Yanks crack door for Willie

Bowa, the Dodgers' third-base coach who preceded Meacham for two years and is considered the best in the business, signed a two-year deal with Los Angeles, but has an out after this season.

"I am just worried about this game," Bowa said of tonight's Game 5 of the NLCS between the Phillies and Dodgers.

Meacham contacted other coaches Monday to tell them he enjoyed working with them. However, from spring training when Meacham's indecision sending runners home almost got Alex Rodriguez hurt twice inside a week, the third-base coach's job was on the line. And Meacham was criticized for not motivating Robinson Cano, who thrived with Bowa on his back but had a miserable 2008 season.

"I am not going to go into all the reasons why but it was not an easy decision but I made it," Cashman said. "The [replacement] field is open, let's put it that way. We could stay inside or go outside. We are putting together a list of candidates."

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The Yankees' New York faction, led by Cashman, heads to Tampa today to begin organizational meetings.

george.king@nypost.com

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