Set the scene, picture Hal Steinbrenner sitting at his desk
in his multi-billion dollar home with any bill less than a $50 burning in the
fireplace for no apparent reason. It’s Christmas Eve and he’s making his list
and he’s checking it twice to make sure he didn’t miss anybody. Chris Young,
check. Andrew Miller, check. Didi Gregorius, check. Nathan Eovaldi, check.
Chris Capuano, check. Chase Headley, check. Garrett Jones, check. Beside that
list was another list, a more general and generic list, which Mr. Steinbrenner
moved to satisfied with his findings on the first list. Find a shortstop to
replace the great Derek Jeter, check. Find a closer to replace David Robertson,
check. Improve the pitching, check. Emulate the Kansas City Royals bullpen from
2014 with a three headed monster, check. Keep Alex Rodriguez off the field at
all costs, check. Bring back Brian Cashman, check. Fire Kevin Long, check. Fire
Mick Kelleher, check. Replace both Long and Kelleher, he’ll have to get back to
that. Steinbrenner, satisfied with his offseason even though it’s Christmas Eve
and two of the top 10 free agents are still on the board, Hal decides to go to
bed in his 8,000,000,000 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets when he hears
something knocking at the door, a ghost.
“Son, it’s me. What in the world are you doing?” says the
ghost of George Steinbrenner. Hal, shocked, replies that he was going to bed
for tomorrow was Christmas Day and he had hundreds of thousands of dollars’
worth of presents to open in the morning and wanted to get an early start. This
angered the ghost of Yankees past and he snatched Hal out of the bed and
ushered him into the kitchen where he poured him a very ironically and
strategically placed glass of Kool-Aide. Hal, thinking it was some of his 1996 wine
he had ordered from Italy just three days prior, took a big swallow only to
realize his mistake, spit out the wine and ask his father “What in the world
are you feeding me?” The ghost of Yankees past, which that grin that he was so
known for especially around the months of July and November – January, replied
“I am simply giving you what you are feeding the greatest fans in the world,
the Yankees fans. Now come with me while I show you the error of your ways.”
In a flash George and Hal Steinbrenner sat in the living
room of a die hard Yankees fan who owned a blog called The Greedy Pinstripes.
Daniel Burch could not see or hear the Steinbrenner’s but they could hear him
and watched as he ferociously typed away on a piece about how the Yankees should
“get greedy” and “sign Scherzer” and “trade for Tulo” and something along the
lines of “World Series caliber team.” That’s when Hal began to shudder as he
knew where this conversation was going. He looked up at his father and caught a
glimpse of a father looking down at his son in a way that showed not anger, but
disappointment. The same disappointment that Daniel had on his face when he
waved his hands in a dismissive fashion, closed his Google Chrome and did not
click save changes on his post.
Without saying a word, because the ghost of Yankees past
knew a word did not need to be muttered, he flashed in an instant to another
Yankees fans house, that of Mr. Michael Brogna. Michael was frantically
checking Twitter every so often wondering who and what would happen next like
he had been for the last number of weeks with little results. Again the look of
disappointment on a true fan sporting the interlocking N and Y and once again
the utter look of disappointment on the ghost of Yankees past’s face. Hal could
hardly look his father in the eyes now and simply replied with a “We spent over
$500 million last season and it got us 85 wins.” This angered the ghost of
Yankees past and for the first time since they left the Steinbrenner Mansion
the eldest Steinbrenner broke his silence and spoke. “We can’t live in the
past, we’re always looking towards the future. Nobody cares what you did last
season unless it brought us all the ultimate goal of a World Series
championship. Can’t you see what you’re doing and how it is affecting the
bottom line you care about so much? Look at the attendance the last two seasons
as well as the ratings on the YES Network, you know that network I broke my
back to build for you to sell less than five years after my death, after
putting out such a mediocre team on the field. They sucked and you should be
fired. In this market you have to spend money to make money. How much money is
this team going to make with declining attendance and no 3,000 hit chase, no
farewell tour of a member of the Core Four and no player’s jersey that we can’t
keep on the shelves before Spring Training? Don’t answer that as I have one
more stop to make tonight if we’re quick enough, so let’s move.”
The third and final stop on the journey went to the home of
a Mr. Alex Emmanuel Rodriguez. Rodriguez was on the phone and the
Steinbrenner’s only caught the tail end of the conversation. Rodriguez,
speaking to an undisclosed person on the other end, was overheard saying “and
the best part is I am still going to get $61 million over the next three years
and everything they have done pretty much assures me that I don’t have to do
anything for it. It’s free money. All I have to do is play once a week, hit my
six home runs to tie Willie Mays, collect my extra $6 million bonus and go home
to Miami for the winter. They think they are hurting my feelings not
guaranteeing me a contract and not giving me any playing time like it’s going
to hurt my ego but I’m over it. Two steroid allegations, a steroid suspension
and millions of dollars in lost wages will really mature a guy and make him see
the bigger picture. I’m not going to simply retire and declare myself
physically unable to play I am going to sit on the bench and collect my money
like any other person would. Call me Albert Belle, call me Bobby Bonilla, call
me Centaur, call me whatever you like as long as the check doesn’t bounce.” And
with that the look of disappointment from the ghost of Yankees past went from
disappointment to anger. With a flash the two were back in the Steinbrenner
kitchen with that same glass of orange Kool-Aide sitting on the counter.
This time the ghost of Yankees past did not have to say
anything, it was Hal that did all the talking. “I understand what you’re trying
to show me sir and I get it. You gave complete control to Brian Cashman and I,
my brother and Randy Levine took that from him. We signed Alex to that monster
deal and big against ourselves much like we did with Rafael Soriano. I refused
to write checks to Yoenis Cespedes, Yasiel Puig and another notable
international free agents because of the fear that a Jose Contreras contract
put in my heart some 15-20 years ago. I’m the one essentially letting Robinson
Cano walk and I’m the one trading the Shane Greene’s of the world while I give
Kelly Johnson and Brian Roberts one year “reclamation” deals. It’s on me sir
and I intend to fix it. I no longer will live in your shadow and I will no
longer live in the rearview mirror of the Los Angeles Dodger’s accountants.
Dad, get me the phone!”
The ghost of Yankees past handed his son the iPhone 6 Plus
and he proceeded to call agent Scott Boras. Within minutes a blank contract and
check were faxed to Max Scherzer while a list of available players and
prospects were being drawn up and prepared to send to the Colorado Rockies.
With his final action the younger Steinbrenner called Mr. Brogna, Mr. Rodriguez
and Mr. Burch and each phone call had an entirely different tone to it. An
apology to Mr. Brogna came after an olive branch containing season tickets for
life in A Rod’s luxury suite. That suite was easily handed to Michael because
the next call was to Rodriguez and he was told to take his $61 million dollars
and go, anywhere but here, and don’t come back. The final call to Mr. Burch was
a more somber call and conversation which ended in Hal asking Mr. Burch to be
his Peter Brand. Mr. Burch, embarrassed, asked Hal “who is Peter Brand?” with a
laugh Hal simply responded “you know, Jonah Hill from Moneyball.” Burch, with a
sheepish laugh and with an intended fist pump” screamed “YES!!!” into the
phone.
The deals were done, the Yankees were better, the fans were
happy, Hal’s conscience was clear and his understand hit a new level while the
ghost of Yankees past simply disappeared into the infinite abyss. Hal never
knew what happened to the ghost of Yankees past, whether he had been real or an
eerily vivid dream, but Hal understood what needed to be done and he did it.
Hal did not sell the team and the screams for him to sell the team almost
immediately stopped. The Yankees went on to win their 28th, 29th
and 30th World Series championships before the turn of the century
and once again a dynasty was in place just like the way it should be. All
thanks to an old rich guy with bad hair and a huge checkbook, a pissed off
ghost and one Yankees fans undying love for the team. The faith and love for
the team returned and the fans returned to the Bronx in flocks all to live
happily ever after.
Well except for the ghost of Yankees past, he was still
dead. The End. Merry Christmas everyone.