Brian Cashman knew he would be at a ballpark Wednesday. His plan was to drive to Moosic, Pa., to see Sergio Mitre pitch and Xavier Nady play the outfield for the Yankees’ Class AAA team. Then he watched the way the major league team played Tuesday.He also said that the team was not looking to trade for a bat and that he is still very confident that Joe Girardi can do the job:After another dreary loss, Cashman, the Yankees’ general manager, decided to fly to Atlanta instead. His presence in the middle of a trip lent a sense of gravity to the Yankees’ recent struggles. They had lost nine of their last 13 before Wednesday.
“It’s not going to last, I promise you that,” Cashman said. “We’re too good for it to last. But the last three weeks of poor play is mostly due to our offense. We have to get our offense going. We’ve been pitching real well.”
Cashman defended the hitting coach, Kevin Long, and the manager, Joe Girardi. But Girardi is in the second year of a three-year contract after missing the playoffs last season. Even without a robust George Steinbrenner making threats, as he might have in the old days, the surprise visit by Girardi’s immediate boss at least underscored the pressure he faces.
Well, the Yanks won yesterday so that should stop the fire Girardi talk for at least one day. Sweeny Murti pointed out today that the Yanks haven't made a mid-season managerial change since 1990 when they fired Bucky Dent and brought in Stump Merrill, so unless things really fall apart - ten or more out by the All-Star break - I can't see anything happening. That doesn't mean I think he's a good manager, I just don't think Cashman or the Steinbrenners will fire him.“We don’t need a bat,” he said. “I have no doubt about that. We have a tremendous offense. It’s scuffling right now. The only way we need a bat is if we have an injury.”
As for Girardi, the manager Cashman picked in October 2007 over Don Mattingly and Tony Pena, Cashman said he was satisfied with his attitude and effort as the team slips.
“He’s not slumped over, he’s not down and out, woe-is-me, depressed, on edge or tight,” Cashman said. “He’s keeping guys up, keeping them positive. I hear the messages he sends to them. He’s doing everything he needs to do.”
Cashman continued: “The reason I’m here is I’ve got to be doing everything I need to be doing, and ultimately, we believe that will translate onto the field.”
I agree with Cashman, the team doesn't "need" a bat, and there is no reason why this team shouldn't be able to put up runs regularly. I wouldn't mind if they added someone like Mark DeRosa, but they don't need a bat. I also agree that the team has been pitching very well, and that's just been overlooked because they haven't been winning.
That said, I don't see how Cashman showing up in the middle of a road trip helps anything, especially with a group like this, that seems to shrivel up under any amount of pressure. But whatever, if he wants to come by and see what's wrong with the team he built he has every right to do so.
So what do you think about Cashman's visit yesterday, good, bad or indifferent?
8 Comments:
I like Mark DeRosa a lot but I don't see how we could get playing time for everyone if we acquired him. When Nady comes back soon were going to have 5 OF for 3 spots. All of these guys can help our team so you are going to have to find regular time for them. Then we have Matsui who is completely stuck in the DH spot and except for the occasional HR he ain't hitting. Nady could find playing time at DH but with how much were paying Matsui he can't sit all the time. Then Posada could very well need some time at DH as well throughout the season. Except for maybe a start a week at third for A-Rod I do not see how DeRosa would fit. The Yankees could be sellers at the All-Star Break.
Hey, I'm all in favor of any move that gets the Yankees a much-needed win! While I agree that there is no doubt this team has the players to put runs on the board regularly, what concerns me is that there seems to be an all-for-one, one-for-all mentality. They either all hit or they don't, which is surprising considering the amount of experience in the lineup.
What if we acquired a very good starting pitcher and put Joba AND Phil in the bullpen !
You know how I feel about Joba, but let's say they want to do that, what good pitchers are going to be available? And, let's say a guy like Cliff Lee is available, there's no way they get him without giving up Hughes or Joba.
thats true. Hughes is the price to pay for any top talent. i wish we could get guys like Hanley Ramirez or a Ryan Zimmerman, but Yanks have to find these kids when they're younger or free agency.
There is no need to fire Joe Girardi. Give the guy the year lets see how it turns out.
Cashman said "all the bats are here and he also said three weeks ago we were the #1 offense."
Amazingly that part has been changed. LOL.
This kind of repsonse from a GM is all you need to know that he doesn't have a clue. Which is exactly why this team is in the condition that they are in. He thinks our offense is fine. ROFLMAO.
Obviously, Cashman hasn't watched a Yankee game in about 7 years. He's so dumb its amazing. This team, offensively, STINKS. It is filled with old man, that can't hit unless you call hitting into DP's good and it can't execute basic simple plays and it is terrible with RISP. Absolutely horrible. Just like they have always been horrible under Cashman.
But, this is the problem, when you think everything is fine but its really not then you have big problems. He simple doesn't know how to think negative at all.
There isn't a GM who does less with more than Brian Cashman.
Excellent post, and I enjoyed the following bit in particular:
"...especially with a group like this, that seems to shrivel up under any amount of pressure."
Well said. Cashman's visit is more of the same upper management posturing that was common in the waning years of Torre's tenure.
I think Girardi can take everything Cash and the Steinbrenner boys throw at him. He cut his teeth on the ludicrous Marlins management, and I believe he's actually a very tough-skinned manager.
The players, though, are a different story. I see a lot of huge but fragile egos in that locker room. They know what the competition is like in the AL and they know what level they need to play at to win. They don't need Cash's typical passive agressive tough guy act.
Post a Comment