Torre story: 'How many chances?'

Joe Torre rallied the troops for a Game 3 victory on Sunday, but the drama is far from over. Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

George Steinbrenner's loud and angry comments regarding Joe Torre's tenuous status did not surprise anyone within the Yankees hierarchy in that they understood that to be his thinking already. What did catch them off guard was that he spoke aloud at all, which he hadn't done for months.

Yankees people described Steinbrenner's pointed remarks -- including the one about Torre's job being "on the line," as what they've known all along (it was even said in this space last Friday that Torre would be in trouble with a first-round exit) and some other Yankees people even agree. Torre's a future Hall of Fame manager with four rings, but the team has spent about a billion dollars since its last World Series title, and one other top Yankees official remarked, "How many chances does he get?"

Torre surely had to have a strong suspicion that he was managing for his job since Steinbrenner declined to discuss an extension after Torre arranged a lunch meeting late in the year at Legends Field in Tampa. Yet, in telling the Bergen Record in the surprise interview that Torre's job is "on the line" and suggesting that if the Yankees don't make it past Cleveland, he'll probably go ("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"), in a way he actually may have given Torre some additional hope to stay.

While it's clear to Yankees employees that Steinbrenner has been itching to fire Torre for a few years, his public challenge only mentioned the Yankees' current series. So if Torre's Yankees can get past the Indians, and their 8-4 Game 3 victory on Sunday night gives them a chance, Torre may have a chance, too -- though one Yankees person said he believed Steinbrenner still might pull the plug if they lose "ugly" in the ALCS to the rival Red Sox.

Still, just winning twice more over the impressive Indians isn't going to be a cakewalk. And if they do not win one of the next two, Yankees people do not envision a change of heart for Steinbrenner, who is said to be livelier and more like his old self in recent days.

If Cleveland wins, a change of managers is a near-certainty. And then the intrigue really begins.

Heir to the throne?

Speculation over a successor to Torre is starting up now. Some on the inside view bench coach Don Mattingly as the clear favorite over the more experienced Joe Girardi. However, a managerial search can't be ruled out.

If Steinbrenner is as in charge and as with it as his remarks suggested (he certainly didn't sound like the vegetable he was portrayed as in a magazine article a few months ago), Mattingly, a Yankee icon, would be viewed as the leading contender despite his nonexistent managing experience and role in recent years as a coach on Torre's staff. Steinbrenner has strong and positive feelings for Mattingly.

Ex-Yankee Girardi could still be in the mix, though, and the NL Manager of the Year with Florida is believed to be favored by some in the Yankees' brass, including the "baseball people" (a.k.a. Brian Cashman and his staff), and new son-in-law Felix Lopez. However, it's also possible that Girardi's close ties with Don Zimmer, who's been childishly attacking Steinbrenner since he left, could hurt him.

If the search expands, two other candidates could include Bobby Valentine, who was a pennant winner with the Mets and a champion in Japan and is liked by both general manager Cashman and Steinbrenner, and Tony La Russa, the type of marquee name that has attracted Steinbrenner in the past. La Russa's situation is unsettled in St. Louis, especially after the dismissal of general manager Walt Jocketty. Some believe La Russa, who has changed jobs every decade or so, might jump at the chance to go to the Yankees, who'd certainly be able to pay him after spending a record $7 million on Torre this year.

Wedge's call no edge for Indians

Indians manager Eric Wedge is sticking to his plan, by golly. And from here his plan has a hole in it.

Wedge's plan is to pitch OK veteran Paul Byrd in Game 4 on Monday night, then come back with ace C.C. Sabathia in Game 5 on Wednesday. The plan really should be Sabathia on short rest in Game 4, followed by the dynamic Fausto Carmona in Game 5 on Wednesday, which would still be full rest for him. Sure, three days' rest is a risk to derail Sabathia's game. But that way, they'd have a better pitcher going in each of the next two games.

"Sabathia's 6-foot-7, 270 pounds, and he's 27," one AL executive said. "There's no reason he shouldn't be able to do it."

"I'd be ready," Sabathia said, "But Byrdie's a veteran. He's been in the postseason, and he deserves to start the way he's pitched this season."

Around the Majors

• MLB is losing millions with the small-market success in the Division Series -- not to mention the quick endings. But I don't care. The Diamondbacks and Rockies are great stories.

• The Indians are impressive, better than I thought. But one scout said "they look a little shaky at short and second."

• Ignoring the bugs, Mariano Rivera had a "vintage Mariano" performance in Game 2, according to a scout. He wasn't bad in Game 3, either.

• Jorge Posada has been brilliant offensively, but scouts say he's been having trouble blocking balls all year.

• Indians coach Joel Skinner is said to be "extremely well-respected" by new Pirates GM Neal Huntington and is seen as a favorite to become Pittsburgh's manager.

• Jim Duquette may join Huntington's front office after recently escaping the Orioles' cesspool.

• If the Tigers don't exercise Pudge Rodriguez's $13 million option, and it's believed the baseball people would rather buy him out for $3 million, they could move third baseman Brandon Inge to catcher.

• Tom Glavine, who just turned down a $13 million option to stay with the Mets, is likely to choose between the Braves and retirement.

• It's been reported that Charlie Manuel's getting two more years from the Phils. Heaven help them.

• Tough times: A freelance photog was fired by the YES Network after he accidentally fell on Doug Mientkiewicz, injuring his ankle. Meanwhile, Brady Clark, who misplayed a few balls in the Padres' 9-8 season-ending defeat to the red-hot Rockies, was released without fanfare.

• Schilling is great in the postseason, whether he's playing for the Red Sox or in red socks.