JOE TORRE - STAY OR GO? JOE TORRE - STAY OR GO? FRENZY IN THE BRONX FRENZY IN THE BRONX Torre waits: Yanks brass to discuss manager Whither A-Rod: Where's he headed? Questions abound: What next for Yankees? Commentary: Saraceno says it's just business | Bodley on the Torre watch | Lopresti believesTorre deserves better Digg



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Facebook NEW YORK  Joe Torre sat at the podium and considered question after question about his future. For the third consecutive year, his New York Yankees lost in the Division Series, this time to the upstart Cleveland Indians 8-4 in Game 4 on Monday night at Yankee Stadium. But this year's disappointment is different. George Steinbrenner, in a surprising return to his trademark bluster, told The Record of Hackensack, N.J., on Saturday that Torre's future as the Yankees manager was "on the line" in this series. Well, the Torre Watch is officially on. "Whatever the hell happens from here on out, I'll look back on these 12 years with great, great pleasure," Torre said. The future Hall of Famer appeared choked up during his postgame press conference, but it was unclear if it was because of another lost season or because Torre senses the end has arrived. "This is all speculation," shortstop Derek Jeter said. "There will be changes, but right now I'm not even thinking about next year." But it is time to think about next year. A major retooling of this sputtering $200 million model must take place during the offseason. No longer can the Yankees merely tweak the team. Difficult decisions must be made, and by the time spring training begins in February in Tampa many familiar faces will be gone. Third baseman Alex Rodriguez will likely opt out of his contract. Closer Mariano Rivera and catcher Jorge Posada will be free agents with the mileage piling up at ages 36 and 38, respectively, next opening day. Left-hander Andy Pettitte holds a $16 million option, and the Yankees have a $16 million option for outfielder Bobby Abreu. Roger Clemens is 45 and may have thrown the last pitch in his amazing career on Sunday. But Torre's status will set the tone. 'George is the boss' Torre, the highest-paid manager in the history of baseball at $7 million this year, hung by a thread last October after the Detroit Tigers eliminated the Yankees but after twisting in the wind for a few days was brought back. He was then told by the Boss, in so many words, he had to win this year. "George is the boss and has been great to work for all these years," Torre said Sunday. "He's certainly given me the players; he's not shy about spending money. You've seen managers who've been here before me. I don't think any of them have been on easy street. Whether I think it's right, wrong, fair or foul is not the point. I'll save all that stuff for later on when there's really nothing left for me to do here and deal with it." Torre has never done a better job than this year. On May 29 in Toronto the Yankees were 21-29 after Aaron Hill stole home to beat Pettitte. Torre refused to let them pack it in. Instead, with general manager Brian Cashman filling in some key pitching spots from the minor leagues, they were able to push the Boston Red Sox, who at one stage were running away with the East Division title. The Yankees, at 94-68, ended with the third-best record in the majors. Only Boston and Cleveland, both 96-66, were better. But when you wear Yankee pinstripes nothing counts but October. Torre has taken the Yankees to the postseason every year since he became manager in 1996, won four of six World Series beginning in 1996, but the rub is they haven't won since 2000 and haven't been there since 2003. Before Sunday's game Torre said, "We certainly need to find out what we're made of." The answer is obvious. This team, as it's presently constructed, is not good enough to play the kind of October baseball Steinbrenner and Yankees fans demand. Time for Torre to walk away As the trading deadline neared in July, Cashman resisted the temptation for quick fixes, standing firm and refusing to trade away some of the team's best minor leaguers. Had it not been for the likes of young reliever Joba Chamberlain, starter Phil Hughes and others, the Yankees might not have righted themselves. Now, the Yankees need to undergo their biggest reconstruction since Torre's reign began. But as great as Torre has been, he should walk away and decline to be a part of this next wave. He deserves to be out from under the constant scrutiny and pressure. And a retooling of the team could be unpleasant as we witnessed earlier this season when some of the youngsters were forced to take over. Torre talked about Hughes and Chamberlain on Monday night as though he won't be a part of their future. He said he was going to go home and decompress. Here's hoping he and the Yankees recognize what needs to be done. Share this story: Digg del.icio.us Newsvine Reddit Facebook Conversation guidelines: USA TODAY welcomes your thoughts, stories and information related to this article. Please stay on topic and be respectful of others. Keep the conversation appropriate for interested readers across the map.