Torre’s future hot topic in NY
Joe Torre was absent Sunday. Alex Rodriguez, too. And the New York Yankees made no announcement about changing managers.
While several players and coaches packed up in a quiet clubhouse, Day 1 of what figures to be a wild offseason in Yankeeland provided few definitive answers.
Torre still has his job – for now. Hours after New York was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs again, the Daily News reported Sunday that demanding owner George Steinbrenner was likely to fire his longtime manager and replace him with old favorite Lou Piniella.
The Boss issued a pointed statement, calling the result “absolutely not acceptable” and “a sad failure.” But he had not yet consulted with Yankees executives about any change.
Piniella, in San Francisco while preparing to call the A.L. championship series on FOX, told the network he hadn’t talked to the Yankees and was “stunned” by the report.
Torre’s fate, however, is far from the only big question facing the $200 million Yankees after they lost the A.L. division series to Detroit on Saturday. There also is speculation the team would like to get rid of Rodriguez, a postseason bust again this October.
The two-time MVP went 1 for 14 during the four-game loss to the Tigers, making Rodriguez 4 for 41 (.098) without an RBI in his last 12 postseason games – and he is yet to reach the World Series.
But if the Yankees want to ship him out of town, Rodriguez would have to waive his no-trade clause for a deal to be completed.
Rodriguez wasn’t the only star on a star-laden team that struggled mightily against the Tigers – and there could be plenty of changes in the Bronx before next season. Gary Sheffield, Mike Mussina and Bernie Williams could all become free agents.
As for Torre, he has guided the Yankees to the playoffs in all 11 seasons of his tenure – including nine straight A.L. East titles.
The 66-year-old Torre has one year and $7 million left on his contract.
Loaiza to start game two
Ten of Oakland’s top decision makers held a closed-door meeting in the manager’s office and cast their votes on who should start for the Athletics in Game 2 of the A.L. championship series – Rich Harden or Esteban Loaiza.
The tally: Harden 5, Loaiza 5.
Loaiza won the tiebreaker based on his health, recent results and reliability. Harden has only pitched three times since missing more than three months with an elbow injury.
As expected, the A’s named left-hander Barry Zito the starter for Game 1 on Tuesday night in the Coliseum against the wild card Detroit Tigers.
Loaiza will pitch Wednesday.
Laughing stock no more
Three years after listening to all the jokes during the Tigers’ 119-loss season, Jeremy Bonderman, Craig Monroe and Brandon Inge helped get Detroit back into the A.L. championship series for the first time since 1987.
After beating the Yankees, Tigers players took a victory lap, spraying champagne on the fans who endured 12 consecutive losing seasons before this year’s turnaround.
Detroit finished the regular season with 95 wins, two more than the Athletics, but Oakland gets home- field advantage as a division winner.
Mets rule the Big Apple
The other New York baseball team is playing into late October this year. While there’s turmoil in the Bronx following the Yankees’ first-round elimination, the Mets will be playing St. Louis in the N.L. championship series starting Wednesday.
For the first time since 1988, the Mets will be ending their season after the Yankees, who have dominated the New York baseball scene for the past decade. In 2000, when they met in a Subway Series, the Yankees won in five games.