Upset Steinbrenner holds conference call with Cashman,
Torre
By JON KRAWCZYNSKI, AP Sports Writer
June 3, 2005

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Looking for answers after a
historic sweep at the hands of the worst team in
baseball, an upset George Steinbrenner held a
conference call Friday with New York Yankees GM Brian
Cashman and manager Joe Torre.

Torre said it has become an increasingly rare
occurrence in recent seasons for The Boss to include
him in such discussions, but this was a rare
situation.

``It's happened a number of times, but not in recent
times,'' Torre said Friday before the Yankees opened a
three-game series against the Minnesota Twins. ``This
was sticking to why we're having a tough time. All of
the same questions I ask myself.

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``He was unhappy. If I tried to tell you anything
other than that, you'd be questioning if I was telling
you the truth, and I'm not going to lie to you.''

New York (27-26) has lost five games in a row,
including an embarrassing three-game sweep by the
lowly Kansas City Royals, just the third time in the
Yankees' storied history that they've been swept in
three games by a team with the worst record in the
majors, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Steinbrenner participated on the call from Florida,
with Torre and Cashman in Minneapolis.

Torre and Cashman characterized the call as a
``state-of-the-team'' discussion and said no decisions
were made at the conclusion.

``I didn't feel any better because we were talking
about all the bad things that have happened,'' Torre
said. ``We talked about individuals and my feeling
that the pitching is really the key for us. Why we're
not hitting is everybody's mystery. It's something you
just have to fight your way out of. We didn't solve
anything.''

Cashman said he holds regular discussions with
Steinbrenner about the team, but agreed it was rare
for Torre to be included.

``It was good for him to hear from Joe,'' Cashman
said. ``(Steinbrenner) is no less happy than anyone
else here.''

Particularly Torre, who held a closed-door meeting
Wednesday after the $200 million Yankees dropped their
second game in a row to the Royals.

Torre said he takes much of the responsibility for the
team's recent struggles and was completely befuddled
by the veteran group's seemingly fragile confidence.

``I'm accountable,'' Torre said. ``I'm the manager and
I'm in charge. This obviously is something that I need
to find an answer for. It's up to me to find a way to
make this thing start working again.''

The demanding Steinbrenner was obviously upset after
watching the team with the highest payroll in baseball
get swept by a ragtag group of journeymen and
youngsters in Kansas City.

``He's put up a lot of money to put this kind of a
ballclub in our dugout,'' Torre said. ``This isn't the
results that should be accompanying that.''

As soon as he heard about the call, Torre knew it
wasn't going to be a pleasant conversation. Torre has
gotten used to outbursts from Steinbrenner during his
10 years in New York. When the Yankees are winning,
their owner wants them to win bigger, and when they
are losing, look out.

``It's a long season and George isn't a very patient
man and we understand that,'' Torre said. ``In dealing
with George, when you lose and you're supposed to be
winning, it's not a happy time. But when you win, he's
constantly driving you to improve, so the tone doesn't
change much.''

Torre did say he hoped Steinbrenner, who has a
reputation for firing employees in a heartbeat, would
exercise a little bit of restraint and keep his staff
intact while it tries to right the ship.

``We hope we can continue as far as work-wise,'' Torre
said. ``Results-wise, we want to change that.''

No timelines were set, no ultimatums issued. Just a
stern reminder that the Yankees are held to a higher
standard.

``A week ago, we had won 16 of 18 and now we've lost
five straight,'' Cashman said. ``Trying to make sense
of this tough game of baseball isn't always easy. ...
Everyone is doing everything they possibly can to turn
things around.''

Updated on Friday, Jun 3, 2005 8:44 pm EDT

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