After three years of self-righteous bluster, will the Yankees be found to have cheated?

Soon, perhaps before opening day, the U.S. Second Court of Appeals is expected to release a 2017 letter that apparently details the Yankees' involvement with electronic sign-stealing - similar to the scandals that still taint the Astros and Redsocks, (scumbucket cheaters that they are.) 

We don't know the contents of this letter. All we know is that the Yankees really, really... really...  don't want it made public...  which, of course, makes us want it more.

In denying the Yankees' bid to disappear the document, the court wrote: 

“The Yankees argue that the harm from the unsealing of the Yankees Letter will arise because its content ‘would be distorted to falsely and unfairly generate the confusing scenario that the Yankees had somehow violated MLB’s sign-stealing rules, when in fact the Yankees did not.' “That argument, however, carries little weight."

By the way, this looks like the old Bill Barr Defense: Deny deny deny, and suppress suppress suppress.  The Yankees wanted it both ways and, unless they plan to take this to the Supreme Court - (that's what cornered billionaires do, isn't it?) - they might be about to fry in their own grease.

So, a few questions...

1. If the Yankees did cheat, who authorized it? 

MLB suspended several Astros and Redsocks officials for a year. Presumably, the Yankees won't have been found as blatantly guilty, but still... how high could this go? And will anybody pay a price?

2. Will the hypocrisy bring them down? 

Think of that old political chestnut, "It's the coverup, not the crime." For three years, the Yankees whipped up their fanbase over the cheating scandal. If it turns out that they were also caught cheating... yikes. Prepare to those block phone calls from Redsock fans. 

3. Will the Gammonites take kindly to the accusation that they unfairly distort news against the Yankees? 

Frankly, in recent years, it's the lack of critics that plagues this franchise. Media outlets have dwindled, and the Yankees own their primary coverage vehicle, the YES channel. We may love Coney & Curry - and John & Suzyn, but they can never rip the front office. We might as well ask that brave Russian TV producer to hold up a sign that says, THEY'RE LYING TO YOU. It is state TV.

4. Just how explosive could this be?

Frankly, the Yankees have already screwed themselves: By fighting this letter, they have turned it into a major story. If they'd let it go three years ago, it would be ancient history by now. They just wouldn't have been able to pleasure themselves with so much self-righteous indignation. This could turn out to be a huge embarrassment for Hal Steinbrenner.  

Listen, over the years, we at IIH have made no secret of our disdain for the Yankee owner. But honestly, there are times when I feel for the guy. 

I don't think Hal ever wanted to run the Yankees. They were foisted upon him, and I suspect he still looks at his old sled,"Rosebud," and longs for a simpler life. I want to believe he would not authorize a strategy that involved cheating. Why? I think Hal wants desperately to be accepted by his fellow owners - so much that he limits using his unfathomable wealth to improve the Yankees. 

To be caught cheating, to cover it up, and then to be publicly pilloried for his hypocrisy - that would be about the worst thing that could happen to him. 

Of course, the letter might be nothing. If so, the Yankees did themselves no favors by fighting its release. Which leads us to a final question: 

Have we ever seen this organization more in turmoil?