15 posts tagged “brian cashman”
Ok, so it isn't exactly Cramer v. Stewart. But a new feud has emerged in the sports world.
Jeff Pearlman, author of The Rocket That Fell to Earth (set to be released in the coming weeks), has angered Brian Cashman because of an anecdote in the book.
The book said that when Giambi went through a slump in the 2002 season, his first with the Yankees, Cashman was heard yelling at a television in the Yankees' clubhouse during a game. Citing "one New York player," the book said that Cashman screamed, "Jason, whatever you were taking in Oakland," get back on it.
The book said that Cashman then added, "Please!"
In a telephone interview Thursday night, Cashman said that the anecdote described in the book never happened.
"That is completely false," Cashman said.
Pearlman acknowledged that he never called Cashman to confirm or deny this story; rather, he referenced a Yankee player that he has "100 percent confidence" in.
I like Pearlman; I actually met him at a writers conference last year (I am also friends with him on Facebook). I just hope that his source is really good, or else he will have tarnished his journalistic credibility.
Alex Rodriguez has opted to have arthroscopic hip surgery on Monday, according to ESPN. He is expected to miss six to nine weeks.
The surgery A-Rod will receive is a "hybrid option," and so he will miss less time than previously reported. The "modest" surgery will repair the labrum without being overly invasive. As a result, A-Rod will miss significantly less time, but he will have to have more surgery in the offseason. Yesterday, a person who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that, "It would be like using a nail instead of a steel girder to repair it. Eventually the nail would have to be replaced with the steel girder."
Of the three options, I think this is the best one for Alex Rodriguez. He will most likely miss the entire month of April; however, he will be able to play the final five months pain-free. I would take five months of A-Rod at 95% than six months of him at 70-75%.
Brian Cashman had this to say: "The surgery that will just repair the labrum tear right now would shorten his rehab. Then following the conclusion of the season going in and repair the remaining aspects that need to be repaired."
Of late, the Yankees have struggled in the early months of the season. Check out their records in April:
2008: 14-15
2007: 9-14
2006: 13-10
2005: 10-14
2004: 12-11
Without A-Rod, the Yankees may or may not continue this trend next month. With an improved pitching staff and the addition of Mark Teixeira, I am confident that the Yanks can hold their own sans A-Rod.
Here is a video from Tampa. Brian Cashman speaks about the A-Rod situation (hat tip to Bronx Banter):
One year ago today, we Yankee fans took a tough blow to the face. The Mets had officially traded for Johan Santana.
This is what I had to say about it last year:
"Most people say that Cashman was hesitant to sign Santana because the deal would most definitely ensure a hefty, $100 million dollar-plus extension. Well, yes. But it's not my money. Well, maybe a $50 parking fee and a $15 beer would hurt, but a World Series win would soften the blow."
"We had a shot and it flew by. If Santana continues his success while with the Mets, Cashman will never hear the end of it. And maybe that's a good thing."
"The Yankees had to give up virtually nothing in order to obtain Santana. I love Melky and Kennedy, and their potential is sky-high. But Melky hasn't exactly been the anchor of our offense in recent years, and his bat and glove have not exactly been vital to the team compared with other players."
One year later, my view on the Johan Santana deal has wavered only slightly. I still think he is one of the two or three best pitchers in baseball. And I have no doubt in my mind that we would have made the playoffs if we had Johan last year. However, with the signing of CC Sabathia (at the expense of no prospects), Cashman has (somewhat) made up for his error in judgment. Still, I'm not so sure I would pick the tandem of Sabathia, Hughes, and Melky Cabrera over Johan Santana.
Who knew then that one year later, in January 2009, the hot topic would be controversy surrounding Joe Torre? You just can't predict baseball (and that goes for the offseason too).
In his latest book, entitled The Yankee Years, Joe Torre rips into some of his former teammates and colleagues.
In the book, written with Tom Verducci, Torre claims that teammates referred to A-Rod as A-Fraud. He also claims that Alex was obsessed with his counterpart on the left side of the infield, Derek Jeter.
Torre also bashes Brian Cashman, saying that Cashman betrayed him by not sticking up for him in October 2007. If you remember, Torre's comments at a press conference that month stated otherwise.
Joe Torre has always been known for his calm, mature demeanor. Hopefully his remarks do not change his legacy as one of the greatest Yankee managers of all time; still, it casts a controversial light over the former manager.
"We're hoping to have Jorge by Opening Day, but he will not be the opening spring training catcher, I can tell you that." -- Yankees general manager Brian Cashman on the status of Jorge Posada's rehab from his shoulder surgery. Cashman also said Posada would not be ready to play for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic tournament, in which Posada has expressed interest.
(Courtesy of Yahoo Sports)
There has been a lot of talk recently about Andy Pettitte. Most people are saying that the Yankees should not re-sign him, especially since he declined their $10 million offer.
I wholeheartedly disagree. I don't think that Pettitte is worth more than $10 million, but I still believe the Yanks should do whatever they need to do in order to retain his services for 2009.
Let's look at his stats from last year: 14-14, 33 starts, 4.54 ERA, 1.412 WHIP. Granted, those stats aren't amazing. But they're also skewed.
If you take out five -- just five -- of Pettitte's starts, he is left with a 3.42 ERA (I took out his starts from June 7th against Kansas City, July 3rd against Boston, July 31st against Los Angeles, August 26th against Boston, and August 31st against Toronto). In other words, over 28 starts, Pettitte boasted an ERA in the low-to-mid threes. I'd take that out of my fifth starter any day.
People forget- Pettitte was the number 2 starter for most of the season last year. While other starters were going down, Pettitte was a rock throughout the entire season.
If I were Brian Cashman, I would raise the offer a few million if that's what it took to retain Pettitte. I mean, what's a few million dollars for the Yankees?
For the Yankees' sake, let's hope we're seeing Pettitte on the mound come April.
It was only a matter of time.
First, CC Sabathia. Then, Mike Cameron (supposedly). And now, A.J. Burnett. Brian Cashman has made three crucial roster moves in the span of 72 hours. What have you done lately?
Burnett will receive five years and $82.5 million. Burnett now joins a rotation of Joba Chamberlain, Chien-Ming Wang, and CC Sabathia. This still leaves a fifth spot open for Phil Hughes, Alfredo Aceves, Ian Kennedy, or another free agent starter.
"I can sense the excitement and the confidence that's spreading around the entire organization about what we're getting done and what we may get done still," Hank Steinbrenner said earlier today. "A rising tide lifts all boats, and the confidence and the excitement right now among the team and the organization is contagious."
I am not a fan of the signing. Burnett has great stuff - he has an overpowering fastball and solid breaking pitches. Plus, he beats up the Yankees every time he pitches against them. But, his best two years came during his walk-years, and he has been injured numerous times. Plus, Burnett's 2008 ERA against teams other than the Yankees was over 4.50. That's not very good.
The question with A.J. Burnett, along with CC Sabathia, is whether he will join the likes of Kevin Brown, Javier Vasquez, and Carl Pavano or will he emerge as a dominant starter in the rotation.
It's official: CC Sabathia is a Yankee.
As a senior in high school, many of my peers said the same thing today: he will not hold up over the duration of his seven-year, $160 million contract. Granted, the guy is almost 300 pounds, but over the last two years, he has been the best starting pitcher in baseball. Better than Johan. Better than Halladay. Better than Lincecum.
This type of move will bolster their flailing rotation and will hopefully bring them one more step towards October glory in 2009.
There are a few negatives to the deal. His numbers at Yankee Stadium: 1-4 with an 8.61 ERA. The Yankees have also had a rough stretch of signing free-agent starters (Carl Pavano, Kevin Brown, Jaret Wright, Javier Vasquez, and even Randy Johnson to a degree).
Still, I am confident that CC will prove a valuable commodity once the season starts. Props to Brian Cashman for pulling this off.
It's official: the Yankees have signed Damaso Marte to a three-year, $12-million dollar contract with a club option for 2012.
In my opinion, this is a solid signing. After deciding to drop his option, Brian Cashman was able to retain Marte at a discount. Marte's Yankee career started off shaky (remember this game?), but in August and September, he pitched to the tune of a sub-2.00 ERA. One of the characteristics of the Yankee bullpen during their championship years was having solid lefties in the bullpen (Mike Stanton, Graeme Lloyd), so bringing Marte back will certainly add some stability there.
With the wealth of talented young pitchers, the Yankees seem to have a very good bullpen heading into 2009. Now Cashman just has to work on the rotation.
