George Steinbrenner is planning to travel to New York for some postseason games if the AL East-leading Yankees make the playoffs.

Steinbrenner attended opening day at the new Yankee Stadium this season but has attended few games in New York since becoming increasingly frail. He also watched the Yankees beat the Rays 6-2 on July 29th at Tropicana Field, which is a short trip from his Tampa home.

Steinbrenner has kept a low profile since turning over the day-to-day operation of the team to his sons, Hal and Hank Steinbrenner, two years ago.

George Steinbrenner spent three hours in his office at the team’s spring-training complex Thursday. When asked about the Yankees’ solid play, the 79-year-old owner said: “Let’s keep it going.”

Well, I suppose that’s better than Big Stein saying “More wine for Polyphemus, the son of Neptune!”

I guess the Boss is off Pat Benatar tunes these days and now channeling fellow Floridians…

kc and the sunshine band keep it comin love

You know…it started at the end of 2003…and it didn’t look good in 2005…and it carried into 2006…and now it’s just sad to see the Big Stein in action…

It’s much more fun to think of him the way he was back then…

This one is an instant classic.

Alex Rodriguez is history with the Yankees and when I asked Hank Steinbrenner yesterday if there were any regrets, he answered quickly and honestly. “No,” he said. “[Scott] Boras makes it easy not to have any.”

As for Boras’ contention that the Yankees may have lost their way in their “commitment” to winning, Hank said bluntly, “He’s full of [bull].”

Hank went on to say the Yankees have never been more committed to winning and the goal is to get these Yankees to a time and place like 1996, when they had great young talent coming up through the system surrounded by winning veterans.

“We’ll go out and spend the money where we have to,” he promised. “We want players with character on and off the field.”

Good thing for Andrew Brackman that A-Rod opted out now – and not before this season. Sounds like Boras has now burned all his Bronx bridges.

The Yankees meeting to decide Joe Torre’s fate took place at George Steinbrenner’s south Tampa mansion, but no decision is expected today.

Yankees spokesman Howard Rubenstein released the following statement:

“The meetings are adjourned for tonight. There have been no decisions made, nor will there be any comment today. The meetings will resume tomorrow.”

I’ve been doing what I do for a living now for the last 22 years. It’s not my passion. But, for the most part, I’ve been told that I do an above average job of it, and, it pays the bills (most of the time).

Still, man, do I want Howard Rubenstein’s job. Seriously, how hard can it be?

And, by the way, at what point did the baseball team that I grew up rooting for become this entity that releases statements on nothing happening via a hired P.R. spokesperson? It’s crazy.

The United Nations and the Pentagon should have a spokesperson. Pop stars should have spokespersons. Heck, I can even see a professional sports league having a spokesperson. But, a baseball team? It’s just strange.

I liked the old days better when the owner, G.M., and/or manager did the talking for the team – and you heard it from their mouth. That’s baseball. Or, at the least, that’s the way it used to be…

Joe Torre’s 12-year run as manager of the Yankees will likely end if his team does not rally to beat the Cleveland Indians in the AL Division Series, George Steinbrenner told The Record on Saturday night.

“His job is on the line,” the Yankees’ owner said in a phone interview. “I think we’re paying him a lot of money. He’s the highest-paid manager in baseball, so I don’t think we’d take him back if we don’t win this series.”

Torre is in the final year of a contract worth $7 million this season. He has led his team to four World Series titles and 12 consecutive playoff appearances and was universally hailed this year for weathering a 21-29 start.

“He’s been good for us over the years,” Steinbrenner acknowledged.

If the bugs also messed up Alex Rodriguez, the superstar forever burdened by October angst, Steinbrenner said A-Rod’s struggles won’t temper his desire to re-sign the free agent-to-be, who will likely seek a contract worth more than $30 million per year.

“I think we’ll re-sign him,” Steinbrenner said of Rodriguez. “I think he’s going to have a good run the rest of the [postseason]. I think he realizes New York is the place to be, the place to play. A lot of this [postseason] is laying on his shoulders, you know, but I think he’s up to it.”

No matter what George says, I think there’s still just as much of a chance that Torre stays, and Alex goes, if the Yankees lose tonight.

Personally, if they lose this ALDS, I’m like to see them both go – and try and reboot this team as much as possible. But, I think that Torre has enough backers in the organization that he’s safe, win or lose.

Hal Steinbrenner, a Yankees general partner, represented his father, George, at a news conference to unveil the 2008 All-Star Game logo. It is displayed above the left-field scoreboard and will soon be worn as a patch on the Yankees’ uniforms. Hal Steinbrenner said he and his brother, Hank, and their brother-in-law, Felix Lopez, were “all involved now” in the team’s upper hierarchy. He said he approved of the job done by General Manager Brian Cashman. “I’ve only been involved a month, on the baseball side of it, on a daily basis,” Steinbrenner said. “From everything I’ve seen, he’s done a good job.” As for the fate of Manager Joe Torre, he said: “We just want to focus on baseball right now. That goes for everybody in the organization. We’re just focused on winning the pennant, and eventually, the Series.”

And, if they don’t win?…

(Steinbrenner, reportedly in ill health, would not agree to be interviewed in person. He answered questions via e-mail.)

(On his biggest realization about managing a business): How hard it was and how volatile I would let myself become when I became frustrated.

(On his biggest realizations about managing a team): The two greatest were the extent to which I would go in order to win and the sheer scope of my loathing to lose.

(On dealing with the New York media): You’re talking to the wrong person. You must know my past relationship with the media. However, as of late I’ve learned that “silence” is a very powerful word.

(On how he feels about the Tampa Bay Devil Rays): The who?

(On his contributions to the Boston Red Sox’s Jimmy Fund): We’re opponents in baseball; we’re allies in helping children. I have a lot of respect for what they’re doing with the Jimmy Fund, and I wouldn’t dream of not supporting such a worthy cause.

(On the portrayal of him on ‘Seinfeld’): I loved it. They weren’t too far from the truth. You must laugh at yourself, and believe me, I do.

“Reportedly in ill health.” Maybe next spring training Big Stein will pull an A-Rod on Day One and come clean on the relationship between him and his health?

O.K., seriously, it’s sad to see that George can’t do face-to-face interviews these days. It’s getting clear that he’s getting closer and closer to being done as the man in charge. I think Yankees fans are going to miss him, in the end.

“Sure we can catch the Red Sox if we play hard, play together, play for ourselves, and play for the fans,” The Boss bellowed through PR guru Howard Rubenstein yesterday. “We have to play like champions.”

Then Steinbrenner, who demanded a world championship from Torre and general manager Brian Cashman in early May, hinted jobs will be on the line.

“I will be watching,” vowed Steinbrenner, whose trips from Tampa to The Bronx have been reduced and who didn’t attend either of the two Yankees-Devil Rays games in Florida in late April.

Bold words from The Boss are nothing new. And since Cashman is a positive thinker with a never-quit mentality, it’s not surprising he still believes The Bronx won’t be dark in October.

“The talent level is there,” said the GM, who is painfully aware Bobby Abreu, Johnny Damon and Robinson Cano underperformed during the first half and that until Phil Hughes returns, Kei Igawa will be asked to pitch every fifth day. “We are continuing to work to put it together.”

For the Yankees to tie the Red Sox, their rivals would have to post a 38-37 ledger in the final 75 games and the Yankees would need to go 49-28 (.636) after being 42-43 prior to the All-Star break. When it comes to the Indians, who are in play for the AL Central title, if the Tribe breaks even (37-37) for the rest of the way, the Yankees must go 47-30 (.610).

Since the Red Sox went 53-34 (.609) and the Indians 52-36 (.591) before the break, it’s not a good bet to believe either is going to slip into a .500 club.

Yet, that’s what the Yankees are banking on and need to happen. And then a team that put one hot streak together (14-3) has to take advantage of it.

Starting tonight, the Yankees play 29 games against teams with sub-.500 records. That means when the stretch ends, the Yankees had better be at least 20-9 to be in position if the Red Sox or Indians gag.

Those numbers are scary. But, like I said the other day, just get 5 games back, in the loss column, of either Boston or the Wildcard, by the end of July…and then the Yankees have a good chance.

The next three weeks are key for the Yankees. If ever they need to put together a long winning streak, it’s now. If the Yankees tank over the next three weeks, then it’s probably as good as over – for 2007.