See ya, New York!

See ya!

That’s what the obnoxious Yankee announcer shouts when one of the team’s overpaid sluggers like A-Rod or Juicin’ Giambi hits one out.

Well, for the third year in a row, thousands of Yankee-haters get to say that to the Boys in the Bronx as they depart the playoffs in the first round.

See ya, George Steinbrenner!

It’s not really about baseball. As I blogged after the Mets collapsed, it’s about money.

Baseball is the only major sport without a salary cap. If an owner wants to, he can simply buy a championship instead of earning it the old-fashioned way.

That’s what the Yankees have done for years. They have highest payroll in baseball, $195 million.

That’s what the Mets have done lately too. They have the third-highest payroll overall ($117 million) and highest in the National League.

So it is delicious revenge for everybody outside the 212 area code when that cynical strategy fails.

The Mets never even made the playoffs, thanks to the greatest meltdown ever by a first-place team. (They blew a seven-game lead with 17 left to play.)

Now the Yanks get bounced again in the first round while Steinbrenner was getting fitted for another championship ring.

By the lowly Cleveland Indians — 22nd in team salaries, a mere $61 million, less than a third of the Yankee total.

How sweet it is!

As far as I’m concerned, this year’s baseball playoffs are already a success. Sure, my team didn’t make it and neither did yours.

But the New York millionaires won’t be in the World Series either. Hallelujah! And don’t even try to scare me the prospect of the mother of all nightmares, another “Subway Series.”

On top of everything, the Cubs and Phillies got swept too, and I’d be lying if I said I shed a tear over either one’s fate.

You don’t have to be Commissioner Bud Selig to proclaim, “The state of baseball is good!”