Sunday, August 15, 2010  Sunday Lightning 8.15.2010    •
Charming, grandfatherly and merciless:  Dodgers manager Joe
Torre is holding off on announcing his decision as to whether
he's going to manage next year. The relentless controversy
surrounding the Dodgers due to the divorce of Frank and Jamie
McCourt put any talks of a contract extension on the back-burner
in the spring; now, with the Dodgers playoff hopes flickering
almost to the point of extinction and his open declaration that
his decision will be made in September, it's almost time to come
clean...or is it?  For all his charm and likability, Torre has
played his Saint Joe routine to the hilt. Subtly twisting public
opinion into his favor, he's used his well-spoken manner and
status as the Frank Sinatra of the Baseball World to make
himself very wealthy, a sought-after public speaker and
spokesman, and future Hall of Fame manager. He hasn't had many
arrows slung at him because: A) many younger baseball people
don't want him as an enemy; and B) the cr