"All they care about is winning"

That's what Reuben Sierra said in 1996 when he was traded for Cecil Fielder. While he was gone, Reuben began to understand why that may be a good thing. He's back with the team as a feared pinch hitter (though currently sidelined by a strained hamstring) with a better understanding of his role.

I point this out only because I had meant to remark on this story the other day.

CLEVELAND – The New York Yankees have decided not to pick up the $15 million club option for next season on Bernie Williams, their steady center fielder on four World Series title teams.

The club had until Aug. 1 to exercise their option on the 36-year-old, who signed with the Yankees in 1985.

Bernie has long been my favorite Yankee. He lacks the gifts and charisma of Derek Jeter and he's certainly not the phenomenon that is Mariano Rivera (all three, by the way, signed as amateurs by the Yankees). He just went about his business, quietly becoming one of the best centerfielders in Yankee history -- a history that includes Joe D. and The Mick.

Money is always used to explain the dominance of the Yankees for the past 80 years. Yes, they have been the richest team in baseball since the 1920s. And they've been willing to spend money to make money for most of the years since.

But the real reason for their dominance is their utter lack of sentimentality. They can afford to sign proven great players to long-term contracts, but are willing to part ways when those great players begin to wear down. DiMaggio saw the writing on the wall when he first began snubbing a baby faced Mickey Mantle in the clubhouse. DiMaggio knew the Yankee way, and that meant he was on the way out. The proud DiMaggio retired before management could do it for him. Sentimentality kept Mantle in pinstripes long after his usefuleness to the team was used up. That's a big reason why the Yankees went from a World Series appearance in 1964 to a sixth place finish in '65, and no post season appearances until 1976 (well that, and CBS ownership of the team).

It's possible the Yankees will sign Williams to another contract next year, albeit at a far lower salary. Williams' agent says he still wants to play. If the Yankees don't get him, I'm sure another team will.

But I don't think the Yankees will sign him. Even in the Steinbrenner era, they're not sentimental. It's sad for Bernie fans. But that's the way it is in The Yankee Stadium. As Steve Goldman wrote yesterday,

Bernie Williams is one of the most beloved Yankees of all time, and correctly so. A five-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove winner, owner of four seasons over .320, including the 1998 batting title, 22 home runs in the postseason, four championship rings, Williams should go into the Hall of Fame someday (though he probably won't due to chronic obtuseness on the part of the voters). He is one of the great center fielders, but his time is done. The Yankees run a baseball team, not a museum. Unless a case can be made that Williams can contribute to the winning effort next year, his time with the Yankees should come to an end this October.

Love cannot turn back the hands of time.