Whither Cash?

Yesterday, the Yanks controlling partner, Hal Steinbrenner said no decision would be made on Brian Cashman's fate as the Yankee GM until after the season.   No exactly a vote of confidence, but I'd still be pretty surprised if they brought in someone else.   Cash has had an up and down career with the Yanks, but he has appeared a bit less effective under Hal than he was under George.   Back then, Cash, as his mentor, Stick Michael had before him, could keep George from doing some of his stupider moves.  After Cash had the Tampa Execs trade for Raul Mondesi, Cash had them placed below him in his next deal.

Anyway, things have been different under Hal.  Even before draft pools were introduced and international limits were imposed, Hal was curtailing amateur spending.   It had taken Cash years and years to get George to spend on the draft again, which he started doing in 2005 and 2006,   But since George passed, it's been different.

The Yanks finally have prospects at all levels again, but they didn't for a few years because Hal was being penny wise with the amateurs.  Of course h's been pound foolish with a bunch over over 30 FA's in the majors, but is all of that Cash's fault?

It's hard to know.   And now that things are bouncing back on the farm, do they stay the course or change again?  I don't know. I do know any new GM will be walking into a strange situation with Hal and Randy Levine and some of the things that won't be changed...