Yankees Playoff Exit May End Torre Era

New York Yankees manager Joe Torre watches from the dugout against the Cleveland Indians during Game 4 of an American League Division Series baseball game Monday, Oct. 8, 2007 at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) (Kathy Willens - AP)

NEW YORK -- Joe Torre sat quietly in his favorite spot on the bench, stomach churning, eyes fixed low under that navy blue New York Yankees cap.

He's probably headed to the Hall of Fame, Monument Park, every baseball pantheon there is.

Today, though, Torre might be a man without a job.

After 12 playoff appearances in 12 seasons, Torre may have managed his final game for the Yankees when they were knocked out of the playoffs in a 6-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians on Monday night.

"The 12 years just felt like they were 10 minutes long, to be honest with you," Torre said afterward.

Reverting to his blustering ways, demanding owner George Steinbrenner said he probably wouldn't bring Torre back unless New York rallied from an 0-2 deficit to win the best-of-five series.

"His job is on the line," Steinbrenner was quoted in Sunday's editions of The Record of New Jersey. "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."

The Yankees saved their season _ and perhaps Torre's job _ by overcoming a three-run deficit Sunday to win Game 3.

They couldn't do it again in Game 4, eliminated in the first round for the third straight year despite a $215 million payroll.

Now, it feels like the end of an era in New York.

"This has been a great 12 years, whatever the hell happens from here on out," Torre said. "I'll look back on these 12 years with great, great pleasure based on the fact I'm a kid who had never been to the World Series other than watching my brother play in the '50s.

"To have been in six World Series and going to postseason, I can tell you one thing, it never gets old," he added.