Joe Torre backtracks: ‘It’s up to the individual clubs to police beer in and beer out’

It was quite a surprise when Joe Torre said that MLB “would look into” the issue of beer in the clubhouse, following the recent boozy Red Sox revelations. Turns out that Torre meant that quite literally. He’s looking, but will in no way act. MLB’s Executive Director of Baseball Operations is taking a firm states rights approach to the issue, saying that MLB “is interested” in the outcome, but, you know, it’s really up to the individual clubs to police themselves.

Actually, Torre said that he “talked out of my shoes” when he made earlier comments about MLB investigating the issue. Which is a humorous mental image.

Any way Torre’s change of tact has anything to do with him being reminded that beer companies are major sponsors at most MLB parks? Nah.

Torre, on ESPN Radio New York:

“Well the one thing I know is it’s an individual choice for the ball clubs. And I had a conversation because I think I talked out of my shoes last night when I said we’d look into it. We’re interested in it. I probably should have stopped there. It’s basically individual clubs make those decisions, and it’s obvious when you have owners meetings, you certainly let your feelings be heard.

But I’m sort of torn because it’s like anything else — you’d like to have it available if people responded to it and did it in moderation. But you can’t always guarantee that, and then you’re responsible if something goes wrong. It’s even a matter of getting in your car and driving somewhere; that’s the scary part for me. But it is up to…even though we’re interested in it and I said something about this yesterday, it is up to the individual club to police what they do and make the decisions about how they approach the beer in and beer out.”

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Joe Torre on Beer in MLB Clubhouses: “It’s up to the individual club to police what they do and make the decisions.” [Sports Radio Interviews]