Brian Cashman was blunt when asked Monday what the most disturbing part of the Yankees’ 5-10 start is, stating, quite simply, “our record.”
There’s a lot that goes into that 5-10 mark, though, and Cashman noted that he understands why the offense, which is built to be a powerhouse and has been much less than that so far, is the prime target of vitriol – and that offense struggles make all of the Yankees’ warts more glaring.
“The offense is a prime target for what ails us, because it’s something that is and will be a strength of ours, but currently isn’t, and it magnifying deficiencies elsewhere when we’re not scoring like were capable of,” Cashman said. “The below-average individual performances will get corrected over time, but when you’re not thriving in areas you’re capable of, the smaller stuff gets magnified, and you have to try to be as buttoned up as you can while you’re sailing through that storm. Whenever these things happen, it hurts even more, because it takes you out of a winning scenario.”
Cashman reiterated that every team goes through rough patches at times, and he believes the Yankees’ just happens to be coming in April, when it’s the most glaring on the dawn of a new year. But patience, especially early, is the key to coming out unscathed.
“It’s part of going through the wars; there is a fine line between patience and recognizing who you are and what you’re capable of, and letting that play out,” Cashman said. “There is a period of time where that gets tested a lot more than the first 15 games of a 162 game season, but we recognize that we’re real disappointed in how we started this season. We trust our players and our process. It’s certainly a disappointing start, but we know that we’re better than this, and we also know that his is a part of it, and know better days are ahead.”
Part of that patience is not making any “reactive” moves, so there’s no “shake up” of sorts coming for the team, because belief is that self-correction can, and will, happen.
“I’m not here right now to do anything other than say we’re disappointed by how we’ve started, and we’re going to get it corrected. We’re having all the conversations, and the intent is to support our players and staff as we deal with this,” Cashman said. “We just need to calm ourselves down, go back to the basics on every individual situation and control what you can control and don't try to get outside of yourself, because you know you're good enough as-is already."
To that point, Cashman admits that right now, the Yankees are ripe for the pickings.
“Right now, we’re a team an opponent would want to play because were not firing on all cylinders. Our strengths are not showing themselves right now, so if you catch us now, you’re catching us at the right time,” the GM said. “We look forward to that changing, because this is a lineup that’s typically tough to navigate and wears you out. Right now that’s not happening. It’s happened before, and this can happen to anyone and everyone. Part of this scenario is how you handle it going through it.”
That said, he wouldn’t change anything about the way the Yankees’ offseason unfolded, but that of course doesn’t mean the Yankees won’t stop trying to find outside ways to improve.
“We continue to assess every opportunity that comes our way within the confines of our budget, and if we think something can benefit us, we pursue it,” he said. “This winter, when we went to the marketplace, I knew what was available and I’m comfortable with our process.”
The Yankees are a team that come with high expectations, and play in the sport’s biggest pressure cooker, and yes, the GM says, players are not immune to that, but he doesn’t think that’s the issue here.
“No doubt there’s excess pressure when you’re playing in the Bronx, because it’s an opportunity to compete on a yearly basis for a playoff spot and more, in front of packed houses everywhere. That comes with challenges, but we try to alleviate those as best we can,” he said. “I know we have a group that’s hungry to do good things, but they’re not immune to pressing, trying too hard, and getting emotional, which can lead to a bad play or a stupid baseball move.
And yes, Yankees fans, whether you want to believe it or not, majority partner and principal owner Hal Steinbrenner does care as much as you do.
“Hal is disappointed. He has a lot invested in this situation, but he’s also a fan like all of us. Our expectation is to provide great Yankees baseball, and we haven’t done that here so far,” Cashman said. “We have to self-correct that, and we look forward to doing that and proving anyone who predicts otherwise wrong. We understand why there are a lot of comments and head-scratching, but it’s 15 games. Sure, 15 games I’d like to forget, but it’s about doing something over the next 15.”
But for all the votes of confidence and support in the world, it’s up to the players to ultimately get it done.
“We need to so dome things better, but we’re looking forward to better days ahead,” Cashman said. “These guys are better than what they’ve shown, and they know it; they’re frustrated and disappointed, but there’s a great, deep caring about wanting to accomplish what they’re capable of. When you don’t live up to expectations, you’re going to hear it. Hopefully we’ll start correcting it as early as Tuesday.”
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