On Thursday, Peter O'Malley said Los Angeles and the Dodgers deserve a better owner than Frank McCourt.
On Friday, Joe Torre, one of baseball's most respected managers, said he is stepping down after the season.
Coincidence? Probably.
What isn’t a coincidence? O'Malley's statement and Torre's decision say the same thing about the Dodgers: The once-proud franchise is in the dumps.
Few around the game expressed surprise about Torre's decision.
"Looking at it from the outside, I think Joe knows what is best for Joe and what's best for the Dodgers," Padres manager Bud Black said before his team's game in St. Louis on Friday. "I am sure for Joe it was pretty clear."
"His body language when I saw the Dodgers recently wasn't good," an NL scout said. "I think the situation there has worn on him. I think it's wearing on everyone."
Dodgers owners Frank and Jamie McCourt are going through a divorce that has stagnated payroll and cast an uncertainty over the franchise. The club's two-year run of winning the NL West is all but over as the Dodgers head toward their first losing season since 2005. Until the divorce case is over and the ownership situation settles, the future doesn’t hold much more hope.
Turning to a rookie manager, Don Mattingly, also is a risk. Mattingly has worked beside Torre since their years with the Yankees but has no managerial experience.
Black, for one, doesn’t see that as a problem.
"He's equipped," said Black, who took over the Padres prior to the 2007 season despite having no managing experience. "I know from my own experience of coaching under Mike Scioscia. Don has coached under Joe Torre so he's been right next to one of the best there is. Some type of osmosis does occur. He'll handle the transition just fine."
When talking with Sporting News last year about his managing style, Mattingly said he was ready for the challenge. "I feel really comfortable with the game," he said. "I felt like I was ready when I was with the Yankees (and interviewed for their job when Torre left). These years in the NL have helped me."
Torre, 70, figures to have plenty of options. A club release about the managerial change said Torre is "retiring." A source told the Los Angeles Times that Torre could take another job with the Dodgers. With numerous teams likely to replace managers at the end of the season, Torre could have his pick of jobs. How he might fit in a few of those places:
Cubs. Chicago plans to go young next season and is likely to hire Cubs great Ryne Sandberg, who has managed many of their youngsters in the minors, or Mike Quade, who has displayed a high-energy style that has been well received in an interim basis since he replaced Lou Piniella.
Mets. This potential opening would have been much more attractive if Johan Santana’s status for next season weren’t uncertain after shoulder surgery. Still, the Mets might be willing to offer Torre big bucks in the battle for attention with the Yankees.
Braves. When Fredi Gonzalez turned down a chance to interview for the Cubs' job, speculation followed that he is first in line to replace the retiring Bobby Cox. Torre's availability, however, could change Atlanta's thinking.
Mariners. It would be more difficult to see Torre in a baseball outpost such as Seattle than it was to see him switch from Yankees pinstripes to Dodgers blue.
Marlins. See Mariners.
Cardinals. If St. Louis’ late-season fade pushes out Tony La Russa -- a long shot -- Torre would make an attractive replacement.