On Oct. 1, the New York Yankees performed their closing sport of the 2023 season, a 5-2 loss to the Kansas Metropolis Royals that dropped them to 82-80. That’s New York’s worst document in three a long time. It was not till this previous Tuesday, Nov. 7, that somebody with the Yankees placed on their massive boy pants, received in entrance of reporters, and took possession of the disappointing season. And given what was mentioned and the way it was mentioned, staying silent would have been the higher transfer.
“I am pleased with our folks and pleased with our course of,” GM Brian Cashman mentioned Tuesday (per the New York Post). “It does not imply we’re firing on all cylinders. It does not imply we’re the perfect at school. However I feel we’re fairly f–king good, personally. I am pleased with our folks and I am additionally trying ahead to ’24 being a greater 12 months than ’23.”
Give Cashman credit score for defending his employees, one thing chairman Hal Steinbrenner did not do throughout his Zoom name earlier within the day Tuesday. The “I feel we’re fairly f–king good, personally” remark was not and by no means was going to be well-received, regardless that it has been handed round with out full context. Regardless, it is a dangerous soundbite coming off an 82-80 season.
Cashman was fiery and combative, at occasions unprofessional — cursing would not make you sound robust, it makes you sound unintelligent — and at occasions unhinged. I do admire Cashman for sticking up for himself and his folks, though we will all see the “course of” the Yankees make use of has misplaced effectiveness. Their 82-80 season was not a fluke. It was the end result of failed choices going again a number of years, from the Joey Gallo commerce to considering Isiah Kiner-Falefa was an on a regular basis shortstop, plus extra.
Possibly Cashman, who’s deeply unpopular with the fan base today, did not go about defending himself in one of the best ways — he is been at this lengthy sufficient to understand how his feedback could be obtained — however he was passionate. That’s in contrast to Steinbrenner, who continues to look totally unmoved by his group’s multi-year downward trajectory. The proprietor who, in June, mentioned he was “confused” why followers are upset, promised “massive modifications” on Tuesday with out offering particulars.
“I am not making an attempt to be tough. These have been personal conferences, and they should keep that approach,” Steinbrenner mentioned when pressed on what “massive modifications” are being made (per the New York Daily News). To this point, the one recognized organizational modifications are at hitting coach and bench coach, the place Sean Casey and Carlos Mendoza left the membership voluntarily.
“Large modifications” have been promised and, seeing how Cashman and supervisor Aaron Boone are nonetheless in place, any modifications will fall wanting being “massive.” Final December, Steinbrenner mentioned “we’re not done yet” following Carlos Rodón’s introductory press convention, then the Yankees did nothing the remainder of the offseason. They didn’t add one other participant to the 40-man roster from outdoors the group till signing Franchy Cordero off the scrap heap the day earlier than Opening Day. Steinbrenner is creating a fame for large discuss and small actions.
Steinbrenner added one of many first “robust” questions he requested after the season was whether or not Boone ought to return (he’ll), however there’s nothing robust about that. That’s nothing greater than an annual efficiency overview. The form of fundamental query that ought to be requested each offseason. Definitely nothing 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 significantly and even simply registering with the higher-ups.
The supervisor’s job safety being questioned after a season by which the group fell so wanting expectations is seemingly such a international idea to Steinbrenner that he thought it was a “robust” query. It isn’t robust, it is fundamental due diligence. Is Boone the drawback with the Yankees? No, in fact not, however six years into his tenure it’s turning into more and more clear he isn’t a part of the answer both. Hiring Boone straight out of the printed sales space is one other knock in opposition to the “course of” Cashman defended.
We have not seen a lot proof to recommend Steinbrenner is keen or able to making tough choices. There’s something admirable about his loyalty to Cashman and different longtime staff, however there is a high quality line between loyalty and complacency. The Yankees want a contemporary set of eyes and a brand new voice within the entrance workplace, however they clearly do not get one. And even when Steinbrenner did resolve to make a change, is there motive to imagine his seek for Cashman’s alternative could be thorough and land on the proper title?
You’ll be able to all the time commerce or launch dangerous gamers, fireplace or change ineffective coaches and managers and entrance workplace folks, however if in case you have a foul proprietor, you are caught with them till they resolve they now not wish to be caught with you. Maybe it is unfair to name Steinbrenner a foul proprietor — he does assist a excessive payroll each season — however he doesn’t come off as engaged. He would not must be his father, who himself was very unpopular with the fan base till the late Nineties, however what we noticed Tuesday was indifference.
In the end, phrases solely matter a lot. Actions matter, and all will likely be forgotten if the Yankees have offseason — what precisely constitutes a “good offseason” is actually up for debate — and win subsequent season. There is no such thing as a higher answer than profitable. Tuesday’s press conferences informed us clearly that the Yankees are feeling the warmth, as they need to. Cashman’s response was to fireside again and perhaps that wasn’t the perfect transfer. Steinbrenner? He got here throughout as at finest indecisive and at worst disengaged.
