Is Grady Little on the way out?

Before the last out of the season (make that the last series) fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers have been asking, nay demanding that Grady Little be shown the door, even though he has another year left on his contract.  Frank McCourt, the co-owner of the Dodgers, steadfastly  voiced his support for Little. Even after the front office took two weeks off, McCourt has said Little was his man and he supports his mix of young players and veterans, despite the  very public  tension it has caused in the clubhouse.

But then Joe Torre told the Yankee “thanks, but no thanks” to a new contract and rumors have started swirling. Could Spring Training find a new skipper at the Dodgers’ helm after all?

First reports came out that the Dodgers werer talking with former Marlins manager Joe Girardi (no relation to another famous Girardi), but not about the manager’s job. Of course the Yanks talked to him, and the Yanks are poised to announced that he’ll be their new manager.

Yesterday reports surfaced that the Dodgers want him. Badly. Last night Torre was on The Late Show with David Letterman and Dave asked him about the reports that he was heading to Chavez Ravine and Torre, classy guy that he is, told Dave. “Well, the Dodgers have a contract, I mean, a manager.” But he went on to say

That’s a bad question to ask. I know what’s been rumored. The local paper today is talking about going to LA. There has been a time or two that something that has been in the newspaper hasn’t been true.

That’s not a denial, Joe. Dodger fans will remember that Jim Tracey got similar glowing endorsements from McCourt at the end of the 2004 season only to be shown the door two weeks after the season closed. Bill Plashke of the Los Angeles Times writes today that not only should the Dodgers hire Torre, they should have done it already. He points out that delay is causing not only doubt but also makes it harder for Little to have any authority, especially if he is the Dodgers’ manager in the spring.

It’s understandable that the Dodgers would endorse Little, then, two weeks later, change their tune when Torre is available.

But it’s unconscionable to then allow the process to drag out so long that if Little does return to the Dodgers’ clubhouse next spring, his authority there will be as stained and eroded as Eric Gagne’s old cap.

Get something done, Dodgers. If Little is going to be the Dodgers’ manager next year he’s going to have to battle to regain the fans’ trust and respect. If someone else is going to be the manager in the spring it’s time to tell the rumor mill to stick their rumors where the sun doesn’t shine and let the fans hear from you, for crying out loud. We’ve got plenty of questions. The World Series is over, so now’s a great time to get us all excited about next season.