Torre tries to get past Steinbrenner’s threat

NEW YORK -- Good morning, Joe Torre: I’m on the verge of firing you, and you can hear all about it from the media, not from me.

Nothing like pressure compounded by chaos, courtesy of New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. With his team one loss from playoff elimination, Steinbrenner chose not to rally behind his manager but to point the finger at him.

“It’s a regular day around here,” Yankees captain Derek Jeter said. “You’re from Los Angeles. It’s a regular day in New York.”

The Yankees won Sunday, but they must win the next two games to win this American League division series. Steinbrenner said his team had better rally to beat the Cleveland Indians or his manager was as good as gone.

“His job is on the line,” Steinbrenner told the Bergen (N.J.) Record in Sunday’s editions. “I think we’re paying him a lot of money. 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.”

Torre earns $7 million a year and his contract expires after the season. He laughed at the question of whether he might be safe if the Yankees win this series.

“Till next series, right?” Torre said.

In 13 seasons under Torre, the Yankees have won four World Series championships and never missed the playoffs. Yet, they are in danger of losing in the first round for the third consecutive year and failing to win the World Series for the seventh consecutive year.

“You’re comparing him to himself,” Jeter said. “Not too many managers have that resume.”

It has been widely speculated that Steinbrenner would not retain Torre if the Yankees did not reach the World Series, with Joe Girardi and Don Mattingly reportedly atop the list of possible replacements.

Torre declined to say whether he wanted to return next season.

Steinbrenner considered firing Torre last winter, but General Manager Brian Cashman talked him out of it. This is all part of this job, Torre said, a touch of weariness in his voice: Steinbrenner spends to win, and he erupts.

“I’m not saying you get used to it,” Torre said, “but it’s something you know you have to deal with.”

If Steinbrenner aimed to fire up players, his comments appeared to have little effect. They were scarcely discussed in the clubhouse, according to Jeter and pitcher Mike Mussina. Torre said no one talked about Steinbrenner’s remarks in the Yankees’ pregame meeting or on the bench during the game.

“He’s entitled to say what he has to say,” Jeter said.

“It’s not like we’re huddled around the mound talking about it.”

Said Torre: “My only concern is the ballclub. Not that everybody wants me back, I’m not saying that. But there’s enough pressure in this game right now than to pile on some other stuff. My sense is, they’re not there. I think everybody’s OK.”

Said Mussina: “I think Joe has done a tremendous job. This is a guy that took me out of the rotation, and I still speak very highly of him. . . . It’s not easy to do this, to play six months and still be one of the four teams left, and he’s done it 13 years in a row.

“I don’t know what more you can ask. I’d play for the guy any time.”

--

bill.shaikin@latimes.com