Torre story: Can anyone pull the plug?

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The Yankees begin their two-day meeting on Monday night in Tampa, where they will decide whether to fire Joe Torre or keep him, then figure out how much to offer not only Alex Rodriguez but also Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada.

The Torre call has an interesting dynamic. While there appear to be very few, if any, voices in support of him within the upper reaches of the club hierarchy, people in the organization are starting to wonder whether anyone will have the courage to fire a legend for one of a few reasons: 1) They don't want to upset the players (and fans); 2) they aren't sure the likely replacement, Don Mattingly, is ready, and; 3) they wonder about Torre going elsewhere and succeeding.

The Yankees' top decisionmakers are saying that they doubt the players will allow the Torre call to impact their decisions. While it's nice of the players to support Torre, Torre never seemed to get too worked up when his coaches were fired. Although, as one Yankees observer noted, "He did say something when they fired Roy White. Roy is very good at picking horses.''

Yankees people are saying, officially, that it's still George Steinbrenner's call. But many in the know believe that sons Hank and Hal, who will officially be getting the reins at the meeting, might really be the keys. The big question is: Will the new bosses resemble the old Boss?

Around the Majors

• The Yankees remain confident that they'll be able to keep Rivera and Posada, and they aren't expected to skimp in their pursuit of either. Word is, the Yankees are likely to offer a three-year deal to Rivera for about $40 million, which would put a little distance between him and the Mets' Billy Wagner, who's the second highest-paid closer.

• I don't want to hear a peep from Roger Clemens until he tells us he's retiring or returning. Until then, it's just a goof. I don't usually tell someone when to retire, but four years after he first retired, it is time for Clemens to hang 'em up.

• Barry Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, says he would be surprised "if the league leader in on-base percentage and OPS" (yes, it was Bonds, at. 480 and 1.045 -- although technically he didn't quite have the plate appearances to qualify) didn't get a job. Two GMs concur. If not, don't rule out Japan. Bonds loved his baseball trips over there, and the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks could be a team to pursue him, according to Japanese sources.

• Mets people may not be ruling out Tom Glavine. But people close to Glavine think he's probably ruling them out after rejecting a $13 million option to stay. Which likely leaves the Braves and retirement as his top two choices.

• It's not only the Rockies who are calm. How about Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin, who's done a masterful job and deserves the NL Manager of the Year award? Although maybe he should get out of the dugout to argue every once in awhile. Shortstop Stephen Drew actually had Kaz Matsui out by a quarter step on a slow grounder on Sunday night, but Melvin didn't quibble when first base umpire Tom Hallion called Matsui safe.

• Melvin is taking the relaxed approach with his rotation, too. He could have come back in Monday night's Game 4 with the one pitcher to beat the Rockies since Sept. 16, Brandon Webb, but will instead employ rookie Micah Owings. That decision was made before the D'backs went down 3-zip, and Webb threw a side session before Game 3. Webb said, "I think I'd be all right.'' Either way, the D-Backs appear caught between a rock and a hard place.