George Steinbrenner made it pretty clear last week. If his Yankees failed to beat the Cleveland Indians in the American League Divisional Series, then manager Joe Torre would most likely have to look for a new job. It's just too bad that the Boss presented the ultimatum with his team down 2-0 in the best of five series. After all, there's nothing like a good distraction to keep your mind off the game when your team's struggling.
One loss away from elimination and scouring every "Help Wanted" ad in New York, the Yankees finally got their bats going for Torre in game four last Sunday. It wasn't enough, though, as the Tribe trounced New York the next night to advance to the Championship Series to play the Boston Red Sox.
Torre has reached the postseason in each of his twelve seasons as Yankees manager, winning the AL East ten times. He's the winningest manager in Yankees history, also taking home six pennants and four World Series championships. And now, because he hasn't won it all in seven years and hasn't gotten out of the first round in three years, he's on the chopping block.
Bobby Cox never would have made it in New York. Despite winning his division from 1995-2005, he's led the Atlanta Braves to just three National League pennants and just one title. That title came all the way back in 1995, when I was in first grade and the Other Boss, Bruce Springsteen, won a Grammy for "Streets of Philadelphia." That was a looooong time ago.
Still, Cox is considered one of the game's best managers. He won that title for the fourth time in 2005, and his position has never been under fire the way Torre's has.
But maybe that's due to all the hoopla that comes with managing in New York. Let's face it, Steinbrenner is nuts. His lofty expectations just can not be met every year, no matter how much you pay your players. It's just not possible to win every year.
The Yankees have enough talent that they should make it to the ALCS at least every other year. So is it Torre's fault that the pitching doesn't step up when it matters, especially the waste of space that was the 2007 Roger Clemens? Or when his hitters don't get consecutive hits in a game until the third game of a playoff series? What more can the guy really do?
So if Torre is gone, what's next for the Yankees?
Alex Rodriguez will likely opt out of his massive contract, probably putting him in either a Cubs or Angels uniform next season.
Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera has put in his two cents, saying that re-signing with the Yankees is not a definite if Torre isn't back. The same scenario could play out for fellow free agents Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte, staples of the Yankee Dynasty of the late 1990's.
Will the veterans come back if bench coach Don Mattingly is promoted to Yankee skipper? Donnie Baseball, while respected by the players, has no previous managerial experience. If the Boss wants to win a World Series he may look to someone who has managed before. Hello, Tony La Russa and Joe Girardi.
La Russa's got the postseason experience, winning it all with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2004, possibly the worst team to ever win a championship. He also guided the Oakland A's to three straight titles in the late 1980's. La Russa's definitely got the resume needed, but the question is whether or not he'll leave St. Louis. After his general manager was fired, he said he'd wait to make a decision to return until after they hire a new GM.
My guess is he stays with the Cardinals, where he's comfortable. And dealing with the New York media day in and day out will probably drive La Russa back to the bottle. The last thing Manhattan needs is a traffic jam after the game because La Russa passed out behind the wheel again.
Girardi was the National League's Manager of the Year two seasons ago, but was fired after a series confrontation with stingy Marlins' owner Jeffrey Loria concerning personnel decisions. Even in his old age, what the Boss says goes, so will he be willing to hire a manager who second guesses his decisions?
Girardi was the Yankees bench coach prior to taking the Marlins' job and played with the Yankees throughout the 90's. He's been a broadcaster with the YES Network, so he knows the team and how to deal with the media because he's been amongst them.
Also, with the surge of young talent coming through the Yankees' ranks, Girardi may be the best man for the job. His Marlins team featured a Major League record six rookies in their Opening Day lineup. Despite a slow start, he motivated them to play up to a level that allowed them to chase the NL East crown up until the final week of the 2006 season. It's just a matter of management in New York essentially going over Mattingly's head to hire Girardi.
The renewal of Torre's contract is in the hands of Steinbrenner now; what does it matter what general manager Brian Cashman thinks when you're the Boss? Torre has guided the Yankees to unheralded success and had no business making this postseason this year. There's no real reason to believe that he can't win again.
But if I were Joe, I'd just walk away now. It's clear he isn't appreciated by the organization. And for all he's done for the Yankees, it's sad that he won't be leaving on his own ideal terms.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
