Cashman and Girardi on their own?
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Nov 01, 2007 
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Other than Brian Cashman, the only high-ranking team official at the press conference today was chief operating officer Lonn Trost, who has almost no say in baseball decisions.
No Randy Levine. No Hank Steinbrenner. No Hal Steinbrenner. Not even Felix Lopez.
Was there a message being sent that Brian Cashman is out on a limb with his hand-picked manager?
Levine showed up last winter when they introduced Kei Igawa. But ownership was conspiciously absent today. It struck me as strange. When a team like the Yankees introduces a manager for the first time in 12 years, you might think the top execs would show up, shake his hand and get in the photographs.
I understand today was largely a photo opportunity. But the only people in the photo were Cashman and Girardi.
Pete, I found that odd too. This may be the first time Randy Levine has shirked the microphone!
Or it could be that they’re letting Cashman take that much control? Or showing faith in him?
I think you can read it either way.
Must have been a horse race somewhere today.
Pete,
I think the answer is simple. After the hammering Hank and Levine have gotten in the media the last few weeks, perhaps they have decided to have Cashman be the spokesman for baseball matters.
Hank himself said the other day during the conference call that Brian Cashman would be more out front now on baseball matters.
I think today was an indication of what Hank has been saying.
Thank goodness none of them were there. Maybe they’ve been reading what the blogs say about Levine and the Steinette’s lack of an editing function. Hank was on the call the other day. Maybe he thought that was enough.
I think it was because Hank was getting tired of answering all the questions, that was clear during the conference call the other day. I don’t really read anything into it.
I’m trying to look on the bright side and assume that Steins and Levine were missing b/c they had been taking so much heat lately for having too much influence. So now they’re overcompensating.
I see where you can say that, but I wonder if Hank just has had his fill of media events. That, plus the fact that the event was held in NY and he and his brother (the quiet one) live in Tampa. Furthermore, Hank has gone on record as saying that he also favored Girardi.
As far as Randy Levine’s absence, who cares? Maybe he’s tired of being skewered in the press.
Is it weird that right now I feel like a kid at Christmas?
I think the reason Hank S and Randy L didnt show at the PC was because it would have taken the spotlight away from Joe G. I’m sure at some point, maybe when they sign a big FA or make a significant trade and they hold there next PC, Hank and or Hal and Randy will be present. But today was all about Joe G.
Nope, everyday it is like we are getting a new present under our tree. I learn that they are indeed talking to Jorge’s people, and that a meeting is schduled for next week.
Is it weird that I really don’t give a crap that the red soxs won the world series?
Peter,
Given the biting remarks you’ve been making every time Hank opened his mouth, I thought maybe you would applaud him for taking a step back and not dominating the event. And Levine, as SJ44 said, like him or hate him, has been absolutely villified lately. Maybe they didn’t want to be a distraction?
Jennifer: Nope, cos I don’t, either!
I mean, good for them and all, but I’m too excited about 2008 to be all like ‘omgmylifeisover’
That happened in 2004.
I think too many people would’ve taken away from the event. I think it was done well.
Pete
What kind of interaction have you had with Hal Steinbrenner? What can you tell us about him?
In fact, I just want to say that I’m very excited about the direction the Yankees are headed. I have a good feeling about Girardi and I LOVE that he’s #27…perfect!! Now, we just need to get Mo, Jorge and PLEASE Pettitte!!! The future looks bright.
Girardi is gonna do great things here!
Hank and Hal were dodging the “Can A-Rod come back if he fires Boras” questions. I think Felix was out cutting shrubs and putting down grass seed.
Rebecca and Jennifer – I agree. Girardi’s interviews have me really looking forward to next season. (Three months and how many days til pitchers and catchers?) The news on Mo, Posada and Pettitte is sounding promising, but I can’t count my chickens. And god forbid they trade Hughes. I was sitting in the bleachers in game 4 of the ALDS and the highlight of the game was being so close to Phil. He’s got some kind of aura about him.
No message being sent, they just wanted Joe Girardi to look taller.
106 days till pitchers and catchers.
I don’t see the Yanks trading Phil. Anything’s possible, I guess, but I guess I’d find it easier to see if he has a full year or even in july, at the deadline.
I don’t see it now when Phil missed most of the season.
Unless you were doing Phil for Santana straight up, maybe.
They were probably in Florida trying to get Mo’s deal done anybody think of that.
Pete,
Hank did say that he and Cashman were in total agreement on the Girardi hire.
Pete,
Anything to the rumors about a Girardi/Posada rift?
Watching Joe G (I’m so giddy!) makes me think of one more reason why Jorge should come back. He could be a Yankee manager one day!
I see it more as trying to minimize the perception that suits are running the show and that the baseball people are ascendant. Levine took the hit for uncle Joe and it makes sense to keep him looking after the new stadium. I don’t see a message here.
Here we go again!
I think “Little” Hank would actually have to be videotaped saving an infant from a burning building in order to get a break from some quarters…
Is it really any mystery that he (and Levine) would steer clear after the undeserved lambasting he’s been getting??
I’m really liking this whole new operation, from Hammerin’ Hank on down to Joltin’ Joe and even Bobby Meacham.
You know, Cashman is going to have a tough time on the trade market this year fending off all of the “We want Joba”, “We want Hughes”, “We want Kennedy”, “We want Cano” garbage. There are people on other sites saying Cano or Hughes for Joe Crede. Please!
Pete – I second Clay Buckholtz… question about the Posada/Girardi rift. The Star Ledger keeps mentioning it, but it makes no sense to me. What are your thoughts?
Motown you have to be kidding me!! It would be more like Andy Phillips for Joe (no disrespect to Andy i love him) but Come on cano or hughes would be way too much.
I can’t imagine Hughes, Joba or Cano going anywhere, but stranger things have happened. I think with everything else that’s happened, they’ll be back.
If you were to ask me who was the most untouchable the one i’d be totally shocked if he were traded that would be Joba.
Andy Phillips is actually older than I thought. I thought he was around Cano/Melky age.
I’m not sure he’s really tradeable, is he? (b. 1977, by the way, in case anyone else was making my mistake)
Agree with SJ. This is Cash’s team now.happy to see it.
When Joe G said “I believe if you’re meant to manager, you’ll eventaully get to manage”, I’m sure it wasn’t intentionally, but it sounded like a shout out to Donnnie!
Motown
Agreed. If Boston ties up Lowell, teams are going to try and rake Cash over the coals for a 3rd baseman because the market is so thin and they know Betemit at 3rd is as funny as Bubba Crosby in CF was. Even Cash had to laugh at his own Bubba joke in the audio.
Pete – always looking to stir the pot for the next story, huh?
I would be totally shocked if any of Joba-Phil-IPK were traded.
The Yanks didn’t trade Wang or Cano two years ago, they didn’t trade IPK and Melky for Gagne this summer, and I can’t see them trading any of these three starters for Joe Crede. And not for Miguel Cabrera, either.
Starting pitching is the coin of the realm. Forget the rumors.
It still should take much to get Joe Crede he isn’t that great of a hitter.
Though if I’m Joe Crede right now I’m feeling pretty dang good about myself.
Unless he REALLY like where he’s playing or something.
Geez Pete, trying to create a story here?
Didn’t Hank say in one of the audio clips you posted that from here on out they were going in the background and it would be Cashman doing the talking? Seems like it started to day and says good things about where this organization is going in my mind.
Oh they def wouldn’t trade any of those for Crede.
I don’t know that I would go after Cabera, I keep pointing it out but haven’t read it anywhere. They will not be looking to help Joe G. They would look to get alot more than maybe they would have before. Plus Cabrea has a little weight issue, and I don’t know if i’d take a chance on him.
Joe Crede stinks. We don’t want him.
What about Hank Blalock. Texas owes us since they are off the hook for 30 million!! ALthough he is very cheap it would probably be very hard to get him.
Hey the Top 50 Yankee prospects are listed at Pinstripeplus.com, anyone have a subscription and able to post it over here? I really don’t want to pay for a whole year just to read that
OMG I love that he chose #27!!
Jennifer I agree, it IS like Christmas. In fact I doubt my Christmas this year will be this dramatic and exciting!
Seriously, Crede is terrrrrrrible.
As Keith Law said, he shouldn’t be an everyday player.
His career OBP is 311. 311 folks.
311.
Actually, the officially “Girardi is manager” announcement was on my birthday, so it didn’t feel like Christmas for me. It felt like the best birthday ever!
they shouldnt trade melky, cano, wang, kennedy, joba, or hughes. and i definetly want lowell at third
Sultan – you can do a monthly subscription, and might I add that it is well worth it.
When Joe Crede was healthy, he was very good. Trust me, I get to watch a lot of White Sox games out here! He’s fantastic defensively and not too shabby with a bat in his hands. If his back is sound now, the Yanks should try to get him. He’s a hard-nosed type of player, too…A perfect “character” guy for the Girardi Yankees. Think Scott Brosius with a higher batting average and more power!
And…oh yeah…he can actually catch a pop fly! What a concept!!!
P.S. – I’m sure Keith Law would have said Scott Brosius had no business starting either, but I’d say it actually worked out pretty well for the Yanks of the late ’90s!
He does have power. And he is a good fielder.
But in his best season, his very best, he managed a 323 OBP.
Even Brosius outdid that.
And, yes, he’s better when healthy… but… he missed most of this year. It’s probably foolish to assume he will have no lingering effects at all.
O really, thanks didn’t see that was an option
Yes. Law would not have praised Brosius in 1997, when he hit 202. No one would have. We simply got lucky there.
Justin – I agree that he might have some “lingering effects” from being out most of the season, but, for the right price, I think he’s worth the gamble.
Also, I don’t think OBP should be regarded as the primary indication of a player’s overall value to a team.
I’m looking at him as a partial replacement for our lost offense. As such, OBP is one of the most important tools.
His SLG isn’t great either, except for one year.
Keith Law is a smarmy idiot. His opinion equals zero.
Lowell will cost a pretty penny. Maybe not an A-Rod sized penny, but a Mo or Po sized penny, for sure.
Crede would be cheaper IMO, and I’d say something about better 3B in 2009, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Dang, Yanks farm system, can we has a 3B Pleez?
Justin – For all our prodigious offense during the last few years (the “A-Rod years,” if you will), we couldn’t do jack in the postseason. So, I’m not sure that we should be looking to necessarily replicate the offensive output of the last few years. I’d rather go with the late ’90s strategy of putting together a bunch of guys who play hard, gel well as a team and excel at all the the “little” offensive things that don’t really show on a stat sheet (i.e. getting guys over, scoring the runner from third with less than two outs, hitting a sac fly or putting down a good bunt when its needed, etc., etc.).
Yes, the late ’90s strategy leaned heavily on quality pitching, but I think we’ll have good pitching next year with the kids coming of age.
well, compared to the A-Rod sized penny, a Lowell sized penny just doesn’t seem like a big deal at all.
No chance the Sox let Lowell go after his postseason performance…
Ok, please don’t slam me, but I thought Basak looked decent in the Spring and then they called him up, and he did nothing. Anyone have anything to say about him?
They’re sticking with the kids. They won’t pay an unbearable cost for anyone in trade.
Phil – I certainly hope they don’t trade the kids!!! That would really piss me off…
Sherri, Basak is no longer with the organization. “Best” bet is Eric Duncan finding himself– and that is not a good bet, sadly.
It bears repeating that we once had both Lowell and Carlos Pena in our minor league system. They would certainly slot in nicely at 3B and 1B right about now, wouldn’t they?! Sigh…
Isn’t Eric Duncan like 40 years old now?! (kidding)
Bring back “Bam Bam” Meulens!
T(N)Y – Oh, well…I hadn’t checked up on him. I was just wondering. He did play 3B some in the Spring. Thanks!
Actually, ED is only 23. I have not given up all hope.
Maybe the compensation picks we get for A-Rod in the next draft will help us nab a good 3B prospect.
I found where Basak was picked up by the Twins on waivers, and he made room on the Yankees 40-man roster for Andrew Brackman.
Btw, pinstripesplus.com is well worth subscribing to if you like to follow the kids. I check it out every day.
Chicago ,,,
I think with Pena you are really, really buying high. He has been a perennial prospect that has basically drifted around, then suddenly has a mammoth 2007 in TB. Very curious, and I’d be hesitatant in plucking him to be the 1B if he’s going to use 2007 as a basis for his value.
Regarding Lowell, obviously he’s the top 3B in the FA class.
As such, he won’t come easy. As said in earlier posts, I doubt Lowell doesn’t stay with the sox.
You got to ask yourself; would you be comfortable if both Pena and Lowell sank down and performed at 70% of their 2007 figures,, if so, then maybe make a move.
We shouldn’t voluntarily sacrifice offense for hardnosedness, or whatever. We won’t win more games with hardnosedness if they’re not all that great at hitting. It’s a fine backup in case we can’t get offense, but we shouldn’t just avoid it — offense isn’t bad.
yankee21 – No, I wasn’t saying we should sign Lowell and trade for Pena. I was only lamenting the fact that we used to have them. So, it was a case of wishful thinking, if you will.
I can’t begin to understand this nonsensical fixation some people have with Joe Crede. In his best offensive season, he mustered a .323 on base. He’s coming off back surgery, which could completely sap his power. And, on top of everything, you’d have to give something up to get him. Just say no to Joe Crede.
Scott Rolen is the answer, I think. His injury problems this year were caused by scar tissue, not an ailment that should linger. The Cardinals’ pitching rotation is thin. The Rolen/LaRussa cold war still hasn’t been resolved. Put it altogether, and is Mike Mussina for Scott Rolen that unreasonable?
Roger that… Pena’s performance is really curious,, is it possible to make this much of an adjustment at the ML level to go from basically bouncing around the ML and the minors and suddenly pop up and hit 40+ HR??
Hey Chicago Dave:
Those “little things” that you are talking about do actually show up on stat sheets. Here are some stats that I found without actually trying that hard that you may find interesting/disheartening in regards to your previous statement. In 2000 (last year that I could find stats for w/o too much trouble), the Yankees ranked 7th in the AL with 50 sacrifice flies and ranked LAST in the league with a pitiful 16 (yes, SIXTEEN) sacrifice hits (ie bunts). In 2007, an “A-rod year,” the Yankees ranked 4th in the league with 54 sac flies and tied for 4th in the league with 54 (yup, FIFTY-FOUR) sacrifice hits.
And, yeah 2000 was the last year the Yanks won the world series.
We and the bosux had pena LAST year.HGH?
Matt – Rolen is one of the few marquee players the Cardinals have left. Despite his frosty relationship with LaRussa, I don’t see them letting him go. Moreover, I’m still suspicious of that shoulder. I think it’s more than just scar tissue…
Lastly, would anyone in their right mind trade a warm body straight up for Mussina? I doubt it…
Thank you, Matt.
I remember Girardi as a player coming up with some great clutch hits, the most memorable the triple in game six of the 1996 WS. Can anyone else recall other examples? I seem to remember him delivering a few times although his career average was very low, he seemed to deliver for us. A penny for your thoughts. Thanks.
Sorry if this was already posted and commented to death on, but I thought it noteworthy:
Excerpts from the Daily News:
The Yankees have made it clear that they have no plans to bid on Rodriguez when free agency gets underway, but a source with knowledge of the situation said Rodriguez is hoping that the Bombers reconsider their stance.
“Alex wants the Yankees to be a part of this, because the opt-out was not done with the intention of saying goodbye to the Yankees,” said the source. “Alex wants to see what his market value is, but that doesn’t mean he necessarily wants to leave the Yankees.”
Brian Cashman reiterated the Yankees’ stance again on Tuesday, indicating that the Bombers were proceeding under the premise that A-Rod would be playing elsewhere in 2008 and beyond.
“We really would have appreciated having a chance to go forward with him, but that can’t happen,” Cashman said.
Still, whether it’s with the idea of driving up his market value or wanting to remain in pinstripes, Rodriguez apparently hasn’t given up on the idea that the Yankees will change their mind.
“He hasn’t shut the door,” the source said. “Whether the Yankees feel that way is a whole other story.”
If Arod would get Boras’ lips out of his ears for a second, he would have heard the slam of the door when Cashman read his text messages last Sunday. bye bye.
If the Cards offer Rolen for Mussina I take it in a heartbeat. But not happening,, Rolen is a midwestern guy and Mussina has a full NTC.. Why would he waive that to go to STL? Also, Rolen is easily one of the top 5 3B in the game when healthy,, the Cards are not going to sell low on him even if Rolen wanted to go.
rbizzler – 2000 was the weakest of the championship Yankee teams, without question. So, I think that’s not taking the late ’90s formula at its best.
The simple fact remains…We’ve had crazy offense for years. Number of WS titles during that time? Zero. Offense is not a bad thing, but it also isn’t the answer to winning in the postseason.
Those who don’t like Crede…Who do you propose we get to play third?
But getting a bad offensive player is not a better solution than having good offense….
Besides, the problem was still pitching. Pitching, pitching, pitching.
If Wang pitches well, we might not be having this conversation.
Chicago Dave: I heard Matty DeSalvo plays a mean 3rd base
Mussina for Rolen? Not gonna happen. Mussina has a no trade and I’m thinking it would require more than a 38 year old pitcher with a 5 ERA who would cost them $11M.
Justin – Yes, we would still be having this conversation. Wang is one pitcher, and, even at that, he’s not Josh Beckett. Clemens was toast, Mussina was batting practice and Andy would have been hard-pressed to replicate his performance against Carmona. What’s left? Phil Hughes? As good as he pitched in relief, you can’t have expected him to carry the team through the rest of the postseason.
What’s more, our bullpen was nonexistent after you got past Chamberlain and Rivera. So, all-in-all, we didn’t have the pitching, period. Wang’s failures only helped accelerate our exit from the playoffs, but he wasn’t the sole weakness in the pitching staff.
Andrea – Stop that!!!
To extrapolate on Dave’s point -
which tean would you rather have?
1999 Yankees
rotation:
Roger Clemens
David Cone
Orlando Hernandez
Hideki Irabu
Andy Pettitte
with this lineup
Jorge Posada
Tino Martinez
Chuck Knoblauch
Scott Brosius
Derek Jeter
Chad Curtis
Bernie Williams
Paul O’Neill
Chili Davis
or the 2006 team with this rotation
Randy Johnson
Mike Mussina
Carl Pavano
Chien-Ming Wang
and the left overs of Darrell May, Tim Redding, Shawn Chacon, and Aaron Small
and this lineup
Jorge Posada
Tino Martinez
Robinson Cano
Alex Rodriguez
Derek Jeter
Hideki Matsui
Bernie Williams
Gary Sheffield
The 1999 Yankees went 98-64 and the 2006 Yankees went 97-65. So in the regular season, they both did well, but it was the post season where the rotation of the 99 yankees dominated their opponents. In short series, good pitching beats good hitting.
Here’s a telling sign
The 2006 Yankees
1-Run Games (46 games) ,24 wins, 22 losses, 0.522 winning percentage
The 1999 Yankees
1-Run Games (34 games),22 wins, 12 losses, 0.647 winning percentage
Dave:
You can’t explain it away that easily.
The point is that you may be suffering from selective memory disorder when it comes to the championship years. All those ‘little things’ that you remember so fondly from those years, were actually present this year. The fact of the matter is that they didn’t get it done in the postseason with the bats or the arms. No amount of bunting/sac flying/dirty uniforms changes that.
Oh, and the Yanks also led the league in runs scored in ’98. Offense certainly seemed like the answer that year.
Here are some other numbers that are relevant to your ‘argument’ regarding the makeup of the team. 1998: 32 sac hits, 59 sac flies; 1999: 22 sac hits (yes, TWENTY-TWO), 53 sac flies; and 1996: 41 sac hits, 72 sac flies. The only argument that remotely proves your point is ’96, but even that year the 2007 team actually bunted more runners over.
The real difference between the past few years and the championship teams is the quality of the pitching. Plain and simple.
I was just pointing to the most visible reason. You clearly agree with my point that it was pitching, pitching, pitching that was our problem.
Hank was on the conference call, so it may not mean much.
However:
Peter,
Please ask the powers that be if Cashman will get a contract extension so that it expires at the same time as Girardi’s.
Easy answer. Cold in New York. Nice and warm in Florida.
Would you leave warm and sunny florida to come to cloudy and cold New York.
I see things working out a lot better with the Stein sons. They know they don’t know a lot about baseball, so they will be in the background and just take care of the operational things and signing checks.
Good day in New York today. Girardi will be better than Torre and expect exciting games with him at the helm.
There is a lot of luck involved one run games, so I wouldn’t put much stock in that stat.
The Yankees problem as been that they haven’t gotten over choking away the 2004 ALCS. Perhaps Girardi won’t manage as tight as Torre has in the postseason since 20004.
“he mustered a .323 on base.”
Yes, but Crede had a OPS of over .800. The question is whether that was a breakout season, or an anomaly. The second question is whether you think the back surgery fixed him. Those questions should help bring down his price in trade, and the Yanks might choose to gamble that he really did find himself in 06. Subbing in Betemit at 1b and 3b against some righties should help add some power to those positions. It’s not so much the individual players as it is the positions that we need to get production from. I think that Crede + Betemit + a 1B to be named later that collectively put up about an .800 ops at the corner IF positions would be enough, as long as the pitching improves. And, if the pitching doesn’t improve, we’re not going to win in the playoffs anyway, so who really cares?
Crede’s trade value should be a straight up deal for one of Chase Wright, Clippard, Karstens or DeSalvo.
He makes 5 million. He just came off back surgery. His career stats aren’t eye popping and the ChiSox already have a 3b in Fields.
If Cashman has to give up more than a quadruple A type pitcher, it’s a bad deal.
The While Sox do not want to pay Crede 5 million this season. No way, no how.
I would much rather the Yankees go in a different direction at 3b. I’m warming up to Beltre if he’s available. I like the Kouzmanoff kid in SD. I’d rather have Chavez than Crede if we’re trading for high salaried injury risk 3b as well. At least Chavez has a track record and his healthy season avg’s are pretty damn good. He’d be a force in Yankee stadium with the RF porch for 81 games.
Maybe they just decided to be nice and not make everyone look at Randy Levine again. He would spoil all their appetites.
This may be reading too much into things. This was a baseball related event and C$ is the guy for that. Girardi was his pick.
Hank has not exactly been shy lately regarding statements for things affecting the team.
And as for those who are critical of the Steinbrenners, I like the fact that they are engaged. Yeah they may make some mistakes, but at least we know someone is at the helm. I was tired of hearing statements only from George’s designated mouthpiece.
Whatever the Yankees do the author of this blog has some ominous negative spin to it. First Levine and the Steins talk too much and Cashman has lost all control. Now Cashman’s in full control and his head is on the block.
Make up your mind.
Great Day at the Stadium yesterday. Now, let’s all relax and give Joe Girardi and his staff time and space to get ready for 2008. I have a good feeling about this.
yea I think it was more that they were showing that they weren’t going to interfere as much as people think and just let cashman do his thing
i’m really shocked a blog like pinstripesplus has the nerve to charge for subscriptions…