in the balance. Two, the rest of the bullpen may not be as weak as originally advertised - they look to be performing quite well to this point in the season, if I'm not mistaken. And three, Terry proved he has the grapefruits to be one of the best managers this club has ever seen.

As for Torre, we had the delight of watching just about everything go wrong in his dugout. Not only did Joe panic and go to Mo, but then Mo couldn't get the job done and probably pitched himself out of the Saturday matinee.

The New York papers all casually mentioned Joe's indiscretion with his preseason promises, but none have called him to task just yet.

To be fair, he almost kept his word until the end of April...that's gotta be worth something, right?