On the Yankees beat

Kat,

I agree with you 100%. I don't think it's as cut and dry as everyone seems to think.

Reasons for leaving:
Get away from NY Media
Take on a new challenge
Get away from the "Tampa Faction"
Prove to everyone (including himself) that he's not simply a product of an unlimited payroll

Reasons for staying:
Winning in NY is unlike winning anywhere else
It's his home
He's finally getting the control he wanted

I think the major factors will be this supposed "advisory council" that Hank wants and what his family wants to do. The money will be about the same whether he's here or in Seattle or in Philly.

Personally I still believe there's a very good chance that if Kim Ng doesn't get the Mariners' job he could end up out there - and don't discount a reunion with Joe Torre in Los Angeles where Ned Colletti has come under fire.

If he does leave, and if his replacement comes from outside the organization (Logan White perhaps) then it would lead me to believe that Joe Girardi could be in for a short tenure here. Most GM's like to hire their own manager.

John - Bleich isn't going to have TJ surgery - he's out in Hawaii right now with Brackman and (guy to keep an eye on) Damon Sublett. And Cashman isn't alone in not fearing bringing in young kids in need of TJ work. Because of its high success rate it's not considered a deal breaker anymore. Also lots of GMs like the fact that it forces a kid whose arm may have been abused a bit either in HS or college to take a year off.

In regard to Jim's entry about the next GM having to handle Jeter's contract, it's a really good point. It's also why I believe that if Cashman does leave, it would be in the best interests of the Yankees to go outside the organization to find his replacement. I'm a big Damon Oppenheimer fan but I think he's too ingrained in the culture around here. Someone from outside, obviously will still know what Derek Jeter means to the organization, but at the same time will be a little more objective in dealing with him. Put another way - would a GM who hadn't been around to watch Jorge grow up in the organization have given an aging catcher a 4 year deal?

Kat,
Give us your best guess on Cashman's status and dont' worry, we won't hold it against you if you are wrong.

I think he is staying- purely a guess though.

My thoughts are Cashman will stay. He will need confirmation of control issues. The money is not the issue. The Yankees will meet and exceed dollars for the guy that they want. Almost twenty years with an organization plus he needs to get the ring which he was the general in conductiong the player affairs with this team. To see the farm system stocked with players from his scout system. I'm sure his wife and family being from the NY area may assist his decision. He has a plan and wants to see through. NewYorkers are not good transplants. I can verify that fact. We run from the weather but the amendies of NY cannot be duplicated unless you relocate to another big time city. We all know these cities from play and business which meet the NYers criteria. Now, Phila. is not far from NY. So this maybe a bargaining chip for Brian but in the end, I believe that he'll stay.

DRU

Hey, I see you like beating HYD's a** in fantasy baseball. Perhaps you two would like to take on the challenge of playing in this blogs league???? The name of our league is the BBB which stands for Baumbach's Beat Boys. Chip couldn't stand the heat of the competition. Either could an old poster on here called Roy. Perhaps you and HYD could give us a run for our baseball???

Rick,

Have you gotten any of my emails? Every time that I send one to you, it gets kicked back to me.