Brian Cashman Has No Ego

Earlier today, I was fortunate enough to be featured in The LoHud Yankee Blog's Pinch Hitter Series.  I used this opportunity to write a piece defending Brian Cashman's ability to evaluate minor league talent and his skills at determining which prospects are worthy of playing for the Yankees and which prospects are not.  In my evaluation, I came to the determination that Brian Cashman has successfully made such evaluations and has, in most cases, kept the prospects worth keeping and dealt the prospects worth dealing.  The Blog's Chad Jennings agrees with me.

Coincidentally, Andrew and I had the opportunity to meet Brian Cashman at Foley's Bar in New York last night, where he was serving as celebrity bartender.  Cashman had no shame and fully embraced the roll.  Donning the wig he wore during an event from this past December, Cashman was dishing out drinks with the flare of a regular barkeep.  He couldn't have been any nicer and played the crowd well.  When someone asked for a Sam Adams Boston Lager, he proceeded to fill the glass up with mostly foam.  When posing for a picture with a bartender wearing a Mets hat, he gave her bunny ears (On a more relevant note, he also acknowledging that the team still needs more starting pitching and he jokingly acknowledged at multiple points that he may not be long for his job). 

He also was kind enough to let Andrew pick his mind.  When asked about how to get a job with the Yankees, he reminded us of how he started as an intern and couldn't possibly have imagined getting to the position that he is in today.  Basically, it was a reminder that any of us are really capable of doing anything.

But the best moment of the evening came early on.  Andrew and I got to the event early enough where we were able to talk to Cashman while he was pouring us our drinks.  I mentioned my blog entry to him.  He jokingly thanked me, acknowledging that right now, he could use whatever support he could get.  After then mentioning the title of my piece, I was shocked to hear him tell me that he had read it and enjoyed it.  While I was skeptical at first, he mentioned a few of the players that I spoke of in the piece, which confirmed that he had indeed read it.  Needless to say, I was thrilled.

If I learned anything from today, it was that there is no one better equipped for the the job of New York Yankees GM than Brian Cashman.  He has no ego to please and his priorities are clear: develop a farm system, reduce payroll, and, most importantly, win a championship.  If the ownership doesn't approve of his methodology in trying to achieve these goals, then it is their prerogative to make alternate decisions.  If the Yankees do not want him to lead their front office, then that is also their prerogative.  However, let us be clear - he will not be intimidated into making decisions that he does not agree with.  Being that he has no ego to feed, he does not have an emotional need to stay in the position that he is in.  The absence of such needs make him the best man for his current position.  His focus is clear and an unimpeded by personal reputation.