Not about Politics, but deep down - it is

I have finally recovered after what was arguably the WORST world series to watch in history. I haven't seen people score on a Colorado Rockie since Glen Chico Resch left the Islanders to play for Colorado in 1979. Watch as I say "The Red Sox were the best team in the league from April to November, and they deserved to win the world series."

It is true. It is also true that they had a losing record against the Yankees this year. What fun is being the champ if you can't beat the champ to get there?

Nobody understands Mr. Brian Cashman, or why he got his job. It might have something to do with his name and how it relates to the job he has performed up to date with the New York Yankees.

In the last three weeks, he has lost the best offensive hitter in history, the best offensive catcher in 2007, the best closing pitcher in history and is about to lose a few more key pieces to what was a great, if not underperforming, Yankees club.

If you build it, they will come. They, in this case, are young talented players. This year, on a team crowded by superstars (some on the way out) the three best young arms in the American league started out as Rookies. It wasn't because they were going to play a lot - they knew they wouldn't. It was because of a long term commitment to winning - which is something the Yankees do in spades. That remains a sales job for the General Manager - and in the Bronx, that is the toughest job in the world. Not third base, not starting pitcher, not manager- General Manager.

What most people don't understand is how difficult it is to work for a micro manager. The difference between an effective manager and a lackey is that a lackey does exactly what he is told notwithstanding the fact that is it stupid. A great mind can get away with the former to avoid the latter.

For example, it was stupid to NOT offer A-Rod a new contract - because you are still ostensibly getting him for free for the next three years. His television draw alone makes it worthwhile. Even it it was front loaded with incentive driven bonuses - and even if he hit 0.191 in the playoffs this year (again...) - he makes MONEY for a team that makes money.

What Cashman did was make an offer knowing that he can make another, better, offer in the very near future. He might not come back (he will likely go to Anaheim or the NY Mets) but every Yankees fan knows that Cashman tried.

The Steinbrenners are a difficult lot. They make demands of their players directly, not through channels, but usually on the front page. It is too bad, actually. They are themselves the biggest blight on a storied franchise. The fans love to make fun of how insane they are - as does Seinfeld. But, the bottom line is that they could be making WAY more money, and they elect not to to spend that money on what they believe to be the best in the game.

Cashman is the reason why. At least he is right now. That is the art of politics.

Barring an unforeseen miracle, the yanks MIGHT win 80 games next year, and will not likely make the playoffs. If they keep their core young talent (which they are more likely to do with 30 million extra kicking around) by 2010 they will be even better than they were in 2000.