Joe Torre next Mets' manager?

On Saturday, George Steinbrenner told that world that Joe Torre's job was at risk if he didn't have more post-season success this year than he's had in the recent past. Well, the Yankees lost yesterday. They've also lost 13 of theirs last 17 post-season games and haven't advanced to the World Series since 2000, a Series they won.

So despite the fact that Torre's taken Steinbrenner's team to the playoffs each of the 12 years he's managed it and averaged 98 wins a year starting with the 2001 season, his future's now in jeopardy.

If Steinbrenner fires Torre, the Mets should hire him. Fast!

Unfortunately, that's not likely to happen. Mets ownership is too willing to let Omar Minaya roll the dices on those kinds of decisions, and Minaya's dice are loaded.

Steinbrenner has what Mets owners need

Mets ownership could learn a lot from Yankees owner George Steinbrenner on how to run a ball club.

On Saturday good ol' George told The Record of New Jersey, "I don't think we'd take him [Joe Torre] back if we don't win this series." At the time the Yankees were trailing the Indians in their first-round AL playoff series by two games to one.

That's the kind of straight talk that the Mets need rather than the "puff piece" that its owners had their media relations people issue about the team's disastrous 2007 season.

A day after Steinbrenner made his statement, the Yankees beat the Indians 8-4 to force a fourth game.