Yankeetorial: Soon, we will learn just how much Hal Steinbrenner has come to loathe his father's favorite toy

The NBA announced yesterday that Knicks owner Jim Dolan - the veritable human definition of incompetence - won't face punishment for telling off a fan in an angry email, saying the great and mighty Knicks - currently 10-42 on the season, and 25 games out - don't want him.

Soon, Hal Steinbrenner can get the same reaction out of the entire NY Yankee fan base. And he won't even have to press "SEND."

Soon, Yoan Moncada, this winter's last tempting free agent, will sign with somebody. For the last three months, Hal has sat on his tightly zippered purse, as every major auction came and went. He simply clutched his coins and pointed to A-Rod, saying, "Blame him!" Hal said fiscal prudence will restore the Yankees to their former prominence... of 15 years ago.

Coincidentally, the Steinbrenners will bank all that money the team saves. 

And, amazingly, the Yankiverse seems inclined to let him get away with it.

Insert sigh here.

Yesterday, the "Evil Empire" - (ah, remember when we were an "empire?") - watched as San Diego signed James Shields, a pitcher who might have propelled the 2015 Yankees to spring respectability. The Padres got him for $75 million over four years - chickenfeed, compared to what the Yankees doled out last year for our Three Stooges, Bri, Carl and Jac. It's hard to imagine George Steinbrenner letting Shields go for so little. Then again, George never played the owners' game of poor-mouthing. (The players union called it "collusion.") 

Still, Moncada remains unsigned. He is 19, a switch-hitter, and he might even play SS. He is the last domino to drop on this brutally long winter of Yankee discontent.

In the next few days, Moncada will come off the board. That means Hal can throw up his hands and lament that no 19-year-old is worth so much money. And the clown courtiers of the NYC media will agree - because, hey, that's how calls get returned.

Or... Hal can belly up to the bar, pull out his infinitely thick stack of bills, and buy us one stiff shot of hope - something in which to believe, as this stinker of a team unfurls itself. 

The last two Yankee teams - known for Lyle Overbay and Yangervis Solarte - entered their seasons already dead. This will be the third. This winter, we basically rearranged the deck chairs. We remain a year away from any meaningful influx of youth - that is, if any is coming. Track records being what they are, there is reason to wonder if help is truly on the way.  

It is time for Hal to unzip his precious purse. The snow outside our doors is two feet high. We need some ray of hope. We don't need to spend the next month watching a billionaire pull out his pockets, poor-mouthing and blaming A-Rod.

I'd rather get an email telling me where to go.