First, let's dispel once and for all this fiction that Hal Steinbrenner doesn't know what he's doing. He knows exactly what he's doing. He is undertaking a systematic effort to change this team, to make the Yankees just like the rest of baseball...

And that's why he has refused to spend money on even just one free agent. It is no less than a systematic effort to remake the Yankees into just another franchise. And darn it, it's working.

As the 2016 team gathers in Tampa, aside from the bullpen - which, despite sporting three closers, still has no proven innings-eaters, due to the trades of Justin Wilson and Adam Warren - there is no credible argument that the Yankees are superior to the Blue Jays and possibly even the Redsocks in the AL East. We're sitting around in our homes, waiting for Terry Bradshaw to knock on the front door and warn us about shingles, and we're wondering whether CC Sabathia will answer the bell? Of course, he will answer the bell! He'll think it's the dinner bell! The problem is, like Sabathia, the Yankee core players simply will be one year older, one year more brittle, and one year closer to retirement, due to policies instituted by Steinbrenner.

Some will say he doesn't know what he's doing. I disagree. I say Hal Steinbrenner knows exactly what he's doing. He is undertaking a systematic effort to remake the Yankees into a team just like those which play European soccer. Look at Chase Headley. Why do we have Chase Headley? We spent most of last winter harping over long-term contracts, and then - as if to stick it personally to A-Rod - we gave Headley a four-year-deal, and now we're stuck with him. This week, two Cuban brothers defected to America. They want to play for the Yankees. One is 31 and a genuine star in Cuba. He could be a Martin Prado type. The other is low-20s, an infield prospect, and seeing as how we have nobody playing third at Scranton, it's a natural fit, but will we do anything? Of course not. And you ask why? I'll tell you why.

Let's dispel the notion that Hal Steinbrenner doesn't know he's doing. He knows exactly what he's doing...