On Oct. 1, the New York Yankees performed their ultimate recreation of the 2023 season, a 5-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals that dropped them to 82-80. That is New York’s worst document in 3 a long time. It was once no longer till this previous Tuesday, Nov. 7, that any person with the Yankees placed on their giant boy pants, were given in entrance of journalists, and took possession of the disappointing season. And given what was once stated and the way it was once stated, staying silent would had been the easier transfer.
“I’m proud of our people and proud of our process,” GM Brian Cashman stated Tuesday (per the New York Post). “It doesn’t mean we’re firing on all cylinders. It doesn’t mean we’re the best in class. But I think we’re pretty f–king good, personally. I’m proud of our people and I’m also looking forward to ’24 being a better year than ’23.”
Give Cashman credit for protecting his group of workers, one thing chairman Hal Steinbrenner failed to do all the way through his Zoom name previous within the day Tuesday. The “I think we’re pretty f–king good, personally” remark was once no longer and not was once going to be well-received, although it’s been handed round with out complete context. Regardless, it is a unhealthy soundbite coming off an 82-80 season.
Cashman was once fiery and combative, from time to time unprofessional — cursing does not make you sound difficult, it makes you sound unintelligent — and from time to time unhinged. I do recognize Cashman for sticking up for himself and his other people, despite the fact that we will be able to all see the “process” the Yankees make use of has misplaced effectiveness. Their 82-80 season was once no longer a fluke. It was once the end result of failed selections going again a number of years, from the Joey Gallo business to considering Isiah Kiner-Falefa was once an on a regular basis shortstop, plus extra.
Maybe Cashman, who’s deeply unpopular with the fan base nowadays, did not move about protecting himself in the easiest way — he is been at this lengthy sufficient to understand how his feedback can be obtained — however he was once passionate. That is in contrast to Steinbrenner, who continues to appear totally unmoved by way of his crew’s multi-year downward trajectory. The proprietor who, in June, stated he was once “confused” why lovers are disillusioned, promised “big changes” on Tuesday with out offering main points.
“I’m not trying to be difficult. These were private meetings, and they need to stay that way,” Steinbrenner stated when pressed on what “big changes” are being made (per the New York Daily News). To date, the one recognized organizational adjustments are at hitting trainer and bench trainer, the place Sean Casey and Carlos Mendoza left the membership voluntarily.
“Big changes” have been promised and, seeing how Cashman and supervisor Aaron Boone are nonetheless in position, any adjustments will fall quick of being “big.” Last December, Steinbrenner stated “we’re not done yet” following Carlos Rodón’s introductory press convention, then the Yankees did not anything the remainder of the offseason. They didn’t upload every other participant to the 40-man roster from outdoor the group till signing Franchy Cordero off the scrap heap the day ahead of Opening Day. Steinbrenner is growing a name for giant communicate and small actions.
Steinbrenner added one of the primary “tough” questions he requested after the season was once whether or not Boone must go back (he’ll), however there may be not anything difficult about that. That is not anything extra than an annual efficiency assessment. The type of elementary query that are supposed to be requested each and every offseason. Certainly not anything to brag about when the group is trending downward and the fan base is begging to see some signal the franchise’s decline is being taken severely and even simply registering with the higher-ups.
The supervisor’s task safety being wondered after a season by which the crew fell so quick of expectancies is it seems that this type of international idea to Steinbrenner that he idea it was once a “tough” query. It’s no longer difficult, it is elementary due diligence. Is Boone the drawback with the Yankees? No, of path no longer, however six years into his tenure it’s changing into an increasing number of transparent he isn’t phase of the answer both. Hiring Boone immediately out of the published sales space is every other knock towards the “process” Cashman defended.
We have not observed a lot proof to recommend Steinbrenner is keen or succesful of making tricky selections. There is one thing admirable about his loyalty to Cashman and different longtime staff, however there is a high quality line between loyalty and complacency. The Yankees desire a contemporary set of eyes and a brand new voice within the entrance place of job, however they obviously don’t seem to be getting one. And despite the fact that Steinbrenner did make a decision to make a transformation, is there reason why to imagine his seek for Cashman’s substitute can be thorough and land at the proper identify?
You can all the time business or unlock unhealthy gamers, fireplace or exchange useless coaches and executives and entrance place of job other people, however in case you have a foul proprietor, you are caught with them till they make a decision they not need to be caught with you. Perhaps it is unfair to name Steinbrenner a foul proprietor — he does make stronger a prime payroll each and every season — however he does no longer come off as engaged. He does not have to be his father, who himself was once very unpopular with the fan base till the overdue Nineties, however what we noticed Tuesday was once indifference.
Ultimately, words most effective topic such a lot. Actions topic, and all might be forgotten if the Yankees have a just right offseason — what precisely constitutes a “good offseason” is for sure up for debate — and win subsequent season. There is not any higher resolution than successful. Tuesday’s press meetings advised us obviously that the Yankees are feeling the warmth, as they must. Cashman’s reaction was once to fireplace again and possibly that wasn’t the most efficient transfer. Steinbrenner? He got here throughout as at perfect indecisive and at worst disengaged.