Were you under the impression that Hank Steinbrenner wasn't calling the shots for the New York Yankees right now? Maybe you were thinking that Brian Cashman and Hank's brother Hal were the ones who made the decisions, and Hank was just the one who said stupid things in the media.

Well I've got some news for you. You're a know-nothing piece of crap and Hank Steinbrenner doesn't have the time to waste on your insignificant existence! He's in charge, damn it!

Sitting behind his desk at George M. Steinbrenner Field, Hank Steinbrenner yesterday spit on the notion he has taken a step back in running the Yankees

"There is one very important point here," Steinbrenner told The Post during an exclusive half-hour session. "The most important thing to remember is this: If you didn't get it from me or my brother [Hal], it doesn't mean [anything]. I don't care about some piss-ant employee. If you don't get it from me or Hal, it's meaningless. I have a lot of things [in Tampa] and Hal is in New York, which is good."

You hear that you little piss-ants!? Yeah, he's talking to you, Cashman. Hank is in charge round these parts, and he doesn't want to hear anyone say otherwise!

Also, in a delicious bit of irony, Hank goes on in his interview with the New York Post to say that he's going to shy away from the media this year. He says this after he holds an interview to reiterate that he's in charge, and then tells everybody what the team plans on doing this season and that he still feels the team should have gone after Johan Santana last winter.

Way to keep your mouth shut, Hank. That lasted a whole three, maybe even four seconds.

Should the Yankees throw mega-dollars at Mark Teixeira? It's a perfectly valid question, and one I'm not surprised to see Joel Sherman of the New York Post (via the OC) explore.

The argument not to pay the man is compelling: namely, the Yankees have several players (Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Alex Rodriguez) who may need to move to a less defensively challenging position sometime soon, so it doesn't make the most sense to block their transition with a $100+ million slugger who can't play anywhere else.

But does Sherman mention that? Not at all. His arguments rests on the fact that Tex is a Scott Boras client. While that's never scared the Yankees in the past, Sherman thinks Brian Cashman will tighten the purse strings going forth. I don't see it, not with all the extra cash from the new stadium, but at least it's somewhat believable.

The second argument, though, is just plain ridiculous:

Teixeira has a mixed reputation. He has much in common with A-Rod. He is diligent about staying in shape year-round, is durable and works hard on all facets of his game. But his detractors - and there are more than a few - say that, like A-Rod, Teixeira is an accumulator who feasts on bad pitching, does his best work when his team is way ahead or behind, and is a corporation unto himself who does not mesh seamlessly with the clubhouse culture. Essentially the overall numbers are better than the total package.

As inevitable post-season rumors go, the Yankees getting involved in the CC Sabathia bidding is about as foregone of a conclusion as there is right now. The Yankees missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade and a half right now, they're awash with cash, and CC Sabathia is not only the best pitcher in either league at the moment, but a free agent. Even if the brash Hank Steinbrenner weren't running the team, it'd make logical sense for the Yankees to be in in the bidding. Well, it makes logical sense to everyone but Tracy Ringolsby. Buried in his notes column today is this gem:

The Yankees aren't expected to make a strong pitch for potential free-agent left-hander CC Sabathia, whom they fear might be too laid back for the turmoil of the Bronx.

But ... who says that? Ringolsby? His sources? The underpants gnomes? Why did that item run after a blurb about Jerry DiPoto? One would think that real information about where the biggest free agent on the market was going to land would be worth more than one sentence in the bottom of a notes column.

This seems more a set-up for an "I told you so" column down the road. I mean, I freely admit that Ringoslby might have some information that we don't, but don't you think that the ex-President of the Baseball Writers Association of America would do a better job presenting that information?

The Yankees played their final game at Yankee Stadium last month, but the House that Ruth Built wasn't expected to be officially closed for business until a charity concert scheduled for November. In hindsight, the Yanks decided nothing could top their on-field ceremony and Derek Jeter's speech to the crowd. From the New York Daily News:

"The Yankees were considering having a charitable event at Yankee Stadium," Jason Zillo, the team's media relations director, said in a statement Tuesday. "However, the Yankees realize that the final event at Yankee Stadium should be a baseball game, which in fact took place on Sept. 21, 2008."

[...] Among the rumored performers at the November event were Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Jay-Z and Billy Joel, although the entertainers had not given solid commitments and might not have been available.

If the Yankees hadn't missed the playoffs, I'm guessing the event would still be on -- a concert with Springsteen, McCartney, Jay-Z and Billy Joel would have made for a hell of a World Series celebration, no? Obviously, it wasn't meant to be. Rest assured that while the Yanks decided to pull the plug they're not jilting the Baseball Assistance Team, the charity originally expected to benefit from the event -- in lieu of ticket sales, the team will make a $500,000 donation.

For four teams, the next two days begin the quest for a World Series championship. For the rest of them, rumors abound about what they can do to get there next year. It's called the hot stove season, and frankly this stove has been malfunctioning for years ... bringing forth many deals that have little if any chance of happening, while occasionally getting something right. Yankee blog Was Watching brings our attention to the first of many such rumors, and it's a big one:

Frank Russo, on New York Baseball Digest Radio's Yankee Special, mentioned that his connections have shared that the Mets are accepting inquiries for Carlos Beltran. And, further, according to Russo, his sources have also shared that there's a rumor of a possible deal between the Mets and Yankees which would breakdown as follows:

Carlos Beltran from the Mets to the Yankees in exchange for Robinson Cano (with the Yankees taking on most of Cano's contract), either Jose Veras or Brian Bruney, Ian Kennedy, and another prospect from the Yankees system.

For crying out loud we're not even in November and already rumors like this are flying? The hot stove has to learn to pace itself.

You know what I'm enjoying? A Yankees-free postseason. The last time that happened I was fourteen years old. You know who was good back then? Freaking Paul Molitor. God forsaken Mark Langston was good back then. We had to churn our butter by hand. I feel like I'm living in Tomorrowland, now. Like the people mover is going to slowly roll me toward a happier America where Tampa has a sports team and Manny Ramirez is more than a Rated Rookie.

Oh well, no matter what the future holds, at least we'll have that fat-headed gentleman to the right, am I right guys? Guys?

Tonight's Dugout (OF TOMORROW!) is after the jump.

Now that Brian Cashman has signed on for three more years, it's time for the Yankees to get back to doing what they do best -- namely, throwing ungodly sums of money at players. The starting rotation needs the most attention, especially considering Chien-Ming Wang, who made all of 15 starts in 2008, is the only sure thing.

Feel free to pencil Joba Chamberlain in for a spot, though given his injury history, anything more than 20 starts should be considered gravy. Theoretically Philip Hughes and/or Ian Kennedy will contend for a spot, but only if they make huge strides over the offseason.

Andy Pettitte? As of last month he still hadn't decided if he wanted to play another year. Same goes for Mike Mussina, who told the New York Daily News yesterday he hasn't "put a timetable" on making up his mind.

So what other options are the Yankees considering? George King III of the New York Post is convinced CC Sabathia, the jewel of free agency, is headed for California, which could make A.J. Burnett the new top option.

There's a large, gaping hole of symbolism between a fun-to-report total rumor and a legitimately important celebrity relationship story. And that hole can be filled when two people as famous as Alex Rodriguez and Madonna are seen eating dinner together. (Or when Madonna allegedly "brainwashes" A-Rod, but that's beside the point.)

Which is what the New York Post is reporting, via the always fun "sources."

REPS for Madonna and Alex Rodriguez deny the two dined together at Dos Caminos on Third Avenue the other night. But sources insist the Yankee star broke bread with Madge and two male friends. "Madonna entered through the front door half an hour after A-Rod arrived and had her security guards check the exits before she sat down at a quiet corner table," said one source. Madonna had the men laughing with her stories. When the meal was over, they left by separate exits.

I don't feel "good" about reporting this -- clearly it has nothing to do with the actual playoffs going on. However, A-Rod and Madonna are two enormously famous celebrities in their respective corners of the world, so it's going to be news to lots of people when they come together.

Perhaps neither one is really that great in terms of legitimate non-pop culture likability (I can only imagine the fake-accent-spewing children they would crank out), but they are both immensely talented and popular. So if they start dating, I'm gonna tell you about it. (Oh yeah, it might be important to note that their reps are totally denying all of this.)

Also, how awful would C-Rod feel if Alex took the Yankees to a title the year after they locked up that divorce? I think it would be fairly awkward.

After weighing his options, Brian Cashman decided to return to the Yankees, agreeing to a three-year extension on Tuesday. From the New York Times:

"I know I've said it before, but it's an incredible opportunity and honor to hold the title of general manager for the New York Yankees," Cashman said in a statement. "With it comes a great responsibility to ownership, the people who wear the uniform and our fan base. I've got a job to finish here. That's the bottom line.

"I consider coming off a season where we didn't reach the playoffs for the first time since 1993 as a personal challenge. I've never been one to run from a challenge, and I look forward to having the chance to go after this thing again."

I can't say I'm terribly surprised. The Yankees are the only team Cashman has ever been with, and leaving now, on the eve of opening the new stadium, would have been a difficult decision. Plus, it's not like the Yankees aren't making it worth his while -- Newsday reports that his new contract is "in the vicinity of three years and $6 million."

The Yankees aren't in the playoffs, but Joba Chamberlain's shoulder continues to haunt the headlines!

George King III reports in today's New York Post that Joba left his final outing of the season on Sunday feeling tightness in his right shoulder. Although he didn't complain of any discomfort before last weekend, it's possible this has been plaguing him for a while:

According to a scout who recently tracked Chamberlain, tightness could be why his velocity was down during the final two weeks of the season. "He was throwing 91 mph and a lot of sliders," the scout said of Chamberlain, whose fastball was clocked at 97-98 mph before he spent almost a month on the DL with rotator-cuff tendinitis.

The ailment isn't considered to be too serious, but it's still a disheartening way to head into the offseason, especially considering the Yankees had toyed with the idea of letting him pitch winter ball to rack up a few more innings. Now, it seems like the prudent move would be to tie him up in bubblewrap and send him home for the winter.