SAN ANTONIO — Brian Cashman continued to ignore the big picture. Sure, there were problems with the fundamentals of defense, especially baserunning, but in the GM's view, that didn't prevent the Yankees from being a great team that would make it to the World Series.
However, it was certainly a major factor in preventing them from winning the championship. The Yankees lost Games 1 and 5 to the Dodgers due to unhealthy play, but Cashman admitted in Tuesday's GM meeting that “we didn't show our game when it mattered most.''
However, baseball is a fickle game, and sometimes the game doesn't go well. The best teams can quickly look terrible, and vice versa. However, the suffering suffered by the Yankees in their crushing defeats to the Dodgers in Games 1 and 5 was not just a whim. It was predictable. They never sorted out the finer points of the game. In fact, it got worse as the season progressed. This wasn't an October issue or a World Series issue. This increase will be seen from April onwards.
“I said I struggled with base running this year,” Cashman said. “We were definitely a bad defensive team this year. But when you added it all up, we were also a really good baseball team that won the American League and earned the right to win the entire World Series.” The road to, and we're really proud of it. ”
He is the architect of this plan and I understand his pride and defensiveness. Cashman was in good spirits at the same meeting last year after calling the playoff-less 82-80 season a “disaster.” Cashman defended his lieutenants and the organization's processes, arguing that the Yankees were an elite organization and would prove it. And a year later he used the word “justified.”
But when he harped on about fundamental flaws, Cashman was furious again. Nevertheless, they were worth the quibble. First, the Yankees have won every game and have enough talent to declare whether they win or lose every year. So the standard they should be held to is the highest, not the middling improvement they might see from the White Sox next year, for example. Second, of course, Cashman is correct in pointing out that every player has strengths and weaknesses, and no roster is without flaws, but there should be such an obvious lack of fundamentals on the $300 million+ Yankees. There isn't. The Dodgers play in the same stratosphere as the Yankees, competing for talent and talent, but also with a cleaner brand of game.
Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly, who didn't perform well in the postseason, criticized the Yankees on his podcast as fundamentally flawed and ranked them as an 8th or 9th place team in the playoffs. Cashman dismissed the criticism, saying he felt it was “personal.” Cashman said he reached out to Dodgers officials and found no support for that view. But I guarantee you that the Dodgers pre-World Series scouting assessment was that the Yankees had more talent than fundamentals and that putting pressure on the Yankees would lead to failure.
Which brings me to the third reason I'm harping on this. What happened throughout the year, in addition to the World Series, cannot be changed retroactively. But you can learn from it. Cashman has made it pretty clear that he's an admirer and supporter of Aaron Boone, and pending ownership approval, he asked him to go back and at least honor his 2025 option. He has made it clear that he wants it (and ownership has never deviated from his goodwill towards Boone).
Historically, even routine physical mistakes like Aaron Judge dropping a fly ball have been tolerated. But mental errors are something else. And mental mistakes reflect on the manager and his coaching staff. And this was a Yankee season that was too often vague, lacking in detail, and bordering on indifference to routine.
Cashman said the Yankees will “target every weakness” to improve next year. This isn't just lip service to playing the game better and tighter. Yes, Job 1 is trying to keep Juan Soto, and the bullpen needs to be retooled and the infield corners need to be fixed. But then again, the Yankees should think about getting it all.
And Mr. Cashman once again appeared defensive about the whole thing amid mounting questions about the underlying issues. He mentioned playing in the World Series. He pointed out that many of the questioners chose the Yankees as the favorite to win (if that matters, I didn't), as if the questioners were wrong and entitled to dig into the Yankees' flaws. He pointed out that it was as if he had been deprived of his knowledge. He points out that since 2017, the Yankees have a 7-0 record in playoff series against the American League Central Division, and a 1-7 record against other teams. He said it wasn't indicative of the type of team he was and dismissed it as “ridiculous.” He said that despite their abysmal record in the majors, the Yankees' baserunning program is “considered one of the best in the industry,” said Matt Talarico, the organization's baserunning director. stated that he had received interviews from three other teams, and supported his position.
Once again, you will be able to develop your defensive skills. Cashman is very successful in his work. His employees admire how protective he is of them.
But this has to be a deep-breath moment for him and the organization. Don't underestimate the things that can help you win, such as accumulating talent, hitting home runs on offense, and taking your bat off the mound. Rather, the problem existed all year long. It didn't get enough attention, definitely didn't get enough fixes, and ended up being a “disaster” of a different kind.
The Yankees don't need to decide on Soto or a sound play. We need to do everything possible to ensure both parties move forward.
