MLB

BLAME GAME IN THE BRONX

After you get through pointing fingers at Alex Rodriguez, take the elevator to the Loge Level of Yankee Stadium and finish playing the Blame Game for this wretched season.

No matter how many times Jason Giambi pumps life into it.

According to Hank Steinbrenner, there are enough doors to knock on, including Brian Cashman’s.

“He has to take part of the blame for what has happened in the last five years, as far as whatever is showing up now,” Steinbrenner said of his GM during today’s 3-2 victory over the Red Sox in front of 55,092 at the Stadium. “It’s been a cumulative effect. But what we’ve got to do, myself and my brother (Hal), is get this thing back on track like they did in the ’90s.”

Before the Yankees cut the Red Sox lead to six games in the Wild Card race with 29 left, Cashman took the blame.

Then he watched Giambi deliver a game-tying, two run, pinch-hit homer off Hideki Okajima in the seventh and win the game with a one-out RBI single to center off Jonathan Papelbon two innings later.

“It would have been tough,” Giambi said of a loss. “Not impossible, but it’s tough to fall (eight) behind.”

As the crowed cheered for Giambi twice, it was hard to ignore the boos that smothered Rodriguez, who went 0-for-4 and fanned three times.

Cashman refused to comment on Steinbrenner’s in-game remarks. However, he was very clear about his responsibility.

“The bottom line, I am the GM. This is not a Joe Girardi issue and we have a terrific hitting coach and extremely talented players. I put together the club,” Cashman said. “I am responsible for that. It’s my job to fix it. My job is frustrating the hell out of me. The owners have done everything needed to do.”

Steinbrenner said others besides Cashman were responsible.

“There is enough blame to go around, certainly it’s not Joe Girardi, that’s for sure,” Steinbrenner said. “There was a five-year period where things didn’t go very well building the minor leagues, and this is the first full year that myself and my brother have to straighten things out. It wasn’t just Brian. There were some people that aren’t with us any more. As usual it was a group effort.”

Steinbrenner then said, “Yet to be determined, but I am leaning that way” when asked about Cashman returning and said, “I think so, yeah” when asked if brother Hal agrees with him on Cashman.

So, the Blame Game has started. Rodriguez will get the brunt of it but there is plenty to go around a ballpark on its last legs and one that won’t be used in October.