Mr. Torre

Torre, as usual, comes out of this with his dignity intact, while the Yankees organization just looks rudderless. Madam Cura and I agree that there was no way Torre would have accepted a cut in pay and a one year deal. And an incentive-laden contract wouldn't have appealed to him. That's just not the way he operates. His teams have won because they win, not because they get an additional million if they make the playoffs.

Don't be surprised, though, if after the Yankees look around the field of possible replacements, they come back to Joe.

But right now, the Yankees don't have a manager, a third baseman, a catcher, or a closer. It's going to be an interesting off-season. It's going to be an interesting 2008 season.