TAMPA – Hank Steinbrenner tells it like it is and if the young pitching comes around he envisions what could be a Decade of Dominance for the Yankees.
“This year, I think we have as much a chance to win it all as the other top three or four teams in the American League,” a relaxed Steinbrenner told The Post yesterday on the eve of spring training as he sat in his office overlooking Legends Field. “I think we are all kind of together right now.
“I can honestly tell you I believe in my gut, and usually my first instinct is right, that we got a chance to be the best team in baseball, period, over the next several years and it could even be the next 10 years.
“That doesn’t mean you win it every year, but we are going to have a tremendous chance to win it any particular year, barring bad injuries, for the next 10 years,” said the new Boss. “We’re going to be that tough. That’s what we’re building towards.”
The Yankees believe in their young pitching so much that they opted not to trade for Johan Santana, even though at the end, when the Mets acquired the ace, the Twins came back to Yankees and Phil Hughes was not included in that package.
“There’s been a lot of pressure put on Phil Hughes, but the fact is that Hughes was not in the deal at the end, none of the three [Joba Chamberlain, Hughes or Ian Kennedy] were in the deal,” Steinbrenner said. “There was a possibility we could have made the trade without them. Minnesota called us with some other possibilities.”
GM Brian Cashman and the Yankees brain trust decided to keep all their young players. Chamberlain, who figures to start the season in the bullpen, Hughes and Kennedy are the keys to the present and future, but last year’s top pick Andrew Brackman, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery, could be a future ace as well and Steinbrenner has increased the scouting budget.
Steinbrenner said both he and The Boss, his dad, George Steinbrenner, were leaning toward making the Santana deal, noting, “In the end, I think we’ll be fine. I feel good about our team and our future, but I would have felt very happy about this year if we had made the Santana deal. I think the Mets made a good trade, they really needed him.”
Steinbrenner is expecting another playoff run at the least in the finale of Yankee Stadium. “They do need to make the playoffs or let’s face it, I’m going to be ticked off,” Steinbrenner said. “And then once we get in the playoffs we’d better do well, but the fact of the matter is, as far as the next 10 years we could be in dynamite shape. We could have the best pitching staff since the Dodgers in the ’60s and obviously we’ll have some good hitters, too.”
Steinbrenner, 50, said both he and his dad are excited for spring training to see the young pitchers, and to see new manager Joe Girardi mold this group.
“Despite all of Joe Torre’s success sometimes in the end there just comes a time for change,” Steinbrenner said. “I didn’t really want the change, yet. I wanted Joe Torre to take the deal, but he didn’t and maybe things will work out for the best. Joe Girardi is more my style of manager.”
What is that style?
“More fire to him, tougher maybe,” Steinbrenner said. “He can be a players’ manager as well. He’s very driven and smart. Joe Torre was smart too, but Joe Girardi has got more fire to him.”
After not winning a championship since 2000 and being ousted in the first round the previous three seasons, the Yankees have opted for more fire. That’s a page out of The Boss’ book.
Hank said his dad is doing “very well lately” and is thrilled the community plans to name Legends Field after him. “It means a lot to him,” Hank said. “My dad and I talk all the time, and not just baseball, but college football, the old days in Cleveland, everything.”
With sons Hank and Hal running the Yankees Universe on a daily basis, The Boss is happy. “He seems very proud,” Hank said. “It’s the family business.”
Sounding much like his dad, Hank added, “If you are going to be in the sports business you got to want to win. Otherwise, if you’re looking just to make money, buy a bank.”
Hank Steinbrenner is hopeful the Yankees will cash in as winners much of the next decade.