Another season. Another poor start. Another epic comeback. Another trip to the playoffs. Another first round exit. And, after another disappointing, depressing, and disgusting early exit from the playoffs, there are another set of questions floating around the Bronx that have to do with the future of Torre, A-Rod, Mo, Posada, Clemens, and Pettite. And this time, these questions will be answered by the wrath of the Boss himself. He wants results, and he isn’t getting them. Therefore, he will make changes. Drastic changes. And it starts with the manager. Torre has compiled a .604 winning percentage during his twelve years with the Yankees. He has guided his team to four World Championships. But it has been eight years since the Yankees have delivered a title to their now impatient and upset fans. It is time for change. Joe Torre should be fired.

Even though Torre has been one of the most successful managers in baseball history, he has diminished over the past few seasons. Yes, the Yankees are making the playoffs. Yes, they are posting 95 win seasons. But it seems that the team who wins all those games in the regular seasons, can’t get it done in the playoffs. The Yankees have not made it to the World Series since 2003, when the Florida Marlins beat them in 6 games. They haven’t won the World Series since 2000. Most recently, in 2007, New York was beat by the Cleveland Indians in four games.

And while making the playoffs would be a miracle for teams like the Royals and Pirates, it has become commonplace under Torre. When the Yankees were back 14.5 games on the Red Sox during the season, and there was speculation that they wouldn’t make a 13th straight trip to the postseason (12th straight under Torre), Yankee nation and baseball nation, for that matter, were shocked. The Yankees not playing October baseball? It just doesn’t happen. The Yankees are always in the playoffs. And while Torre has been able to build this reputation for his team, making the playoffs just isn’t good enough for the Yankees, their fans, and their Boss now a days. Results are not only expected during the season, but also during the postseason.

Torre is a passive and conservative manager who doesn’t have the fiery style that Lou Piniella and Bobby Cox do. While there is nothing wrong with being a passive manager, Joe’s style doesn’t fit the Yankees any more. The Yankees need a fiery, aggressive manager who won’t be afraid to get in A-Rod’s face when he is doing poorly. One who won’t be afraid to storm out of the dugout and argue a call. The Yankees need a manager who isn’t afraid to yell and scream in the locker room after a poorly played game. The Yankees, after all, are the most talented team in baseball. They have the best lineup in baseball and have a solid pitching staff and bullpen. So, how is the best offensive team in baseball over the past three seasons only able score 42 runs in their past 13 postseason games? That’s an average around 3 runs per game! For the best offensive team in baseball, that is unacceptable. Torre has lost his ability to combine the Yankees talent with a will to win. While we don’t know what goes on in the locker room behind closed doors, it seems as though the Yankees are not mentally prepared during playoff games. The Yankees need a manager who will walk around the dugout during games, yelling at players who aren’t performing and encouraging players who are producing. It has been twelve years, and his time in New York is up.