I’ve been blogging and podcasting all about how poor Brian Cashman is as Yankees GM all off-season, but thanks to Brian Cashman’s own mouth he caused his own problems. Ironically, Cashman received negative backlash from the New York Daily News, NY Post, MLB.com, and the casual baseball fans because of a statement that was totally taken out of context. Yes, I actually defend Cashman on his Derek Jeter to outfield statement because he didn’t say he would move Derek or that Jeter is not a good shortstop, which is what that media was reporting.

Cashman had phrased the answer to the casual question perfectly yet was still browbeaten for it. Even Derek Jeter’s agent called him up asked him “What was up?”.

But the point is this winter Brian Cashman has not shut his mouth, and is going against the Prime Directive in which his employees have to follow. For example, I remember when Cashman recommended that rookie Phil Hughes no longer blog on WordPress, Joe Girardi was forced to sign a non-disclosure form after Joe Torre’s book, and Twitter accounts and players actually expressing their opinions to reporters are frowned upon.

The big joke is that the current media backlash was caused by a drummed up news-story (Jeter to CF). This caused the New York hacks like Mike Lupica, Bob Raissman, Joel Sherman, another others to go after Cashman. Yet Cashman should have followed his own set of rules that he forces everyone else to: zip it.

The Yankees can be a very cold corporate organization. That’s why Derek Jeter is a great symbol of it: his interviews are boring and nothing is really said. Cashman, who is in the last year of his contract, had let the power go to his head when he proclaimed the Yankees would never sign Rafael Soriano. He was brutally humbled by Hal Steinbrenner, but Cashman still had to apologize and rationalize his thought process. Cashman was been talking way too much this off-season, similar to the times he spent riping Johnny Damon and Bernie Williams in the past.

Yes, Cashman’s statements are logical- and looked at objectively they are politically correct.

But what’s really going on inside that balding skull?

Here’s a look at Brian Cashman’s winter:

• Seemed awfully accepting of the Yankees getting crushed by the Texas Rangers in the ALCS
• Personally fired Dave Eiland for no given reason
• Got in a public feud with Derek Jeter’s agent Casey Close which divided Yankees fans and created way too much hype for a routine contract extension.
• Was dissed by Cliff Lee
• Free agents were not enamored with the Yankees organization this winter
• Awkward phone call with Andy Pettitte
• Brian’s stand-pat attitude may work with Stat Heads and Moneyball fans, but not with die-hard Yankees fans
• The major turning point was that he was overruled by the Steinbrenners after publicly saying the Yanks would not give up their first round draft pick to sign a relief pitcher (Rafael Soriano). Went into hiding for a few days.
• The Rafael Soriano press conference centered on Cashman giving everyone the newsflash that he is not the owner, disagreements happen, and he did not support the deal (with Soriano standing right there)
• After being taken out of context about Jeter’s role with the team, Cashman attacked the “lazy writers” and “idiots” whom he has a symbiotic relationship with in the media.
• Being so honest, it’s nauseating: admitting the Red Sox are better in 2011
• Odd photo shoots: Cashman was climbing a building and bar-tending.
• Said he never liked Mattingly at 1st and Boggs at 3rd before he took over the team, because he likes power at the corners
• Admitting he’s okay if the Yanks decide not to renew his contract…but he wants to stay because he loves it.
• You know you’re on the wrong side of the fence when WFAN’s Mike Francesa says how refreshingly honest and down-to-earth you are. Pleasing Mike should not be any GM’s goal.

The Stat Heads and Moneyball fans may love Cashman, but I don’t. He has some deep frustrations and suppressed feelings of inadequacy that he reveals with every “honest” statement he makes. Cashman has a classic righteous passive-aggressive attitude.

Cashman had said he consolidated all power when it comes to on-field decisions. This was proven false with the Soriano signing. This was a horrible offseason for Cashman’s image, and for the Yankees Front Office image and results are everything. If Cashman had power, it was slightly chipped away this winter and now I have a feeling failure will not be tolerated again. This is not Billy Beaneball.

Hal Steinbrenner’s word means nothing to me; his recent assurances that Cashman is here to stay are hollow- actions will speak louder than words. 2012 is a great opportunity for the Yankees to go into a new direction if the Yanks do not win the 2011 World Series.

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