Don't tell me that 2007 Steinbrenner is the same as, say, ten years ago even. Torre would have been gone the day after last years ALDS. Furthermore, the "free spending" had been quelled (relatively, until the Abreu acquisition), since last season. Though that's largely due to the fact that there were already so many bloated contracts, it was impossible to maneuver. This offseason, instead of going after someone like Lilly, they went the "cheaper" (i.e. worse) route and avoided the luxury tax by signing Igawa with the posting fees not counting towards the tax. They got Doug Mienkeiwicz instead of Richie Sexson.