Every team gets injuries, but not every team loses their 3/5ths of their starting rotation and has to start Sidney Ponson and Darrell Rasner for long terms; in contrast, I don't think the Rays had a starter on the DL the entire year. Damon has been lost sporadically through the year. Matsui gone for most of it. Posada gone for nearly all of the season.

I don't see how you can lose that much of your starting 9 and not expect problems. And I don't think that Torre would have been able to change that, imho.