We sort of knew this was inevitable, but George Steinbrenner has made it clear that Joe Torre will probably be fired if the Yankees lose the ALDS to the Indians:
HACKENSACK, N.J. (AP) — George Steinbrenner says Joe Torre most likely won’t return to the New York Yankees unless they overcome their deficit against the Cleveland Indians and reach the AL championship series.
“His job is on the line,” the owner was quoted in Sunday’s editions of The Record. “I think we’re paying him a lot of money. He’s the highest-paid manager in baseball, so I don’t think we’d take him back if we don’t win this series.”
Torre was hired before the 1996 season and led the Yankees to four World Series in his first five seasons but none since. New York last reached the World Series in 2003, wasted a 3-0 lead to Boston in the 2004 ALCS, then was eliminated by the Angels and Detroit in the first round the last two years.
Cleveland led this year’s best-of-five, first-round series 2-0 heading into Game 3 Sunday night.
Torre is being paid $7 million this year, the final season of his contract.
Steinbrenner also criticized umpire Bruce Froemming for not stopping play when insects invaded the field during Game 2 in Cleveland on Friday. Rookie reliever Joba Chamberlain threw two wild pitches that allowed Cleveland to tie the game in the eighth, and the Indians went on to win 2-1 in 11 innings.
Froemming called it “just a little irritation.” Steinbrenner profanely dismissed Froemming’s explanation.
“He won’t umpire our games anymore,” Steinbrenner said
Umm, George I don’t think you get to decide that.
October 7th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
And the Orioles signed Trembley to an extension. While I doubt that Torre would plan on coaching elsewhere, I would have loved to see the Orioles make a run for him.
October 8th, 2007 at 6:38 am
[...] it was being back at home, perhaps it was in response to Steinbrenner’s threat against Joe Torre, perhaps it’s because there weren’t any freaking bugs from Lake Erie to worry [...]
October 9th, 2007 at 12:40 am
JOE TOORE SHOULD STAY STEINNBRENNER IS AA JERK. AS MAYOR GUILLIEANE.