Sports

Torre says his Dodger days are numbered

Joe Torre says he doesn't plan to manage the Los Angeles Dodgers after his contract expires following the 2010 season.

Joe Torre says he doesn't plan to manage the Los Angeles Dodgers after his contract expires.

"I have one year on my contract and I don't anticipate it being more than that," he said Tuesday, two days before the Dodgers open the National League Championship Series against Philadelphia.

However, he noted, "I've said that before and my wife doesn't believe me at all."

The 69-year-old manager is in the middle of a three-year deal he signed nearly two years ago after 12 seasons guiding the New York Yankees. The Dodgers are 179-145 with two consecutive NL West titles under Torre.

His 83 post-season victories are more than any other manager in major league history, and his 14 consecutive playoff appearances as a manager are tied with Atlanta's Bobby Cox (1991-2005).

General manager Ned Colletti said Tuesday that he'll sit down with Torre to discuss his future after the season ends.

If the Dodgers were to advance to their first World Series since 1988, Torre said he doesn't think he'll walk away a year early.

"It's fun and if we were fortunate enough to win the World Series, it would make that next year so much sweeter," he said.

Torre won four World Series titles with the Yankees, the last in 2000.

"I never get tired of this stuff, that's one thing I found out," he said. "You think once you win it, you say, 'OK, I got it, I don't need to do this anymore,' but you do. You need to do it."