Dodgers manager Joe Torre said on Wednesday that he has accepted Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel's invitation to join the National League coaching staff for this year's All-Star Game in St. Louis on July 14.
"I'm definitely going," Torre told reporters before the Dodgers' game against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. "I am honored he asked me. It will be fun. It's in St. Louis, and going back there will be nice." Torre spent six of his 18 major league seasons playing for the Cardinals and was named the NL Most Valuable Player while with St. Louis in 1971, when he led the league in batting (.363), hits (230) and RBIs (137). He also managed the Cardinals from midway through the 1990 season until midway through 1995.
"It has been awhile," said Torre, who managed American League All-Star teams in 1997, every year from 1999-2002 and again in 2004. "It's a great perk. I'll just show up and have fun, talk to the fans, sign autographs. I don't have to worry about carrying a fungo bat."
Although Manuel has yet to name his other coach, it is likely to be Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, in keeping with the longstanding tradition of naming the manager of the team hosting the game to the coaching staff. Also in keeping with custom, Manuel will bring his entire Phillies staff to the game.
DODGERS 9, PHILLIES 2: James Loney drove in four runs with a three-run homer that put the Dodgers ahead to stay in the fourth inning and an RBI single in the fifth. The home run was his first of the season. Casey Blake drove in three runs with a sacrifice foul pop and a two-run homer. Randy Wolf pitched six strong innings for the Dodgers, holding the Phillies to one run, a solo homer by Jimmy Rollins, on three hits with eight strikeouts.
