Hal Steinbrenner Speaks and Confirms Why the Yankees Fail

Mark Twain hit the nail on the head. “It's better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.” New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner came out of hiding via Zoom and promptly removed all doubt. His comments revealed not only a lack of baseball knowledge but a tendency to complain, deflect, and expose the organizational weaknesses at the very top. The more Hal and Yankee GM Brian Cashman speak, it becomes clear that common sense and baseball acumen are in short supply in the Bronx. 

Hal was confronted on the topics of payroll, his manager, Japanese players, and accountability. His answers confirmed what many podcasters and the fanbase suspected. Hal does not call the shots here, and Brian Cashman is running his own silent fiefdom. Aaron Boone just parrots the company line. When asked about his opinion on Boone as manager, Hal rushed to defend him, insisting, “This is on the players’ shoulders,” Hal exclaimed, “you can't pin this on Aaron Boone.” The problem was that Hal hadn’t even watched the playoffs to see his investment collapse. He waited for a report on it.

This brings us back to the off-season of 2024, when Hal admitted he formed an opinion about a heated meeting he never attended. He relied on secondhand reports instead of firsthand knowledge. Hal does not know baseball at all. He listens to his friend Cashman and takes his word for everything. His answers sound rehearsed, detached, and disconnected from the reality of his club. A case in point was the lack of fundamentals that anyone could see the cause with their own eyes, while Hal depended on scripted talking points.

The question of errors and lack of preparation reared its ugly head again in 2025, and Hal addressed it in an interesting way. “Players and team coaches feel we need to cut down on mental mistakes,” Steinbrenner stated. This was corrected by the firing of first base coach Travis Chapman, who served as the scapegoat this time, and this signaled that this would no longer be an issue. He praised the infield play last season. “We’re pretty good on the infield,” Hal said while ignoring  Anthony Volpe and his 19 errors, third most in MLB, first among all AL shortstops, and second baseman Jazz Chisholm and his costly mental lapses. He did not receive numbers explaining the narrative; it was simply what he was told. 

This is where the divide between the current ownership and George Steinbrenner is most noticeable. George would have corrected this series of mistakes by making a change where the culture begins, with the manager and general manager. He would not tolerate this brand of play for long, forget eight years’ worth. He would challenge players but not use them as an excuse for organizational failure year in and year out. Hal repeats the narrative that it's the players who failed, no matter how many times they tinker with the roster. His manager and general manager are among the best, and there is no reason to change anything at the top.

Hal responded to the question of attaining Japanese talent. Hal did state that they tried really hard to attain Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He brought up the preference for Japanese players to go to the West Coast, particularly the Dodgers. However, he also did not rule out attempting to pursue Japanese talents now and in the future. “Baseball is king in Japan,” Hal pointed out, “A lot of Japanese fans here in the U.S. would love to see a player play for the Yankees.” Yet the reality is sobering. New York is no longer guaranteed a seat at the table when it comes to international talent.

Steinbrenner conceded that a massive payroll doesn’t guarantee wins, pointing to the Mets as proof that spending alone isn’t the answer. The mood shifted suddenly when Hal was asked about the Yankees’ reported profits. Hal bristled, deflecting with talk of annual bond payments to the city and other financial obligations. “I don’t want to get into it, but that’s not a fair statement or an accurate statement,” Steinbrenner responded after a second foray by a reporter about whether the Yankees made a profit. He closed by insisting that the team’s actual profits would surprise people, suggesting they’re far lower than the public assumes. In the end, Hal Streinbrener revealed himself as the fool in the room. The owner who lets people spend his money while staying out of the decision-making process. That lack of leadership, accountability, and baseball instinct is exactly why the Yankees continue to fail.