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)

With Steinbrenner in attendance, a cheering crowd chanted "Joe Torre! Joe Torre!" as the manager went to the mound twice in the eighth inning.

He made one final pitching change in a season full of uncertainty in that department, handing the ball to star closer Mariano Rivera before making that slow, familiar walk back to the dugout.

Torre's head stayed down, he never acknowledged the crowd. Maybe he just couldn't bear to do it.

"These fans are very special," Torre said. "You can feel their heartbeat."

Second to Joe McCarthy on the club's career wins list with a 1,173-767 regular-season record as a manager, Torre was almost always loyal, turning to his most trusted players in crucial situations.

Those players might have just gotten him fired.

Still, his voice shook a bit when Torre talked about how proud he was of his guys for digging out of a 21-29 hole this season.

Earning $7.5 million this year in the final season of his contract, the 67-year-old Torre hasn't decided whether he would want to return. But he seemed open to it in recent weeks.

Looks as though he won't get that chance, even though he is 76-47 in the postseason with New York.

New York's three consecutive first-round exits from the playoffs followed an unprecedented collapse in the 2004 AL championship series against rival Boston.

Still, would dismissing Torre after such success be fair? Or even wise?

Debatable, certainly.