Dodgers Decline Postseason Berth; Torre: “We Are Not Worthy”

The Los Angeles Dodgers “have no business in the postseason,” manager Joe Torre today told a hastily assembled Chavez Ravine news conference, because “We are not worthy of advancing.”

Torre cited the Dodgers’ inconsistent play on the field, its overreliance on Boston castoffs, including the team’s owner, and poor record compared with other National League teams as reasons for declining postseason play.

“There are four other teams that have better records than we do,” Torre said. “They’re all in the Eastern and Central Divisions, which have many more quality teams than we have in the West. I honestly haven’t seen such bad baseball, night in and night out, since I managed the Mets almost 30 years ago.”

Torre said that his Dodgers should have “crushed their division,” given the “horrendous pitching, lack of financial commitment by ownership of Western Division teams, and just general suckiness of the competition.”

Even though the Dodgers played mediocre teams, “We still couldn’t put anything together,” Torre said. “Not even when we rented Manny for 10 weeks. Tell the truth—we were awful, essentially providing Double-A baseball for major league prices. So we’re going to take the high road and cede our playoff spot to a more deserving team.”

Torre said he could not recall a similar instance of a team declining the opportunity to play in the postseason.

“There’s always a first time for everything,” Torre said. “I’m hoping that we can bring integrity to major league sports. If you don’t deserve the accolade, don’t take it.”

Torre said that the decision was “strictly his own,” and that he intended to inform Dodgers owner Frank McCourt “as soon as I could get a few minutes on his schedule.

“I’m sure he’ll be on board,” Torre said. “If not, I’m sure Girardi’s job with the Yankees will be available within a few weeks, so I can go back to the Bronx.”