Was this the end of the Joe Torre era in the Bronx?

Joe Torre and Mariano Rivera may both not be back in pinstripes next season.

The New York Yankees are making a dangerous move. George Steinbrenner may soon announce the firing of Joe Torre as Yankee Manager due to another first round playoff exit. If Joe Torre leaves, a whole lot of Current Yankees who next season may be reguarded as former Yankees. Mariano Rivera, Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettite, and Jorge Posada are some of the big names who may not be back with the Yankees Next season, and some of it (at least) depends on whether or not Joe Torre comes back as Yankee Manager.

If George Steinbrenner stays true to his word, and Torre is fired, who will replace him? Tony La Russa lat week was asking his coaches if any of them would want to move with him should another job become available. Tony LaRussa will not say whether or not he will return to St. Louis because he wants to see how the situation plays out in New York. Joe Girardi, who led a Florida Marlins club many people thought would lose 100 games, to the playoff hunt until the final week of the season in 2006. Girardi has been broadcasting since then, and he turned down the Baltimore Orioles job when it became available. Yankees Bench Coach Don Mattingly and former Mets Manager Bobby Valentine have also been hinted as possibilities.

All of these names sound good, but the one that sounds the best is, without question, Joe Torre. Torre has led the Yankees to the postseason 13 straight times, and led the Yankees to four World Series titles. The Yankees run the risk of splitting the clubhouse and talent they want to resign (Rivera, Posada, A-Rod) may go elsewhere if Torre is fired.

If this was the end of the Joe Torre era in The Bronx, it will the end of an era to many other Yankees who are fiercely loyal to Joe Torre.