Hank Steinbrenner just cracks me up. Today we welcome another page into the Annals of Hankenstein.

Yesterday he went after the Bombers once again, attacking their recent play (they’ve dropped two straight to the Tampa Bay Rays behind Andy Pettitte and Chien-Ming Wang) and stating, “These players are being paid a lot of money and they had better decide for themselves to earn that money.”

And does the man know a compliment that isn’t back-handed?

In one breath he praised the AL-leading Rays, stating that the Yankees have “got to start playing the way the Rays are playing.” In his next breath, he elaborated the point, stating that the team needs “to start treating it like when they were younger players and going after that big contract, like they’re in [Triple-A] and trying to make the majors.” So he admires the Rays because they play like they’re in AAA. I love it.

Incidentally, you think Derek Jeter appreciates being told he’d better start earning his money?

Just asking.

One final note from Hank:

“This is going to get turned around,” Steinbrenner said. “If it’s not turned around this year, then it will be turned around next year, by force if we have too.”

You tell ‘em, Big Dog.