October 9, 2007
Posted: 04:44 PM ET

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani chats with his friend Joe Torre, manager of the New York Yankees.

DEARBORN, Michigan (CNN) — Here at the Michigan Republican debate, Giuliani didn’t just take on his fellow Republican candidates, but he also took on New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. Rudy Giuliani was asked whether Joe Torre, the manager of his beloved Yankees, should keep his job following the Yankees’ playoff elimination by the Cleveland Indians.

Giuliani’s simple answer: “God willing.”

There has been much media speculation about whether Steinbrenner will retain Torre who has been the Yankees’ manager for 12 years. Steinbrenner reportedly said that if the Yankees didn’t advance in the playoffs, Torre’s job was “on the line.”

Giuliani is a longtime Yankee fan.

Click here to see CNN's new political portal: CNNPolitics.com

– CNN Political Director Sam Feist

Filed under: Michigan • Rudy Giuliani


Simon Templar   October 10th, 2007 4:57 am ET

So let me get this straight. If Torre loses his job it will be the end of the world as we know it. Look G, I enjoy baseball as much as you or the next American does. But I think there are more important things to worry about than whether Joe keeps his job. Your supposed to be running for President, so whey don't you tell me what your going to do for the American people, or hit the road.

Bradley Schaubs, Greeley, CO   October 10th, 2007 12:49 am ET

Baseball (aka, the Great American Pasttime) is complicated enough as it is without presidential campaigns or poor management. Is it the manager's fault that the players can't win? Maybe it's the players athletic abilities that determine a win (or lose)?

Screw the complicated stuff. PLAY BALL!

bj, houston, texas   October 9th, 2007 10:08 pm ET

Guliani is an American Gangster. period

John in Ca   October 9th, 2007 8:39 pm ET

Maybe he didnt hear the Yankee fans booing him during the seventh inning stretch…He couldnt yell 9/11 loud enough to cover that

Joe Pittsburgh Pennsylvania   October 9th, 2007 8:24 pm ET

Rudy is going to torture people, turn this country into a police state and pick up exactly where Bush is leaving off. New York 9/11 New York 9/11. He makes me sick.

Anonymous   October 9th, 2007 8:20 pm ET

i think torre should keep his job so many postseason appearrences and division titles and 3 world series apperances

Lisa Ling, Dallas, TX   October 9th, 2007 7:28 pm ET

Oh yeah, like this is political news. Good grief, get real.

Paul C, Rockville MD   October 9th, 2007 6:32 pm ET

The Yankees have not won a World Series with a Republican in the White House, since Eisenhower.

Scott from Freehold   October 9th, 2007 6:15 pm ET

All that is missing from this worthless story is Giuliani saying Torre should stay on because of 9-11, seeing as how that is the reason for everything with Rudy. Oh, Torre SHOULD stay, but if this is what is on Giuliani's mind, perhaps he needs to go back to answering calls from Queen Judith when he is talking to the press.

Jackson   October 9th, 2007 6:11 pm ET

"Rudy shines bright in a field of dull tarnished posers. That's more than enough for me. He has MY vote!"

Rudy "I want to police the internet" Giuliani has nothing more than an occasional bad joke–much like his candidacy–to carry him. His plans are dangerous and contradictory to this nation, and nothing short of a provocation toward a national crisis if he ends up in office.

Bob, Seattle, WA   October 9th, 2007 6:09 pm ET

Joe Torre is pure class. We could use him in Seattle, double his salary, and he still would be worth twice that even. Best baseball man in America.

Bob NYC   October 9th, 2007 6:05 pm ET

Giuliani's sucking Mr. Torre's bat!

Common Sense   October 9th, 2007 5:55 pm ET

MMMMmmmmmmmmmMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!! 9/11

John Chicago   October 9th, 2007 5:44 pm ET

Oh! and, uh, 911~~~~~~~~~~~!!!!!!

yea, gewliani rocks.

John S.   October 9th, 2007 5:44 pm ET

I CANT HEAR, ITS SOO LOUD? WHATS WITH ALL THE 9/11?

Bob, New York, NY   October 9th, 2007 5:42 pm ET

The Yankees just go to show that love isn't the only thing money won't buy. It also doesn't buy championships.

dark side of the funny farm   October 9th, 2007 5:39 pm ET

Ohhhh, I nearly forgot to mention, remember that time I saved the world on 9/11? Oh, I said that already? Well let me remind you of the fact that….. 9/11

Common Sense   October 9th, 2007 5:38 pm ET

WOW ADmin, you getting Overtime for this effort?

Brett, Pembroke, MA   October 9th, 2007 5:37 pm ET

Wow. No kidding. A New York Yankees fan stands up for Joe Torre. Isn't this blatant gossip–not meaningful political news–like the other stories about who is wearing a flag pin and Clinton having to tie her shoes? Aren't there real issues to be talking about?

This ticker has become a ridiculous gossip column. This column should be devoted to small yet important political developments, not the stuff that makes readers think you guys are just searching the news stories for the smallest details to get the biggest paychecks.

But anyway, Go Sox!

Common Sense   October 9th, 2007 5:37 pm ET

9/11

Johnny   October 9th, 2007 5:36 pm ET

9*11

Mike, NEw York New York   October 9th, 2007 5:36 pm ET

Torre needs to leave. I blame him for the Wang decision unless it is confirmed otherwise. Wang singlehandedly lost games 1 and 4 for us. I also blame Torre for not protesting the bugs–he should have asked for a delay. Bring on Don (Mattingly)!

Anonymous   October 9th, 2007 5:36 pm ET

9/11

Common Sense   October 9th, 2007 5:35 pm ET

someone tell that liar to mind his business and stay outta baseball's. shouldnt he be out somewhere making money off of 9-11?

SaneSmith   October 9th, 2007 5:28 pm ET

Who cares what Rudy Doody thinks.

Ryan Indianapolis   October 9th, 2007 5:27 pm ET

Isnt Hillary a Chicago Yankees fan????That woman is the Devil

James   October 9th, 2007 5:25 pm ET

WHY?

john, nyc   October 9th, 2007 5:23 pm ET

Giuliani has no real power in NYC anymore; speaking as someone from we dont think of him as a hero, especially those who know how he treated the firefighters; o wait 9/11 changed everything….well maybe for a short time, we are all waking up from a long winters nap….go away Giuliani.

AJ, New York   October 9th, 2007 5:22 pm ET

I think it's funny that a guy on his third (fourth?) wife is preaching to others about loyalty.

And wasn't it Giuliani who fired Bratton because he thought the Comish was getting a little too much credit? Glass houses, Your Honor.

Mike Gorczynski Whitby, Ontario   October 9th, 2007 5:21 pm ET

I think it would be more respectful if Joe Torre resigns on his own terms, whenever that time comes. He should not receive excess pressure from steinbrenner. Let's be real here, no one wins every year, and Steinbrenner should not just let him go. Don't forget, the Yankees made a hell of a run to almost catch Boston for the division in the season.

Anonymous   October 9th, 2007 5:18 pm ET

We can't let the terrorist win especially in this post 9/11 world… 9/11 taught us one thing and that is on 9/11 I saved the day. If Torre wasn't the manager during 9/11 then 9/11 would of been so much worse. Oh yeah and 9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11. Thank You. 9/11 9/11 9/11

Stephen, Mi   October 9th, 2007 5:17 pm ET

Who cares what Giuliani thinks. Last time I Checked he wasn't a baseball expert

Robert, Houston, TX   October 9th, 2007 5:12 pm ET

The problem is not Joe Torre. It's Steinbrenner. He's a spoiled brat. Period.

KEITH JAMES LOUTTIT - Orange County, NY   October 9th, 2007 5:11 pm ET

Rudy shines bright in a field of dull tarnished posers. That's more than enough for me. He has MY vote!

Joseph/ Memphis, TN   October 9th, 2007 5:10 pm ET

Who own the team Steinbrenner or Giuliani? Nobody could sway Giuliani to keep his first or second wife. His nerve or may he has minority ownership of the Yankees. The hyped up presidential candidate should weigh in on Iraq.

Rich Chicago, IL   October 9th, 2007 5:10 pm ET

No report on how many seconds elapsed before Giuliani mentioned 9/11.

Bob F, Portsmouth, RI   October 9th, 2007 5:08 pm ET

Keep him. He's a great manager and a decent person. We need all of them we can get.

Jon, Sacramento ~ Ca   October 9th, 2007 5:08 pm ET

Let's ask Hillary the same question – since she's a long-time Yankee fan too! (eyes rolling) I still remember the news conference where Hillary donned a Yankees cap. It reminded me of someone being traded… and I guess she was being traded – Ark for NY.

Hopefully American will decide the keep her in the minors – sending her packing back to the Senate.

Kevin, Nashville, TN   October 9th, 2007 5:06 pm ET

Ron Paul is addressing real issues with real solutions and gets no attention. Yet CNN chooses to cover Giuliani asking the NY Yankees to keep it's manager. This is why I am getting sick of the media.

pl. at the UN for a while.   October 9th, 2007 5:02 pm ET

I am sure that by now everyone has read the ranking of gaffes put up by CNN this morning.
Mr Giuliani has titles to more than half of all gaffes committed by presidential hopefuls in both the Dem and the Repub races together. WAW [What A Winner]!

Chris, Middletown, CT   October 9th, 2007 5:02 pm ET

Our next president looks good there. It will be nice for two reasons for Giuliani to get in….one – it will show the left that people don't want higher taxes and more socialist/entitlement programs – and 2 a clear shot to the religious minority of the party that they no longer control it….we are the only moderate party!!! (now….if he loses the primary…then it shows how far we haven't come)

Harry D, FL   October 9th, 2007 4:47 pm ET

WTF cares???

We have young men and women dying in Iraq, an almost bankrupt government, crack pipe globablization, increasing communists manifestos….AND you have to post this trash?? Kiss a kite.

Jackson   October 9th, 2007 4:47 pm ET

This is what passes for political news?

Comments have been closed for this article

subscribe RSS Icon
About The Ticker

The latest political news from CNN's Best Political Team, with campaign coverage, 24-7. Sign up for our twice daily Ticker emails. Got a news tip or feedback? For complete political coverage, bookmark CNNPolitics.com.

CNN=Politics Screensaver

CNN=Politics ScreensaverTap into the power of The Situation Room. Download this powerful new tool that keeps you posted on the latest political news from the campaign trail.
Download (4.1 MB, PC only)

Follow us on Twitter

CNN on TwitterGet Ticker updates the moment they appear online via the Web, SMS, or instant messages.
Follow politicalticker

Categories
CNN Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. All comments should be relevant to the topic and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. You are solely responsible for your own comments, the consequences of posting those comments, and the consequences of any reliance by you on the comments of others. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying and other information you provide via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNN Privacy Statement.
Home  |  World  |  U.S.  |  Politics  |  Entertainment  |  Health  |  Tech  |  Travel  |  Living  |  Business  |  Sports  |  Time.com
Podcasts  |  Blogs  |  CNN Mobile  |  Preferences |  Email Alerts  |  CNN Radio  |  CNN Shop  |  Site Map
© 2008 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by WordPress.com VIP