Pipe Down Lil' Stein

Congratulations to Hank and Hal Steinbrenner for being handed the keys to the one of the most successful sports franchises in history. Along with the clout comes a boost in ego, a leap in confidence, and an opportunity for excess beyond Jim Morrison's wildest dreams.

Unfortunately, tact and self-awareness do not come with the gig. As Hank Steinbrenner illustrates after a week on the job, it's never too early to exercise these new privileges. After Joe Torre's farewell press conference alluded to a sense of disrespect for the four-time World Series champion, Hank did his best Randy Levine impression, pretending he's earned any right to undermine personnel in place for the last decade plus.

"Where was Joe's career in '95 when my dad hired him?" said the new Boss. "My dad was crucified for hiring him.

"Let's not forget what my dad did in giving him that opportunity - and the great team he was handed," Steinbrenner told The Post by phone from Tampa, Fla.

Come on now. Where were you in '95 Hank? Oh that's right, heaving hay to horses down in Florida. Looks like the Yankees may not lose much ground once George fully relinquishes the Yankee kingdom. Hank already displays the type of blind entitlement his father became famous for as the Bronx burned.

Had Torre been an excellent manager before joining the Yankees in 1996? No, in all honesty, Torre was a horrific manager with the Mets, satisfactory with St. Louis and above average in Atlanta. However, his style fit in perfectly with the 1990's dynasty and consequently pronounced Torre untouchable from baseball foreigners like Hanky.

Like him or not, George established himself as "The Boss" and oversaw six world championships during the journey. Now he wants Donnie Baseball managing in 2008, but even Big Stein would remind Hank he'll have to do more than saddle Bellamy Road before trying to saddlebag a Hall of Famer like Joe Torre.

George Speaks

Bergen Record columnist Ian O'Connor broke the big story this morning, after speaking to Yankees owner George Steinbrenner last night.

Apparently, The Boss was in good spirits and as sharp as ever, stating that 1)a loss today would mean the firing of Joe Torre, and 2)Alex Rodriguez will be a top priority regardless of his performance the remainder of this series.

"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."

"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."

"I have full control," Steinbrenner said. The owner maintained that rumors of his declining health were false.

The portfolio.com story which painted Steinbrenner as a man deep in the throes of dementia may be as inaccurate as Yankees management stated it was. Should Torre fail to move his team into the ALCS, he will most likely face retirement. Whether A-Rod goes 11-for-15 during a three game winning streak, or goes 0-for-5 tonight amidst a LDS sweep, the Yankees want him back for a long, long time.

Big Stein put his cards on the table. If the core of the most recent Yankees dynasty want to secure their beloved manager's future, they'll have to be playing Boston next week.