The Last Days of Joe Torre?

An ominous wind is blowing in New York City.

It wouldn't be the first time Joe Torre's job security has been questioned. One could argue his greatest managerial skill is his ability to hold the rudder steady when the tempests of the metropolitan market begin to kick up. Players who have spent the majority of their pinstriped careers look to Joe as a father figure, the stoic face of a legendary organization.

The Boss, however, has no such self-discipline. And this Red Sox fan is certainly hoping this lack of control leads to a coaching change in the very near future.


Let's look at the facts. Torre may be a very poor in-game manager; he has a tendency to find a reliever he trusts and run him into the ground over the course of the summer, and then Rivera is forced to pick up all the rest of the high-leverage innings. While some admire his even temper, others despise his passionless demeanor. Some highlight his ability to juggle the numerous egos in the highest-paid clubhouse in baseball, while others question the toughness and chemistry of his ballclub.

And there are a bevy of options waiting in the wings at Yankee Stadium. Don Mattingly is the bench coach. Tony Pena coaches first. Larry Bowa coaches third. Joe Girardi works for YES. Three of these men have significant coaching experience, and the fourth is a local legend. They would all bring a bit of a spark to a dead clubhouse, and their various approaches to the position could conjure up just what the Pinstripes need.

On the other hand, the Yankees may not know what they had in Torre until they push him away. And I am hoping they learn this lesson the hard way - and soon.

In a fantasy universe, I would love to see the cherubic Larry Bowa take the reins of this overpaid bunch of prima donnas. After over ten years of working under a manager who oftentimes appeared to catch naps on the bench, Bowa's bluster and fireworks just might infuse the listless New York nine with the fire they've been so desperately seeking for the better part of this millenium.

On the other hand, it could raise total anarchy.

It is no secret that the corporate atmosphere in the Bronx does not lend itself to team bonding or excessive chemistry. These men are all hired hands, a team of elite ringers brought together to win games like a rotesserie team. And it works, to some degree. I think Torre understands this, and knows he can't push them because they'll simply fall apart. He just needs them to embrace their individual responsibilities, move runners along, and hopefully score enough runs or shut down enough opposing batters to keep games close.

A hothead like Bowa, however, will never stand for it. He'll yell and scream and throw bases, and the fans will eat it up. Giambi and Abreu and Pavano and ARod, however, will more than likely turn up their IPods.

I know its been a long time since Steinbrenner made a move like this, but I've heard he used to make a habit of firing managers at the beginning of road trips. New York has tomorrow off, then hits the road for a week on Tuesday.

Stay tuned.