---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not that managing in the American League…"
description: "\"Not that managing in the American League is easy, but this is certainly different. I'll have to have somebody poke me in the rear end when I have a pit..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/joe-torre-3272_baseball_not-that-managing-in-the-american-league_2803847.png"
---

#  Not that managing in the American League is easy, but this…

![“Not that managing in the American League is easy, but this is certainly different. I'll have to have somebody poke me in the rear end when I have a pitcher that's going to hit.” quote by Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/joe-torre-3272_baseball_not-that-managing-in-the-american-league_2803847.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/joe-torre-3272_baseball_not-that-managing-in-the-american-league_2803847.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/joe-torre-3272_baseball_not-that-managing-in-the-american-league_2803847.png)

> “Not that managing in the American League is easy, but this is certainly different. I'll have to have somebody poke me in the rear end when I have a pitcher that's going to hit.”

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Managing pitchers requires external feedback when performance falters.

**In simple terms:** Managers need honest feedback on struggling pitchers.

Key Takeaway

Seek timely, candid input on performance.

Themes

leadership feedback performance baseball coaching

Mood

direct strategic motivational

Type

practical inspirational

When to use this quote

- team meetings
- coach‑player talks
- performance reviews
- training drills

Key Concepts

sports psychology management communication

Questions to Reflect On

- Who can give you the most honest feedback?
- How will you act on critical input?

A Different Perspective

Feedback may be delayed or ignored.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/)

## Related quotes

> [Preparation is very important. The pitcher is going to do his job and prepare for you, so you as a hitter must do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pujols/preparation-is-very-important-the-pitcher-is-going-to-do-his-job-and/)

[Albert Pujols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pujols/)

> [Guessing what the pitcher is going to throw is 80% of being a successful hitter. The other 20% is just execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/guessing-what-the-pitcher-is-going-to-throw-is-80-of-being-a/)

[Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/)

> [I think there's more of opportunity to win games in the National League than the American League because there are more decisions to make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-think-there-s-more-of-opportunity-to-win-games-in-the-national/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [Those huckleberries in the National League don't want to do anything that the American League wants to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-rizzuto/those-huckleberries-in-the-national-league-don-t-want-to-do-anything/)

[Phil Rizzuto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-rizzuto/)

> [There is a transition that a pitcher goes through when he goes from the American League to the National League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/there-is-a-transition-that-a-pitcher-goes-through-when-he-goes-from/)

[John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/)

> [I became exclusively an American League fan when they instituted the DH rule, and will remain so until the National League moves out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-p-kinsella/i-became-exclusively-an-american-league-fan-when-they-instituted-the/)

[W. P. Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-p-kinsella/)

> [In the American League, there seems to have been an entire lack of any concerted campaign to build up a club in New York…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-ruppert/in-the-american-league-there-seems-to-have-been-an-entire-lack-of-any/)

[Jacob Ruppert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-ruppert/)

> [I love watching American League games, you know what I mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusty-baker/i-love-watching-american-league-games-you-know-what-i-mean/)

[Dusty Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dusty-baker/)

> [When I was 6 years old I went to my first A's game at the Coliseum. It was the 1982 season and the A's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fleck/when-i-was-6-years-old-i-went-to-my-first-a-s-game-at-the-coliseum-it/)

[Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/)

> [They're (California Angels) like the American League All-Star team, and that's their problem, the American League All-Star team always loses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quisenberry/they-re-california-angels-like-the-american-league-all-star-team-and/)

[Dan Quisenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quisenberry/)

> [I don't know anyone who likes the American League games better. Maybe some fans do. But if you're not an actual DH, you probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zack-greinke/i-don-t-know-anyone-who-likes-the-american-league-games-better-maybe/)

[Zack Greinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zack-greinke/)

> [All I ever wanted to be was president of the American League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-bartlett-giamatti/all-i-ever-wanted-to-be-was-president-of-the-american-league/)

[A. Bartlett Giamatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-bartlett-giamatti/)

> [I was in the American League for 16, 17 years, and I think it's a really tough league to compete in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-la-russa/i-was-in-the-american-league-for-16-17-years-and-i-think-it-s-a/)

[Tony La Russa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-la-russa/)

> [All I ever wanted to be president of was the American League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-bartlett-giamatti/all-i-ever-wanted-to-be-president-of-was-the-american-league/)

[A. Bartlett Giamatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-bartlett-giamatti/)

> [I liked St. Louis, when they were in the American League, because that was going home. I had all my family and friends there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yogi-berra/i-liked-st-louis-when-they-were-in-the-american-league-because-that/)

[Yogi Berra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yogi-berra/)

## More by Joe Torre

> [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [It's nice to be in first place. But just because you're not on a winner doesn't mean you're a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/it-s-nice-to-be-in-first-place-but-just-because-you-re-not-on-a/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [Winning is a lot of fun. I remember having a meeting a couple years ago and telling the guys: 'You're not enjoying yourselves.' O'Neill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/winning-is-a-lot-of-fun-i-remember-having-a-meeting-a-couple-years/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [If all of us who love baseball and are doing our jobs, then those who get the game from us will be as proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/if-all-of-us-who-love-baseball-and-are-doing-our-jobs-then-those-who/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [It's all about makeup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/it-s-all-about-makeup/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [Baseball is a team sport played by individuals for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/baseball-is-a-team-sport-played-by-individuals-for-themselves/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [Umpires sometimes have a quick trigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/umpires-sometimes-have-a-quick-trigger/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> ['Million Dollar Arm' touches on many of the Safe At Home Foundation's core values, such as children, teamwork and family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/million-dollar-arm-touches-on-many-of-the-safe-at-home-foundation-s/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [Kids are much more intuitive these days. Not that I'm crazy about what's on TV, but they know so much these days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/kids-are-much-more-intuitive-these-days-not-that-i-m-crazy-about-what/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [I played for 18 years, but the only thing that meant anything to me was the World Series.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-played-for-18-years-but-the-only-thing-that-meant-anything-to-me/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [When you sign on to do a job, you hope you'll be able to get it done. But that's not always in your control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/when-you-sign-on-to-do-a-job-you-hope-you-ll-be-able-to-get-it-done/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [The second you think you've arrived, someone passes you. You have to always be in pursuit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/the-second-you-think-you-ve-arrived-someone-passes-you-you-have-to/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [Scott Boras, I've known for a long time. We were both in the Cardinals organization. I'm a lot older than Scott. He's a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/scott-boras-i-ve-known-for-a-long-time-we-were-both-in-the-cardinals/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [I'm not very complicated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-m-not-very-complicated/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [Every place where I played or managed is special to me because of the memories and the friendships that each afforded me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/every-place-where-i-played-or-managed-is-special-to-me-because-of-the/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

[Explore all 135 Joe Torre quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

## More Baseball quotes

> [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-perry/i-d-always-have-grease-in-at-least-two-places-in-case-the-umpires/)

[Gaylord Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-perry/)

> [When you're in the middle of a pennant race, you can't go up there thinking about home runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-sosa/when-you-re-in-the-middle-of-a-pennant-race-you-can-t-go-up-there/)

[Sammy Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-sosa/)

> [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/)

[Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/)

> [Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-banks/spring-training-means-flowers-people-coming-outdoors-sunshine/)

[Ernie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-banks/)

> [Pitchers pitch differently. Hitters, hardly anyone has the same stance. That's just how it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/pitchers-pitch-differently-hitters-hardly-anyone-has-the-same-stance/)

[Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/)

> [Five World Series rings, 3000-plus hits, the fame, the fortune and playing for the second most historic franchise in baseball... These are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/five-world-series-rings-3000-plus-hits-the-fame-the-fortune-and/)

[Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/)

> [I don't want the electronic strike zone. I like the element of sometimes pitches don't get called. Guys don't receive it well or whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/i-don-t-want-the-electronic-strike-zone-i-like-the-element-of/)

[Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/)

> [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/)

[Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/)

> [If I was going to make one rule change, I would bring the DH to the National League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brett/if-i-was-going-to-make-one-rule-change-i-would-bring-the-dh-to-the/)

[George Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brett/)

> [In all honesty, once you become a professional, number one, you're no longer a fan. I don't root for the Dodgers, really. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-scully/in-all-honesty-once-you-become-a-professional-number-one-you-re-no/)

[Vin Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-scully/)

> [I'll tell you what's helped me my entire life. I look at baseball as a game. It's something where people can go out, enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-caray/i-ll-tell-you-what-s-helped-me-my-entire-life-i-look-at-baseball-as-a/)

[Harry Caray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-caray/)

> [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/)

[Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/)

> [What we should have done is kept the same team that played in the '95 World Series. Those trades (Eddie Murray &amp; Carlos Baerga)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-belle/what-we-should-have-done-is-kept-the-same-team-that-played-in-the-95/)

[Albert Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-belle/)

> [“I can buy baseball cards to view an entire career on the back of a little square of cardboard. But nobody sells major league…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg-jr/i-can-buy-baseball-cards-to-view-an-entire-career-on-the-back-of-a/)

[John Ortberg Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg-jr/)

> [The wind always seems to blow against catchers when they are running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-garagiola/the-wind-always-seems-to-blow-against-catchers-when-they-are-running/)

[Joe Garagiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-garagiola/)

[Browse all 7,461 Baseball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Not that managing in the American League is easy, but this is certainly different. I'll have to have somebody poke me in the rear end when I have a pitcher that's going to hit.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Joe Torre"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/not-that-managing-in-the-american-league-is-easy-but-this-is/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Baseball"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/not-that-managing-in-the-american-league-is-easy-but-this-is/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/joe-torre-3272_baseball_not-that-managing-in-the-american-league_2803847.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/joe-torre-3272_baseball_not-that-managing-in-the-american-league_2803847.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/joe-torre-3272_baseball_not-that-managing-in-the-american-league_2803847.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Not that managing in the American League is easy, but this is certainly different. I'll have to have…” — Joe Torre",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Joe Torre",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Not that managing in the American...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/not-that-managing-in-the-american-league-is-easy-but-this-is/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/not-that-managing-in-the-american-league-is-easy-but-this-is/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
