Ah, a new month – but, it starts off as painful as most of the past month. The Yankees lose ugly today, and drop another series.

New York is now 7½ games behind Baltimore. Its the largest deficit the Yanks have faced since September 1997.

In my mind, Joe Torre has to be feeling the heat. After the game, he was quoted as saying:

“The Baltimore Orioles are not what I’m concerned about. What I’m concerned about is our ballclub. We’ve had leads in the past that have disappeared when teams got hot. We have to be that team that gets hot. I don’t care how good you are or how good you’re supposed to be. You have to go out there and start winning regularly or your confidence isn’t where you want it to be. I don’t think I have to tell them anything. They’re here. They witnessed what I witnessed.”

Is it fair for Torre to be taking the blame here? Well, fair or not, that’s the way it works in baseball. I’m still wondering who will be next? Girardi and Mattingly may be too loyal to Joe to take the job – and too green for the position as well. Sojo and White are not in the running. Bucky Dent is in AAA – but, we’ve been down that road before – and, it was not a nice ride. Stump Merrill is a special assistant to the G.M. – but, I would get the job after Torre more than Stump would get it. Gosh, would Stein give it to Dick Williams? What is he, 90 years old? Could the McKeon performance in FLA be enough to persuade The Boss to do that?

Andy Stankiewicz is a dark-horse. He’s at Staten Island now. But, would the team respond to him?

Whoever is chosen will be the opposite of Joe. It will be a fanny-kicker, I’m sure. Would the Yankees try and “trade” for Lou Piniella? Is that possible? Wouldn’t that be fun – considering the latest Schilling-Sweet Lou exchanges? One thing for sure there – if Boston starts plunking Yankees, Lou will not sit idle there. (And, I think A-Rod said once that Lou was his fav-MGR. Does that factor in?)

Bobby V? Is he still locked up in Japan? Larry Bowa? Lord in heaven, please, no. Reggie? Yeah, right……….

…….what about Rob Thomson? He could be a sleeper-pick. I would love to get someone like Ron Hassey – but, he’s a coach in Seattle and the Yankees would need help making that happen.

This could be interesting.