NEW YORK (TICKER) -- Showing some of his father's fire, Hank Steinbrenner shot back at former manager Joe Torre's comment about the
New York Yankees' contract offer being an "insult."
"Where was Joe's career in '95 when my dad hired him?" Steinbrenner told The New York Post. "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." On Friday, Torre termed the team's offer of a one-year contract for $5 million with an added $3 million in incentives as an "insult."
Steinbrenner, who along with brother Hal have begun to take more control of the team from father George, said the offer was fair, and that Torre had to accept part of the responsibility for the team's failures. The Yankees, who have not won the World Series since 2000, have lost in the American League Division Series in each of the last three seasons.
"You can't take credit for success when you're going good, and then not take at least some of the blame when things change," Hank Steinbrenner told the paper. "I'm sorry he feels insulted, but that was not the intent." Torre, 67, guided the Yankees to four World Series titles during and compiled an impressive 1,173-767 record over his