"Joe Torre would tell you to make sure you can hit the ball on the outside part of the plate"
About this Quote
The specific intent is practical: train yourself to stay back, let the ball travel, drive it the other way. In hitting terms, it’s the difference between reacting and guessing. In clubhouse terms, it’s Torre’s managerial gospel: prepare for what pitchers will do when they don’t want to let you be comfortable. Great hitters get “fed” inside when they’re unproven; stars get worked away. The outside corner is where respect lives, and where careers go to die if you can’t adjust.
Murphy, speaking as an athlete from an era that prized fundamentals, is also smuggling in a cultural contrast. Today’s game rewards damage and launch angle; Torre’s maxim comes from a world that worshiped staying within yourself, taking what’s offered, and surviving long seasons. It’s not anti-power. It’s anti-impatience. The subtext: talent is loud, but adaptability is what keeps you in the lineup when everyone has your scouting report.
Quote Details
| Topic | Training & Practice |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite | Cite this Quote |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Murphy, Dale. (n.d.). Joe Torre would tell you to make sure you can hit the ball on the outside part of the plate. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/joe-torre-would-tell-you-to-make-sure-you-can-hit-66569/
Chicago Style
Murphy, Dale. "Joe Torre would tell you to make sure you can hit the ball on the outside part of the plate." FixQuotes. Accessed February 3, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/joe-torre-would-tell-you-to-make-sure-you-can-hit-66569/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"Joe Torre would tell you to make sure you can hit the ball on the outside part of the plate." FixQuotes, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/joe-torre-would-tell-you-to-make-sure-you-can-hit-66569/. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.


