As the Yankees stand on the brink of elimination in the first round of the playoffs for the third season in a row, owner George Steinbrenner says longtime manager Joe Torre needs his team to advance to the ALCS if he wants to keep managing the club.
"His job is on the line," Steinbrenner told The Bergen 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 makes $7 million a season and is in the final year of his contract.
The Cleveland Indians lead the Yankees 2-0 in their American League Division Series.
In Sunday's Game 3 at Yankee Stadium, Roger Clemens will take the mound for New York while Jake Westbrook will start for Cleveland.
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.
<!-- INLINE TABLE (BEGIN) --><TABLE id=inlinetable cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=180 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TH style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000" colSpan=2>Teams Up 2-0
in Best-of-5 Series</TH><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width=90>Won in 3 games </TD><TD width=90>34 </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width=90>4 games </TD><TD width=100>8 </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width=90>5 games </TD><TD width=90>3</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width=90>Lost in 5 games </TD><TD width=90>7 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- INLINE TABLE (END) -->
During his 12 years leading the Yankees, Torre has taken the Bronx Bombers to 12 consecutive playoff appearances.
"He's been good for us over the years," Steinbrenner acknowledged to the paper.
Steinbrenner also had some choice words about retiring veteran umpire Bruce Froemming and his decision to play through the late-game bug infestation during Friday's Game 2 extra-inning victory for the Indians.
"The umpire was full of [expletive]," Steinbrenner told the paper. "He won't umpire our games anymore."
Despite Steinbrenner's statement, team owners do not direct umpiring assignments.
The wide-ranging interview with The Bergen Record also touched on Alex Rodriguez's future and Steinbrenner's health.
"I think we'll re-sign him," Steinbrenner said of A-Rod. "I think he's going to have a good run the rest of the [postseason]. I think he realizes New York is the place to be, the place to play. A lot of this [postseason] is laying on his shoulders, you know, but I think he's up to it."
The 77-year-old owner, who told the paper he maintains full control over the Yankees, downplayed reports of his ill health.
"I'm doing all right," he told The Record. "I'm fine."
"His job is on the line," Steinbrenner told The Bergen 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 makes $7 million a season and is in the final year of his contract.
The Cleveland Indians lead the Yankees 2-0 in their American League Division Series.
In Sunday's Game 3 at Yankee Stadium, Roger Clemens will take the mound for New York while Jake Westbrook will start for Cleveland.
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.
<!-- INLINE TABLE (BEGIN) --><TABLE id=inlinetable cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=180 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TH style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000" colSpan=2>Teams Up 2-0
in Best-of-5 Series</TH><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width=90>Won in 3 games </TD><TD width=90>34 </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width=90>4 games </TD><TD width=100>8 </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width=90>5 games </TD><TD width=90>3</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width=90>Lost in 5 games </TD><TD width=90>7 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- INLINE TABLE (END) -->
During his 12 years leading the Yankees, Torre has taken the Bronx Bombers to 12 consecutive playoff appearances.
"He's been good for us over the years," Steinbrenner acknowledged to the paper.
Steinbrenner also had some choice words about retiring veteran umpire Bruce Froemming and his decision to play through the late-game bug infestation during Friday's Game 2 extra-inning victory for the Indians.
"The umpire was full of [expletive]," Steinbrenner told the paper. "He won't umpire our games anymore."
Despite Steinbrenner's statement, team owners do not direct umpiring assignments.
The wide-ranging interview with The Bergen Record also touched on Alex Rodriguez's future and Steinbrenner's health.
"I think we'll re-sign him," Steinbrenner said of A-Rod. "I think he's going to have a good run the rest of the [postseason]. I think he realizes New York is the place to be, the place to play. A lot of this [postseason] is laying on his shoulders, you know, but I think he's up to it."
The 77-year-old owner, who told the paper he maintains full control over the Yankees, downplayed reports of his ill health.
"I'm doing all right," he told The Record. "I'm fine."
