Davidoff’s Cashman Audit
Ken Davidoff offers his take on which player moves should be on Brian Cashman’s ledger, and not. Here’s his list:
Cashman All The Way: Bobby Abreu, Alfredo Aceves, Armando Benitez, Wilson Betemit, Kevin Brown, Brian Bruney, Shawn Chacon, Tony Clark, Roger Clemens (both times) Johnny Damon, Kyle Farnsworth, Glenallen Hill, Kei Igawa, David Justice, Al Leiter, Cory Lidle, Hideki Matsui (re-signing in November 2005), Damaso Marte, Tino Martinez (his return), Jose Molina, Mike Mussina (re-signing in November 2006), Xavier Nady, Denny Neagle, Carl Pavano, Andy Pettitte (his return), Sidney Ponson (both times), Darrell Rasner, Mariano Rivera (re-signing in November 2007), Alex Rodriguez (the 2004 trade), Ivan Rodriguez, Javier Vazquez, Robin Ventura, Jose Vizcaino, Bernie Williams (re-signing in December 2005), Jeff Weaver
His Player, Not His Price: Jason Giambi, Sterling Hitchcock (re-signing in December 2001), Steve Karsay, Jorge Posada (re-signing in November 2007), Rondell White, Bernie Williams (re-signing in November 1998)
He Might As Well Have Been at the Atlantis With His Family: Aaron Boone, Jose Contreras, Dwight Gooden (return in 2000), Chris Hammond, Orlando Hernandez, Randy Johnson, Travis Lee, Jim Leyritz (re-signing in November 1999), Jon Lieber, Esteban Loaiza, Kenny Lofton, Raul Mondesi, Alex Rodriguez (re-signing in November 2007), Gary Sheffield, Ruben Sierra (return in June 2003), Darryl Strawberry (his re-signing in November 1998), David Wells (return in December 2001), Jaret Wright
It seems like a pretty fair cut to me. What do you think?
What about the guys they would have had, had he gotten what he wanted? Guys like Vlad instead of Sheff, Vazquez instead of Unit, and I’m sure there are more.
Still, Vlad and Javy alone and the last two years could have been very different. The former would have helped greatly against LHP and the latter would have given the rotation some needed innings at league average.
How could anyone know all this? It’s not as though you can dust players for finger prints. Back in the days of split leadership and the Tampa-New York duopoly, responsibility was often attenuated. I am not sure even the participants could say clearly who did what. And if they talk with reporters after the fact, it will often be in a self-serving edffort to pin the claim elsewhere.
I think we’ll have to limit our assessment of Cashman to the past two years. That should be sufficient to hang him or rehire him.
Cashman apologists will certainly blame “Tampa” for any bad signing. And give him all the credit for any good one.
The two examples I cite we do know for sure. Cashman had an offer Vlad was going to to take, then when Big Stein signed Sheff, Vlad had to scramble for a contract.
Cashman also thought Vazquez could turn it around. He was over ruled in the Unit trade.
Any one know what happened with Beltran? I thought they also had the outlines of a favorable deal in place, then the Unit deal took that money off the table (especially since they had to send money to Arizona in addition to the big extension). Then they have no choice but to sign Damon the following off-season. He’s played one season in CF.
He Might As Well Have Been at the Atlantis With His Family…
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lol
Anyway, regardless of “his” moves, this is the first time the team will miss the playoffs since 1995. No sense in going back and rehashing and trying to figure out who gets credit/blame.
My recollection is that Cash wanted Ortiz, but Big Stein overruled him for Giambi.
Vazquez was a disaster when he pitched here. Don’t try to rewrite history and make it out like he was some kind of gem we gave up on too soon.
This is all you need to read:
Cashman All The Way: Kyle Farnsworth, Kei Igawa, Carl Pavano, Javier Vazquez, Jeff Weaver
~~My recollection is that Cash wanted Ortiz, but Big Stein overruled him for Giambi.~~
Actually, reportedly, Stein wanted Ortiz and Cashman passed.
My recollection is that Cash wanted Ortiz, but Big Stein overruled him for Giambi.
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Actually, I believe this is one George got right. His “baseball people” talked him out of it.
Actually, reportedly, Stein wanted Ortiz and Cashman passed.
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That is correct, on the basis that they already had Giambi and Nick Johnson.
Vazquez was a disaster when he pitched here. Don’t try to rewrite history and make it out like he was some kind of gem we gave up on too soon.
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Coming off a 4 year streak where he threw up ERA+’s of 119, 130, 108, 139 as well as 4 200+ inning seasons, I can see why someone would be hesitant moving Vaz after an off year in 2004.
Having said that, 2005
JV: 215 IP, 4.42 ERA, 100 ERA+
RJ: 225 IP, 3.79 ERA, 112 ERA+