Torre’s decision is topic of the day

CLEVELAND -- Managers Eric Wedge of the Indians and Terry Francona of the Red Sox were more than willing to discuss Thursday’s news regarding Joe Torre -- to a point.

The first two questions of Francona’s media session before Game 5 were about Torre’s decision to turn down a one-year, $5-million deal to return as manager of the New York Yankees.

After a question about closer Jonathan Papelbon and another about the Red Sox offense, the topic turned back to Torre and whether Francona would reach out to his now-former archrival with a phone call.

“This is sort of a big day for us to try to win this game,” said Francona, whose team was on the verge of elimination Thursday, down 3-1 in the series. “There’s time for . . . this probably isn’t the time for . . . we need to try to win this game tonight or I might be getting phone calls. Joe might be calling me.”

Wedge said he had “a great deal of respect for [Torre] as a human being as well as a baseball man, and with what he’s accomplished, I think that he should manage as long as he wants to manage.

“I know there’s a business side of it, but from what I understand, for him to look at that [offer] and say no, good for him. You know what? He’s earned and deserves to do whatever the hell he wants to do.”

Jim Leyritz, a catcher on Torre’s first World Series championship team in 1996, was surprised that Torre, who took the Yankees to the playoffs in each of his 12 years as manager, turned down a deal that would have paid $8 million if he and the team reached the World Series in 2008.

“I thought a one-year, rocking-chair tour would have been a good way to send him out and for him to walk into the sunset,” said Leyritz, who is working the ALCS for Fox and MLB.com.

What about Torre’s successor?

“To me, there’s only one logical choice, Don Mattingly,” Leyritz said, referring to the former first baseman and current Yankees bench coach. “He’s the only guy with the star power, and they’ve been grooming him to do that.

“He can deal with the media, the other things that go with it. As far as knowing the game, managing the game, Donnie is ready for it. There’s no other choice, unless they surprise you like they always do.”

Francona was concerned about Torre’s personal well being.

“I think you’re going to hear people in every area of baseball say very kind, respectful things about Joe the next couple days, and they’re all deserved,” he said. “I just hope he’s happy.”

Manny Ramirez’s first-inning double Thursday night gave the Red Sox slugger hits in 15 consecutive league championship series games, tying Pete Rose’s record, set from 1973 to 83. . . . Kenny Lofton’s stolen base in Game 4 gave the Cleveland outfielder 34 postseason stolen bases, breaking Rickey Henderson’s record.

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com