Davidoff: Disciplined Hal not trying to be the Boss

The antithesis to his late father when it comes to public speaking, Hal Steinbrenner doesn't veer from the script for a moment during his rare interviews. The Yankees' managing general partner could teach a course in discipline.

So if you heard his words yesterday, as he emerged from the Yankees' organizational meetings in Tampa to speak with WFAN's Mike Francesa and 1050 ESPN Radio's Michael Kay, you could see where he wanted to go.

Forget the predictable foolishness about the Yankees having to make the World Series every year and the over-the-top reaction to Chuck Greenberg's over-the-top diss of Yankees fans. The main course came in Steinbrenner's comments about iconic free agents Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.

"Derek and Mo, obviously we want them back," Steinbrenner told Francesa. "They're hopefully lifelong Yankees. They're great leaders. They've been great Yankees. But we're running a business. If there's a deal to be done, it's going to have to be a deal both sides are happy with. How long that takes could be frustrating for the fans."

Steinbrenner added to Kay: "There's always the possibility that things could get messy."

They marked Steinbrenner's first extensive public comments since the Yankees' home opener, on April 13, and they were directed at two clear targets: 1.) the fans, and 2.) Jeter.

Not really Rivera, despite Steinbrenner's mention of him. What, the Yankees are going to ask Rivera to take a pay cut? How can they, when he's still the game's best closer.

The fans have to understand there will be blood in the Jeter talks. Not anything life-threatening, but some tension along the way to common ground.

And Jeter and his agent, Casey Close, have to understand that this isn't 2007 anymore.

The last time the clock ran out on Yankees legends came three years ago, just as Hal Steinbrenner and his brother, Hank, officially took the torch from their ailing father George. First up was Joe Torre, and his ugly departure set the tone for the rest of that Yankees winter. Torre should hit up Jorge Posada, Rivera and Alex Rodriguez for commission.

So unnerved were the Steinbrenners by the Torre turmoil that they dramatically overpaid for that trio. The talks with Posada escalated from two years and an option to four guaranteed years, for $52.4 million, a deal that turned out to be pretty bad. Rivera, as he was turning 38, received a three-year package that he validated.

A-Rod, despite opting out of the final three years of his Rangers contract, won his way back into the Steinbrenners' hearts by temporarily dumping agent Scott Boras, and picked up a nifty, 10-year, $275-million contract that looms as an albatross.

The royal family may be unnerved by the disappointing conclusion of the 2010 season, but the greatest beneficiary of that ennui figures to be neither Jeter nor Rivera but rather Cliff Lee. There's an understanding on the Yankees' part that Jeter needs to stay in the Bronx to maintain his brand as an athlete with integrity, and that Rivera simply has no desire to leave.

This will work out, unquestionably. What Steinbrenner accomplished so effectively Tuesday was he laid out the terrain of the battle. Don't question the journey, he conveyed to fans, you'll get the destination you want.

And to Jeter: You're going to take a financial hit. But at least I won't talk about you being out too late at night.