After reports that the New York Yankees front office would make a decision as to who will manage the team in 2008 today, it turns out everyone will have to wait.The organization has put off finalizing the managerial spot until the conclusion of the World Series, which could be over by Sunday night based on Boston's two convincing victories over the Rockies.
As of now, three people are in the running for manager: Yankees bench coach Don Mattingly, 2006 N.L. Manager of the Year and former Yankee catcher Joe Girardi, and Yankee first base coach and 2003 A.L. Manager of the Year Tony Pena. It's not bad having two former Mangers of the Year as candidates, but the fact of the matter is that the Yankees shouldn't even be making this decision.
By making an offer they knew he'd refuse, the Yankees essentially cut loose one of the greatest Yankees managers of all time in Joe Torre. His success runs parallel to managerial greats like Casey Stengel and Joe McCarthy, and for the Yankees to give him the boot may very well have triggered the end of their current success.
No other manager in the Steinbrenner era has kept the team in such a consistent state, keeping problems in the clubhouse and out of the papers. There's no doubt this ability was a big factor in the Yankees' 12 consecutive postseason appearances under Torre, and I believe whoever is running the show now took that for granted when they made their 'offer' to him.
The decision could also significantly affect the composition of the team next year, as catcher Jorge Posada and closer Mariano Rivera, both free agents, were extremely close to Torre. With Torre gone, it is entirely possible for both Posada and Rivera to part ways with the organization they've called home for their entire careers. Left-handed pitcher Andy Pettitte, who already left the team once for Houston, has a player option for 2008, and could very well leave for a second time with Joe no longer at the helm.
If everything goes wrong, the Yankees' may end up looking for more than just a manager this offseason. The fact of the matter is that Torre held this team together for 12 seasons, and while many players came and went, the Yankees could always count on their home-grown boys: Posada, Rivera and Derek Jeter. On Opening Day 2008, Jeter might be the only one remaining.
Some might say the Yankees Dynasty was at the beginning of the end when Luis Gonzalez hit a broken-bat single over Jeter's head to win the 2001 World Series. It took six years, but I think it's safe to say it's foundation has been eradicated.
Steve Duby
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