I have to laugh when I hear that Brian Cashman will be in demand as a general manager if the Yankees don't sign him to a new contract beyond this season. Here's a guy who landed an job with the Yankees solely because his father was friends with George Steinbrenner; the two met while involved in the horse racing industry. So young Brian was able to land an internship that other just as, if not more, qualified college students can only dream about. Lots of people can make something of an opportunity; not everyone has it handed it to them like Cashman did. Many people could learn the ins and outs of how major league baseball operates, given the chance. I could have learned all about the waiver rules, too.
Cashman hasn't done anything to make the Yankees winners. Everyone knows that the Yankees' winning teams in the 1990's was due to the skill of Gene Michael, and to a lesser degree, Bob Watson, Buck Showalter, and Joe Torre. Cashman has made too many terrible free agent signings - Kyle Farnsworth, Carl Pavano, Latroy Hawkins, to name a few - hasn't made any good trades, and only in recent years has stood up to Steinbrenner in regards to not giving away young, talented players. Well, I'm not sure if that counts as much, since Steinbrenner was clearly not as as lucid in recent years. Anyone can push around a senile old man. Also, taking a flyer on washed-up has-beens like Aaron Small and Shawn Chacon doesn't take any skill. Anyone could have picked them up - the Yankees just got lucky that the two of them happened to have a good second half that season.
Good riddance Cash. On the other hand, I have to give you credit for persevering, and collecting millions of dollars for what almost anyone else off the street could have done. I will acknowledge that does take some brains.
Keywords: baseball, Brian Cashman, Carl Pavano, general manager, Joe Torre, Kyle Farnsworth, Latroy Hawkins, major league baseball, New York, New York Yankees, Steinbrenner, Yankees
