The fate of New York skipper Joe Torre lies in the hands of the Yankees owner, George Steinbrenner. If the boss is true to his word then the manager of the Yankees will not be back for the 2008 season. Steinbrenner said anything less than a series win over the Cleveland Indians in the American League Divisional Series would cost Torre his job.

The Cleveland Indians eliminated the Yankees from the postseason with a 6-4 win Monday night in New York. The Yankess, who lost the series to the Indians 3-1, have been eliminated from the playoffs in the opening round each of the last three years.

Nearly everyone in New York wanted to know Tuesday whether owner George Steinbrenner will keep his longtime manager or let him go after 12 straight playoff appearances.

Torre’s players are very loyal to him and most voiced their opinions Monday night that he should be back on the bench for the 2008 season.

That sentiment was felt throughout the major leagues. Rival managers Terry Francona and Eric Wedge along with presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg voiced their support for Torre.

Torre lead the Yankees to 12 straight playoff appearance, five World Series appearances, and four World Championships. Steinbrenner would have to be an idiot to let someone go as good as Torre. Maybe the Boss will sometime learn that money don’t by championships anymore.

The leading candiates to replace Torre as manager of the Yankees for the 2008 season include: Don Mattingly, Tony La Russa, and Joe Girardi. 

Mattingly, a fan favorite and ex-Yankees captain, was Torre’s bench coach this year after previously serving as the team’s hitting instructor.

La Russa considered one of the best baseball minds in the game would be a nice fit in the Bronx. La Russa led the St. Louis Cardinals to the 2006 World Championship. His Cardinals swept the heavily favored Tigers in four games.

Girardi, a former Yankees catcher, spent a season as Torre’s bench coach before winning 2006 NL Manager of the Year for keeping the rookie-laden Florida Marlins in contention most of the way.

If Torre is not back with the Yankees and Joe Girardi gets the job it will be a severe blow to the Brewers in 2008 and beyond. Mark Attanaso laid an egg at the end of the season when he said Ned Yost will be back for his sixth season as manager of the Brewers.

Yost took what was an exciting and promising season and flushed it right down the toilet in front of the record fans that turned out at Miller Park this season. The Brewers had a francise record 8 1/2 game lead over the Chicago Cubs in the middle of the summer and what was suppose to be the Brewers return to the playoffs after a 25 year drought ended in disappointment.

Girardi, who almost led Florida to the playoffs in his only year as the manager of the Marlins, would have been a perfect fit for the young and talented Brewers. He did a great job with the young kids from Florida and would have inherited a much better team in Milwaukee.

The Brewers will come stumbling out of the blocks in 2008 and finally Attanaso will realize its time to get rid of Yost. By then it will be to late to get Girardi and the Brewers will be left with a retread like Dusty Baker and another season of promise ending in failure for the 26th consecutive year.