I No Longer Feel Sorry for Brian Cashman

My validation for this change is, per usual, NY Daily News' Bob Raissman today. (Some of us want George back).

"Oh yeah, Alex Rodriguez showed up in Tampa yesterday just dying to confirm the status of his relationship with Derek Jeter. This was the official beginning of the 2007 A-Rod soap opera, which destroyed the chemical balance in the Yankee clubhouse last season."

***NOTE: Raissman sez A-rod soap opera destroyed balance of 2006 team.***

"All this is a reincarnation of the Bronx Zoo, albeit slightly less volatile. These are now Cashman's lions and loonies.

• As the season progresses, and more "situations" present themselves, how will the media treat the Yankees' GM, the guy who finally got the control he wanted?

His decisions will be scrutinized more than ever. Cashman will be held accountable. Still, winning turns turmoil, perceived or otherwise, into footnotes. Winning freezes controversy. It makes negative headlines go away. It's not like Cashman hasn't dealt with this stuff before. He has spent his entire career working for George Steinbrenner.

• Things have changed. Drastically.

Until recently, the media viewed - and portrayed - Cashman as a sympathetic figure. Steinbrenner's style fueled this perception. It provided ample cover for his GM. Not only was The Boss domineering - and often irrational - but he allowed his Tampa contingent to usurp Cashman's power. By regularly pointing out how Cashman was getting trampled, assorted commentators - print and electronic - cast him as Mr. Picked Upon.

The tables have turned. Whether it be age or health issues, Steinbrenner is the frail one. He is not likely to overrule Cashman on anything. This has caused some esteemed members of the media to become schizophrenics. Many of them, who made a cottage industry out of analyzing Steinbrenner, now are offended by the sight of reporters staking The Boss out looking for a quote.

• Those who constantly complained about Steinbrenner sweeping in to seal a deal, and take credit for it, are now calling on The Boss to do just that. They want him to bigfoot his GM and sign Rivera to a lucrative contract extension before the closer's current pact expires at the end of this season. That won't happen."

(I'm going to send Mr. Raissman an email on the subject of Rivera, which isn't the media contrived "contract" flap. It's much worse than that).

"If (Bernie) Williams is finished, there will be some tears. Once they stop flowing, Torre will have preserved his St. Joe image. Cashman? In some media quarters he will be characterized as a cold, calculating businessman who finally slammed the door on Williams' illustrious Yankees tenure.

That reservoir of goodwill Cashman built with the media could dry up in a hurry. Those holding power become targets. However, even if the media, for whatever reason, turned on him, Cashman's future is not in their hands. Even if Torre's image remains intact, he will take the fall if the Yankees fail in October.

Cashman will be left to pick up the pieces. He will select the next manager. It truly will be his team.

And the media will be the least of Cashman's problems." Originally published on February 19, 2007

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