Post by LARRY on Oct 7, 2007 16:18:50 GMT -5
Memo to Joe Torre: You've been warned.
Owner George Steinbrenner delivered a stern message for the Yankee manager yesterday, saying Torre most likely would not keep his job unless the Yanks overcome their deficit against the Cleveland Indians and reach the AL Championship series.
"His job is on the line," Steinbrenner was quoted in Sunday's editions of 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 is being paid $7 million this year and is in the final year of his contract.
Steinbrenner also had harsh words for umpire Bruce Froemming for not stopping play during Friday's freak insect swarm during Game 2 in Cleveland. Rookie reliever Joba Chamberlain threw two wild pitches that allowed Cleveland to tie the game in the eighth, and the Indians went on to win 2-1 in 11 innings.
Froemming called it "just a little irritation." Steinbrenner dismissed Froemming's explanation.
"He won't umpire our games anymore," Steinbrenner said.
The Yankees put in a complaint to baseball commissioner Bud Selig over the incident.
"[Selig] just said, 'That's in the umpires' hands.' ... It was terrible. It messed up the whole team, (Derek) Jeter, all of them," Steinbrenner told the Record.
In the interview, Steinbrenner also predicted Alex Rodriguez will remain with the team.
"I think we'll re-sign him," Steinbrenner told the paper. "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 Steinbrenner dismissed speculation about his health, saying he will make the decisions on Torre and Rodriguez.
"I have full control," Steinbrenner said.
Owner George Steinbrenner delivered a stern message for the Yankee manager yesterday, saying Torre most likely would not keep his job unless the Yanks overcome their deficit against the Cleveland Indians and reach the AL Championship series.
"His job is on the line," Steinbrenner was quoted in Sunday's editions of 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 is being paid $7 million this year and is in the final year of his contract.
Steinbrenner also had harsh words for umpire Bruce Froemming for not stopping play during Friday's freak insect swarm during Game 2 in Cleveland. Rookie reliever Joba Chamberlain threw two wild pitches that allowed Cleveland to tie the game in the eighth, and the Indians went on to win 2-1 in 11 innings.
Froemming called it "just a little irritation." Steinbrenner dismissed Froemming's explanation.
"He won't umpire our games anymore," Steinbrenner said.
The Yankees put in a complaint to baseball commissioner Bud Selig over the incident.
"[Selig] just said, 'That's in the umpires' hands.' ... It was terrible. It messed up the whole team, (Derek) Jeter, all of them," Steinbrenner told the Record.
In the interview, Steinbrenner also predicted Alex Rodriguez will remain with the team.
"I think we'll re-sign him," Steinbrenner told the paper. "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 Steinbrenner dismissed speculation about his health, saying he will make the decisions on Torre and Rodriguez.
"I have full control," Steinbrenner said.
