Torre has had a remarkable run with the Yankees

Joe Torre's Yankees have won four World Series -- but the last one was in 2000. Al Bello/Getty Images

World Series Coverage   Monday John Donovan: Rox, Sox built to last Albert Chen: Ellsbury an unlikely hero Joe Sheehan: Scenes, notes from clincher Red Sox celebrate World Series victory Sunday Sox clip Rockies 4-3 to win World Series John Donovan's Report Card for Game 4 Jon Heyman's 15 Greatest Mr. Octobers Lowell takes home Series MVP honors Dynasty in the making for Red Sox? Clock strikes midnight for Rockies' ride Time.com: Red Sox are the new Yankees Saturday Red Sox down Rockies 10-5, take 3-0 lead John Donovan's Report Card for Game 3 Tom Verducci: The Sox are superior John Donovan: The Coors Field factor Jon Heyman: Four keys to Game 3 Friday Melissa Segura: Corpas gets his wish John Donovan: Rockies' lumber slumber Jon Heyman: How the Sox got Beckett Joe Sheehan: Electric night at Fenway Thursday Schilling, bullpen shut down Rockies 2-1 John Donovan's Report Card for Game 2 Tom Verducci's five cuts for Thursday Albert Chen on the Red Sox's bullpen John Donovan: Rockies turn to a rookie Joe Sheehan: Postseason drama lacking Tale of the Tape: Rockies vs. Red Sox World Series Fungoes Joe Lemire on Rockies-Red Sox Schedule/Box Scores Game 1: Red Sox 13, Rockies 1 Game 2: Red Sox 2, Rockies 1 Game 3: Red Sox 10, Rockies 5 Game 4: Red Sox 4, Rockies 3

NEW YORK -- In his first 20 years as principal owner of the New York Yankees, George Steinbrenner hired and fired 21 managers, including Billy Martin five times. That Joe Torre has remained skipper for 12 full seasons under The Boss is an anomaly, a feat almost as remarkable as Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak.

But now, Torre's run as Yankee manager appears to be done. "I don't think we'd take him back if we don't win this series," Steinbrenner told the Bergen Record on Saturday.

The Indians beat the Yankees 6-4 on an unreasonably hot night in New York. The game lasted more than four hours, making Torre's last moments in a Yankee uniform long and uncomfortable. For the third straight year, the Yankees have not made it out of the first round. Torre's contract is up, and it looks as if his run has come to an end.

"This has been a great 12 years," Torre said after the game. "Whatever the hell happens from here on out, I'll look back on these 12 years with great, great pleasure."

"I don't think it's up to Joe," said Johnny Damon when asked if he thinks Torre will return. "I think Joe would love to come back."

Torre would like nothing more than to return. Can you blame him? When he came to the Yankees in 1996, Torre was considered a loser (this was before he became lovable). After being fired from St. Louis after the 1995, he didn't know if he would ever manage again. He was a baseball lifer, owner of the dubious distinction of being the man with the most games played and/or managed without ever having appeared in a World Series. The Daily News greeted his arrival with the headline, "Clueless Joe."

Torre went on to enjoy one of the most stunning streaks of winning in baseball history. He is a New York icon, and has been the public face of the Yankees for more than a decade, much to Steinbrenner's dismay. He is the lovable father figure that Steinbrenner could never be. Moreover, he's a native son.

Torre had more bargaining-power than any Yankee manager since 1973, and even Steinbrenner has been reluctant to play the role of the bad guy. But now, Torre, who let the Boss harass his coaches (Mel Stottlemyre and Don Zimmer) and tolerated being left to twist in the wind after the Yankees' first-round loss to the Tigers last year, has run out of luck.

"Joe was the perfect manager for a veteran team that needs to be left alone like the Yankees of the late '90s," says sportswriter Pat Jordan, who played minor league ball with Torre in the Braves organization during the early '60s. "His attitude is that the manager is best who manages least. But with some teams like the recent Yankees, who've had strengths and holes, he's needed to manage more, and that's something not in his nature."

Torre's Yankees have not won a championship in seven seasons. Recently, they have been overmatched by young, power arms in the postseason, and they have countered with the likes of Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens. Chien-Ming Wang, a 19-game winner in consecutive years, was far from an ace this October. The Yankees' lack of pitching has had little to do with the manager.

"The Yankees do not need him back," says Rich Lederer of The Baseball Analysts. "It is not out of line for his contract not to be renewed if the expectations are to win the division, pennant and World Series every year. But to blame the manager is silly."

"There is a lot of luck in a short series," Torre said. In his first six years with the Yankees, Torre's luck was almost unfathomably good. Now, that it has returned to normal, some of the shine is off of Torre's star, at least according to Steinbrenner.

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