Cashman: Yanks Should Rally ‘Round Lightning-Rod
Via the AP -
Brian Cashman thinks the Yankees should rally around Alex Rodriguez following a book in which former manager Joe Torre portrayed A-Rod as a divisive figure in the New York clubhouse.
“I think we’ve gone through so much of the Alex stuff that, you know, if anything, maybe this brings people closer together,” Cashman said Monday during a conference call to announce Andy Pettitte was returning to the team in 2009.
In “The Yankee Years,” scheduled for publication Feb. 3, Torre says “Alex monopolized all the attention” and that “he needs people to make a fuss over him.”
New York hasn’t been to the World Series since Rodriguez put on pinstripes.
“There’s always going to be some controversy that surrounds this club,” Cashman said. “The best way to try to deal with it is, I guess, rally around each other the best you can if there’s real feelings there.”
Cashman said that when Rodriguez became a free agent after the 2007 season, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Pettitte all urged him to re-sign A-Rod.
“That was real,” Cashman said. “It was offered up.”
…I think we’ve gone through so much of the Alex stuff…
Ya think?
…Cashman said that when Rodriguez became a free agent after the 2007 season, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Pettitte all urged him to re-sign A-Rod…
What, no Jeter? Oh, yeah, that’s right…I forgot.
And, for the record, was it not Cashman who said: ‘If A-Rod opts out, he’s gone – and we will not chase after him’ when Rodriguez was approaching the end of 2007? (And, then, Hank Steinbrenner decided to listen to Rodriguez, when he came crawling back, and gave Alex that insane contract.)
And, now, Cashman is painting this picture where he supposedly was the air traffic controller coordinating all this lovey-dovey feedback from the Yankees troops, for A-Rod, when he opted out of his contract?
Holy Harvey Dent Batman! Maybe Joe Torre is right about this guy?
How about this:
1. When they all re-signed with the Yanks, Pettitte, Posada and Mariano really did advise Cashman to bring back A-Rod. Maybe they brought it up, and maybe he did. Either way, nothing “two-faced” in that statement, unless it’s not true. In which case, I expect one or more of the three players to deny it. Let’s see if they do.
2. Cashman really did intend to just let A-Rod go if he opted out. Not a statement you can disprove there, either.
3. Cashman’s boss either told him to re-sign A-Rod anyway, or negotiated the deal by himself or with assistance from Cashman or other front office people or both, and Cashman either had to quit or accept the reality of the situation, as he had so many times in the past with George. Still nothing ‘two-faced’ yet…
4. So now, the ex-manager criticizes A-Rod, and Cashman thinks it would be a good idea for three of his teammates, who wanted him back, supposedly, to rally to their teammates defense. He didn’t mention Jeter because Jeter didn’t want him back.
And from all this, you somehow get more evidence of Cashman’s forked tongue. Can you at least wait until one or more of the things he said in that sequence proves to be false?
Geez.
And from all this, you somehow get more evidence of Cashman’s forked tongue. Can you at least wait until one or more of the things he said in that sequence proves to be false?
Geez.
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I agree. Cashman never intended to let A-Rod go. That was obviously a negotiating ploy and you are being naive (or just plain unfair) if you think it is anything else.
With all the juicy storylines, I figured I’d pop in and see what’s going on at WW…of course, I should have known the spin would be anti-Cashman. Every story is spun that way here. Oh well, moving on.
And, for the record, was it not Cashman who said: ‘If A-Rod opts out, he’s gone – and we will not chase after him’
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He also said that “Bubba Crosby will be our CF in 2005″
Why would it seem so implausible that players urged Cashman to retain A-Rod? Supposing for a second that Cashman really never intended to chase A-Rod in free agency, it still wouldn’t mean that Cashman was speaking with a forked tongue when he said the Yanks should rally around their teammate.
More than just the players should unite around A-Rod. The fans should grow up, stop being whiny babies and accept the fact that he isn’t going to deliver a monster hit every at bat of every game. He will probably go down as the most productive Yankee of our lifetime…that everybody hated because our bullpen couldn’t close out games 4 and 5 of the 2004 ALCS.
More than just the players should unite around A-Rod. The fans should grow up, stop being whiny babies and accept the fact that he isn’t going to deliver a monster hit every at bat of every game. He will probably go down as the most productive Yankee of our lifetime…that everybody hated because our bullpen couldn’t close out games 4 and 5 of the 2004 ALCS.
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AMEN!
everybody hated because our bullpen couldn’t close out games 4 and 5 of the 2004 ALCS.
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Yeah, that Mo is such a choker, he blew the 01 WS too!
TRADE MO!
TRADE MO!
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Raf, you can put a dozen smiley faces after it but it doesn’t make it any funnier!