Torre in a familiar place ... twisting in the wind

A decision on the fate of Joe Torre has been delayed, according to the AP, and the New York Post reported today that Torre might come back if the Steinbrenners (that's right, apparently George's sons are getting some input these days) can't agree on a successor and if Torre is willing to take a cut in pay from the $7 million he made this season.
Torre's bloated salary (next-highest paid managers in the Major Leagues, according to the Post, are Cubs manager Lou Piniella at $3.5 million, the Braves' Bobby Cox at $3 million, the Cardinals' Tony LaRussa at $2.8 million and the Angels' Mike Scioscia and Tigers' Jim Leyland, at $2 million each) matches the Yankees' bloated payroll, but could be even more reason to cut him loose. They're paying bigtime for the players that should get a team to the World Series, and they're paying their manager twice what any other manager makes, again, to get them to the World Series.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox take the field at Fenway for the start of the American League Championship Series tonight, and the Yankees won't be there. Reflect on that, George.

The master motivator

George Steinbrenner broke out of his unusual silent streak of 2007 to say that Joe Torre will be fired if the Yankees don't win the game tonight.
Oh, it warms the heart, doesn't it? Isn't it good to have the old George back?

The son-in-law officially gone

NEW YORK (AP) - The Yankees have completed their buyout of Stephen Swindal, once George Steinbrenner's designated successor as the team's boss.
Jennifer Steinbrenner, one of the owner's daughters, filed for divorce from Swindal in March, a month after her husband was arrested early on Feb. 15 and charged with driving under the influence.
Swindal was a Yankees general partner and chairman of Yankee Global Enterprises LLC, the holding company for the team and its stake in the YES Network.
Hal Steinbrenner, one of the owner's sons, succeeded Swindal on Friday as chairman on Yankee Global Enterprises, a sign of his increased influence in the team's operations. Hal Steinbrenner also is a director of YES and chief executive officer of Steinbrenner Hotel Properties.
Hank Steinbrenner, the owner's other son, also has worked for the Yankees.
Felix Lopez, a Yankees senior vice president, joined the board of Yankee Global Enterprises. He is married to Jessica Steinbrenner, the owner's other daughter.

Where's George?

Who's in charge in the Yankees organization these days? Is anyone in charge?

Has the aging George Steinbrenner finally lost his marbles, as has been reported in various press outlets?

In years past, a loss like last night's 18-9 smackdown in Anaheim, not to mention the Yankees getting off to a miserable start early in the season, would have prompted an "I'm disappointed in this team" decree from King George.

Or even a good firing or two.

Apparently the Yankees owner has lost his touch, or is just too out of it to be involved in the management of the team anymore.

What other explanation could there be for this silence?

And what happens if Mark Cuban buys the Cubs? Will the Yankees completely forego their status as the team with the owner most likely to spend any amount of money and fire any number of managers to win?