A Brian Cashman audit - and there's a live chat today
So I was watching The Show That Shall Not Be Named last week, and they were doing a bit, something like "The 5 Reasons Brian Cashman Shouldn't Be Brought Back." One of the reasons was Jaret Wright.
And as I am prone to do sometimes, to the joy of no one, I yelled at the TV.
"Jaret Wright!?" I shouted at the people who couldn't hear me. "I had as much to do with signing Jaret Wright as Brian Cashman did!"
On the flip side, I was looking at noMaas (linked on the left) recently, and I read this passage:
Why do you think "autonomy" was such a big issue during Cashman's last contract negotiation with the Yankees? Could it be because signings like Carl Pavano or trades for Randy Johnson were made above him? Absolutely. I'd be willing to bet on it.
If I were Sensei John Kreese, the author of this passage, I wouldn't bet too much on the Pavano part. Nope, Cashman chose Pavano as a top target in the 2004-05 winter, and then he wined, dined and signed him, with minimal interference. Why do you think Cashman has continued to defend Pavano, who has managed to alienate roughly 95 percent of the planet's inhabitants?
This seems to happen a lot regarding Cashman. Because of the Yankees' unusual front-office structure, because power has shifted around like a basketball being handled by the Harlem Globetrotters, people give Cashman too much blame, or too much credit, or not enough of one. So with Cashman's fate hanging in the balance (at his choosing), I figure it's a good time to break down the major Yankees transactions since 1998 and show which were Cashman's and which weren't.
I've been struggling how to categorize these, and I've decided to put them in three categories: 1) "Cashman All The Way" (ideas that he conceived and executed); 2) "His Player, Not His Price" (for times when ownership paid a higher fee than Cashman desired on a player that Cashman liked); and 3) "He MIght as Well Have Been at the Atlantis with his Family," for transactions that were essentially performed with him as an outside observer.
I'm bound to leave some out, so if I do, drop your request in the Comments section, and I'll place it in the proper area.
Cashman All The Way: Bobby Abreu, Alfredo Aceves, Armando Benitez, Wilson Betemit, Kevin Brown, Brian Bruney, Shawn Chacon, Tony Clark, Roger Clemens (both times) Johnny Damon, Kyle Farnsworth, Glenallen Hill, Kei Igawa, David Justice, Al Leiter, Cory Lidle, Hideki Matsui (re-signing in November 2005), Damaso Marte, Tino Martinez (his return), Jose Molina, Mike Mussina (re-signing in November 2006), Xavier Nady, Denny Neagle, Carl Pavano, Andy Pettitte (his return), Sidney Ponson (both times), Darrell Rasner, Mariano Rivera (re-signing in November 2007), Alex Rodriguez (the 2004 trade), Ivan Rodriguez, Javier Vazquez, Robin Ventura, Jose Vizcaino, Bernie Williams (re-signing in December 2005), Jeff Weaver
His Player, Not His Price: Jason Giambi, Sterling Hitchcock (re-signing in December 2001), Steve Karsay, Jorge Posada (re-signing in November 2007), Rondell White, Bernie Williams (re-signing in November 1998)
He Might As Well Have Been at the Atlantis With His Family: Aaron Boone, Jose Contreras, Dwight Gooden (return in 2000), Chris Hammond, Orlando Hernandez, Randy Johnson, Travis Lee, Jim Leyritz (re-signing in November 1999), Jon Lieber, Esteban Loaiza, Kenny Lofton, Raul Mondesi, Alex Rodriguez (re-signing in November 2007), Gary Sheffield, Ruben Sierra (return in June 2003), Darryl Strawberry (his re-signing in November 1998), David Wells (return in December 2001), Tony Womack, Jaret Wright
Granted, this wasn't quite the Rangers lineup that was terrifying opponents earlier this season. But don't you think he could've given the Mets more last night than Brandon Knight did? Perhaps the Mets should have signed Garcia, after all, even if it would have just been for three starts. Shoot, given Pedro Martinez's struggles, Garcia might have wound up in the postseason starting rotation.
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Comments (33)
Ken, are your fingers still aching from typing all those names last night/this morning or did you (rightly) pass it off to a Newsday intern? ;-)
I watched the last three innings of the Mets game on MASN and was appalled at Aaron Heilman's brief appearance (two batters, two hits). I feel bad for Heilman -- something is seriously wrong, either physically or mentally or both -- but he should not be allowed to pitch again this year. Use the offseason to diagnose what's gone wrong with a guy who was outstanding from '05-'07.
Give props to Beltran, whose stellar work in centerfield all season long is so often overlooked by Mets fans.
Regarding Tampa Bay, I found a link to PECOTA's Rays prediction of 88 wins for this year: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/02/26/leap.year0303/
JE, I read that PECOTA prediction on Si.com in February and I thought that was crazy to think the Rays would win 88 games. Well now who has the last laugh now.
Good guest column in today's NY Times by Doug Glanville. The guy is bright.
Here's the link:http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/18/opinion/18glanville.html
Let's try the Glanville link again and see if it "lights" up. I only notice one small error in one of the year's mentioned. If anyone can find it, maybe Ken will mail you a book.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/18/opinion/18glanville.html
The glass half full way of looking at last night's Mets game (and that would be a $5.50 plastic Shea Stadium cup, thank you very much) is that it was far more indicitive of their season than the previous two games.
Meaning, the offense didn't show the tightness they did in games one and two and the bullpen did what they've been doing all season long, which is to make fans whip up their favorite Mylanta cocktail.
No idea why they didn't sign Freddy Garcia - that was no time to be frugal and clearly they were only risking money.
Okay, here's my Doug Glanville story...
1997, early in the season, a group of us attend a Mets-Cubs game at Shea as part of my bachelor party. Part of the group is my wife's Uncle Chick (picture the friendliest, most sociable member of your family - always with an entertaining story - and throw in the bounciness of Ed Norton. That's Chick).
Anyway, Chick was Doug Glanville's Phys Ed teacher in Teaneck, NJ (along with Lawrence Frank and a few other notables, I believe). And in 1997, Glanville was playing for the Cubs.
The game ends and Chick announces, "I'm gonna go find Dougie". Two things - 1) none of us have any idea how he's going to do that and 2) none of us are surprised he's going to try.
So he disappears. Literally. And gets locked into the Stadium. Now about 20 of us are standing outside an empty stadium and wondering how we're going to find Chick. And I'm thinking, how am I going to tell my fiancee, "Great party. We lost your uncle."
About 20 minutes later, a players only door opens and out comes Chick with a disappointed grimace on his face. He tells us he spoke to some of the players, made his way through the clubhouse and locker room, but he just missed him.
While Chick is standing there, disappointed at his missed opportunity, the rest of us are trying to figure out how a middle aged man with zero credentials managed to get into the visiting players clubhouse and locker room.
The PS to this story is that by all accounts, Mr. Glanville is a lovely guy and was more than generous with his time on a number of occasions at Phillies spring training and regular season games whenever Chick would bring a family member (or members) to say hello.
Mixed results on Cashman all around, but that's not surprising. To me, the ones I could never get past were Ted Lilly for Jeff Weaver (all Brian) and letting Pettitte go after '03 (love to know who that was...).
But that's in the past. I'd still bring him back. He tends to fall in love with certain players that don't pan out (a la Weaver), but I'm not sure anyone else would have done an enormously better job. What's Pat Gillick won since he left Toronto? Cashman was trained and mentored by Stick Michael and Bob Watson, if we can't have those guys back, I'll stick with their protege.
My favorite Glanville story...
http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/1999/07/08/Resources/Doug-Glanville.Still.Cant.Shed.Ivy.League.Image-2165605.shtml
Glanville has had to endure more ire than other Ivy Leaguers, however, because of an incident stemming back to his junior year at Penn. Several scouts were in attendance to see the Penn centerfielder in action against Temple, but Glanville was nowhere to be found on the playing field.
The reason for Glanville's absence? He had to study for an Engineering exam.
"I told [Penn coach Bob Seddon] ahead of time," Glanville said. "But there was a little bit of mix-up to communicate that to some of the scouts in the area, so a lot of scouts came to the game and I wasn't there. So I developed this reputation of not really having the desire."
It looks like the Cashman picks have a higher percentage of success over the ones he didn't have any involvement with.
Another highlight for Red Sox nation--one of their loyal fans was tasered on top of the dugout by Trop security last night in the 8th inning. They should be so proud to be represented.
The apocalypse is very near, the Rays can clinch a playoff berth this weekend. Probably on FOX even.
JE--Heilman admitted last weekend he's been pitching hurt all season long.
Fair article on Hughes, Ken. Fair and logical, which isn't normally the case when dealing with young players. I thought he looked pretty good last night. I was kind of surprised how quickly the YES booth jumped on Hughes, especially John Flaherty. Flaherty is the ultimate players' broadcaster -- he never met an average pitcher he couldn't praise all night long (it's truly endless when he talks about young players for opposing teams; he'd see upside in a cripple). But he seemed poised to jump on Hughes from the first pitch.
Ken,
The Mets looked like their usual selves last night. Score early, build a big lead, have the bullpen come in and make it tight to just provide some drama, but still pull off the win. At this point in the season, you take a W any way you get them.
Did you ever get to talk to John Maine? I'm still very intrigued into his health, partially because the Mets could use a boost in the rotation, mostly because I just ordered a Maine jersey and I'm hoping that I will get some seasons out of it.
JE, I totally agree with you on Heilman. Something is just not right. The Mets have said that he's having some issues with his knee, but I don't know if that's the case. If he was seriously injured, why would they keep trotting him out there over and over again? In the offseason, they need to figure out what they're going to do with him because this can't continue on any longer.
Doug, my apologies, still haven't had a chance to speak with Maine. You wanted to know for how long the shoulder has been bothering him, right? I'm going to aim to get it done in Atlanta this weekend, assuming he's with the team.
LOL on the free book, Jim. Glanville erred on his last year, it appears - 2004, not 2002. He is a really great guy. I got to know him a little bit with the Phillies, and he was with the Yankees one spring training (must've been '05) and didn't make the team.
Tim N., there was pretty much unanimity on de-prioritizing Pettitte at the end of the '03 season. Serious concern about his health. As for Gillick, he made the playoffs twice with Baltimore, twice with Seattle and once and approaching a second time with the Phillies. That's pretty darn good.
baileywalk, thanks for the feedback, and interesting on Flaherty. I don't hear the broadcasters, particulary any one of the YES crew, to know such quirks.
Read closely what Glanville wrote: He didn't say his career ended in 2002, he said he got his 1,000 career hit toward the end of 2002.
The incorrect date that I was referring to has since been corrected in the story. Early this morning it listed the WTC bombing that occured in 1993 as happening in 1994.
Ken, I was heading to the Post Office to send you an autographed 8 x 10 photo of Murray Chass for your nightstand,, but now it is going back into my drawer. There will be another contest next week.
I really am convinced that if the Mets fold, Minaya could be in real trouble, his relationship with the Wilpons notwithstanding. Thus, the opening for Cashman to play the Mets and Yankees against each other. Cashman might even want a change of scenery. Just wait: This will be reported by some sportswriter soon. Very soon.
The story will begin like this: Brian Cashman could very well has a very busy off season, contemplating what his New York team needs to do to fill first base, how to shore up the rotation, weighing changes to the outfield and planning to move into a new stadium. But, that new ballpark might not be located in the Bronx but in Flushing . . . .
Who will write this first?
Did I miss Jose Canseco, or are you not counting waiver guys? I'm curious whose call that was anyways.
And how did you find out all of that? Did you go through all those names with Cashman or did you just know from when they all happened?
Got them from various sources including Cashman, Richie. Canseco was a waiver claim by Cashman that backfired.
Jim, LOL on the Murray photo. And tying in your two comments, since Murray and Omar are very close, any sports journalist who speculates that Omar is in trouble is going to be one, out-of-the-loop reporter. Omar is in no trouble whatsoever. I really can't stress that enough.
Ken, I think you missed some stuff about Jeter. When Jeter signed his contract, Cashman had Jeter ready to sign a 7 year, 120 mil contract something like that but then Steinbrenner changed it even when Jeter did not ask for it to 10 years 189 mil. You probably know better but I remember hearing that.
Richard Nixon on 8.2.74: "Under no conditions will I ever resign the presidency."
Richard Nixon on 8.8.74: "I hereby resign the presidency effective at noon tomorrow."
Ken Davidoff on 9.18: "Omar is in no trouble whatsoever. I really can't stress that enough".
Ken Davidoff on 9.30: "Omar Minaya's contract will not be renewed by the New York Mets, sources have told Newsday. The decision was reached yesterday by the Wilpon family during meetings that stretched long into the night. The move follows a stunning last season collapse by the team for the second consecutive year."
After this happens I would like to have sent to me a framed autographed photo of Mark Herrmann, one of the real good guys in the world of sports journalism.
Re: Gillick... well... then... that's... um.. different... then...
I was thinking WS titles, but, yeah, okay. Although Cashman's made the playoffs every year as GM before this one and many seem to want him fired. I do think Cashman's record is superior to Gillick's, as good as it is.
Hey Ken a couple of Sundays ago, I asked you if Cliff Lee was a slam dunk to win the Cy Young Award or do Roy Halliday, Dice-K and KRod have a shot? You replied I don't know where you came up with those names, but Lee is the Cy Young winner hands down based on what he's done this year. Now you're voting (if you had that vote) for Halliday. What gives?
Notwithstanding all the foul balls, Phil Hughes (and Ian Kennedy) throws far too many pitches. Whether it is a strategy employed by the Yankees (or one by the pitchers themselves), to not challenge hitters, to entice them to swing at bad pitches or just a lack of command, I can’t see how either of these guys can be solid big league starters by throwing about 90 pitches in just 4 innings. Kennedy has even done it in the minors. I also think the Yankees might have to rethink their developmental pitching staff. Something isn’t working.
Bob, what is your take on this?
Jim, would you like to make a donut bet on Omar? ;)
As for the pitch counts, I don't think it's an organizational-philosophy thing. The Yankees are not happy with Kennedy and Hughes for their high pitch counts. Last night, Hughes got 17 two-strike fouls, so that was unusual.
27, re: Jeter. I think this is what you're recalling: In February 2000, the Yankees were all set to sign Jeter to a seven-year, $120-million deal. But then George Steinbrenner backed out of it, because Juan Gonzalez backed out of an eight-year, $140-million deal with Detroit, and Steinbrenner didn't want to have the biggest contract in the game.
Sandy, since I answered you, I've conducted more research, and I now think Halladay is probably the bettter choice. Sorry if I came off as condescending in the original response.
Only if it is a fat free donut. :)
I wish Hughes would just go after hitters. If someone hits it out, so be it. It's going to happen anyway. A starter can't consistently last only 4 or 5 innings and remain in the big leagues.
It was a little unusual with all of the foul balls, Jim. He walked only two, and only 32 of his 89 pitches were balls. I think you could argue that he WAS going after hitters. If anything, he needs to improve the quality of his stuff so that he's able to put away batters quicker.
You might be right, Ken, you might be right. Better stuff is always a good thing. I am not motivated enough right now to look up all his early season starts (or those of Kennedy), but I remember following them on Gameday and always noticing that both of them threw a tremendous number of pitchers. I understand about the foul balls, but his pitch counts are always high. Hughes was better in the minors, but Kennedy had several games with high counts. A few of the young relievers that have come through also threw too many pitches. It seemed to qualify as a trend, to me.
Ken,
Thanks for setting the record straight. One guy I think you forgot as an "Atlantis" player was Tony Womack. Also, I'm curious about Tom Gordon, Paul Quantrill and Jeff Nelson. I always thought Gordon and Quantrill were "Cashman All The Way" players and that he was fully on board with letting Nelson go after 2000. Am I right?
Girardi said before Hughes' start that he'd be looking to see if Hughes could command the fastball. And it looked like the pitches were being called from the dugout.
That might explain why he only threw 9 or 10 curveballs (which are usually pretty nasty) and like 6 change-ups (which weren't great) out of 89 pitches. All the rest were were fastballs and cutters between 86-91 mph, which isn't exactly going to blow away Major League lineups. I would like to see how he puts batters away once he mixes up speeds more.
Jim, its not just Hughes not throwing strikes that result in a high pitch count last night. The White Sox batter were not only fouling pitches off but but were also selective at the plate and taking pitches. I said this before that Major League batters are more patient at the plate now than in the past. Perhaps the batters now are being more patient at the plate and are not swing at pitches out of the strike zone.
Hughes' pitch counts in his major-league starts this year:
4/3 vs. Toronto: 87 in 6 IP, 1 BB
4/8 @ KC: 87 in 3 IP, 4 BB
4/13 @ Boston: 65 in 2+ IP, 3 BB
4/18 @Baltimore: 97 in 5 1/3 IP, 2 BB
4/24 @ White Sox: 23 in 2 IP, 0 BB
4/29 vs. Detroit: 82 in 3 2/3 IP, 3 BB
9/17 vs. White Sox: 89 in 4 IP, 2 BB
Absolutely, he has to get better. But I think last night might have actually marked an improvement.
Will, you're absolutely right on Womack. I forgot about him. And you're right on the others, as well. Everyone in the organization wanted both Gordon and Quantrill, and everyone wanted Nellie gone.
Thanks for the info, Ken. It confirmed my recollection. Hughes has to work on this. I still think he is going to make a very god frontline starter one day. He is so young. As you counseled: Patience is needed. Yankee fans, including me, will need lots of it as the youth movement turns serious in the next year or two.
I have to weigh in again on Robinson Cano and the urge that some people have to trade him away. Who will play second base in his absence that is better than him? Who has had two big years like him? Who has his potential? Wouldn't it be better to bring a coach on the staff that can help get the most out of him. A former infielder that can reach him and help him grow? Meacham is obviously not the guy to do it. Bowa seemed to have a good handle on it and stepped up for the job. I am sure this will be one of Cashman's priorities in the off season. To trade Cano would be pure insanity
Jim, D'Backs 2nd baseman Orlando Hudson is a free agent at the end of this season. Hudson is a switch hitter and is not as good a hitter as Cano. But Hudson is a much better fielder than Cano. And he has won 3 gold gloves at 2nd base. So if the Yanks do traded Cano during the off-season, I can see the Yanks go after Hudson.
Hey Ken, great stuff, as usual.
You're friend at the Yankees Republic has a great article about Cashman's tenure, too.
He quotes you on Cashman but he's much tougher on him.
http://theyankeesrepublic.blogspot.com/2008/08/youre-yankees-have-second-rate-gm.html