In Wednesday’s win over the Guardians, the Yankees saw last-minute addition Franchy Cordero blast his fourth home run of the season, becoming the first player in franchise history to log at least seven home runs and 11 RBI in their first seven games with the team.
The series finale also saw youngsters Anthony Volpe and Oswaldo Cabrera pitch in, with Volpe banging a double in his first at-bat, and Cabrera driving in the game-winning run with an RBI single to right field off of star closer Emmanuel Clase.
For Tiki Barber, those key moments were sprinkles of Brian Cashman’s impact on the current roster, and the often-criticized general manager deserves his props for how the Yankees have started the season despite multiple injuries.
“They’ve got guys from all over the place contributing,” Tiki said. “The young kids, the veterans they pulled off the streets from Baltimore, and Franchy. Brian Cashman has earned the right to accept our praise.
“They won 99 games last year, and we know where they ultimately fell short in the postseason. But these season, just look at the guys that are contributing. Franchy Cordero? Nobody knew who he was…unlike the New York Mets, where we’re clamoring about getting the young guys up, what does Brian Cashman do? He puts out a real competition in spring training and allows Anthony Volpe to come up and play. Oswaldo Cabrera…right now, he might be the best rookie in New York baseball as it pertain to getting things done. He plays all over the place, he’s clutch.”
BT pointed out that many of the injuries the Yankees are dealing with can be used as Cashman criticisms, particularly Frankie Montas, but Tiki chooses to focus on what has happened on the field while those players are on the mend, and fans shouldn’t be so quick to critique the longest tenured GM in baseball.
“Look at the pitching staff, which has been crushed by injuries,” Tiki said. “Gerrit Cole is right up there in the Cy Young conversation. Nestor Cortes has been fantastic. Jhony Brito, he’s been good as a young arm for this team. they’ve been able to manage the negativity.
“The Yankees are set up to feel really accomplished, and a lot of that is because of the praise we deserve to give Brian Cashman.”
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