Mike Celizic

Stability and loyalty and sentiment are all things that the world would be benefit from if they were around in greater quantities. But there’s also such a thing as carrying a good idea too far, and if Yankee owner George Steinbrenner doesn’t remember that, it’s going to be a long time before World Series championship number 27 takes up residence in the Bronx.

The Yankees need big changes, both in the makeup of the team and the way it goes about its business. Such changes always start at the top. Keep a nice-guy manager because he’s so huggable and the message to the team is that the status quo continues. No matter what changes are made to the roster, it’s still all-coddling all the time.

Most Yankee fans love Torre, and with good reason. But managers are hired to be fired, and his time has come. The team needs to know that the failures of the past six years are not acceptable. The clearest way to send that message is to dump the guy at the controls.

The Yankees are justly celebrated for their cool professionalism, but there’s a point at which being cool devolves into being comfortable. Once, Paul O’Neill provided fire in the dugout. We sometimes chided him for going overboard with the helmet-tossing after striking out, but he provided a palpable passion that is glaringly absent from the current team. O’Neill’s Yankees never relaxed. The current outfit often seems nothing if not  smug. That’s got to change.

I can’t believe I’m writing such advice to Steinbrenner, who once made Ming the Merciless look like Mother Teresa. There were no excuses when his tenure as owner was young and lava flowed through his veins. Dick Howser won 103 games — their highest total in 17 years — as manager in 1980 and got fired for the crime of not getting to the World Series. For years, Steinbrenner would hire Billy Martin at breakfast, fire him at lunch, then rehire him in time for afternoon tea, which for Martin was poured from a bottle labeled “80 proof.”

It was beyond excessive, and the resulting chaos dragged the team through 14 years without a playoff appearance. Finally, after Buck Showalter got the boot after making the playoffs in 1995 but not advancing to the Series, Steinbrenner hired Joe Torre.

CHANGES FOR YANKEES? Cashman says Yanks not trading A-Rod Steinbrenner keeps Torre as manager Big Unit, Giambi probably will have surgery Celizic: Boss has gotten way too soft Ventre: Yankees need to let Torre go Opinion: Torre not biggest problem for Yanks SN: Yankees prove they need role players Opinion: Yanks need to make changes   Discuss: What changes will Yankees make?

And just like that, Steinbrenner went soft. Now, 11 seasons later, Torre is still there, and if there’s a reason why, I can’t fathom it.

The Boss says it wasn’t the manager’s fault the team went in the tank against Detroit, but he’s been saying that for six seasons now, none of which have ended with a champagne shower after the season’s final game.

There’s no question there will be roster changes, and there should be. Gary Sheffield is a supernumerary and won’t have his option picked up. Playoff patsy A-Rod should be dealt for a front-line pitcher and prospects; with Texas paying half  his salary, there shouldn’t be a lack of takers. It would be great if the Yankees could get rid of Randy Johnson, too, but they’re probably stuck with his aching 43-year-old back, his flat slider and his $17-million contract for the last year remaining on it.

INTERACTIVE Position breakdowns, predictions, more

The team needs a first baseman who can field the position and a third baseman who can do the same. If they happen to be of similar make-up to Scott Brosius and Tino Martinez — solid, passionate, team-oriented players — that would be terrific. It also needs to start looking for a catcher who can step in for Jorge Posada, who has been great for most of a decade but is also getting old.

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

Pujols a unanimous pick for MVP CTB: Pujols is MVP of the decade, too CTB: Twins hope to re-sign Mauer by Christmas Feds seek rehearing of baseball drug list ruling CTB: Angels back in the Halladay chase CTB: Yankees planning on Joba, Hughes starting CTB: If M’s done with Lopez, suitors should be plentiful DeMarco: Red Sox should take measured approach Complete list of free agents Circling the Bases: Blogging on news, rumors, buzz Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: