Cashman: “It’s about what they can do in that win column”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Oct 30, 2010 
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Let’s start this blog weekend with a lengthy leftover comment from yesterday’s Brian Cashman conference call. It’s nothing ground-breaking, but it’s an interesting look at the evolution of the Yankees team-building philosophy.
“I would like to always get younger and better,” Cashman said. “That’s the double-edged sword. I don’t want to get younger and worse. I want to get younger, but while doing so, remain championship caliber. I think that’s what we’ve been trying to accomplish the last few year. I think we’ve done a good job. At the same time, if we have older players who can still do it for us, I don’t have any problem whatsoever in retaining older players who perform at a high level.
“It’s a combination of things. You’d love to get younger and cheaper and better, but a lot of times that’s not possible. If there are older players who can help us accomplish the team goal of winning, then so be it. We’re not going to be interested in getting players just because of future milestones. It’s about what they can do in that win column. That’s the main reason we’re in this.
“I know when I first started here as an intern and worked my way up, there was a little bit of a belief that the stars put he fannies in the seats. That’s not true. The stars don’t put the fannies in the seats. The teams that win do. You can have some of the biggest names all you want, but if it’s a bad team, people will stop showing up come July. They’ll choose to do other things, whether it’s go to the beach or anything else.
“Ultimately, it’s about winning as many games as possible and trying to make the playoffs. If we have a team that people can come out and see win a lot of games, then people will be interested in showing up and turning this place into the place to be in New York City. And that’s what we want to keep going.”
Interesting comments and very true….the Yankees aren’t allowed to get younger and worse which is something that most teams have to go through when the rebuild/reload. Its a tough balancing act Cashman has to pull off in constantly retooling the team while never being out of title contention.
New York !
It why they’re the most entertaining team around, they get it!
Blake,
It is tough being the GM of the Yankees. They always have to be in contention, and they can’t take a year or two to develop a younger team. That luxury is not afforded to him.
Blake
Its unfortunate that that is the case, I think we probably have a lot of guys in our farm system that could live up to their potential in the Major Leagues but because NY and the fans are about winning it all every year, they are less likely to keep and develop those guys “on the job”.
Its like the Montero debate. Do you keep him in AAA if he doesn’t do well in ST and get a FA catcher? Do you trade him because he may or may not be able to stand up to ML pitching? Or do you just say screw it, Posada is getting old and we need a new catcher after he is gone?
Most teams don’t really have the resources to go out and get what they need whenever they need it so they have to promote from within and hope that whoever they bring up can acclimate quickly and do well, in NY there is really no patience for growing pains.
Personally, I am part of the last group. Posada won’t play after next season and I’d rather they promote from within. I like when teams bring up their homegrown talent. If he has growing pains, that’s fine. You have to learn sometime.
I think the Yankees should invest some money in R and D.
Send some of the guys from Tampa out on a mission to locate the Fountain of Youth.
When they find it they will no longer have to worry about finding younger players.
Call it “Mission Statement 2011;” it puts a limit to younger, cheaper, more athletic. More like “Win at almost all costs.”
I think it’s very interesting that Girardi and Cash are both using the media to communicate this view to fans and players so early in the process. It means to me, first, that the budget may well go up this year because: “cheaper and younger” come in second to winning.
Second, and I think this is obvious, it means nobody gets a bye because of their iconic past. If the iconic older player helps the team win, great; if an iconic older player is hurting the team, then the iconic player must yield to the team interest. They are setting the tone before negotiations with Jeter and Mo and Pettitte begin, not so much for cash reasons but in terms of “accept your mortality and be prepared for things to change.”
Wonder why they think these iconic players need to get this message so early?
MTU October 30th, 2010 at 9:12 am
GB-
The most shocking part of this story is Girardi’s blatant hypocrisy.
There he is mainlining donuts on the sly and his players can’t even eat a single tootsie roll in the dugout.
That’s just wrong. I hope this doesn’t get out.
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No doubt that this is going to blow the lid off of the whole sordid story. I expect Selig to start a full investigation. George Mitchell would be perfect to lead the investigation.
I still think that bringing the kids line Montero, Nunez and Laird to fill in the gaps is the way to go. The ’75 Red Sox had two rookies and 3 2nd year players in their starting lineup to go with a very young bullpen. Hardly an unheard of concept.
as far as the Montero debate ..if they thought he could handle the catching duties even part time he would have been here because they know he can hit….Tough to bring the kid up at that age and just let him DH, he’s has to learn on how to catch at the major league level, the D at the catcher position on this team was bad this past season and doesn’t look like it will get any better unless Montero improved or they get a FA catcher ……
GB-
I concur. George Mitchell to the rescue. It’s baseball’s only hope.
Send in the hangin’ judge.
I would expect nothing less than a good flogging and a public execution.
bringing the kids ***into the line-up like*** Montero
Donuts ? ? ? Girardi has false teeth.
Ah. Patience. That’s for saps.
You’re either born ready or not.
Forget all this development crap.
We don’t have time for that.
don’t know how this will go down but I would be very careful giving years to Andy,DJ & Mo…give their money but watch out for the years
George Mitchell likes donuts too.
simple …can Montero handle the catching duties better than the two catchers they had this past season, if so bring him up
The serious issue this morning is: Does Girardi steal the all chocolate candies from his kids Halloween treats so that the braces are not in jeopardy, or does he take the ones that he shouldn’t be eating because of his braces.
Will the Yankees management allow Girardi to stay home on Sunday or make him fly down to the meetings in Tampa before he can do harm to those braces.
Personally, I think Joe should go to Tampa before he commits a heinous crime against his braces.
” The stars don’t put the fannies in the seats. The teams that win do. ”
There was a record setting crowd in Cleveland this summer for 3 games that would disagree with that and a Rays owner trying to figure out why his fanbase missed that memo.
George Mitchell would throw him out of baseball
Where is Judge Roy Bean when we need him.
joe lost a bunch of weight because of those braces, lets put a set on joba….
pat…
The spring training Yankees contingent threatened the Tampa residents fan base with Halloween candy
Joba defintely likes Halloween candy.
God bless Doreen for giving this blog something else to talk about besides Cliff Lee and where Jeter bats in the order after his new contract is signed.
Girardi has a fondness for candy corn.
GB-
I think Joe consults his book before deciding which Halloween candy to eat.
That way he always gets it just right. No mistakes are allowed when
serious amounts of sugar are involved.
Dunkin Donuts has egg white sandwiches so unless there was an actual donut ingestion sighted, call off the dogs.
Pat-
Ask Doreen for photographic proof. I think she may have caught him red-handed.
Perhaps even in the act.
Are there enough sabre-metrics to support his choices? I understand that the sugar defensive metrics are an inexact science.
Actually, GB, we should be discussing and inter-wiring device, and whether it shows telltale signs of previous discussions Girardi has had with the Brass. Saber-metrics is to inexact a science for this crime.
GB-
“Are there enough sabre-metrics to support his choices? I understand that the sugar defensive metrics are an inexact science.”
I’m not the right person to ask. It’s an evolving field of inquiry. I’m not a stathead.
I do think Joe prefers a “range” of options though but that’s only a guess.
If a donut was sticking out from the middle of his book staring him right in the kisser I do wonder if he would eat it though.
It’s clear he favors certain food matchups and likes his sugar.
The rest is speculation and I won’t engage in that. It’s neither blogworthy nor dignified.
pat,
You are being too kind. Our manager must be perfect at all times!!!!
MTU,
Since you are so dignified, do you have your tux on.
I like Cashman a lot. I think he’s done a great job as GM for this ballclub under sometimes very difficult conditions.
I like his words too. The real test of them is what happens when A-Rod begins to slide. In fact, A-Rod already may be starting to slide- his range at 3B isn’t what it was just 2 years ago and he doesn’t run the bases the same. He is still productive with the RBIs but his at-bats aren’t as good either, plus he seems to be swinging with all ‘upper body’ now. So with 7 years left on this atrocious contract the Yankees gave him (think: Hank), if 2011 shows continued decline, what will Brian Cashman do to back up those great words?
That’s my question.
SAS-
No but my pet penguin does.
He wears it ALL the time and is extremely dignified.
He’s as cool a customer as there is.
don’t need much….a defensive catcher, another LHRP,SP & two if Andy leaves & what I asked for last season a good fielder with a decent bat that can play infield of outfield
joeman,
Santa Claus brings these things. It is only Halloween
You didn’t name your penguin Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot, did you?
Trick- No Cliff Lee.
or
Treat- Cliff Lee.
GB-
I haven’t been able to name him. He spends too much time sleeping in the freezer for me to get a word in edgewise.
He hates the Desert and has never forgiven me for bringing him here.
GB-
And if I did get to name him he’d be called “joker”.
I think the Yankees should invest some money in R and D.
Send some of the guys from Tampa out on a mission to locate the Fountain of Youth.
When they find it they will no longer have to worry about finding younger players.
——————————————————————
What you’re talking about now earns players 50 game 1st time suspensions!!
I like milk with my donuts.
YT-
Oops! I was talking about the Ponce De Leon variety though.
Yankees in 3.
Good moning everyone. Just catching up on the posts and I read about the Joe Girardi Dunkin Donuts sighting. Wonder if he got a box of Joe. (Wasn’t his picture on those boxes?)
First Taco Bell, now Dunkin Donuts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmbgxplKfpY
Fran-
I’m surprised it wasn’t Taco Bell.
They’re gonna be very upset that Joe is moonlighting for DD.
They may even void his contract.
There may not be very many more chalupa’s in Girardi’s future.
He’s a very complex and conflicted Man apparently.
Morning, fran. How are you this morning?
I’m afraid that we’ve completely run Doreen off of the board. It’s either that or she’s made a mad dash to Dunkin’ Donuts to get an interview to post on here.
Time to take the Penguins for their morning walk. BIAW.
I miss Trisha.
Does Girardi make the donuts at night ?
I was just thinking that Doreen got in her helicopter to try to get a scoop for us. She is very savvy.
RT…………..
He is eating them with braces on.
Hi MTU,
What happens to Mariano if Joe’s Taco Bell contract is void. Does he become the only spokesperson or does he get to choose a replaement?
Hi GB,
All is well here. Hope you are doing well. I would think Doreen is scouting out White Plains waiting for Joe Girardi again. After all he has to eat lunch and dinner sometime today. Maybe it will be Taco Bell
“The real test of them is what happens when A-Rod begins to slide.”
By the time the real test comes with Alex they’ll be real test veterans having already navigated the waters with Jorge and Derek.
Hi Fran,
Hope you had a good week. Thanks for your work on WS thing for Trisha. How is she doing?
Girardi actually lived in the same town as me when he was playing. I doubt he lives in White Plains, but I have no idea if he lives here unless his name is listed in the phone book which I sincerely doubt.
Hi SAS,
Trisha is doing as well as can be expected.
You have a nice fall weekend to come back to here. Enjoy the party. When are you going back to Arizona?
“Rays owner trying to figure out why his fanbase missed that memo.”
If they were not winning, he would have understood that memo better.
Then they would not have attracted even 50% of the fans who attended.
Cash has done a very good job of getting rid of the worst of George (“a belief that the stars put he fannies in the seats”) while keeping the best (spending) only doing it in a smarter way.
Fran,
We go back at noon tomorrow, but then return the 16th because we host Thanksgiving. Then we drive out to AZ to take the dog and a 2nd car. I’ll be back some time this winter to see my grandson and his parents of course.
Where is George ?
“Ruby Tuesday October 30th, 2010 at 10:47 am
Where is George ?”
Under your bed.
I concur with Cashman’s thoughts on 2 lefthanders in the bullpen.
Fortunately Boone Logan found himself at AAA in time to place the injured Marte but there was still too many times when Logan was used to mix and match an inning sooner than wished.
Meantime the team was top heavy with long relievers like Gaudin, Mitre, and Mosely after Aceves went down with back problems.
Cash’s comment about fannies is clearly directed at Jeter’s agent.
When you look at the comments here over the time, there are many who are impatient with losing and throw Girardi and eveyone under the bus for losing. But when it comes to Jeter, they want Yanks to dole out 20+ mil for four or more years. I think that is blind faith in Jeter.
The botoom line is Jeter is aging and his prodction will continue to drop, which is natural. His compensation will be consitent with it, though Yanks will pay much more than any other team. If Jeter’s agent does not recongnize that reality, Jeter’s agent will see what Cash is made of….
Unlike many, I think Yankees have upper hand in these negotiations. They will decide what they want to pay within thier budget goals which will be still much more than any other team will be willing to pay. They will stick to that offer and challenge Jeter’s agent to go and get a better offer and come back.
No Yogi is under there.
tyanksfan36 October 30th, 2010 at 9:16 am
Blake
Its unfortunate that that is the case, I think we probably have a lot of guys in our farm system that could live up to their potential in the Major Leagues but because NY and the fans are about winning it all every year, they are less likely to keep and develop those guys “on the job”. …well, in NY there is really no patience for growing pains.
——————————————————–
That’s the price they pay for being a franchise in NY. If they can’t stand the heat then tough luck
Fran-
That’s a topic for another day.
Just guessing I would say yes.
However, Girardi hasn’t been convicted of double-dipping, so to speak, just yet.
RAB has an NL list of guys they would.trade Hughes for….their list has a whole lot more guys on it than mine would….
SAS,
Safe travels tomorrow.
MTU,
If Joe is eliminated from his Taco Bell job, will you do a tribute for him?
Taco Bell is finger lickin good.
“RAB has an NL list of guys they would.trade Hughes for”
That is a very dumb blog post, and one reason why I rarely read that blog anymore.
BBFan,
That’s a nice post about Jeter and Cashman. I hope you’re right and Cashman retains him for 12-15 million.
SteveB,
There’s nothing the team can do about 7 more years of Arod. When he starts to tank, he’ll just milk time on the DL like Giambi did when he started to lose it.
Fran-
Tributes are for positive events but I could do a retrospective, or memorium.
A look back on his checkered career at Taco Bell and the memories he left behind.
“Cash’s comment about fannies is clearly directed at Jeter’s agent.”
I disagree, I think it’s a much larger point.
Cashman doesn’t need to play mind games in public with Casey Close. The bigger obstacles to signing Jeter to a reasonable contract could be Hank and Hal.
Who does Girardi double dip with ? Does Alice know ?
MTU -
That’s it, you’re caffine is cut off.
“The bigger obstacles to signing Jeter to a reasonable contract could be Hank and Hal.”
Yes, Hal and Hank will set the contract parameters.
Still, it is Cash who has to negotiate. He is the one who has to deal with Casey Close.
How Casey Close hanlded the last contract does not help either.
Funny thing is if Close agreed to the riginal contract, Jeter would have been better off today with another along contract like A-Rod, not same money.
MTU,
LOL.
Off to enjoy this beautiful fall day. Catch you later.
We will see about Jeter. I don’t think he will take much of a cut if any at all. I also think his contract will be short. I think he feels he needs to be paid at a top salary while he plays, but I don’t think he plans to play much longer…like 2 yrs.
Got to go get beautified for this party.
See you all later.
Al-
Confined to base and priviledges denied no doubt.
A fate worse than death.
Having the upper hand and choosing to use it are different things.
Cashman is oversimplifying things a bit.
A combination of things put butts in the seats. Anything that is an event sells tickets. Winning, players, once in a lifetime experiences, etc……
Whether the Yankees start out with a winning or a losing record next year, the seats will still be filled when Derek steps to the plate for hit 3000. His achievement makes that an event.
The crowd in Cleveland this year as Alex approached 600 HRs bought tickets for an event.
A CC/Lee match-up, Alex playing in Seattle, Sox at the Stadium= events.
Events require a little star power.
MTU -
No hike today?
Al-
Manana. Rest today. A Crown jewel on Tues. if weather good.
How are you ?
MTU -
Doing OK for an old man. The weather here is great, the temps fell for the first time to normal, but expected to be back into the upper 70′s next week. I’m enjoying the crisp clear air, and had my coffee on the porch this morning.
The mops didn’t want to come in this morning, the fresh air made them want to stay out and play.
Al-
Man I just love the Fall. Maybe someday I will get a chance to explore you area. I’m sure it is very beautiful. I used to visit Cary fairly frequently. I liked what I saw.
The slithery ones are now beginning their sleep so the DM’s and I will begin hiking together soon. They love it.
Hughes is a 24 yr old future ace. Who has had a ton of success already in ny. U don’t trade those guys.