For years, general manager Brian Cashman has been facing criticism for some of his baseball-related actions. Thirteen years after the Yankees‘ last World Series victory, Cashman continues and he is expected to be back next season. However, he is increasingly becoming unpopular among fans for failing to assemble a world-champion team for years now.
On Friday, manager Aaron Boone and the general manager discussed the Yankees’ priorities for the upcoming offseason. Cashman maintained that their squad would be among the teams capable of being the best. However, one of his comments drew widespread fan condemnation on social media.
At his press conference, Cashman brushed off the idea that something is wrong with the Yankees’ process, which, like many teams’, has become very analytical. He said:
“People don’t get let go because of results. If they have a good process, and they’re doing the job well, and they have sound answers and reasonings, and the ultimate outcome doesn’t happen, I think that’s taken into account…The (members in the analytics department) that we’ve lost along the way are the ones that refuse to adapt and adjust and grow with what’s out there in the industry, because there’s always something new that’s happening.”
Later, Cashman said that his analytics team is “unbelievably good” at what they do and that other teams have tried to hire some of its members. This is something that many New York fans don’t agree with, as the team is unable to win a World Series since 2009 and was beaten thrice by the Astros in the ALCS. They are nowhere near their historic dynasties. It’s the second-longest time since they won their first championship in 1923 that they haven’t won a title, and their 13 seasons without a pennant are tied for the longest time since then.
Brian Cashman’s contract ended on October 31, but he is still the general manager of the New York Yankees based on a handshake deal. He is expected to return to the team soon. The fans in the Bronx, however, no longer like Cashman.
Cashman was trying to say that it’s not worth putting the team’s future and money on the line every year to try to spend more than everyone else and trade the farm for players who are ready for the major leagues. It’s understandable and even makes sense in some ways, but fans are getting tired of waiting.
His comments made fans angry right away.
Do you agree with Cashman or with the fans? Leave your comment below.
