Today in The Journal News
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- April
- 22
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Brian Cashman and Hank Steinbrenner are on the same page when it comes to Joba Chamberlain. Really, they are. Seriously. Everything is fine.
This story perfectly illustrates the difference between covering the Yankees and the Mets. When I covered the Mets (circa Art Howe), every off day was a challenge. You’d have to work to find some sort of feature-type story. So you’d be left with “Joe McEwing: What a Guy” or “Young Reyes Sure is Fast.”
With the Yankees, something always happens. The team has its first day off in three weeks and Hank Steinbrenner starts grousing. I can almost guarantee you that something will happen right around May 5, when they’re off again. It’s a beautiful thing if you’re a beat writer.
Anyway, I am off to Chicago. Check back later for updates.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008 at 5:47 am by Peter Abraham.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Josh Thomson
I can’t believe Contreras is still pitching. He’s got to be 50 (40 on his contract, of course.)
Well, the Yankees sure do make things interesting.
Have a safe trip
It is good to have Hank around. It’s more fun than getting statements from Howard Rubenstein.
Safe trip Pete.
George Steinbrenner has spoken frequently about letting the young elephants into the tent. I guess it’s Cashman’s job to sweep up after them.
It’s never dull in Yankeeville.
Yankee fans have been conditioned that quiet, settled times in the Bronx is a scary thing.
Controversy and rumors are the norm.
Good point about the Bronx Zoo Pete.
The fact that this kind of media teapot tempest is pretty much standard operating procedure for the Yankees is why I don’t think this is a big deal for Cashman.
I think he’ll stick around for years to come.
The sooner people realize that Hank is George Jr. and is likely going to remain that way – and then relax – the better off we’ll all be. Personally I like the guy and find him amusing. He wants to win badly, just like his father, and will react just like his father. Frankly I started to miss some of the Steinbrenner feist in the most recent Yankee years. When George was in a bellowing mood, I think it served to keep a lot of people on their toes. Yes, I know the downside to George’s feist but on balance I would have taken it 24-7 for the teams he has fielded for the Yankees and his love of the Yankees – and of winning.
Anyone who thinks that Joe Girardi didn’t come into this with his eyes wide open isn’t thinking. Girardi has been around and with the Yankee organization for a while. He knows the nuances of playing for the Yankees, and he was certainly aware of the nuances of managing the Yankees. And if there were to be any surprises in who the Steinbrenner boys were by nature – and I highly doubt that – Cashman would have filled him in thoroughly. With all of that information, Joe gladly and willingly signed on the dotted line. And I’m still thrilled that he did.
You may have already noticed (and instances were already pointed out) that Hank has blithered about a number of things and then retreated to a better way of doing things. This would mean that between Hal and Cash, the guy is able to be reasoned with.
So when and if Joba goes to the rotation, I’m all for it. I’ve been a Yankee fan for a very long time and the one thing that I have come away with year after year, despite final outcomes, is that the Yankee braintrust has knowledge and resources that greatly exceed mine. So when a decision is made, especially since George has calmed down and now with Hank and Hal confabing with Cashman et al, I trust a lot of time and energy and baseball acumen has gone into whatever decision it is. That gives me great personal comfort as my greatest joy is to be able to watch the games with a feeling of security that the smartest moves have already taken place, and I just have to sit back and wait for it to come together. And when it doesn’t, I know that some very savvy people are on the job.
Pete, those are barn-burning headlines you got there!
Thank goodness we’re Yankee fans. Much more drama to be had for all.
If you carefully read what Hank said, this is really a non-story.
He said Joba needs to be a starter and they were working towards that.
How is that different than what we’ve been hearing all along?
The plan was to move him to the rotation later in the year and then keep him there but not to exceed his innings cap.
He then said they need him in the rotation now.
True statement when you consider how three of the starters so far have combined for a 1-7 record. But he did not say that they would put him in the roto right away.
This was at most a “shot across the bow” to Hughes, Kennedy, and Moose. A little saber attling if you will.
He was letting those guys know he wasn’t happy with their performance so far and for them to remember they have a guy who can take their place if necessary.
All this kerfuffle on ESPN et al, is just that.
I thought Buck Showalter was hilarious this morning on ESPN. He stated that Joba needed to be in the pen because he and Mariano would lock down the 8th and 9th and that the Yanks needed to fix the rotation and then Joba in the pen wouldn’t be an issue. DUH! As if it is that easy to “fix” the rotation.Let’s just wave a magic wand and have Hughes and Kennedy pitch like they did last September, all the time.
I have a marketing professor who likes to say; “Wishful thinking isn’t planning”. Buck especially should know better than to say something like that.
I often wonder if Hank and Cashman have a ’secret’ good cop/bad cop agreement, where Stein shoots off his mouth, often spouting ignorance, and Cash rushes in to save the day. It certainly works in terms of getting coverage for the Yanks and always making the Yankees the story.
As someone mentioned, Hank really said nothing new. Hard to believe he didn’t understand the nature of using Joba in the BP to build up his innings AS WELL as get us some good relief.
Cashman and all his supporting staff know what they are doing. Whatever is being done with Joba and the rest of the SR was carefully thought out, with many different expertise, opinions and issues considered before the ‘final decision’ was arrived at. Of course, even though they sepnd millions on trying to get the best baseball people, it ain’t easy for them to be as smart as the McLovin/Anti-Mussina group.
And I’m sure Cashman is working on fallback positions, whether it’s keeping a very close eye on the farm, or shaking the branches of the trade market.
I think Hank realizes it’s important to have the Yankees name in a headline every day. That’s free advertising.
I will assure you that if the Yankees go 9-4 or better over their next 13 games, exactly nothing will happen on May 5.