As the Yankees enter the final month of the regular season, Joe Torre swears he has not allowed himself to think about his future in The Bronx.
“I just basically say we’ll see what happens,” said Torre, in the final year of his contract. “I haven’t initiated anything and nobody’s come to me. . . . I’m sure it’s going to wait until the end of the year.”
Four months ago, Torre looked like a goner as the Yanks struggled to get to .500, but they’re 33-18 in the second half of the season.
“Even though this has been the toughest year it still comes down to how the players respond and just that whole clubhouse and on-field stuff that is really the best part of what I do,” Torre said.
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Rookie right-hander Ian Kennedy will get another start, likely in Kansas City on Friday. The 22-year-old was still smiling a day after winning his major league debut in impressive fashion. Kennedy said his phone died at about 11 p.m. from all the calls and text messages he received.
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The bat flap from Saturday seems to be over in both managers’ minds. The bats of Alex Rodriguez and Tampa Bay’s Akinori Iwamura were both confiscated after the opposing managers complained.
Torre said if he had known Iwamura’s bat had been inspected in June in Arizona he would not have pointed out the bat to the umpire. Torre said it looked like the top of the barrel was sawed off.
Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon said his request to have Rodriguez’s bat checked was strictly retaliatory.
“I looked at him during the course of the game,” Maddon said of Rodriguez. “He was smiling. I was smiling. He knew I had to do it.”
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Andy Phillips left the game after the fifth inning when he was hit by a pitch in the right wrist. He had an MRI, but results were not available after the game. . . . Roger Clemens will start today despite nagging injuries in his right elbow and foot. Mike Mussina would get the emergency start if Clemens says he can’t go this morning. . . . Derek Jeter is a huge Michigan fan and he caught plenty of flak after the Wolverines’ shocking 34-32 loss to Appalachian State on Saturday. “My phone hasn’t stopped ringing,” Jeter said.