The latest on Cashman
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- September
- 28
Brian Cashman drove up to Boston on Friday and he will drive home to Connecticut sometime today. At some point on that trip, he’ll decide whether he want to remain the GM of the Yankees.
The Post reported today that “the buzz” is Cashman will return. But in speaking one-on-one to Cashman yesterday, he said that nobody knows what he wants to do because he hasn’t decided yet.
Cashman compared his choice to signing up for another tour of duty. It might be the honorable thing to do, but he’s already paid his dues. He has held his job longer than any GM in Yankees history since George Weiss back in the 1950s. The job Weiss had shares only a title with the job Cashman does now. Being the GM of the Yankees has its perks. But the pressure and hassle outweighs that.
I think we’ll learn what happened either tonight, tomorrow or by Tuesday morning at the latest.
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on Sunday, September 28th, 2008 at 10:11 am by Peter Abraham.
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Peter Abraham
I think if he decides not to return, its more likely he sits out a year than taking another job.
When you leave the Yankees employ, its like being an astronaut returning from a mission.
You need time to re-adjust returning to Earth.
I thought all along he would return. Now, I’m not so sure.
Contrary to Bill Madden thinking he is pulling a drama queen number, I get the feeling he’s truly torn about what to do.
He’s not a drama queen. Madden just has a grudge because he no longer has open access to George and has found Hank to be much less of an info guy and more like a frustrated fan.
That doesn’t help you when you are seeking sources.
I believe Cashman takes enormous responsibility in putting the Yankees back on a logical, team building track. To that end, I think part of him feels that it wouldn’t be right to leave prior to turning this thing around.
Conversely, he doesn’t “owe” anybody anything. For those whining about the Non-Santana trade, Brian Cashman is just the GM of the team.
If ownership wanted to do the deal, they could have overruled him. He doesn’t have that much power to tell ownership what to do. He makes recommendations. Ownership makes the decisions. That’s how it works.
I hope he returns with a beefed up staff. That is what’s in the best interests of the Yankees.
However, if he doesn’t return, I definitely can understand it.
Its a VERY, VERY tough place to work. We see it as fans and think it would be “cool” to work for the Yankees.
When you are in the business and see what these folks go through on a daily basis, I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.
Its why the guy looks older than he is. The stress is a killer, even on the good days.
C’mon C Money, we need ya buddy!
SJ-
Who do you see as a replacement should Cash leave? Buck, Hunsicker?
I’m very nervous about this. As a human being, I think Cashman would be crazy to come back – I would think his stomach lining is non-existent at this point, and the 24/7/365 nature of this job has to have an impact on his personal life. At some point, you have to weigh what’s best for your loved ones, and while he may love the Yankees and they may love him, they sure don’t keep him warm at night.
As a Yankee fan, however, I’m hoping he comes back for one more turn, to try and see his plan through. It’s a selfish feeling, too, because I know if he doesn’t come back, there will be a lot of chaos and yet another season of uncertainty, depending on who the Yankees get to fill the post. And you wonder if the Steinbrenners have given any thought at all to who they would want if it’s not Brian Cashman and how long it will take them to hire someone. You don’t want them to rush into anything, but you don’t want them to lose time, especially this off-season when it seems like so much has to be done.
I hate uncertainty.
SJ44 –
I think that being the Yankees GM is both the best and worst job in all of baseball.
Ny Post’s reports of Cashman returning = The Buzz
Pete’s post about Cash deciding his fate on the Mass turnpike = The Buzzkill
Damon Oppenheimer is an option too. Though he has zero experience, but neither did Cash.
Bronx Jeers –
Any turnpike at all is no place to make a life-changing, franchise-impacting decision!!!! Especially considering the drive it will be in this lousy weather.
Well, probably he’s not driving himself. But still….
Does Hal have more power than Hank, is what Cash is probably thinking.
I’ve got my resume ready if Cash bows out. I promise a maximum of 92 losses next year if given the job.
Also, Free Beer Fridays!
Despite the words, Cashman already knows what he wants to do. He isn’t Brett Favre.
I couldn’t tell you who they would get if he left. I don’t believe those capable of drawing up a list in the organization know where to turn right now. I think those folks want him back and aren’t thinking about a replacement for him.
I agree with Doreen. If I was advising him, I’d say, leave now. You don’t need the BS, the factions and the nonsense.
I get the fact you are very loyal to George, like working with Hal, and feel a HUGE responsibility (which he does) to the fan base and the players to turn this thing around.
He’s really popular with the guys on the team. That’s not always the case with GM’s.
As was the case with Torre, I believe you need to leave certain gigs to get people to realize what they had when you were around.
That’s VERY true with the Yankees.
They were right to pass on the Santana trade. Everybody whining about it now has the fortune of hindsight.
Last December, how many people on the blog stated EMPHATICALLY, “Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy will win ZERO games in 2008 and Melky Cabrera is going to hit .240”?
If you did, then you have a right to complain about the non-trade. If you didn’t, be quiet because complaining about the non-trade after one year makes you sound foolish.
They didn’t pass on it for a one year result. They passed on it because they didn’t want to give up players AND money for the guy. The Red Sox also passed on him for the same reasons.
Fact is, making that deal wouldn’t have guaranteed the Yankees anything but another big salary on the books.
What did it guarantee the Mets? The chance to play one game today to see if they can make the playoffs.
Exactly the SAME spot they were at last year. In essence, as well as Santana has pitched, they are in the same spot they were a year ago.
The non-trade isn’t what cost the Yankees this year. If they want to add pitching in the off-season, they will have the money to do so.
You make decisions in sports and live with the results. Good or bad, you make’em and you move forward.
Fans stay mired in “coulda, shoulda woulda”. Front office execs don’t have the same luxury.
As Bill Polian, the President/GM of the Indianapolis Colts, one of the smartest people I know in sports, always says, “If you do what the fans want you to do, you eventually end up in the stands sitting next to them”.
Great post as usual SJ.
I am thinking he`ll come back. If he doesnt who do you see as a replacement? Is Showalter possible? or is Gene Micheal possible?
I am torn myself if I think he should come back. On a positive I like the fact that he does have a plan, and he does work well with NY and the ownership. On the negative side its hard to ignore these facts:
1- he has a terrible track record with pitching in general, and acquiring FA pitching.
2-he has not done all that well with his evaluation of minor league prospects and pitchers
3-he passed on Santana, had no interest in Tori Hunter and did little to improve the team last season.
4-despite having the highest payroll, the most $ to spend, and owners who are willing to spend he erected one of the worst benches that the team has had in years.
5-has obviously over rated many of the players in the organization, both rookies, minor leaguers, and veterans
I think Cashman didn’t have a lot on the bench, quite possibly because of the payroll factor. According to that one article, Ensburg was Girardi’s choice. Betemit was a poor choice, but he wasn’t expensive.
I agree that his pitching evaluation isn’t the best, some of it is unforeseen problems, but still of all the problems that the Yankees have been having the past 5 years at least has been pitching depth.
I think Cashman might be torn because of not wanting to stay anymore and wanting to see this period through. He also hasn’t really been grooming anyone to take his place. I do believe he knows what he is going to do, though. He is probably just waiting till the season is over officially. He doesn’t want to upstage the playoffs.
“Any turnpike at all is no place to make a life-changing, franchise-impacting decision!!!”
Exactly! A drive like that puts a normal man in the fetal position. At this rate Cashman will be the Equipment Manager for the St Maarten Margaritas next season.
And why are millionaires driving back and forth to Boston. First Mo is mulling surgery on the drive up and now Cash is deciding the eventual fate of the 2009 season? Can’t the Yankees spring for the 150$ shuttle to LGA? It’s no wonder this team is in such a state of disarray!
Okay I’ll take my name out of the running for GM next season and re-submit it for traveling secretary!
The GM may have 85+ mil to play with next season but I’ll have Brittons frequent flier miles which could be worth even more!
I am fine with whichever decision Chasman elects to make, but I refuse to shed tears for a man making almost $ 2 million a year. Damn right it should be a tough, demanding job. I bust my butt to reach six figures and I’m supposed to feel sorry for a guy who makes that every month? Please!
Bock Showalter is the obvious choice in my mind. His ability to evaluate talent was a big part in Gene Michael’s choices of young players to fight for from 1992-95. There’s no Torre dynasty without Buck and Stick.
The Steinbrothers seem to share a respect for Michael who will likely be the major influence in selecting a replacement if it comes to that.
If Cash stays I hope he hires Buck as a consultant, exclusive to the Yankees for player evaluation and assessments on FA acquisitions and potential trades.
The decision on Santana was an organizational one and not something that rests on Cashman. It was obviously going to be a bad decision for 2008. The question is how will that non-trade look from 2009 into the future.
The reason he might not want to come back is the problem with the top of the organization. First off Hank is a blow-hard who has no interest in baseball, except to grab headlines, and pretend to be his dad. Hal seems to have a more level head, and has actually made the Mandatory appearances with his sister that are required. Hal seems to be genuine, and has taken an interest in the team, and tried to work with Cashman, but from what we’ve heard Hank and Hal don’t get along. Neither of the two men took an active interset in the team, especially during the winning years. Although they could be given the benefit of the doubt, that when George was himself, he wouldn’t let anyone else, including his sons run the team with him. I have a feeling that the Steinbrenner sons are following their ailing fathers wishes by keeping the Yankees in the family, but when George is gone they will sell the team. The question is what kind of team will there be, a third or fourth place team loaded with bad contracts, and 4A minor league prospects, or a team built through the farm system, supported by free agent signings. If the Yanks do things the latter way it could be a few years before they return to the playoffs.
I don’t think he’s coming back. He loves the Yankees dearly, but the fact that he’s only 50/50, if that, tells you that he’s near the end of his rope with Hank. I don’t blame Cash, to be honest. He’s given much of his adult life to the Yankees and if he stays, putting out Hank’s fires are probably going to subtract 10 years from his life. Cashman gave an ultimatum to George a few years back and it worked – George backed down. I think the man is simply not going to to that this time – the job has created, I have no doubt, innumerable stresses on him. As much as his wife may love NY, she presumably loves her husband more and wants him to be happy. I don’t want to speak for Cash, but is he honestly happy with the way things are in Yankeeland? I don’t think so – and he can be happy elsewhere, so why not leave? Let someone else deal with Hank. It’s too bad, because Hal is a good guy, but his brother is absolutely uncontrollable.
I’m worried because Cash will talk to his GM buddies; he is very well-liked in the game. Knowing that Cash loves the Yankees and that he left (I’m assuming he’s gone) because of Hank, who is going to want this job? If Brian had enough, and he’d been there 20 years, why would anyone else assume that they could handle it? Boy, I hate Hank….........
Cashman is a known favorite of Hal Steinbrenner who believes in the GM.
With some restructuring in the front office in the way of baseball people such as Buck Showalter, the team is on the right path.
Pete – in the one in two million chance Brian reads ur blog, he might take notice of how u continue to advise he leaves by talking about how everything outweighs being Yankee GM, and he likely won’t give a sht.I bet he is lying to you anyway because I heard from multiple people that Brian told most of the writers he was likely coming back but just wanted to make sure of it on his ride home. Clearly he just feels like jerking u around a bit
This is part of what I wrote on another board about the non-trade for Santana and the treatment of Phil Hughes:
*By the way, with Johan, the Mets were supposed to win the NL pennant at the least. If they don’t do that, then guess what? The season was a failure and it would prove that one pitcher doesn’t guarantee a thing, no matter how good he is) that they have lost all objectivity when it comes to Phil. It does not ask a lot to ask that fans show patience towards a 22 year old that everybody loved before he was called up. Yankee fans were proud to have the #1 pitching prospect in the game – did they think, before Johan became an option, that Phil was never going to struggle? Now all of a sudden people are demanding instant success to prove the non-trade was the right move? That’s unfair and unrealistic
SJ, you’re absolutely right as to why the Yankees did not make the deal. They knew they might miss the playoffs this year, but they were looking beyond 2008. This is a concept that many fans simply do not grasp. It’s tiresome to have to explain it and it’s tiresome to have to explain why we should have patience with a very talented 22 year old (oh yeah, right. Since Johan went to the Mets, Phil lost his talent).
I have no idea who would be the GM – the Yankees probably never saw this coming, specifically Hank. Maybe now (if Cash is being honest with him) he will see just how miserable he’s made life for his GM. Damon Oppenheimer is a scout – he’s not an executive.
I have no desire to see Buck back in pinstripes. I liked him, but SJ – he was a control freak and everybody in the organization knew it. The fact that George came crawling back to him doesn’t make a difference with me; the only reason he did that was because the press was making fun of Joe Torre and George couldn’t deal with that. Buck is a good man, for sure, and he brought a lot of dignity to the Yankees at a time when they had none, but he was uptight and frankly, I think the players had had enough.
On another note, I didn’t read Bill Madden’s article; I haven’t read him in months. He hates the Yankees – and now he’s trashing Cashman? Cash is a good guy, so trashing him takes a lot of anger
Interesting stuff. thanks for the update.
Kevin
Actually I think Buck’s style is a bad fit for the clubhouse—especially with a veteran team—but great for an organization’s front office where singularity of purpose has been a weakness. He has seen the game from just about every angle, and he’s a Yankee at his core.
Cashman always keeps his cards close to his vest (Arod & Damon acquisitions) He also saw what happened in those Arod, Rivera & Posada contract negotiations when he wasn’t the negotiator, so if I was him I would take advantage of the same strategy those players did.
Either he comes back and maintains the control George promised him or he leaves and completely guts the minor league player development staff that he put in place over the past 3 years.
I don’t think Cashman is coming back based on the way he was talking last week. If he doesn’t come back this will be a real test for the Yankees ownership and front office people to see who they replace him with. I would like to see Showalter in some front office capacity. While his stubborness may not play well in the dugout, I think his baseball knowledge will play well in the front office.
Even though Cashman has made some miscues over the years, and I’m not his biggest fan, I think that losing him right now would hurt the club. I think the Steinbrenners fully expect him to be back working with them next season and beyond, and it’s a scary thought, but I don’t think thay have a contingency plan if he leaves. It would be utter chaos. I would dread a scenario where Cashman leaves, and they have to look for a GM, and Hank is spouting off in the papers disrupting the playoffs, scaring away free agants, and playing GM.
“SJ, you’re absolutely right as to why the Yankees did not make the deal. They knew they might miss the playoffs this year, but they were looking beyond 2008. This is a concept that many fans simply do not grasp. It’s tiresome to have to explain it and it’s tiresome to have to explain why we should have patience with a very talented 22 year old (oh yeah, right. Since Johan went to the Mets, Phil lost his talent).”
I agree with your assessment …
there seems to be a lot of revisionist history going on with the fans about Santana … I remember one post after another applauding the Yankees for showing restraint and not jumping at trading whatever package of prospects were needed to get Santana AND paying 7 years/140 million dollars.
I also maintain that if the Yankees were ever at a point where they were in serious discussions to get Santana, the Twins would have gone back to the Red Sox to see if they could get a better deal … it always looked to me like Boston was in it simply to scare the Yankees into “trading the farm” for him. If you recall, it was supposedly a “done deal” that Santana was going to Boston at the Winter Meeting – i.e. medical records were being exchanged, etc. ... and then all of a sudden, nothing happened. Why? Because I believe the Red Sox were playing Chicken with the Yankees and they didnt blink. When Minnesota realized that Boston was not a landing spot and the Yankees were not going to pay thru the nose to get Santana, the price for him plummeted. That is why,based on the package the Mets got for Santana, it was basically a glorified free agent signing … Carlos Gomez doesnt exactly set the world on fire.
Besides, you cant judge a trade (or in the Yankees case, a non-trade) soley on the first year.
Hughes may still yet prove that the Yankees faith in him was justified … nobody knows for sure that he won’t … unless they have purchased a time machine and know what the future will be.
And no one knows how much Santana will depreciate in value over the course of his contract with the Mets … as good as he was this year, let’s also keep in mind that it is very noticeable that his fastball is slowly losing velocity … he typically hits about 92mph whereas in years past with the Twins he was easily in the mid-90’s start after start.
Let him go… Things will be fine…Baseball teams are not built by ONE person… period… see ya… Lets face it the 90’s teams weren’t his anyway.. and he was been very uneven with his pitching choices
“Being the GM of the Yankees has its perks. But the pressure and hassle outweighs that.”
this line of thought is silly.
hopefully this is Pete projecting onto Cashman. Because if Cashman really feels that way, Cashman should go get a crappy job such as working at Walmart w/2 kids and no health insurance. that’s pressure and hassle.
Picking up the Bat Phone and having to hear George or Hank rant, having to put up w/the inane media – yeah, that’s not pleasant, but there are billions of people who’d make that tradeoff. suck it up Brian.
I understand Cashman’s comparison of signing up for another tour of duty, but if he steps off the ship now it looks rather dicey. I’m not saying he didn’t do a good job this year, I loved picking up Nady. But, he’s tried so hard to rebuild the farm system and it has seemed to this point like ownership is on board with that plan. This is the Yankees, so they should still spend and try to sign someone like Sabathia, but they have to spend smarter than in the past decade. Cashman owes nothing more to the franchise, but aside from more money I can’t imagine what he would rather do. Maybe he wants to take Randy Levine’s job…I’d be ok with that.
Maybe he’ll decide during game four of the worls series
I seem to remember hearing some rumblings a couple of weeks ago coming from Buster Olney and Peter Gammons (not exactly unbiased on this subject) that IF Brian Cashman decides NOT to come back – and – IF the Brewers implode in the NL and don’t win the Wild Card spot – that Doug Melvin of the Brewers would be an “ideal” or “great” replacement for Cashman.
Since I don’t know much about Melvin’s Front Office acumen, why would Olney & Gammons both be so high on him? Any insight would be appreciated.
it all depends on how burnt out cashman is.
after a while you burn out and have to turn the light switch off.it is a defense mechanism.sometimes it just happens as the natural course and you don’t even realize it.
anywho the yankees will still have tons of money.they should go out and get a few decent pitchers,take a look at sabathia,if he want’s too much take a pass.
the yankees do well with just 5 solid not too great pitchers as long as they have 5 and a little debth they should be fine..
see what cano,hughes,aceves,coke might bring back in trades.if they net you a billingsley or players like that they should think about some trades or they could just buy a bunch of pitchers and a first baseman and be done with it.
i am not sure what the answer is.i am sure both ways can work but waiting for the kids is trying.
i think they should get a few fa pitchers at the very minimum,see if a trade exists for a center fielder and or a first baseman.
i think gardner will do ok until ajax or someone else comes along.if that is the route they take they should get a first baseman and play miranda a little against righties and a few solid pitchers like dempster,mussina for a year and see if they can trade for a young solid pitcher.
Braintrust:
If the Yanks do things the latter way it could be a few years before they return to the playoffs.
i don’t think with the kids they are as far off as it might look.
they could and did buy crazy contracts and it didn’t work either so by you saying they might be a few years off i disagree because they still might not make the playoffs for a while even if they sign every free agent.
they just need to be smart and have a solid plan going forward.
make a list of players they wan’t in center field,first base and go out and get one,the same with pitchers.sign moose and now you have wang,mussina,joba.go from there.
try to get sabathia,trade for billingsley if possible.
with a rotation of sabathia,wang,billingsley,mussina,joba i like our chances.
do you trade hughes and cano for billingsley? that’s a tough one,i might do cano and kennedy/aceves/coke.
whatever they do signing tex would be a huge mistake.they need a more cost controlled younger first baseman like votto.
they should target pitching and a first baseman through fa and trades and go with gardner,ajax,melky in center.
you do not win several more games by signing santanna or sabathia.you win by building a good team and pitching staff.
How the succession takes place is the most important thing, not whether he or anybody else signs Free Agent X over the winter.
The smart thing for H&H to do would be to pay Cash big money on a 2-year deal to continue the player development/rebuild and to mentor 2-3 up-and-coming asst GMs. That gives you the possibility of some continuity when he moves on.
Right now, if Cash leaves the BEST case is he takes a year off and only a few player development guys move on, WORST case is he goes to another team and takes the best & brightest with him to build the new org…. leaving Yankees baseball ops with only (1) whoever the new GM brings in (who’d have little to no organizational knowledge) and (2) those remaining toadies whose best skill is sucking up to Tampa. That means rebuilding player development all over again.
Cash is definetly the teflon man. It seems popularity with the press is a major asset. Give Brian credit he is a smart guy who knows how to work a crowd. His options? A) Walk away from the mess he contributed to and millions in compensation. B) Call a crony for a job, that will never equal what he was given. C) Find a new career—press secretary? D) Return and deal with having more competitive advantages than anyone in his position. I have a feeling he’ll come back, like I said he’s a smart guy. 2009 prediction: if the Bombers bounce back Brian’s latest plan was brilliant, if not it was either the fault of the meddling owner or the manager. The song remains the same.