Cliff Lee is a Phillie? OK.

Last year, the Yankees were thisclose to bring Cliff Lee to New York from Seattle.  It didn't happen.

It didn't bother me.  Sure, he beat them a few months later in the postseason but I lost zero sleep over it.

Late last night, my phone buzzed with the news that Lee had signed with the Phillies for less money and less years (but more average money per year) than the Yankees or Rangers were offering.

Again, I'm not bothered.  Sure, it would have been nice, but it doesn't have to be this way.  Now Brian Cashman has to be a creative general manager.  Now he has to go find a plan B.

Of course, then again, the Yankees could do nothing and begin the season with what they have.  Is that a good thing?  No, but is is that bad to go with CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett (ugh), Phil Hughes, and (hopefully) Andy Pettitte?  Maybe Ivan Nova or somebody else steps up.  Maybe there's a trade to be had.

Maybe not.

Believe me, I get it.  Holding a major in Yankees History means knowing about the 27 World Championships.  It means knowing the 40 American League Titles.  It also means knowing first-hand about the down CBS years, and the 1980's, when being the winningest team didn't mean winning world championships.

Still, despite what many say, there is a mission statement: win.  Win the World Series.  Win at all costs.

And I don't want to hear this crap about how it's not so much fun when it isn't home grown, or some shite like that.  I want my team to win.  Period.  The World Series win of 1996 was simply spectacular, as was the titles of 1998-2000.  So were the Bronx Zoo years of 1977 and 1978.  But 2009 was a chance to climb back on top, and wake up my son to watch as our team won the first title of his lifetime.  No doubt it was different and maybe not as sweet but it was still special.

That being said, it yanked the phonies out of hiding.  Fair enough, but any championship does that (see: Red Sox, Boston).

So now I hope for Brian Cashman to work some magic.  It's OK to not land Cliff Lee.  The Yankees drew their line in the sand and didn't go beyond it.  George Steinbrenner would have.  That day has passed.

Your move, Mr. Cashman.

By the way, good luck to the fellas across New York that have to face Lee, Doc Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels roughly 20 times per year.  Yikes.