ST. LOUIS — The New York Yankees entered Friday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals tied for the third-worst record since the trade deadline. Joining the club in St. Louis for his first road trip since believing the Yankees were a better team after overhauling the roster was general manager Brian Cashman.
The Yankees currently hold the third wild-card spot in the American League. Still, it’s an underachievement for a club that manager Aaron Boone believes is his most talented squad since taking over for Joe Girardi in 2018. Cashman defended the job Boone has done this season, particularly with navigating the demands of speaking to the media.
However, one area that has incensed the Yankees fan base is whether Boone holds his players accountable. Boone did not bench Jazz Chisholm Jr. after his egregious baserunning blunder in Miami; Austin Wells was not benched after forgetting how many outs there were in the ninth inning of a tied game; and Jasson Domínguez wasn’t removed earlier in the season for not knowing what the count was.
“One thing that people maybe really forget is that we play in a market that holds you — maybe Boston and Philly, too — that holds you more accountable automatically,” Cashman told The Athletic.
“The market already provides instant accountability. In many cases, today’s world is so much different than maybe generations before. I think leaders, managers, coaches are more inclined to try to support and help players that are going through a lot as they try to navigate their struggles. Struggles are part of the game. It’s just louder in a bigger market.
“I’m not an advocate of becoming Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage or John Cena from WWE and providing a power drive to finish off the victim — the victim being someone struggling at the plate, struggling defensively, struggling on the mound. And now you’re hearing it externally, and their family and friends are all hearing it. Then internally, now, they’re getting piled on also. In many cases, you’ve got to understand what the atmosphere is like.”
Cashman said players require more support in a market like New York. Mistakes can compound into a storm, and the only way to get through it is with better performance. Boone is lauded by the clubhouse, especially team captain Aaron Judge, for how he communicates with his players. It’s a skill Cashman believes isn’t applauded enough publicly. Boone signed a two-year contract extension in the offseason, and his people skills are the main reason the Yankees brass continues to believe he is the right person to manage.
Yankees captain Aaron Judge appreciates Aaron Boone for his communicative style. (New York Yankees / Getty Images)
“I don’t know how any manager, let alone a manager in a big market like New York, speaking of Aaron Boone, I’ve told him many times, how he does the pre- and postgame and navigates that on a daily basis, that’s not easy,” Cashman said. “It takes a talent in its own right to try to walk through that without losing your cool or getting emotional. He has stayed level-headed and even-keeled. He knows how tough this sport is. He’s invested in these guys heavily, as we all are. Trying to explain away a difficult play or a bad performance for some time while the storm is upon us is not an easy task to navigate or deal with and remain cool, calm and collected. He’s obviously done an amazing job of working through that.
“I know I couldn’t do that. I probably would be creating more regretful comments along the way because from lack of sleep or getting provoked, it wouldn’t take much. I think it takes a certain character and abilities to try to manage a group of 26 guys, especially in a big market, through difficult times.”
Another area in which the Yankees have been criticized by their fans is the seemingly laissez-faire attitude they express to the public when asked if there’s much to be concerned about with their play. Cashman said he does not judge players by their soundbites but noted it’s something that gets “judged radically out there.”
Since it was revealed that Boone told the Yankees they were the best team in the league after getting swept in Toronto, New York has only fallen further in the standings. They were just a half-game ahead of the Cleveland Guardians from being outside of the playoff picture entering Friday.
“We’re the defending American League champs trying to re-defend that,” Cashman said. “Obviously, right now, we’re not in control of the division. Our first goal is try to win the American League East and automatically punch the ticket that way. If not, we’ll be fighting to punch a ticket a different way. We have a lot of time on the clock, but not enough time at the same time. I don’t want to misrepresent (that) there’s not urgency, because there is.”
(Top photo of Brian Cashman: Mike Stobe / Getty Images)