Scott Miller

PHILADELPHIA -- The failing health of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, 79, is no secret.

But the depth of how rapidly Steinbrenner is deteriorating was dramatically on display following Game 2 of the World Series in Yankee Stadium. You just couldn't physically see it.

That's because the Blue Curtain dropped quickly and sharply following Game 2, with the Yankees -- or, to be more precise, a coterie of New York policemen and security guards working at their behest -- essentially placed on lockdown a main tunnel running outside of the clubhouses as the club moved Steinbrenner out of Yankee Stadium.

Not only do the Yankees not want anybody to speak with Steinbrenner, they're protecting his privacy so fiercely that they won't allow most people to even get a glimpse of him anymore.

Mechanized gates dropped suddenly from the ceiling to confine some officials to certain areas of the corridor -- including some surprised major league baseball officials who were not told beforehand and were suddenly trapped -- and keep them away from the vehicles transporting Steinbrenner. Temporary curtains were quickly set up as well to block views.

Security guards not only shut down the press elevator carrying media members downstairs to the interview areas until after Steinbrenner had departed, they also locked the doors downstairs, trapping several dozen media members in the stairwell.

One security guard shooing people out of the area, according to one official who was there at the time, said that they were "cleansing the hallway."

The Yankees also have gone so far as to tell major league baseball officials that they do not want Steinbrenner shown on television, according to one industry source.

As of now, Steinbrenner is not expected to return to Yankee Stadium if the World Series moves back there for Games 6 and, possibly, 7. Before attending Games 1 and 2, he had not been to the new Yankee Stadium since the home opener.

Likes: Derek Jeter saying before Friday's workout at Citizens Bank Park that he once dressed up as the singer Prince for Halloween back in Kalamazoo, Mich. ... White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, working for the World Series for Fox television, promising to keep his potty mouth clean during his appearances on the tube: "I only curse when the Chicago media is around me," Guillen quipped. ... The Woody Allen sandwich at Carnegie Deli. Corned beef and pastrami, and thoroughly delicious. The giant pickles are delicious, too. ... Long walk in Central Park on Thursday. Gorgeous day, beautiful red, yellow and orange leaves and as an added bonus, they were setting up the finish line for Sunday's New York Marathon. ... The fall foliage along the Amtrak line Friday morning while going old-school and riding the train from New York to Philadelphia. ... The No. 4 train to Yankee Stadium. You really feel like you're in New York when you're on the subway. ... Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert in Madison Square Garden on Thursday night sure looked terrific, and I can't wait to watch it on HBO Thanksgiving weekend. But it will be edited, not shown in its entirety, and I can only hope the network doesn't chop it up too much. ... Just because the World Series had an off day Friday doesn't mean there wasn't a big game: Best of luck to the Monroe (Mich.) St. Mary Catholic Central High football team, which hosts its opening playoff game Friday night against Harper Woods High.

Dislikes: Baseball on Halloween. Baseball should be finished by Halloween. Especially for those of us who really would like to take our children trick or treating.

Rock 'N' Roll Lyric of the Day:

"It was so easy living day by day
"Out of touch with the rhythm and blues
"But now I need a little give and take
"The New York Times, The Daily News"

-- Billy Joel, New York State of Mind