Torre’s style won’t change

NOTES

Joe Torre knows his future as manager of the New York Yankees could depend on a playoff berth.

The Yankees trail first-place Boston in the A.L. East and Oakland in the wild-card race, and back-page headlines Friday in New York suggested Torre could be fired if his team doesn’t reach the postseason.

But he insists that won’t affect the way he manages.

“That goes with the territory,” Torre said before the Yankees opened a three-game series with the White Sox in Chicago. “I’ve never been concerned about managing to save my job. I always manage to try to win. And anytime I start thinking that, I have to do this or if I do this it doesn’t look as good if I do this, I can’t do that.”

Palmeiro’s side to be told

Rafael Palmeiro failed to explain how a steroid entered his system when he went before a baseball panel several months ago to plead his case, the Baltimore Sun reported.

The Baltimore Orioles star shed little light during his long statement on why and how he tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug, three sources familiar with the transcript told the newspaper.

Through agent Arn Tellem he has said the positive drug test will be regarded differently once certain information is disclosed.

“There is another side to this story, and Raffy will tell it soon,” Tellem said. “I hope that the public will wait to make a final judgment about Rafael until they hear his story in its entirety.”

Belliard still hurting

Cleveland Indians’ second baseman Ronnie Belliard sustained a sprained neck and shoulder following a nasty collision with second base umpire Eric Cooper Thursday.

Belliard, who was not in the starting lineup for the game against Baltimore, was still too sore and stiff to play.

Indians trainer Lonnie Soloff said Belliard was initially unresponsive, but never lost consciousness.