Even by the normal Byzantine machinations of Al Yankzeera, this move is bizarre. By all accounts, including YES press releases trumpeting ratings and awards won by Yankees telecasts, Smollon was not only getting it done, but popular with the troops. Published reports indicate Smollon, who had been with YES since it debuted in 2002, was out because his contract expired.

Make no mistake, Smollon was pushed. His contract was not going to be renewed. At the end of the regular season he was summoned to YES headquarters to meet with executive producer John Filippelli, who unceremoniously dumped him. Well-embedded moles contend Smollon and Filippelli had not spoken during most of the season, which could indicate a falling out between the two.

Spies also said Smollon was not given a specific reason why he was getting the boot. This sure sounds like the case of a guy called on the carpet knowing he was not on Filippelli's list of favorites, but certainly not expecting to get cut loose.

We have not taken the pulse of YES voices (they ain't exactly lining up outside our Daily News cube), so we can only guess they might very well be angry. So, wonder how Michael Kay, who in his play-by-play role worked extremely closely with Smollon, reacted to this? Ya think he might be mad? What about Ken Singleton? He's been with Smollon since the get-go too.

Then there are the former Yankees, turned analysts, guys Smollon helped break in. Voices like David Cone, John Flaherty, Paul O'Neill and Al Leiter, who had previous broadcast experience before coming to YES. Are they freaked over Smollon's departure and disgusted by the way it was handled?

Has Smollon's ouster caused a morale problem? If so, will it linger? And what will the voices' reaction to his replacement be? Can the new guy, obviously hand-picked by Filippelli, be trusted?

Another thing. The timing is curious. The Yankees are in the playoffs (duh) and YES is under the bright spotlight with its expanded pre and postgame coverage. If the plug was going to be pulled on Smollon, why not wait until the dead of winter, when Yankee baseball is not front and center?

The whole scenario is hard to figure. Strange, indeed. Only on YES.