The Joe Torre Era Is Over In The Bronx

Joe Torre will not manage the Yankees in 2008.

Joe Torre is out as manager of the New York Yankees, rejecting a substantial pay cut after the team failed to make it past the first round of the playoffs for the third straight year.

Torre turned down a $5 million, one-year contract Thursday — $2.5 million less than he made last season.

Rather than put up with the indignity of a salary slap coupled with a performance-based contract, the man who led the Yankees to playoff appearances in all 12 years he managed, walked.

Most Yankees fans could see this day coming.

After losing the first two playoff games to Cleveland, owner George Steinbrenner said he didn't think Torre would be asked back if the Yankees didn't advance.

The 67-year-old Torre, who took over the team to start the 1996 season, made his decision after traveling from New York to the team's spring training complex in Tampa, Fla., and meeting with Steinbrenner, the owner's sons and top executives for about an hour. He was accompanied by Cashman and chief operating officer Lonn Trost.

New York's offer included $3 million in bonuses if the Yankees reached next year's World Series and an $8 million option for 2009 that would have become guaranteed if New York won the AL pennant.

Torre just completed a $19.2 million, three-year contract.

The Bronx now really Is Burning! Joe Torre is Outta Here, and with it, many of his players who were fiercely loyal to him may be out as well. A-Rod, Pettite, Posada, all vital players to the Yankees season, may all not come back to Yankee Stadium next season. If that is the case, the last posteason game to ever be played at "The House That Ruth Built" was that game four loss to the Indians. The Yankees will not make the playoffs next season. If all of their free agents don't come back, There is no way they will.

Truth be told, though, could you blame Joe Torre for walking away? He was getting less money, and it was only for a single year. Add to that the fact that he gets treated like he has no idea what he is doing whenever they lose, and I can understand why he would walk away. It's unbelievable to me how badly Joe was treated in New York! The guy has four World Series Championships(1996,1998, 1999, 2000) and two more appearances in the Fall Classic (2001, 2003), but he still got treated like he had no idea what he was doing! Joe didn't want to get treated badly anymore. That's why he walked away.

Who could replace Joe Torre as Yankee Manager? Tony La Russa, Joe Girardi, and Don Mattingly have all been offered as possiblities to replace him.

Don't forget about Game five of the American League Championship Series tonight on Fox. Josh Beckett pitches for the Red Sox in a must win game for them. C.C. Sabathia is on the mound for the Inidans tonight, and if they win, Cleveland wins the American League Pennant and faces the Colorado Rockies in the World Series.