If ever there were a baseball team you'd expect to act like a big corporation - releasing deceptive statements, speaking in indecipherable jargon, and generally just obfuscating the truth - it'd be the New York Yankees, who're prepared to run with a payroll nearly six times that of last year's AL East champion. The Yankees are a business more than any other team is a business, and they've made that work as their identity.
And yet, of late, something has come over the front office. Something truthful, something refreshingly honest. Last week, at Rafael Soriano's introductory press conference, general manager Brian Cashman informed the media that he was against the acquisition. And Tuesday, in a breakfast hosted by Mike Francesca, Cashman again was surprisingly candid.
In response to a question from Francesca on the state of the division:
Francesa: Who's better team today - Red Sox or Yankees?
Cashman: Red Sox. But we have better bullpen.
And later, in response to a fan:
Fan: what happens with Jeter?
Cashman: I'd be surprised if he plays SS for all 4 years. I see him moving to OF.
As far as the first blockquote is concerned, Cashman made no effort to hide the fact that he badly wants another starter. The Yankees are currently set to throw CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes, and a trio of question marks, and there's no denying that could be a problem.
And as for the second, this one isn't so directly honest, but if you read between the lines, I think the meaning is revealed. Cashman doesn't think that Jeter will be much of a shortstop by the end of his deal. One wouldn't expect Jeter to decline from great to poor in the span or three or four years. A decline is probable, but not a decline of that magnitude, suggesting the highest Cashman might rate Jeter's current defense is "fair". That, of course, is about the best anyone would say about Jeter's defense right now, but you'd expect the Yankees to speak a little more glowingly.
Brian Cashman has served as the Yankees' general manager since February 1998. Over the past 13 years, he's done an admirable job of handling the pressure while achieving steady success, but it seems the stress has finally worn him to the point at which he's lost the will to misdirect. Brian Cashman's got his opinions, and dammit, he's gonna tell you what they are.
Showing posts with label Derek Jeter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Derek Jeter. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
GM: If Not Short for Derek Jeter, Center
If 36-year-old Derek Jeter doesn't last at shortstop for the length of his new four-year contract, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman thinks Jeter is best suited for a switch to center field.
"I like corner outfielders and corner infielders who have power, so for me, if he's ever gonna move, it's probably gonna be a Robin Yount situation. But we don't have to deal with it at this point," Cashman said Tuesday. "We'll deal with it when we have to."
This offseason, almost immediately after Jeter signed a three-year, $51 million deal with an option for a fourth year, speculation centered on whether the longtime Yankee could play shortstop for the life of the contract. Cashman said that he would "be surprised" if Jeter stays there for the duration, "but that doesn't mean it's not possible."
"I know he's working hard to put himself in that position," Cashman told WFAN's Mike Francesa at a breakfast appearance at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York.
"Jeter's our shortstop, period," Cashman added.
Yount moved from shortstop to center field in the mid-1980s, midway through a 20-year career with the Brewers. He had won an MVP in the infield and then won another one in the outfield on the way to a Hall of Fame career.
In his 16-year career, Jeter has won five Gold Gloves at shortstop, most recently last season. That leads Cashman to say "we're not there" in thinking to move Jeter.
The Yankees have more immediate concerns heading into the coming season. The first one is the dreaded Red Sox, who signed free agent Carl Crawford and traded for Adrian Gonzalez. Francesa asked Cashman who is the better team.
"Red Sox," Cashman answered.
"We have a better bullpen," he added. "We both have comparable position players to run out there -- you might want to give us the nod, you want to give them the nod, it doesn't necessarily matter."
But Cashman admitted the Yankees need starting pitching after losing out on the Cliff Lee sweepstakes.
"They've got guys they can run one through six and I'm looking for a fourth," Cashman said of the Red Sox's rotation.
Part of the Yankees' trouble stems from the fact that Andy Pettitte is "still not in," Cashman said. The veteran left-hander is working out and hasn't retired but hasn't committed to returning to the Yankees.
"He's told us essentially that he doesn't want to pitch, but he'll tell us if he changes his mind," Cashman said on "The Michael Kay Show" on ESPN Radio in New York.
Cashman said that he isn't pressuring Pettitte and doesn't want the pitcher to return because teammates, fans or family want him to.
"His heart has got to be in it," he said.
Cashman discounted the notion of Pettitte joining the team midseason but also refused to put a time limit on a decision.
"He's not hurting us or holding us back," he told Kay. "Would we be better with him? Yes."
Cashman also said he has no plans to make right-handed power reliever Joba Chamberlain a starter despite Pettitte's status and the fact the Yanks are scrambling to fill out the rotation.
"I don't think his stuff is the same since he hurt himself in Texas [in August 2008]. ... The stuff plays up better in the 'pen," Cashman told Kay.
On offense, the Yankees replaced reserve outfielder Marcus Thames with free agent Andruw Jones, who Cashman said is similar to Thames in offensive production but slightly better on defense.
Jones looks to be the fourth outfielder behind Brett Gardner in left, Curtis Granderson in center and Nick Swisher in right. There is no plan to put Jeter in that mix or to move him to third or any other position, Cashman said.
"It's not something we have to deal with right now," he said.
"I like corner outfielders and corner infielders who have power, so for me, if he's ever gonna move, it's probably gonna be a Robin Yount situation. But we don't have to deal with it at this point," Cashman said Tuesday. "We'll deal with it when we have to."
This offseason, almost immediately after Jeter signed a three-year, $51 million deal with an option for a fourth year, speculation centered on whether the longtime Yankee could play shortstop for the life of the contract. Cashman said that he would "be surprised" if Jeter stays there for the duration, "but that doesn't mean it's not possible."
"I know he's working hard to put himself in that position," Cashman told WFAN's Mike Francesa at a breakfast appearance at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York.
"Jeter's our shortstop, period," Cashman added.
Yount moved from shortstop to center field in the mid-1980s, midway through a 20-year career with the Brewers. He had won an MVP in the infield and then won another one in the outfield on the way to a Hall of Fame career.
In his 16-year career, Jeter has won five Gold Gloves at shortstop, most recently last season. That leads Cashman to say "we're not there" in thinking to move Jeter.
The Yankees have more immediate concerns heading into the coming season. The first one is the dreaded Red Sox, who signed free agent Carl Crawford and traded for Adrian Gonzalez. Francesa asked Cashman who is the better team.
"Red Sox," Cashman answered.
"We have a better bullpen," he added. "We both have comparable position players to run out there -- you might want to give us the nod, you want to give them the nod, it doesn't necessarily matter."
But Cashman admitted the Yankees need starting pitching after losing out on the Cliff Lee sweepstakes.
"They've got guys they can run one through six and I'm looking for a fourth," Cashman said of the Red Sox's rotation.
Part of the Yankees' trouble stems from the fact that Andy Pettitte is "still not in," Cashman said. The veteran left-hander is working out and hasn't retired but hasn't committed to returning to the Yankees.
"He's told us essentially that he doesn't want to pitch, but he'll tell us if he changes his mind," Cashman said on "The Michael Kay Show" on ESPN Radio in New York.
Cashman said that he isn't pressuring Pettitte and doesn't want the pitcher to return because teammates, fans or family want him to.
"His heart has got to be in it," he said.
Cashman discounted the notion of Pettitte joining the team midseason but also refused to put a time limit on a decision.
"He's not hurting us or holding us back," he told Kay. "Would we be better with him? Yes."
Cashman also said he has no plans to make right-handed power reliever Joba Chamberlain a starter despite Pettitte's status and the fact the Yanks are scrambling to fill out the rotation.
"I don't think his stuff is the same since he hurt himself in Texas [in August 2008]. ... The stuff plays up better in the 'pen," Cashman told Kay.
On offense, the Yankees replaced reserve outfielder Marcus Thames with free agent Andruw Jones, who Cashman said is similar to Thames in offensive production but slightly better on defense.
Jones looks to be the fourth outfielder behind Brett Gardner in left, Curtis Granderson in center and Nick Swisher in right. There is no plan to put Jeter in that mix or to move him to third or any other position, Cashman said.
"It's not something we have to deal with right now," he said.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Minka Kelly Talks Derek Jeter Engagement in GQ
Despite a Page Six murmur that Minka Kelly is engaged to New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, the 30-year-old 'Friday Night Lights' actress isn't tying the knot any time soon.
"I promise you, I'm not getting married in the next month," she tells GQ. (We think. A little tough to focus with that sexy photo spread...)
In the new issue, on newsstands Jan. 25, Kelly also clears up rumors about what Gawker dubbed her "airplane freak-out" last autumn, where Kelly reportedly threw a tantrum about her dog not being allowed to sit with her on the plane. A tipster told Gawker, "She called boyfriend Derek Jeter and handed phone to him to try and rationalize with the seven flight attendants it took to calm her down."
Minka fires back in GQ, "Do people think that somewhere in my brain, I think Derek can save me from someone telling me my dog can't fly? If that's the way I worked, he would have left me a long time ago."
At the news of Kelly and Jeter's engagement, HollywoodLife.com editor-in-chief Bonnie Fuller told PopEater, "She is clearly devoted to him. She goes to probably every game of his that her schedule allows. Being a celebrity herself, she'll understand the pressures of fame. It's helpful when you're as under the spotlight as Derek Jeter is, to have a girlfriend who does understand what that's like."
Kelly, who will soon star in 'The Roommate' and appear in Adam Sandler's 'Just Go With It,' was recently named Esquire's Sexiest Woman Alive. Prior to her Jeter romance, she dated John Mayer.
"I promise you, I'm not getting married in the next month," she tells GQ. (We think. A little tough to focus with that sexy photo spread...)
In the new issue, on newsstands Jan. 25, Kelly also clears up rumors about what Gawker dubbed her "airplane freak-out" last autumn, where Kelly reportedly threw a tantrum about her dog not being allowed to sit with her on the plane. A tipster told Gawker, "She called boyfriend Derek Jeter and handed phone to him to try and rationalize with the seven flight attendants it took to calm her down."
Minka fires back in GQ, "Do people think that somewhere in my brain, I think Derek can save me from someone telling me my dog can't fly? If that's the way I worked, he would have left me a long time ago."
At the news of Kelly and Jeter's engagement, HollywoodLife.com editor-in-chief Bonnie Fuller told PopEater, "She is clearly devoted to him. She goes to probably every game of his that her schedule allows. Being a celebrity herself, she'll understand the pressures of fame. It's helpful when you're as under the spotlight as Derek Jeter is, to have a girlfriend who does understand what that's like."
Kelly, who will soon star in 'The Roommate' and appear in Adam Sandler's 'Just Go With It,' was recently named Esquire's Sexiest Woman Alive. Prior to her Jeter romance, she dated John Mayer.
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