Cashman Deserves Respect

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Brian Cashman has been one of the best General Managers in baseball, and there is no way I can dispute that. Yes there have been moves that have turned out failures, but you cannot blame the front office for everything. When a player is expected to play the way he did for a previous team then the blame has to go on the player.

The caliber of players that the Yankees have gotten is remarkable. Randy Johnson, Ivan Rodriguez, Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, A.J. Burnett, CC Sabathia, Gary Sheffield, Robin Ventura, Bobby Abreu, and Kenny Lofton the names go on. Despite some star players having problems playing in New York looking at the overall picture you realize how hard Cashman has worked.

I will be the first to admit I haven't been in favor of all of the moves he has made over the years, but for the most part I know what his intentions are.

Signing Scott Brosius before 1998 who ever would have thought that that man would blow up in the playoffs the way he did? Scotty Brosius loved New York as he hit some of the biggest home runs in World Series history. Cashman saw something in Brosius that a lot of people failed to see so definitely one of his most popular signings.

How can you blame Brian for signing Jason Giambi when he did? Giambi was coming off an MVP year in 2002 arriving to the Bronx as one of the best hitters in the game.

Who would have thought that Jason would have struggled the way he did? If you look back Jason at least brought that winning attitude to every game. Can you blame Giambi? There was no lack of effort.

Cashman managed to snag Alex Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield in the off season leading up to the 2004 season. You couldn't have asked for more of Sheffield during his time for the Yankees. Gary was an excellent pick up, and carried the 2004 team to the playoffs. Rodriguez had problems with consistency that hear as he battled a hernia in his back.

If you look back at the trade for Rodriguez Cashman pulled that deal out of nowhere. Nobody in the baseball world saw that move coming when it happened. Brian went under the Red Sox and grabbed Arod bringing him to the Bronx. As far as Alex's post season slump the blame falls 100 percent on Alex Rodriguez not Brian Cashman.

Cashman picked up one of the most talented players to play baseball, and it is Alex's job to come through in big spots. If you have been watching this year you see more of Rodriguez value since his return to the lineup after hip surgery.

I know everyone likes to keep throwing the Carl Pavano signing in Brian's face, but again the blame cannot be put on Cashman here. Cashman couldn't prevent Pavano from getting hurt, but that was at the time a great signing as Pavano had shown to be a winner on the mound.

Cory Lidle was a great fit for the Yankees and I don't even want to say it the way this all ended up was a tragedy. Lidle's life was taken in a plane crash that just stung Yankee fans all over New York, and all baseball fans around the world. It was great to have Cory, and I will always remember him as a vital part of the Yankees pitching staff late in 2007.

CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeria are all great signings, and the fact that Brian Cashman got all three in the same off season is big. If you look at the moves that have been made this year Cashman did not stop as the season has been played, he managed to get Eric Hinske and Jerry Hairston Jr.

What a job Eric Hinske has done if you look at his short time in the Bronx. Then you have Jerry Hairston Jr who gives the Yankees so much versatility. Hairston gives the Yankees many options especially when Brett Gardner returns.

You can find decisions that have gone wrong for Cashman but he has taken a broke 2008 team and turned it into the powerhouse there are today in 2009.