Iwakuma 00740314

10/24/2007 4:21 PM ET
Yanks could make hire by week's end
Hank Steinbrenner says decision might come Friday


NEW YORK -- Three candidates may be enough for the Yankees to decide on their next manager, with a possible decision looming for the end of the week.
Speaking on Wednesday at Legends Field, senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner told reporters that the Yankees could announce a hiring as soon as Friday, though he cautioned the process might take longer.

Saying that the Yankees want to hire a new manager as soon as possible, Steinbrenner urged fans to have patience with the future figure taking the reins after Joe Torre's successful 12-year run at the helm.

"I think the most important thing is whoever we hire, give him a chance, because he's not getting the '96 Yankees," Steinbrenner said, according to the Associated Press.

"He's getting an even younger team or for the most part a team in transition. Give him a little while. We want to win the World Series every year. We're not stupid enough to think we can do it. Of course, we'd love to win the World Series next year."

Tony Pena became the third and -- for now -- final prospective manager to be interviewed, meeting with club brass Wednesday. Joe Girardi went through a six-hour interview Monday, meeting with the Steinbrenner family, and Don Mattingly -- perceived in some circles as a frontrunner -- followed suit Tuesday.

Steinbrenner told reporters that Girardi and Mattingly were "great in their own way" during the interview process. He said that Mattingly, long considered a quiet leader, "was a little different yesterday during the interview."

Clubs are strongly discouraged from announcing news during the World Series, which begins Wednesday with the Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies. But Friday represents a travel day during the series and could present an opportunity for the Yankees to request permission from Commissioner Bud Selig if they have a decision made by then.

Whoever succeeds Torre will have large shoes to fill, especially after the Yankees made the playoffs in every season he managed them, Winning four World Series titles in his first five years.

The next manager will inherit a club that won 94 games and the American League Wild Card in 2007, but faces numerous challenges for an upcoming campaign.

After the managerial decision is finalized, the Yankees will have to face the possible departures of Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte, among others, and the continued incorporation of young pitching talent like Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy.

"It's going to be a tough decision, but what we want is no different than what the fans want. We want to win," Steinbrenner said. "Be the best manager, be the best leader and win. We're in a transition period. We've got a lot of great young pitchers, a lot of great young players coming.

"I'm not saying we don't have a chance next year. Obviously, the Marlins beat us a few years ago [in 2003] with the same kind of young pitching staff. And Detroit got to the World Series [in 2006] with the same kind of young pitching staff, so it can happen."