As the baseball season hits the All-Star break, Steve Serby sits down to chat with general manager Brian Cashman, whose Yankees have the best record in the major leagues.
Q: Your first-half appraisal of your team.
A: They’re fighters. These guys play with heart and they play with passion. They just find a way.
Q: What were you thinking when the record was 21-21?
A: I’ve learned over time about sample size. Thankfully, baseball’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Q: Biggest surprise.
A: I want to say (Raul) Ibanez. It wouldn’t be fair to him because of his pedigree. Based on spring training, there was a question about Raul and his age and how the spring went and what his contribution could be or would be. And then after that, Cody Eppley or Chris Stewart.
Q: Biggest concern.
A: Just health. Everybody has to go through injuries. I certainly don’t want to take on any more disabled guys.
Q: Have you had to lower home-run expectations for Alex Rodriguez or are you expecting a big second half from him?
A: I just know that he’s an above-average third baseman still. Forgetting the contract, I think Alex Rodriguez is still an above-average player. The bottom line is, I’m glad he’s playing third base for us. He will outperform most at that position. As long as we keep him healthy, he’s going to be a massive threat for us going forward.
Q: Derek Jeter at 38.
A: He keeps racking it up. Three-thousand (hits) isn’t good enough. He’s pushing for 4,000.
Q: Is Pete Rose’s 4,256 possible?
A: Statistically you’d think it wasn’t possible. (Jeter has) done the impossible already. There used to be a saying that a shortstop couldn’t win a world championship past the age of 31. He won one in ’09 at 35. Now I’d like to have him win a World Series at age 38.
Q: What amazes you most about Robinson Cano?
A: When he was hatched out of the egg, they were invoking names like Rod Carew. Thank God we signed him to that extension. He would have been a free agent after last year. That would have been a disaster. He’s been an amazing Yankee. He’s always had that million-dollar smile. He’s always been working hard in the community to do good for others. He doesn’t want to just be a good ballplayer, he wants to be a Hall of Famer, and he wants championships.
Q: How close were you to trading him?
A: He was actually a choice to the Texas Rangers in the A-Rod deal with (Alfonso) Soriano. They could have picked one of five players. (Joaquin) Arias (player to be named later in the deal) was a guy, in fairness to Texas, who was ranked even in our internal rankings higher.
Q: Cano’s next contract?
A: We’ll play this year out and these are things we’ll talk about internally here. At some point, those conversations are going to have to take place.
Q: Was the Curtis Granderson trade one of your best?
A: It was a great move for us, but at the same time, it came at a steep price.
Q: The thing I like best about Curtis Granderson is …
A: He’s one of the best people in the game. He’s just an amazing individual. We heard that about CC (Sabathia) before he got here. We gravitate now to guys that are good teammates. When you’re in this media (and) Internet world we’re living in now, 162 games is a long year, but if you have 162 games with some questionable people, it makes it harder to accomplish what you want.
Q: Sounds like you need to be a psychologist now, too.
A: The days where you can have a team like the Yankees did in the ’70s, where they had a lot of great talent but fought themselves as much as they fought the opposition, are over.
Q: So no more Bronx Zoos?
A: I’d prefer not to.
Q: The thing I like best about Mark Teixeira is …
A: He’s just a pure professional. He’s one of those guys you wind him up and let him go. He’s committed on both sides of the ball. He’s one of the biggest game-changers we’ve had here in terms of our rivalry with the Red Sox.
Q: Did you want him because you knew the Red Sox wanted him too?
A: I just wanted Tex for us. It took me a long time to convince ownership. They were concerned, and rightfully so, with fixing the pitching. It cost (the Red Sox) a lot of players (after losing out on Teixeira).
Q: Your confidence level in Rafael Soriano.
A: I have full confidence every time he has the ball, realizing nobody’s perfect. He’s not afraid.
Q: Beyond the run support, how do you explain the fact Ivan Nova had the second-best winning percentage since 1900 through his first 50 career starts?
A: I keep hearing how we don’t develop pitchers. He’s got all the weapons. He’s a big 6-foot-4 guy who’s not afraid to challenge the hitters. He’s learned how to pitch.
Q: Will Andy Pettitte be ready by October?
A: The time frame should allow him to be ready by September.
Q: Can Freddy Garcia hold the fort as fifth starter?
A: I think so. I’m a big Freddy Garcia fan. He’s a great competitor. He knows how to pitch. Few guys can transition from a power pitcher to a pitchability-type guy. He has done that. Getting out of the gate in April wasn’t reflective of what he’s been doing over the past couple of years. He put his pride behind him (after being sent to the bullpen) and worked on what he needed to work on and bided his time.
Q: Do you second-guess yourself for the Michael Pineda trade?
A: I regret that he’s been hurt, but I can’t second-guess the process we went through. I know we have an exceptional pro scouting and statistical analysis department. Michael Pineda as a pitcher I was very excited about as (was) our entire organization. We gave him an extensive physical, including an MRI. He was clean. I’m hoping Yankee fans will benefit at some point starting next year. I can’t guarantee how it’s going to play out.
Q: When might Joba Chamberlain be a factor?
A: Joba’s getting ready to go on a rehab assignment. If everything goes right, the second week of August.
Q: How about Phil Hughes?
A: I have full confidence that every time Phil Hughes takes the mound, he’s going to provide something pretty special. I believe in Phil Hughes. When he’s not hurt, Phil Hughes is a very important asset for us.
Q: The biggest growth you’ve seen from Joe Girardi since his rookie season with the Yankees.
A: I think communication, especially with the media.
Q: His strength as manager?
A: The bullpen, especially. Making sure guys get protected and rested. On a yearly basis we have guys like Cody Eppley and Clay Rapada. He’s not afraid to give anybody the ball. That book (Girardi’s ever-present binder) guides him to put players in positions to succeed. I think it makes a lot of guys in the bullpen feel really good about how they can contribute.
Q: How does your relationship with Girardi compare to your relationship with Joe Torre?
A: The same. No different. When Joe Torre was here, he was one of the people I was closest to and one of my best friends. Joe Girardi’s one of the people I’m closest to and one of my best friends.
Q: How about Larry Rothschild?
A: He’s great. I still remember (former Boston manager) Terry Francona after the winter meetings, the Red Sox lost their pitching coach (John Farrell to the Blue Jays) and they hired Curt Young, I saw him sitting at the airport so we sort of broke bread and he said, “Man, how did you get Larry Rothschild? He’s gonna be a huge get for you guys. We didn’t even know he was available.” He wasn’t. (Cubs GM) Jim Hendry called me and said Larry had one more year left on his contract and his time might be running through there in Chicago. I said, “Larry, he’s still going to have to go through my interview.”
Q: Would The Boss like this Yankees team?
A: I think The Boss likes champions. But The Boss was never happy (chuckle). Yes because he’d like the fact that we just came out of Fenway (Park) winning three out of four. But he’d be more like, “Why didn’t we sweep ’em?” The only time The Boss would be reflective was after those teams were crowned champions and you couldn’t change them. He pushed me heavily (in 1998) to acquire Randy Johnson in season. I fought that. He was a perfectionist.
Q: Wouldn’t he like the home-run-happy Bronx Bombers?
A: That’s by design. All I’ve done is inherit what (former GM) Gene Michael taught me — high on-base percentage guys not afraid to take a walk but can beat you with the long ball. We’re in scoring position every time we’re at the plate. That’s the type of team we want, and that’s the type of team we’ve built.
Q: Do you still hear The Boss’ voice?
A: I’m a graduate of George Steinbrenner University, and The Boss’ voice lives in our fan base. He has created a culture of win now or else, and win in the future or else.
Q: What is Hal Steinbrenner like?
A: Hal’s more deliberate and more process-oriented. He’s not reactionary. He certainly has more patience, and patience can serve this franchise well in the right circumstances too. Hal and his family have inherited George’s desire to win.
Q: Does Hal enjoy owning the Yankees?
A: I think he absolutely loves it.
Q: You expect the Steinbrenners will own the Yankees for a while?
A: For generations.
Q: How do you deal with championship-or-bust pressures of your job?
A: This environment’s different. When I was interviewing managers (to replace Torre) I didn’t go outside the family. The only three people I interviewed (Girardi, Don Mattingly, Tony Pena) were people who worked here in this environment, for this family, in New York. Because it’s different. It’s different. Just because you’re successful in one environment doesn’t mean you’re successful in this one.
Q: What drives you now after winning five championships?
A: I grew up under George Steinbrenner. Seventy-seven and ’78 wasn’t good enough for him. We won in ’09. It doesn’t count anymore. When people look at the Yankees, they look at a business entity that is committed to being as successful as it possibly can. An expectation of effort and trying to be the best you can possibly be on a yearly basis and on a daily basis is the gift George Steinbrenner has provided.
Q: What criticism bothers you most?
A: I’ve come to learn (criticism) just comes with the job no matter what. I’ll be accountable and I’ll put myself out there in a minute. I have some bad decisions on my ledger. I want to string together nothing but good decisions. I know one thing: I’m not afraid to make a decision. And every one I make is intended to be in the best interests of the franchise.
Q: Is the job fun?
A: I like what I do. It’s only fun if we’re the last team standing. You always see when the GM’s receiving the trophy, I’ve never once done that. One of the things I inherited from (The Boss) is don’t seek credit. I remember ’09, Hal tried to make me get the AL trophy. I wouldn’t do it. The World Series trophy, I was standing on the infield with my daughter. You haven’t seen a picture of me up there. Even though this job puts you in the forefront, it’s a collective effort.