If the Boss were still in control, we'd have Halladay by now

The fact that we haven't exploded our franchise for Roy Halladay speaks Homeric volumes about regime change atop the Yankiverse -- and hope for our future.

Yes, it was great to dedicate 2009 to The Boss --a basically loveable coot now in that inevitable losing bout with Mr. D -- let's ponder how he affected the last eight rotten years.

Around this time each year, George selected a stud horse, and Cashman went balls-out to get him. Didn't matter what we gave up. We got George's prize.

Randy Johnson. Too tall, too late.

Gary Sheffield. Chemistry? Who needed it?

Tony Womack. The most senseless acquisition of the decade.

George's whims.

If The Boss were still calling shots, both Joba and Hughes, plus Jesus, Jackson and a caravan of unknown jewels, would be Toronto-bound. Boston would sit back and laugh. They'd sign John Lackey and Marco Scutaro, then pounce on Josh Johnson from the Marlins. By May, everybody in baseball would know they outwitted us.

We'll never know where George's whims ended and Cashman's mistakes began. (Carl Pavano, Giambi...?) But we still have a chance to avoid a horrible overpayment to the Jays. We can still be smart.

Sign John Lackey. That's all. SIGN JOHN LACKEY.

IF WE SIGN JOHN LACKEY, WE WILL REPEAT AS WORLD CHAMPIONS.

IT'S THAT SIMPLE.

SIGN JOHN LACKEY!