From Bob Raissman:

At a Wednesday Stadium press conference, where Cashman announced he would be steering his Good Ship Autonomy for another three years (unless it sinks), the GM all but said that scribes who held him accountable for the Yankees’ failed 2008 season provided him with the motivation necessary to remain in the Bronx.

Cashman didn’t put it quite that way. He was not so nice. This was a man in total how-dare-they mode. A guy who usually expresses himself in a calm and rational manner came off tough and edgy. The way we heard it, Cashman was staying put because some fools in the media can’t get anything right. And he’s staying to make it right.

His comments were not only bizarre, but revealed his exterior to be more Charmin than rawhide. Is Cashman really as thin-skinned as he appeared to be on Wednesday? Or was this a one-time thing, a case of temporary insanity, so to speak?

Cashman has already chided Joe Girardi for his inability to manage the media during his first season as the Yankees’ skipper. Going forward, can Cashman manage how he reacts to it?

Up until this season, for obvious reasons, he has not been the target of any significant media criticism. He is also, as some gushed Thursday, cooperative, accessible and fair.

That kind of track record earns you major points (and slack). As far as media heat goes, Cashman – even in this season of failure – has not exactly been deposited in a blast furnace. Not even close. His current critics are best described as being part of a vocal minority.

Nonetheless, their critiques were enough to bring out the insecure side of Cashman and land him in a difficult spot. With his Wednesday proclamation, Cashman raised the stakes and turned the pressure up on himself.

It was always about winning. That never changes with the Yankees. Now he’s made it about his legacy, too.

Cashman can disagree with the ultimate “story line” all he wants.

But he can’t control it.

It does appear that, while there are some members of the media who think Cashman has done a good job and is the right man to be the Yankees G.M., there’s an increase of media members out there who are more than willing to question Cashman’s track record and ability.

What’s that old line? On a ballclub, as a manager, you’ll always have ten guys who love you and ten guys who hate you…and it’s the five who haven’t decided that you have to worry about…

I would offer that now to Cashman…because if those members of the media out there, now, who haven’t picked a side of the Cashman fence yet, decide to join forces with those who are not raving fans of Cashman, it could be a very long season for the once Teflon G.M….