Joe Torre was absent yesterday. Alex Rodriguez, too. And the New York Yankees made no announcement about changing managers.

While several players and coaches packed up in a quiet clubhouse, Day 1 of what figures to be a wild offseason in Yankeeland provided few definitive answers.

Torre still has his job — for now. Hours after New York was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs again, the Daily News reported yesterday that demanding owner George Steinbrenner was likely to fire his longtime manager and replace him with old favorite Lou Piniella.

The Boss issued a pointed statement, calling the result "absolutely not acceptable" and "a sad failure." But he had not yet consulted with Yankees executives about any change, at least not yet, a baseball official said yesterday, speaking on condition of anonymity because no statements other than Steinbrenner's were authorized.

Piniella, in San Francisco while preparing to call the AL championship series on FOX, told the network he hadn't talked to the Yankees and was "stunned" by the report.

"We have heard from absolutely no one from the Yankees' organization, so as far as we're concerned, it's all speculation," said Piniella's agent, Alan Nero. "Lou is seriously considering the four jobs that are open."

There also is speculation the team would like to get rid of Rodriguez, a postseason bust again this October.

The two-time MVP, owed $66.6 million by the Yankees over the final four years of his record $252 million contract (after accounting for $28.4 million Texas is paying New York), went 1 for 14 during the four-game loss to the Tigers.

ELSEWHERE

Mets: After reinjuring his left Achilles' tendon, left fielder Cliff Floyd went home to rest yesterday, Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said.

Floyd said after the game that it was "more than stretched" and "I'm going to find out what I really got when I see a doctor."

While he probably is doubtful for the NLCS, he didn't rule himself out. "I'm going to try it. I'm going to give it my best effort," he said.