Hank Steinbrenner sounded very much like someone enamored with his general manager as he talked about Brian Cashman's future Monday afternoon.
The Yankees senior vice president said he will talk with Cashman about his contract, which expires after the season.
"We'll talk about it during the season," Steinbrenner said. " ... It will just happen when it happens naturally. I think you guys are trying to create controversy here where it doesn't exist."
Steinbrenner publicly differed with Cashman over whether or not to trade for Johan Santana, now with the Mets. Steinbrenner wanted to make the trade. Cashman did not.
But Steinbrenner said Monday: "I think the big thing with Brian is the organization he put in place. It's not based on just one decision as far as, do a trade or don't do a trade, or sign a free agent or don't sign. He put Damon Oppenheimer in as the chief of scouting, which has obviously paid off huge. The way he works with Mark Newman, the way he works with (Joe) Girardi, the organization he's put in place. All those things are factors."
So although the Yankees haven't yet talked about an extension, Steinbrenner said it "will just happen," noting, "I've known Cash for a long time. Even back in the 80s when he first started out. He's been with our family for a long, long time."
Steinbrenner promised to be patient with the young pitchers. He also professed excitement about the future of the organization and the things Girardi is doing.
Cashman did not immediately return a phone message.
Comments (27)
this might be the best news I've heard in a while. For the first time in a long time, I am very excited about the future of this organization.
One big happy family.....weird.
Cool article on whether Girardi burns out young arms.
http://mvn.com/mlb-yankees/2008/02/19/does-joe-girardi-destroy-young-pitchers/
Not too bad since that was the biggest knock on him back in Nov.
Not to stir the Yankee hipocrisy pot but.....wasn't it Cashman who said that the Yankee policy is NOT to do contract extensions and that they only talk after the persons contract is up? So why does he qualify for an exemption to that rule when Mariano didn't? Especially when the fate of the team lies heavily on the one decision he made in regards to pitching.
Thats why you can never believe a word that comes out of the Yankee front office.
I remember a couple months ago Hank wanted to talk with Brian about an extension, but Brian was too busy and declined. I think that spoke volumes about the kind of guy Brian has become. The GM's busiest time is the months before the season, once the season starts they have more time available. Players are the opposite..once the season starts they have no time to negotiate a contract, thats why they want it done before ST. There is a difference and I don’t think its hypocritical to get an extension done during the season. I’m also sick of the talk about him not being offered a job if the Yanks miss the playoffs. What if we win 92 games, but miss the playoffs…Cashman will be gone??? Come on now.
DRU,
That article only makes sense if you buy into the innings count as being the stress factor. I have always laughed at both the innings count and pitch count limits asdesignators for pitchers. In game, the only determining factor should be effectiveness of pitches. Use pitch counts to tell you when to get the bullpen started.
What is more important than total pitches is pitches in the innings. An innings count of 9-14-12-34-38 is less than the 110 limit yet allowing the pitcher those back to back 30+ innings IS stressful. Thats what Girardi did consistently. Trying to milk the pitcher for innings based on total pitch counts. A guy is having control problems or getting hit and he is pushing because the manager has no faith in his Bull Pen. Boy sounds like a recipe for this year!
DRU,
But the stated policy is "We don't do contracts in season". Right from Cashmans mouth.
Nudge, I agree, pitches per inning is a huge factor. I think the thing to remember is that Girardi must have gotten a lot of input from the pitching coach on those matters. With Eiland assisting Girardi, since he knows all these young guys from AAA, plus the fact that he caught Mo and Andy, should allow him to make sound decisions with the staff. I love that he got his feet wet with FLA before he came here. Also Im sure that year off gave him the opportunity to recognize his mistakes and successes. Not all managers get that time to reflect. With all the staff support in place, his experience in FLA, his experience of watching the team from the booth all last year and his experience behind the dish in NY...should translate into a great head start for the new skipper.
As far as the contract...I think the statement was "We don't discuss player contracts in season". I dont see a problem with it, to me the sooner the better. I think your splitting hairs my friend.
The gist of the article on Girardi seemed to be that he will do just fine handling pitchers as long as NYY FO forms a good plan and makes him stick to it, something that the writer points out did not happen in Florida.
Doesn't sound like a resounding vote of confidence for Girardi, more like a sense that he'll be in a better situation for a sophomore manager working in the NYY organization than he was as a freshman manager in Florida.
True Diane....What Im getting at though is that the pitcher situation in FLA was the biggest knock on him, so its good to see it wasnt all his fault. Again, the pitching coach has much to do with when a pitcher comes out. How many times did you see Joe ( Torre ) talk to Mel...jump off the bench..then talk to Mel again before he came out to get the SP. The experience Dave has with the young guys will be Joe's ( Girardi ) biggest asset.
DRU,
In spite of the past record in FLA, both good and bad, I am still of the mind that a manager needs 3 years to get his groove on. Especially a new one. There is always the process of weeding out the players that aren't behind you (which you don't at this point know who they are) and getting your routine implemented and then the confidence of the players that when you tell them something that is contrary to what they expect, they support you anyway because you have a past record of success.
I don't know what he will be at this moment, but I can see why those who wanted Joe out are hopeful. I expect there to be some difficult times however and that will be when you really start to know what you have. He didn't do well in those difficult times in Florida...but he has said he learned from it. So we shall see.
Dru,
I forgot to thank you for posting the link... ;-)
I like Girardi and as I made clear early in the year last year I wanted to see him succeed Torre. Not because I am one of the (IMO) morons who knock Torre. He was great for us and I wish him only the best with LAD, which was my childhood team. I thought Girardi would be a great successor in a great tradition and had hoped that NYY ownership would say a dignified and celebratory farewell to Torre then hire Girardi before the chair cooled off. They didn't handle it that way but I still believe JG had a better chance than anyone else to keep us in the playoffs for another 12 years, maybe collecting two or three championships while doing it. A smart, smart baseball mind, a determined competitor, and someone who knows the NYY system from the inside. He has my admiration and support.
BUT -- still a long way to go before whether we can tell whether he will in fact make a great manager.
Like the troika. Great potential, did well on a lesser level, but has yet to prove himself on the big stage.
Let us hope they all shine mightily in that limelight.
PS: Eiland is in that same 'unproven at this level' category, but as you say at least he comes in with knowledge of some key guys.
Im with ya Diane. I agree that Torre was a great Manager, and I wish him all the best, he just didnt fit the makup of the team any longer. Once the rah-rah guys like Oneil left, all we had were silent leaders. Nothing wrong with that at all, but someone has to fire up the squad. If its not the players, it's gotta be the Manager. I think Girardi fits that mold going back to his days in the Bronx..I believe he called out Bernie one postseason. I love the fact that he reached out to the vets and told them to be in shape for an 'old school' ST. Now ST has competition, hard work and excitement, something lacking in Torre's term. Like you and Nudge have pointed out, he has a long way to go in filling those massive Shaq size shoes Torre left behind. He has a great starting base, lets see if he can take it to the next level.
What's that Visa commercial?
Something like ...
One Japanese Pitcher: US$ 55 million
Number of wins: 2
Get together by Yankee brass about how to "salvage" Igawa's contract: Priceless
Yes, Hank must be enamored with Cashman. I mean, what CEO can boast such achievements as Cashman? What is his new book, "How NOT to run a ball team?" Igawa, Pavano, no backup catcher, no Lilly, Brown, Giambi, Clemens, C-Rod tank top, no LHP's for the pen, all the dead wood, Farnsworth ... it's just unreal ... add in off field nightmares of The King, Mel Hall and McNamee, along with various Congressional inquiries, and you have the basic CEO nightmare from hell.
Who else would pay 55 million for 2 wins but Cashman via Igawa and not run away and hide in ANTarctica? Who?
I won't mention 10 mil for 15 wins for a certain ex Yank LHP on the Cubs who won 15 for Toronto two years ago ...
Sometimes it is hard to keep a straight face.
Like Girardi commenting on Jeter and A-Rod's friendship and how A-Rod "being a family guy" changed the dynamic.
Sure ... the dynamic was also changed for the Las Vegas gal we saw at the "gentleman's club" on the cover of the NY Post.
Are they serious? Do they believe what they say? Newsday is a cheerleader for the Yanks, the NY Post is a bit too negative but no journalist really wants to cut through all the insanity ... it's very strange, but is reflective of the unseriousness of our culture at large.
It's kind of funny when you think about it. The Yankees at times operate in a parallel universe. It's like that movie Thank You For Not Smoking ... it's all about the spin.
If you can spin 2 wins for 55 million, you can spin anything ... except Carl Pavano. But his Porshe you can spin around and around and around until you crash it.
What's that Visa commercial?
Something like ...
One Japanese Pitcher: US$ 55 million
Number of wins: 2
Get together by Yankee brass about how to "salvage" Igawa's contract: Priceless
Yes, Hank must be enamored with Cashman. I mean, what CEO can boast such achievements as Cashman? What is his new book, "How NOT to run a ball team?" Igawa, Pavano, no backup catcher, no Lilly, Brown, Giambi, Clemens, C-Rod tank top, no LHP's for the pen, all the dead wood, Farnsworth ... it's just unreal ... add in off field nightmares of The King, Mel Hall and McNamee, along with various Congressional inquiries, and you have the basic CEO nightmare from hell.
Who else would pay 55 million for 2 wins but Cashman via Igawa and not run away and hide in ANTarctica? Who?
I won't mention 10 mil for 15 wins for a certain ex Yank LHP on the Cubs who won 15 for Toronto two years ago ...
Sometimes it is hard to keep a straight face.
Like Girardi commenting on Jeter and A-Rod's friendship and how A-Rod "being a family guy" changed the dynamic.
Sure ... the dynamic was also changed for the Las Vegas gal we saw at the "gentleman's club" on the cover of the NY Post.
Are they serious? Do they believe what they say? Newsday is a cheerleader for the Yanks, the NY Post is a bit too negative but no journalist really wants to cut through all the insanity ... it's very strange, but is reflective of the unseriousness of our culture at large.
It's kind of funny when you think about it. The Yankees at times operate in a parallel universe. It's like that movie Thank You For Not Smoking ... it's all about the spin.
If you can spin 2 wins for 55 million, you can spin anything ... except Carl Pavano. But his Porshe you can spin around and around and around until you crash it.
nudge= arse
MY NAME IS NUDGE, I PACK THE FUDGE, I AM A BIG LOSER, CALL ME NUDGE
dru is a loser
You've heard the acronym PFP for pitchers fielding practice?
I'm suggesting BSP for bloggers' scrolling practice... as in, 'scroll on by'.
See this morning for prolonged and sometimes repetitive illustration.
PMS?
Feinsand is on 1050 espn
Did anyone read about Clemens' supposed jokes about his wife and Jessica Canseco comparing their b**b jobs at the Canseco party that is causing all the stir? Everything is crumbling around Roger and while I don't much care, I'd like it to just go away. I look on Pro Sports Daily for new Yankees news every morning and today you have to go down to the 10th headline to get news about a current Yankees player....it's ridiculous.
One current Yankee note I found funny is that Morgan Ensberg has a child named "Beckett". It sort of reminds me of former Redskins player Dexter Manley who named his son "Dallas".
Maybe Schilling will name ask one of his kids to name their grandkids "A-Rod".
Watching the media and congress rolling around in the dirt competing for attention makes me think about this question:
Who do you trust more?
Media
Congress
Baseball
Which is most in need of a serious cleanup?
I'm sure Henry Waxman is ready to launch a probe into the breasts of Debbie Clemens to determine their authenticity. Congress is embarrassing the entire nation right now.
BSP = LOL
Doesnt Congress have anything better to do? Is this what my massive amount of taxes is funding? They should put Clemens, Brian Mc, these Congress douches and the heads of the media corps on Jerry Springer. Add a few folding chairs, a giant wedding cake and roll the tape!!!!!
Im so sick of this all....I have a better Idea, one for Pay Per View. Throw Clemens in Jail for lying, throw Brian in jail for dealing drugs, throw congress in jail for their BS circus acting and throw the media heads in jail for force feeding us this crap. Let them all loose in gen pop, cut the lights, have infrared cameras rolling, and LETS GET IT ON!!!! That would be more entertaining than the crap boxing matches I pay 50 bucks a pop to see.
I might pay to see your 'high concept' entertainment!
Meantime, in terms of venality, corruption, slackness and hypocrisy, I'm sure that the American public is well aware that Baseball falls well behind Media and Congress.
True...baseball is kind of getting off easy on this one. The owners, managers, trainers and players all knew what was going on. From the fans standpoint, it didnt take a genius to figure out that Sosa jacking 60HR's 4 years in a row, Big mac jacking 70, and Bonds jacking 73, a career high by 20+ at the ripe age of 36...wasnt natural. I think everyone looked the other way here. Clemens is just digging his own grave right now. Admit you did it and move on. Now there's a circus and he's facing perjury charges. No way he gets off easy here. Bonds' guy went to jail because he wouldnt talk, Brian Mac is signing like a bird. They're going to make an example out of Roger.
But who really cares….I just want the games to start and this crap to all end.