MEMO to George Steinbrenner: Read this before you ever consider making a managerial change.

In his second at-bat yesterday, Robin Ventura fouled out to catcher Joe Girardi on a 3-1 pitch from Woody Williams, a disappointing outcome to a hitter’s count.

The Yankees never like to disappoint themselves or their manager. A few hours earlier, Ventura was making this Fathers’ Day point to me about the uniqueness of playing for Joe Torre in a world of so many cookie-cutter managers.

Simply put, playing for Torre is like playing for your father.

“He definitely brings that aspect and that’s so unique,” Ventura explained. “If you don’t succeed, it’s like disappointing your father. You hate when your dad is disappointed in you. You always make sure your effort is there, but if you do something wrong, you feel pretty terrible about it.”

That dismal popup was one of those moments. “It wasn’t good,” Ventura noted dryly.

The next time Ventura came to the plate in the sixth, the Yankees were trailing the Cardinals, 2-1. There were no outs and runners on first and second.

Williams had just walked Jason Giambi and Jorge Posada – yes, the Yankees are back to earning their walks – and Ventura was determined to make the most of this at-bat.

He battled his way to a 3-2 count. Then on the 10th pitch of the at-bat, Williams left a fastball over the middle of the plate that Ventura rocketed to right-center for a two-run double that sparked the four-run inning and the 5-2 victory.

“That was a huge at-bat,” said the Captain, Derek Jeter. “Huge.”

This was the three-game sweep of the Cardinals the Yankees could have used back in the 1964 World Series when St. Louis won Games 4 and 5 in The Bronx before taking the Series in seven games.

The sweep does come in handy now, though, especially with seemingly softer days ahead as the next 13 games are against last-place teams: the Devil Rays and Mets.

The Yankees have won four straight at home and seven of their last eight at the Stadium after the dreadful eight-game home losing streak that put Steinbrenner in his 1978 Billy Martin-Bob Lemon mode.

The win also marked the 1,619th victory of Torre’s managerial career, tying him with Ralph Houk for 13th place on the all-time list. He’s won 725 as a Yankee, the most by far of any manager in the Steinbrenner era. Martin is a distant second with 556.

Since Torre’s spirited meeting with his team after it was no-hit Wednesday night by six Astros pitchers, the Yankees have won four straight.

“It would be hard for anybody to match what Joe has done,” Ventura said. This is Ventura’s 14th year in the majors. His words should not be taken lightly.

When he talks about “what Joe has done,” he’s not only talking about all the victories and the four World Series championships, he’s talking about the atmosphere of success that Torre has created.

Torre got a little bit tougher with his club in the team meeting and the Yankees have responded. It’s no different than a father demanding more from his children.

It all goes back to what Ventura said about not wanting to disappoint. Said Torre of the improved play, “We’re finding things out about ourselves.”

One of those things is that this team can be more patient at the plate.

During the winning streak, the Yankees have collected 19 walks while their pitchers have surrendered five. Winner Mike Mussina walked one batter yesterday in eight innings while Williams gave up six walks in 51/3 innings.

It’s not just the walks, it’s working deep into the count that’s important. Torre’s Yankees are again showing patience at the plate.

And patience, as Ventura, the father of four, or any dad can tell you, is the truest virtue.