Hank Takes On The NL

Hank Steinbrenner holds the National League responsible for the devastating injury suffered by Chien Ming Wang when running the bases in Houston on Sunday.

"My only message is simple: The National League needs to join the 21st century," Steinbrenner said. "They need to grow up and join the 21st century. I've got my pitchers running the bases, and one of them gets hurt. He's going to be out. I don't like that, and it's about time they address it. That was a rule from the 1800s."

Not to be picky, but the designated hitter rule was not instituted until 1973. Hey, what's three quarters of a century between friends. Most American League fans may agree with Steinbrenner's logic, as self-centered as it may currently seem. NL fans will preach "baseball purism" with equal vigor, and nothing will change.

Did Hank Consult Hal?

It would sound like Hank Steinbrenner took some advice from his brother before his latest public comments:

“I don’t think, truthfully, anybody knows exactly who’s going to be where in the American League. Only two teams among the favorites are doing anything right now, and that’s the Red Sox and the Angels. We’re not doing well, Detroit’s not doing well, Cleveland’s not doing that great. The A.L. is a little topsy-turvy.

“I don’t know if we need to make any trades. We’ll see what happens, but I think the days where you can get a Cone or a Duque or a Wells may be over. We didn’t get Santana, so we’ve got to deal with what we have, and we’ll do the best that we can and keep building.”

I did not bring up Johan Santana, but since Steinbrenner mentioned him, I asked if he still thinks about that potential trade, and whether Santana’s performance this season would have any bearing on his evaluations going forward.

“That ship has sailed,” Steinbrenner said. “I’m not going to keep dwelling on that. Everybody knows what my opinion was, but that’s in the past. Mussina’s pitching great. Wang has turned out to be an ace. I know Andy will start pitching well again. Rasner’s been impressive, and our bullpen’s been great. Our hitting will come around – it’s got to.”

So by "not going to keep dwelling on [Santana]," that means you will still bring him up unprovoked? Hankenstein needs to get himself a better definition of dwell.

More from the young elephant:

“The bottom line is we can easily still win the division, we can get the wild card, and we’ll see what happens from there,” Steinbrenner said.

He added: “We’re going to be all right this year. I think we’re going to make a run at it. We’re in much better striking position than we were last year, and there’s no way all these guys – forget about Rodriguez and Posada – Cano, Cabrera, Giambi, Abreu, all the other guys – are not going to at least approach what they did last year.

“And when they start getting on a tear, we’ve got the starting pitching settled, and the bullpen’s great, we’re going to be really tough by the end of the year. I’m very, very confident.”

Boomer A Bomber Again?Fat Chance

Get it? Fat chance. You know because David Wells is, well, overweight.

Anyhow, Wells told the Daily News he would love to make a return to the Yankees, even though there is zero interest on the other side of the table.

However, leave it to the NY tabloids to take a Hank Steinbrenner quote lauding the exceptional starting rotation during the Yankees championship run and turn it into a jab at the current team.

The writer even intimates Hank "thinking" about Wells and adding such complimentary words regarding free agent pitchers like El Duque, Dave Cone and Wells must mean Hank will demand Brian Cashman signs the hefty lefty. Right....

The free-agent left-hander told The Post yesterday he has been working out near his home in San Diego and believes he could bolster a Yankees’ rotation suddenly besieged by question marks.

The Baby Boss then dropped a subtle hint he’s growing disillusioned with the Yankees’ youth movement and could open the door to Wells.

“What sticks out in my mind, that team in the late ‘90s, the starting pitching,” he said. “You had [David] Cone, El Duque [Orlando Hernandez], Wells . . . they were all big-game pitchers. They all came from elsewhere - not in the system.

“Everybody talks about the great players from the farm system that we had in the ‘90s, but it was the starting rotation. That was a huge part of the success. Huge.”

Cashman's Escape From New YorkRosenthal Says Hank's To Blame

Ken Rosenthal thinks Hank Steinbrenner and his idiotic statements may result in a Brian Cashman exodus from Yankeeland:

This time, Brian Cashman should just bolt.

Cashman agreed to remain Yankees general manager when he was promised full autonomy after the 2005 season. But the disruptive influence of Hank Steinbrenner, the team's new co-chairman, is rapidly turning that guarantee into an empty pledge.

Who needs the aggravation? If Steinbrenner wants to hold Cashman responsible for failing to acquire Johan Santana and other perceived transgressions, so be it. Cashman, the Yanks GM since Feb. 1998, can go find another job.

Let Steinbrenner hire a puppet GM, order Chamberlain to pitch 300 innings and trade for his new favorite junkballer, Jamie Moyer. Cashman, whose contract expires at the end of the season, would not lack for opportunities.

If Cashman wished to stay east, he could replace Phillies GM Pat Gillick, who is expected to retire. Or, Cashman could return to D.C., where he attended Georgetown Prep and Catholic University, if the Nationals chose to replace Jim Bowden. Why, Cashman could even stay in the AL East if the Blue Jays dismissed J.P. Ricciardi, who has two years left on his contract.

People seem to forget the Voice of Reason - aka Hal Steinbrenner - has equal say in the Yankees universe and, as was the case with Santana, can protest or challenge every Hankism.

Hank Wants Joba Starting Now

From the NY Times comes word Hank Steinbrenner wants Joba Chamberlain in the starting rotation now. Calm it down Hanky:

With the Yankees off to a 10-10 start, and two of their young starters struggling, the Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner said there was one thing in particular he would like to change: He wants Joba Chamberlain, the Yankees’ hard-throwing setup man, to move into the rotation.

“I want him as a starter and so does everyone else, including him, and that is what we are working toward and we need him there now,” Steinbrenner said Sunday by telephone. “There is no question about it, you don’t have a guy with a 100-mile-per-hour fastball and keep him as a setup guy. You just don’t do that. You have to be an idiot to do that.”

“I think once Hughes and Kennedy get plenty of starts and get Joba back, and with Wang and Pettitte, we will be fine,” Steinbrenner said.

Steinbrenner said the Yankees were working on easing Chamberlain into the rotation, but he would not be specific on a timetable. The Yankees’ brain trust wanted to limit Chamberlan’s innings by having him spend at least part of the season in the bullpen. “The mistake was already made last year switching him to the bullpen out of panic or whatever,” Steinbrenner said. “I had no say in it last year and I wouldn’t have allowed it. That was done last year, so now we have to catch up. It has to be done on a schedule so we don’t rush him.”

Does Hankenstein realize the Yankees would not have made the playoffs last season had Chamberlain not sured up the 8th inning. Also, the Yankees were able to expertly limit Chamberlain's innings by using him in the reduced role of a late-inning reliever.

Relax Hank, you don't know nearly as much about baseball as you think - though you're right Joba will and should soon join the starting five.

The Ledger On Last Night

The only Yankee booed during last night's pregame introduction was LaTroy Hawkins:

Apparently because [Hawkins] had the audacity to wear No. 21 -- which had not been given out since Paul O'Neill retired.

Really?

First, Paul O'Neill's number can still be retired. Eight players -- EIGHT -- wore No. 3 for the Yankees after Babe Ruth.

Second, while Paul O'Neill is inextricably linked to the 1996-2000 dynasty, is he really an all-time great? You have to figure Nos. 2 (Jeter), 6 (Torre), 13 (A-Rod) and 20 (will be retired), and Mariano Rivera's No. 42 will never be worn again because of him and Jackie Robinson.

I agree with Mr. Price on this one. O'Neill was the heart and soul of the 1990's dynasty, but is not among the Yankee greats who deserve to see their number retired. I do believe it is only respectful to let the number sit in mothballs for a few more years before a rent-a-reliever like Hawkins is able to wear #21. Had it been Jose Tabata or Action Jackson, it would have been much easier for the Yankees faithful to handle.

Also, I didn't see it myself, but I had heard there were some jeers when Andy Pettitte was announced - guess not all Mets fans can fly down to Florida to see Pedro.

The Star Ledger further reported that Hank Steinbrenner's favorite portion of the game was "the Big Two," which refers to Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera.

Hank Blasts Canseco For A-Rod Claims

Hank Steinbrenner does not like Jose Canseco disrespecting his #1 man [Alex Rodriguez] and he told the Bergen Record as much:

In his spirited defense of A-Rod on Wednesday, Steinbrenner told The Record that “if [Sandy] Koufax, [Mickey] Mantle, [Babe] Ruth, [Willie] Mays or [Hank] Aaron were playing today, they all would be suspected of doing something — and of course, they didn’t do it. There was no such thing in their day. “This is the age of paranoia.”

..."Consider the source, that’s No. 1,” Steinbrenner said of Canseco. “He wouldn’t have been able to hit the ball out of the infield without steroids.

“And No. 2, if Mantle or Ruth were playing today, with the 550-foot home runs they hit, everybody’d be saying they were on something. They didn’t even lift weights in those days. They played on alcohol and hot dogs.

“There are certain naturals. There are guys who can just do it, and Alex is one of those guys,” Steinbrenner said. “He’s just friggin’ great.”

Wouldn't it have been nice for these words to come out of the mouth of Alex's teammates and not the blowhard owner?

Bernie Has His Day

Looks like Bernie Williams will finally have a day of recognition at the Stadium. According to Yahoo! and Hank Steinbrenner:

Hank Steinbrenner said there’s not an official plan yet, but former Yankees center fielder Bernie Williams will be honored by the team. “Obviously, Bernie is special to us,” Steinbrenner said

For those with MLB.tv, the Yankees pitchers for today's exhibition game includes Mike Mussina, Daniel McCutchen and Mark Melancon.

Hankenstein Bashes BoSox, ESPN

From an upcoming magazine interview comes Hank Steinbrenner's jabs thrown at the Boston Red Sox, its fans and ESPN.

"Red Sox Nation?" Hank Steinbrenner said in an interview with The New York Times' Play magazine. "What a bunch of [expletive] that is. That was a creation of the Red Sox and ESPN, which is filled with Red Sox fans.

"Go anywhere in America and you won't see Red Sox hats and jackets, you'll see Yankee hats and jackets. This is a Yankee country. We're going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order."

Yeah, you're not like your father at all Hank. Not that telling it like it is is wrong.

Hank: I'll Discuss Cashman Extension

Hank Steinbrenner wants to extend GM Brian Cashman. But he also wants to hold him accountable if Johan Santana wins 25 games and posts a 1.90 ERA for the crosstown Mets.

From the AP Wire:

"I want to concentrate on the season, and he does, too," Hank Steinbrenner said Monday. "But during the course of the season, we will talk. It will just happen. We'll be sitting together at the game, and we'll start talking about it. It's just that simple."

Cashman joined the Yankees as a 19-year-old intern in June 1986. He succeeded Bob Watson as general manager after the 1997 season.

"I've known Cash for a long time," Steinbrenner said. "He's been with our family for a long, long time. I think the big thing is with Brian is the organization he put in place. You know, it's not based on just one decision as far as do a trade or don't do a trade, or sign a free agent or don't."

Steinbrenner will be keeping a close eye during exhibition games on Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, the Yankees' trio of touted young pitchers.

"They're going to take it easy with them, build up their pitches," Steinbrenner said. "We'll be careful with them, but obviously everybody's going to be watching them."

Hal Steinbrenner in the interview you don't care about. Hal comes across as the softspoken intelligent brother to Hank's outspoken blowhard persona. After twenty years of silence, many would expect an interview chock full of intriguing anecdotes and an in-depth perspective of the Steinbrenner empire. Unfortunately, that does not appear to be the case in the above-linked GQ article.

Some points of interest:

Who’s at the top of the chain of command?
What’s been determined is that this is a family business, and if we’re both gonna be involved, it has to be an equal thing, and we both need to be involved with all major decisions, whether it’s the stadium, big expenditures, or [the unconsummated trade for Johan] Santana, for instance. It’s well publicized in New York that we didn’t agree on that deal. My concerns were economical and financial, and I’m not gonna get into those, but I also had baseball concerns. I didn’t want to get rid of these kids! Boy, the last time we had three young pitchers like Philip Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, and Ian Kennedy, I couldn’t even tell you.

Is it true, as the media has suggested, that Brian Cashman’s job is on the line because the Yankees didn’t do the Santana deal?
No, it’s not. I don’t know where the media gets this stuff sometimes. They gotta sell papers, I understand that. You gotta sell magazines, right? The bottom line is Cashman is with us this year. In any given year for the past thirty years, you could probably say, “This year the general manager’s job’s on the line.” That’s par for the course for that job, but certainly not because of one trade, no.

It’s been suggested that you and your brother would sell the team after your dad passed away. Given your uneasiness with public life, are you exploring this option?
No, we’re absolutely not planning on selling the team.

Are you willing to concede that Boston, my favorite team, is the superior organization right now?
No, I will never concede. They’ve got a lot of talent, and you’ve done very well the past few years, but let me put it this way: I don’t think you guys wanted to play us in the ALCS. So I will concede nothing. I think we’re better than you.

These excerpts were as inspired as Steinbrenner's comments reached throughout the interview.

Hankie Says Baseball Was Singled Out. Yankees boss-in-training, Hank Steinbrenner, does not like the fact that Major League Baseball is picking up the PED tab for the rest of professional sports. The NFL once saw offensive lineman over 300 lbs as freaks, but now such specimens are considered the norm. As is probably the case with MLB, somewhere in every NFL lockerroom is a Steve Lattimer locked in a bathroom stall transforming himself from David Banner to the Incredible Hulk. Steinbrenner opined that "everybody that knows sports knows football is tailor-made for performance-enhancing-drugs." The Yankees owner also said he was irritated when wondering "how [the NFL] managed to skate by" and believed "the number in football is at least twice as many [as baseball]."

Cash: Payroll's Too High

Brian Cashman is sick and tired of being chided as a baseball executive operating under an unlimited bank account. After watching the Yankees fail to win a World Series with an escalating payroll, Cashman reiterated to the AP yesterday it's time to cut down on expenses.

"We are high," Yankees GM Brain Cashman said in an interview with ESPN 1050 New York's Andrew Marchand. "If I could get our payroll lower [I would]. It is not going to happen -- not this year. But we have, at the end of the year, a lot of numbers coming off. The combination of building our farm stystem and getting our salary lines back to where they probably need to be. That's a process, too, and that takes some time. I'm not particularly proud that we have the highest payroll in the game.

"I just don't think you are going to get the type of bang for your buck at the type of dollars that you are paying."

"I don't think anyone is promised tomorrow," Cashman said. "It is something I don't really think about it. All I really care about, every day that I have had this job, is doing the best job I can while I've got it because I've had the fortunate side of having the rare opportunity of being one of 30 GMs in the game. While I do it, I'm going to do everything in my power to do the right way."

With Hal Steinbrenner supporting his financial conservatism and Hank publicly lobbying for Cashman to stay, it's altogether possible the Yankees GM re-signs for another three seasons. Contrarily, Hank Steinbrenner could just as easily dispatch Cashman should the Yankees fall short of the playoffs - or of the owner's expectations.

Hank's already begun griping over Cashman's decision to pass up Johan Santana - as well as place blame on the Yankees front office should Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy collectively add up to a six month season.

Hank Steinbrenner the columnist? Check out today's New York Post article written by the young elephant. I know Hanky likes to talk to the media, but I never imagined Hanky would become the media. For his next trick Lil' Stein will attempt to interview himself about where he stands on Johan Santana.


2008's Hardest Throwing Prospects

Baseball America compiled a list of the hardest throwing pitching prospects going into the 2008 season. The Yankees, with two in the top three, made a strong showing in this respect.


The 2002 list included some current stars - Carlos Zambrano, K-Rod, Bobby Jenks - as well as a plethora of names, ahem Sean Henn, which never made it big in the big leagues.

via Mike A.

Report: Mets Still Lead Santana Race

According to Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune, the Twins may be most enamored with the Mets as a trading partner and landing spot for Johan Santana. Christensen goes on to imply that the Yankees and Red Sox will not "improve their offers."

It is certainly possible that the two AL rivals will rescind their trade proposals altogether, if they haven't already considering Hank Steinbrenner's flipflopping. However, baseball people are not silly enough to rule out the Yankees, especially when Hank repeatedly leaves the door open for him to change his mind on the subject.

From the article:

The Twins know what they can get. And they realize none of the packages will appease their fans, who might never forgive them for trading the two-time Cy Young Award winner.

Still, Twins officials privately say they think Santana will be traded before spring training opens next month.

It's possible the Twins will trade Santana without landing one player who is universally recognized as a big help in 2008.

Lately, the Twins have seemed most intrigued with the Mets' offer.

The Mets are offering some combination of the following five players: Carlos Gomez, Fernando Martinez, Deolis Guerra, Philip Humber and Kevin Mulvey.

Gomez, 22, could step in immediately as the Twins' starting center fielder, but some scouts are skeptical about his bat.

The Twins are much higher on Martinez, 19, and Guerra, 18, even though they realize both might be in the minors until 2010.

As for Humber and Mulvey, neither projects as better than a No. 4 starter.

But if the Red Sox and Yankees don't improve their offers -- and the Twins have reason to believe they won't -- Santana could wind up with the Mets.

They will be dancing in the streets of Astoria if this ever goes down.

Hank Calls Report "Erroneous"

According to Newsday's Pete Caldera, today's report from ESPN Radio has been deemed "erroneous" by Hank Steinbrenner. Only took Hankenstein a few hours to retract Monday's news that Phil Hughes was off the table.

From Caldera:

Hank Steinbrenner says a broadcast report that the Yankees have taken their offer for Johan Santana off the table is “erroneous’’ – for the simple fact that there was no “official’’ offer made since the winter meetings.

Steinbrenner said there’s only been “very light talk back and forth’’ with the Minnesota Twins since mid December. Mainly, there’s been no movement “because of the fact that I haven’t decided’’ whether to deal a gaggle of young stars for Santana.

“There was no official offer,’’ Steinbrenner told us by phone late this afternoon. “If there’s an offer on the table, then that means you fully intend to do that deal. There is no offer right now,’’ though Steinbrenner added that “it doesn’t mean that a final decision has been made.’’

A few hours ago I'd said Hank can have a change of heart quicker than a manic depressive, but this is ridiculous.

And from ESPN.com:

"It's still in the deciding process," Steinbrenner said Monday night outside Legends Field at the Yankees' spring training complex. "We're still discussing it. There's still a little talk back and forth."

"There wasn't an official offer anyway. You can't withdraw something that wasn't there," Steinbrenner said. "There was no official offer on the table at this time."

Santana: Mets Moving Forward & Yanks Backward?

An update on the previous post has Joe Christensen reporting Mets owner Fred Wilpon gave Omar Minaya authority to offer Johan Santana an extension topping th $100 million mark. Of course a Santana deal would begin at the $126 million contract Barry Zito received a year ago, so this may not mean too much. If Wilpon told Minaya to part with Fernando Martinez, that would be something to get excited about.

From the article:

A turning point came when Wilpon gave the green light to GM Omar Minaya. If Minaya swings the trade, as I wrote about today, Wilpon is confident he’ll get Santana signed. In the Mets’ camp, there is a belief that the price for Santana won’t be quite as high as advertised. Santana might ask for a six-year, $150 million extension, but there’s a belief teams could negotiate down from there.

In the meantime, the Daily News reports Hank Steinbrenner is "leaning away from" a Santana trade. From Peter Botte's article:

While stressing there is "absolutely nothing new" in terms of recent trade discussions with the Twins, Hank is beginning to sound convinced - if not nearly ready - to walk away from any potential blockbuster deal for Johan Santana.

"We went into this with me making the final baseball decisions and Hal more addressing the financial aspects of the company, but we both do everything," Steinbrenner said yesterday in a phone interview. "We're equal partners, but at this point, to tell you the truth, I'm leaning away from it anyway, so it doesn't matter. Same thing with Brian, he's another integral part of it, obviously, being the general manager, and one day he's leaning to do it and the next day he's not sure.

"But what it comes down to right now is giving up a lot (in a trade) and then having to do the big contract, as well. If (Santana) was just a free agent, we could just go ahead and do it. There's a big difference this way. We have to sign him as if he's a free agent, plus you have to give up major talent. That's a tall order."

Steinbrenner added that opinions offered by several unspecified Yankees "during the course of conversation" in recent weeks have contributed to his change of heart.

"I'm growing more and more comfortable with what we have, and the veteran players I've talked to seem to be pretty comfortable with what we have. But we'll see what happens," said Steinbrenner, who reiterated that the plan is to shift Joba Chamberlain into the starting rotation. "I'm hoping we'll be set to go (to spring training).

Bingo! All hail Hal.

UPDATE: From LoHud:

Exchanged some e-mails with Phil Hughes the last couple of days. He started working out in Tampa a few days ago. Phil Franchise used some of his bonus money to get a place in Florida and he’s one of the first to report to the complex.

Good to see, now keep him there.

Hank: We'll Only Give Johan Five Years

Hank Steinbrenner says the Johan Santana situation "is my decision," though he will not give the lefthanded ace more than a five year deal, Kat O'Brien reports.

"There's definitely still a possibility," Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner said by phone yesterday afternoon.

But, Steinbrenner cautioned, there is "nothing new" with regards to Santana.

Steinbrenner acknowledged that there are several concerns that give the Yankees pause about trading for Santana: The high level of players the Yankees would have to give up in a trade, the large and lengthy contract Santana would command (and the effect on the Yankees' payroll), and the fact that not everyone in the organization is thinking the same way.

It is believed that general partner Hal Steinbrenner (Hank's younger brother) and general manager Brian Cashman have reservations.

"The bottom line is, it's my decision," Hank Steinbrenner said, "but there's disagreement within the organization. I've got to keep everybody happy in the organization, including Brian ... That includes my partner, which is my brother."

If the Yankees do complete a trade for Santana, Steinbrenner said they would not go beyond a five-year contract extension (one that expires after the 2013 season).

"I wouldn't do it if it were a six- or seven-year contract," Steinbrenner said. "I wouldn't go past five, on an extension."

On Joba Chamberlain:

Steinbrenner said the Yankees remain committed to having Joba Chamberlain in the starting rotation, and are not looking at him as a possible eighth-inning answer.

I was starting to get worried, there hadn't been a quote from Hank in almost two days.

Remember, a five year extension would be tacked onto the 2008 season in which he is under contract with Minnesota. That would mean any Santana trade finalized before the regular season would necessitate the Yankees paying a five year extension plus his entire 2008 salary. Already Hank's proposed five year cap would transform into essentially a six year contract.

As a sidenote, a poll displayed beside the mentioned article asked how badly the Yankees need Johan Santana. The responses were overwhelmingly in support of keeping the young pitchers (Hughes, Joba, Kennedy) with 41% believing "they'll be OK sticking with the young guys."

The second most popular response at 29% said the Yanks need Santana "Badly, but if they don't get him, I won't be let down." The next response received 23% of the votes, believing the Yankees need Santana "Very badly, but they shouldn't sell the entire farm system to get him." And finally, only 5% responded with "Are you kidding??? They should sell the entire farm system if they can get him!"

So Cashman wants to keep Hughes, Hal is against a Santana deal which would - including luxury tax - approach $200 million and the Yankees fanbase is overwhelmingly against a Santana trade that robs the farm system.

* According to Pete Caldera, Hank polled some of the veteran Yankees about a potential Santana trade, and surprisingly most of the players were "pretty darn confident" about this year - without Santana on the team.

While speaking to some of his trusted veteran Yankees on other matters, senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner also has sought input about a possible deal for Johan Santana.

According to the majority opinion of his players, the team doesn't need to make a blockbuster deal with the Minnesota Twins to put them over the top.

"Nobody would say that we don't want Santana, but, yeah, they're pretty darn confident in what we can do this year [as is]," Steinbrenner said during a phone conversation Tuesday.

"We're still throwing it around and talking about it. It may happen, or it may not happen," Steinbrenner said. "But a few of our best players seem very confident in the way that things stand right now."

Steinbrenner would not reveal which veteran players he had spoken to, but offered that "they feel fairly confident that we've got a lot of great young pitchers."

So the players, the GM, a general partner and the fans feel the Yankees are fine "as is," but Hank still has yet to see the light.

Cashman: "Things Have Changed"

During a charity event at Fenway Park today, Brian Cashman told reporters his job as Yankees GM has changed with the influx of new ownership.

From LoHud:

For the first time in public, Cashman admitted what has become increasingly evident: That his job has changed since the Steinbrenner sons took control of the team.

“Things have changed here in the third year,” he said. “I’m learning as I go along, too. But it is different. But one thing is that I’ve been with this family, the Steinbrenner family, for well over 20 years. So I’m focused fully on doing everything I possibly can to assist them in their emergence now as decision makers.”

Cashman’s contract runs out in October. Asked whether he wanted to return, he didn’t answer directly.

"At the end of the day, if you have an opportunity to build something and be a leader in that situation, you stick to it. It's your way and you find a way to stick to it, despite the media pressures, the ownership pressures, the fans' pressures and realize, 'You know what? I believe in what I'm doing and I'll stick to it as long as you give me the opportunity and then get judged on the results at the end of the day.'"

Following the panel discussion, Cashman fielded questions on everything from dealing with the Steinbrenner brothers to Roger Clemens and the Mitchell Report.

"Everybody has their own style," Cashman said of the Steinbrenners. "And Hank has obviously taken charge on behalf of his father, along with his brother, Hal. They have different styles. Hal is more quiet and Hank is very available, but my job is to continue to line up the structure of the organization that can find the amateur talent."

“Because of all the work that gets involved with doing the job, it kind of prevents me from really looking ahead past this year,” he said. “I’m just doing everything I possibly can to assist the transition with the new manager, the new owners, with the involvement now with the Steinbrenner sons. And then the rest will take care of itself at another time.”

Nothing surprising from the report, other than the fact that Hank Steinbrenner has yet to issue a public rebuttle... yet.

Canseco "Does Not Have The Goods" On A-Rod

According to the New York Daily News, Jose Canseco's plans for his follow-up to the steroid confession Juiced is already losing credibility. Former associated editor of Sports Illustrated, Don Yaeger, who was supposed to collaborate on the book has decided to pass on the project. Essentially, Yaeger told the Daily News Canseco ain't got $h*t on Alex Rodriguez.

From the Daily News:

Jose Canseco’s sequel to his 2005 best-seller “Juiced” has hit its first snag.

As the Daily News first reported last weekend, former Bash Brother Canseco has finalized a deal to publish “Vindicated” with Penguin Books, with a planned release date to coincide with Opening Day.

But former Sports Illustrated associate editor Don Yaeger, who was scheduled to collaborate with Canseco on the book, has passed on the project. Yaeger said Friday that Canseco does not have the goods on Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez that Canseco alluded to in media interviews last month.

“I’m passing,” Yaeger told the Daily News. “I had a chance to review the Jose Canseco (material) that he provided me. I don’t think there’s a book there. I don’t know what they’re going to do. I don’t think he’s got what he claims to have, certainly doesn’t have what he claims to have on A-Rod.

“There’s no meat on the bones.”

Yaeger said what he was provided with fell far short of the Canseco boasts. "The thing is, if he had all this material, why wasn't it in the first book?" asked Yaeger.

There you have it; them bones is bare.

Jose may have been "shocked" that Rodriguez was not included in the Mitchell Report, but no one's shocked by this devastating blow to Vindicated. No doubt Canseco knew some of the goings-on of the steroid renaissance, but deep down he was always just a opportunistic media-whore looking to turn a quick buck.

Maybe he can write a new tome.... just title the project Evicted, expressing the hardships of a fallen cheater author. The only one vindicated, here, is Alexander the Great.

· Hankenstein Refuses To Shut Up

Hank Steinbrenner continues to broadcast Yankees internal debate on Johan Santana:

“Nothing is really decided at this point. I’m still leaning towards doing it. There’s others leaning not to do it. There are some others that are leaning to do it also. Disagreements within the organization. Nothing major, but just different opinions. I’ve changed my opinion a couple times.”

He also explained though Cashman is the general manager, "I am going to make the final decisions."

On December 2, here's what Hank told Bill Madden of the Daily News during what Little Steinbrenner referred to as his last interview:

"My dad always loved the limelight," Hank says, "and that was part of the reason he never wanted to retire. Me? I could take it or leave it, although I do enjoy connecting with the media and, by association, our fans."

Gee, Hank sure seems to be taking a lot more of the limelight than leaving during his first few weeks on the job. Like I said two months ago, shut your yap Lil' Stein.