The Shelf Life
I’m not going to continue to write about the meltdown of the Yankees. There really is nothing to add that I haven’t already stated. In previous posts I’ve compared the Yankees to the Sabres, and I stick by that. Both organizations had touted how their stability is their strength moving forward. Darcy Regier was GM of the Sabres for 16 seasons. Cashman is in his 25th.
I’m not questioning either’s ability, but what I am saying is professional sports seem to have a market level shelf life. A general manager comes into a team, whether it be fledgling or on the cusp of something bigger, and builds it up. In many cases they may win a championship, but it’s not necessarily required. Their term in office is defined by playoff appearances and overall record. (Even four consecutive Super Bowl losses is an accomplishment, though be it a frustrating one.) Cashman’s record here is exemplary, but that doesn’t mean he’s immune from the concept of the shelf life.
Twenty-five years is an extremely long time, and it’s a lengthy term for a general manager philosophy in pro sports. Eventually, no matter who you are, you run out of track for your train. It just happens. Now Cashman is faced with a situation where this continued philosophy of buying championships just doesn’t work. (I don’t think it ever quite worked the way he thought, but that’s a discussion for another time.) The topic of Shohei Ohtani came up again as a possible off-season acquisition. I stand firm in my belief Ohtani does not make the New York Yankees better in 2024. Nor would Babe Ruth because their abilities are not the problem. The Yankees philosophy is the problem. The Yankees analytics department is a large part of the problem. Analytics are not bad, it’s just the Yankees are bad at analytics. Can you imagine if Ohtani does sign with the Yankees and their analytics department gets a hold of him? The restrictions on pitching and running and rest days and game days will be outrageous.
We kind of saw all this coming years ago when, in Game 2 of a 162, the team rested Derek Jeter in a game in Tampa. It was defined as load management. Okay, I get that, but in the second game of the season? Couldn’t you have waited a week? Even worse, the first couple weeks of the season have a lot of off days built in for weather. Load management is probably a good concept, but where does the practicality come in? Too much of a good thing is no good either, and resting your team captain in the second game of the season is a prime example.So if Cashman leaves and joins another team and wins the World Series that’s actually fine. The point is that he’s run out his track in New York. This stagnant and crickety roster is the proof.