If Brian Cashman wants to return to the Yankees as general manager, he might not have the total power George Steinbrenner gave him in 2005 when he signed a three-year deal worth $5.4 million.
“If Brian stays on as GM, that doesn’t mean he won’t be the No. 1 guy,” Hank Steinbrenner said yesterday. “But the fact is, the more opinions the better. I think that’s probably the best way. It worked in the 90’s, and it can work again.”
Steinbrenner’s thoughts could lead to Cashman, who is a candidate in Philadelphia and Seattle, leaving The Bronx.
The Steinbrenners, Hal and Hank, want Cashman back, but he is reluctant to talk about a contract until the season is over. His contract expires Oct. 31.
Hank seemed to take a swipe at Cashman when assessing the team’s recent history.
“We’re going to have to look at what has been done wrong over the last five years, which I’ve had one year to try and figure out,” Steinbrenner said. “Clearly, a lot of mistakes were made. I’m going to be reviewing the entire organization. We’re going to do everything we can to win next year.”
A week from Sunday the current Yankee Stadium closes its doors on an ocean of history.
For the first time since 1995, it’s very unlikely the baseball cathedral will not play host to a playoff game. All that remains are milestones. And that means Derek Jeter chasing Lou Gehrig for the all-time mark for hits at the Stadium.
With 10 games left, Jeter has 1,260 hits at 161 St. and River Ave. Gehrig finished with 1,269 at the original Stadium.
With 2,521 career hits, Jeter is 200 hits behind Gehrig for the all-time Yankee lead. Because Jeter went past Babe Ruth into second place this past week, Elias Sports Bureau reported that Wednesday was the first day since June 22,1933 that someone other than Ruth or Gehrig occupied the first or second spot on the Yankees’ all-time hit list.