Boston owner says Yankees will be fine without George Steinbrenner

John Henry has a exceptional position when it comes to reading the plotting of this Yankees offseason. He obviously is interested since he is the major owner of the Yankees' main rival, the Red Sox.
But Henry also was a limited partner of the Yankees during much of the 1990s. That was a era when George Steinbrenner was still in full Boss style Yet, Henry worked with a different Steinbrenner in those years and since, and it is why he dismisses the thought that the Yankees will have a leadership void and flounder in chaos without George's manic orchestration.
“I've known Hal Steinbrenner for a long time and this transition will go smoothly," Henry said of Steinbrenner's youngest son. “I have a different perspective than most because I know Hal. He is very capable. He's bright, sensitive and serious. He's passionate about baseball."
Late last month, Hal Steinbrenner was named the chairman of Yankee Global Enterprises LLC. Over the past two years, as his father has cut down from running everyday the Yankees, Hal has taken over the financial elements of the organization while his older brother, Hank, has overseen baseball operations.
Hal and Hank along with team president Randy Levine have come more fully into the public - and in for public/media criticism - with their more overt parts in the contract offer that led to Joe Torre's departure. Executives throughout the sport have wondered if this represented the fraying of GM Brian Cashman's power and a general disorder besetting the organization. An executive from another American League club went as far as to say, “Every time someone other than Cash opens his mouth and talks about baseball operations, like Randy on Torre or Hank on Joba Chamberlain's role, they look as if they have broken from a disciplined structure."
Henry would not speak to Torre directly. However, he said that he does not see his main competitor weakening. In fact, he suggested the opposite.
It's a very well-run organization," Henry said on the field at Fenway Park a day before the World Series was to begin. “It has been well run since I can remember and it is well run now. Brian Cashman was given authority and he has done what should be done. From the outside, it may look like some huge transition is going on. But I have been to see the new park they are building and they are doing everything right with that park, and that scares the heck out of me. They have tremendous resources already and that park is going to give them even more."
The Red Sox ended the Yanks' nine-year run as AL East champions, and they just may win a second World Series in four years. But even if that does not happen, the Yanks are in for another painful punch from Red Sox Nation.