Submitted by RS, Oct 11, 2007 22:12

I think you are being too kind in your assessment of Cashman. I think your initial instincts about Cashman were right. The 98 club was built by Bob Watson, Gene Michael and Buck Showalter. Chuck Knoblauch was the only significant player added to that team after Watson left. You ignored the fact that during the first few years David Wells out performed Clemens and was a better playoff pitcher.

You have also ignored the fact that Cashman has made plenty of bad moves such as trading Mike Lowell for 3 minor league pitchers who never made it to the majors, trading Chad Curtis and Singleton for minor league pitchers that never made it to the majors, trading Ted Lilly for Jeff Weaver, letting Jeff Nelson walk after the 2000 season because Cashman didn't think he was worth a 3 year deal (Notice Cashman was desperate enough to bring Nelson back in year 3, which was 2003), letting Stanton walk in favor of a 1 year wonder in the reliever they attained from Atlanta, letting John Lieber go in favor of injury prone Jaret Wright, trading for Javier Vasquez and then stating he was a better dealer than Boston obtain World Series hero Curt Schilling. There are many more bad moves, too many too list.

Remember the Yanks strength from 96-2000 was pitching, defense, timely hitting and patience at the plate. Cashman has ignored those things since he has taken over. The team's pitching has been terrible since 2003, the defense pathetic and the team is filled with sluggers, but no contact hitters. Also, don't forget that Cashman actually traded for Juan Gonzales and then tried to trade for Sammy Sosa when Gonzales refused to come to the Yankees. John Hart actually called Cashman about David Justice and remember, John Hart also mentioned the Rangers neither asked for nor wanted Soriano, but Cashman gave Soriano to the Rangers for A-Rod anyway.

Cashman has yet to display any ability to evaluate talent. More importantly, he hasn't displayed any ability to evaluate young talent, which may explain why the team is loaded with older stars. He has yet to make that Roberto Kelly for Paul O'Neil trade like Gene Michael or Mike Stanley to Boston to make room for Joe Girardi move like Bob Watson.

All you have to do is look at the bullpen since Nelson, Mendoza and Stanton were let go and the starting pitching since Clemen, Pettite and Wells were allowed to walk to know why the Yanks haven't won a World Series since 2000.

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