Report: Mattingly tells Yankees he's not ready to manage
As Joe Torre's future as Yankees manager hangs in the balance, his bench coach reportedly has told the Bronx Bombers that he's not ready to replace Torre in the hot seat.
A friend of Don Mattingly told the Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., that the Yankees bench coach has informed the Yankees that he's not ready to manage and is uncomfortable with replacing Torre as manager.
Torre's status for next season will be decided during discussions starting on Tuesday morning in Tampa, Fla. George Steinbrenner is expected to attend the meetings along with sons Hal and Hank; son-in-law Felix Lopez; team president Randy Levine; chief operating officer Lonn Trost; and general manager Brian Cashman.
George Steinbrenner said last weekend that he didn't think the Yankees would keep Torre if the team failed to advance from its first-round series with Cleveland. New York was later eliminated in four games by the Indians, the Yankees' third straight opening-round exit, but Steinbrenner has been silent on Torre's fate since. Torre has led New York to the playoffs in all 12 of his seasons and has won four World Series titles.
The New York Post first reported Sunday that Hank and Hal Steinbrenner have taken over the daily running of the team.
Hank Steinbrenner told the Post that he will share final say on team decisions with his brother Hal but Hank will apparently focus more on the baseball side of the business. Hal Steinbrenner will focus more on the construction of the new Yankee Stadium, which is scheduled to open in 2009.
"There's always been a succession -- and that's myself and my brother," Hank Steinbrenner told the paper.
Levine told The Associated Press on Sunday night, however, that George Steinbrenner, 77, will still have the final say on Torre.
"He's still the boss. He's acting like the chairman of a major company," he said. "As in many other instances in major league baseball, his kids have stepped up and are devoting a lot of time on the day-to-day running of the team."
If Torre isn't brought back, Mattingly has been considered the leading contender to take over. Yankees broadcaster Joe Girardi, who won NL Manager of the Year with the Florida Marlins in 2006, and Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, who hasn't decided if he will return to St. Louis, are other often-mentioned possibilities.
