My thoughts on Brian Cashman and the 2008 playoffs

Cashman wants to prove himself

Unless you were on a long vacation, you must know that Brian Cashman was given a 3 year contract extension and Cashman has been saying that he has been treated unfairly by the press. Cashman always had the pressure of working under George Steinbrenner and winning “now.” There were times I felt he was pressured into making deals with free agents just to make a deal. I felt this way because George Steinbrenner had an obsession with free agents. After Steinbrenner was suspended from baseball, Gene Michael built the farm team and the Yankees went on to win 4 world series titles. After the 4rth World Series title, it seemed that Big George started getting more involved and the Yankees went back to bringing in big named free agents like they did in the 80’s. Cashman just seemed like a front for George. Then I started to feel that George was leaving it up to Cashman to bring in big free agents and do things the George way which Cashman wound up doing.

If you want to give credit to Brian Cashman for winning 3 world series from 1998-2000 as a general manager, I feel you are wrong. He basically rode the coattails of Gene Michael.

Cashman took over in 1998 and brought in Roger Clemens for 1999. It was a good move because he traded David Wells for Roger Clemens and Clemens was a huge upgrade.

In 2000 he brings in Mike Mussina for 2001 which was another good move because 5 years were pretty productive for Mike Mussina and 3 years were only ok but this last year where Mussina won 20 games gives the free agent move a high grade in my opinion.

In 2001 he signs steroid king who could do anything Jason Giambi. Giambi had some huge years for the Yankees but Giambi is the perfect example of a big named free agent that is brought in to a team that still loses in the playoffs. I hate the move.

In 2002 he signs Hideki Matsui, another big named free agent from Japan. He’s had some good years but the Yankees still don’t win with all the hitting in the lineup. I didn’t like when the Yankees signed Matsui because I didn’t think he’d be able to hit major league pitching but he proved me wrong.

In 2003 Cashman signs Gary Sheffield but he really didn’t sign him. George Steinbrenner signed Sheffield behind Cashman’s back and the big money spending spree is in it’s prime years. I was mad at this move because Sheffield was old and if they were going to sign a big named free agent, I wanted it to be Vladimir Guerrero. I didn’t know what George was thinking at the time. He could have had a young Guerrerro patrolling the outfield to this very day.

Cashman signs Kevin Brown. Kevin Brown is probably one of the biggest failures in Yankee history. He broke his hand after punching a wall which was probably a result of roid rage.(Brown was named in the Mitchell report) To me, anyone that lasts two innings in game 7 of the 2004 American League Championship in which the Yankees were up 3 games to 0 on the Red Sox, is a failure.

In 2004, with likely pressure from Steinbrenner, Cashman signs Alex Rodriguez which just could be the biggest mistake the Yankees could have ever made. A-Rod’s known failures in the clutch and caring all only about himself starts making the Yankees the joke of baseball. I liked the move when it was made but now I hate it because I feel the Yankees will never win with A-Rod.

Cashman then signs Carl Pavano. Another terrible player the Yankees signed. He hardly played and was always hurt. This was another move I hated. Pavano will never be a good pitcher again. He’ll always be hurt.

Cashman also signs Jaret Wright because of one good year with the Braves. Cashman did save face by trading Wright to the Orioles for Chris Britton. I wish the Yankees never signed Wright and hated that move too. I felt relieved the day I found out they traded Wright.

In 2005, Cashman signs 42 year old Randy Johnson. This can’t be a move by Cashman. This had George written all over it. I didn’t like the fact that the Yankees went and signed some one so old. He pitched great his first year but had a terrible second year.

In 2006, he signs Johnny Damon. Some will say it was the best acquisition Cashman ever made but the Yankees could of signed Joey Gathright to play center field and they would have as many world series titles as they do now. Zero.

Cashman then signs Kei Igawa and Igawa gets rocked by major league hitters. Kei Igawa proves he could only pitch well against minor leaguers. That was a terrible signing.

In 2006, he resigns Andy Pettitte but in my opinion Pettitte proves to be an average pitcher.

In 2007, the Yankees re-sign Alex Rodriguez to a ridiculous contract. Every time Alex gets up and there is a runner on base and the Yankees are losing and it’s the 8th or 9th inning, you are guaranteed an out. If you go back and look at my live blogs, I predicted he’d make an out and was right, every time.

This past year, he kept Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy and Robinson Cano and didn’t trade them to the Twins for Johan Santana. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy turned out to be colossal failures and Cano is one of the laziest players in the league. The Mets traded for Johan Santana and received a great year from him but the bottom line is this, the Mets are still not in the playoffs.

Hank and Hal will give Cashman more flexibility to bring in the players he wants and they both love prospects. Cashman still made some dumb moves even after George Steinbrenner got sick. If Cashman signs CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira do you know what it will follow? The same pattern the Yankees have been following since 2000 where they sign every big named free agent in sight and still lost. Is there anything to make you think that next year will be different? If the Yankees go out and sign these big named free agents, there is a great possibility that they won’t win the world series in 2009. My reasons? See 2001 – 2008.

Could Brian Cashman bring the Yankees back? Could he prove himself? One wonders what moves he will make this offseason and I for one am looking forward to them.

The Red Sox beat the Angels 6-1. I’m not surprised. The Red Sox are the defending world series champions and Jon Lester has been good all year.

The Phillies beat the Brewers. No surprise here either. Gallordo was hurt all year and you can’t expect him to pitch great against a playoff team.

The Dodgers beat the Cubs 7-2. This game surprised me. Especially the score. Dempster pitched great all season and the Dodgers played in a lousy division. I was expecting a sweep by the Cubs. You could never expect nothing less from Manny in the playoffs.

In the world series, these are some of the matchups I’d like to see. The Cubs against the White Sox just because they are from the same town. The Cubs against the Red Sox because they both have huge fan bases. The Dodgers against the Red Sox. Imagine the storylines for this one? Manny seeks revenge? Torre against the Red Sox? That would be my favorite one.