Hal Steinbrenner spinning Cashman rift

Hal Steinbrenner, realizing this Brian Cashman story is getting out of control, is in serious spin mode.

Steinbrenner looked at all the papers and blogs and realized the story on the rift with Cashman about the Rafael Soriano deal and the speculation about the general manager possibly heading for the exit was completely overshadowing the deal itself. For a guy who made the move partly to appease a rabid fan base that is never truly satisfied when not counting World Series victories, Steinbrenner must have been really annoyed that his latest personnel move, a good move that should help the New York Yankees compete this year, was being virtually ignored by the media.

So he decided to step in and end the madness and speculation. He turned to the team's preferred paper of choice, the New York Post, to get the message out that Cashman is still the general manager, still a valued voice in the Yankees hierarchy and would be welcomed back with open arms if he re-signed with the Yankees next offseason. Steinbrenner got a too eager assist from the Post's Joel Sherman, who scoffed at the notion that Cashman would move his kids out of Connecticut and his wife away from her twin sister to be the general manager of the Pirates or some other small-market team. Never mind that people have moved their families for a lot less compelling reasons and that there are a lot worse places to live then Pittsburgh (I had a fantastic time there when the Yankees played that interleague series against the Pirates a few years ago--it's a great town). Personally, I would have been embarrassed to write such an obvious, ass-kissing column, but then again I'm not the one being fed "exclusives" with Hal Steinbrenner that will surely sell some extra newspapers.

What I found most interesting about the Post story was that Hal took the responsibility for the vicious public attack against Derek Jeter during the contract talks, with Hal saying he has some of the old man in him. No doubt it sounded like something that George Steinbrenner would say and do. But I again take exception with the notion that Jeter’s agent started the fight, especially since Hal himself was the one who first opened his mouth about the negotiations getting “messy.” Hal claims to be such an astute businessman, which makes it hard for me to understand how he thought publicly bashing his iconic shortstop and one of the team’s most marketable players was in the ballclub’s best interest.

But Hal was smart enough to realize that the Cashman story was getting away from him and decided to put an end to it. It’s not going to work because all the other papers and the blogs that don’t toe the company line are going to keep the story alive, at least until a bigger controversy comes along to take its place.

Cashman, Jeter destined to do battle again

Is Brian Cashman intentionally trying to piss Derek Jeter off?

First he publicly dares the captain of the New York Yankees to test the free agent market after Jeter told him he had no desire to play for any other baseball team. Now Cashman is publicly speculating that the shortstop might move to center field before his current contract is over.

Cashman won the first battle with Jeter because he and the Yankees succeeded in making the shortstop look like a greedy athlete to a lot of fans (not me, I thought the Yankees were wrong to disparage their shortstop and challenge him to find a better offer). But Cashman may not be as lucky this time, especially if his comments create another firestorm that lasts through the start of spring training.

To be clear, I don't think Cashman was wrong when he said an outfield move may be in Jeter's future. But that's a conversation that Cashman should have with Jeter before he has it with the fans. I don't expect an immediate reaction from Jeter, but he has to be resentful and angry that once again Cashman is dragging him into a controversy rather than keeping things in house as Jeter prefers.

Jeter expressed his unhappiness with the organization making his contract negotiations so public. Will he admit to being angry about this latest mess? I hope whatever he’s feeling he expresses publicly. His willingness to convey his dismay and frustration at the public depiction of him as a greedy athlete made him seem more human and likable. I’m sure he wouldn’t go as far as telling Cashman to shut up, but that will be the subtle message.

Of course, this could become a moot point if Cashman decides to leave the Yankees when his contract expires at the end of the year because a Jeter move would become someone else’s problem. The general manager was clearly upset by the Steinbrenners' decision to overrule him on the Rafael Soriano deal. Despite the Yankees urging him to spin the dispute in the media, Cashman insisted on setting the record straight rather than have all the agents of the middle relievers he dealt with this offseason thinking he lied to them about not wanting to pay $6-7 million or give up his top draft pick.

You have to wonder if Cashman feels this free about speaking out because he has an exit strategy. But until Cashman officially leaves, he should be careful not to mess with his shortstop.

More from the baseball writers' dinner

The New York chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s annual dinner night was full of fun surprises, starting with a guest appearance by none other than the great Willie Mays. I didn’t get anywhere near him, but just to say I was in the same room as Mays is thrilling.

For me, two other highlights of the evening did not involve any New York Yankees. Philadelphia sportswriter Bill Conlin gave a lively, hilarious speech recounting his experiences over his long career, one that he will be honored for at the Baseball Hall of Fame inductions this summer.

The emotional highlight for me was Joey Votto nearly choking up as he thanked the writers for his Most Valuable Player award, expressing sadness that his father, who passed away two years ago, wasn't able to be there to watch his son accept the honor.

Bernie Williams was on hand to provide the musical entertainment, starting with his guitar version of the Star Spangled Banner and Bernie and his band giving memorable performances of many songs, including the Bruce Springsteen classic Glory Days.

Picture of Joey Votto.

NY writers celebrate baseball, charity

I didn't really know what to expect last night when I attended the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s annual dinner. But I had a nice time chatting up other avid baseball fans willing to shell out $225 bucks to get a glimpse of their sports heroes.

It was an interesting night, with sportswriters coming together to honor many of the athletes and baseball officials they've spent their lives covering. Of course, they poked a lot of fun at the honorees. Mark Feinsand, chair of the New York chapter and host of the evening, had a great deal of fun at Brian Cashman’s expense, joking about the general manager’s desperate search for another starting pitcher. Fans of the New York Yankees will be happy to know that Cashman signed righty John Denny (who retired in 1986) to a four-year, $60 million deal, according to Feinsand.

The Yankees were well represented during the festivities, with Robinson Cano honored for his tremendous year and thrilled to receive his first Gold Glove. Cano was introduced by Bernie Williams, who told the story about Cano coming up to Williams in the Yankees clubhouse when he was first called up and informing the Yankees then-centerfielder that he was his favorite player growing up, instantly making Bernie feel like an old man.

Phil Hughes was supposed to be honored with the Good Guy award for his interactions with the baseball writers. But the young righty had an apparent conflict and had to answer to a higher authority than the Steinbrenners or his manager Joe Girardi: his mom Dori Hughes.

Hal Steinbrenner gave a very nice speech in accepting an award for his father George Steinbrenner's community service. In referring to his father’s quiet acts of kindness, unacknowledged until after his death last year, Hal Steinbrenner offered wonderful words of wisdom that we should all live by: that an act of charity is not charity if more than two people know about it.

Joe Torre gave what I thought was the most conciliatory speech I've ever heard. Torre was being honored with two other retiring managers Bobby Cox and Lou Piniella for their Hall of Fame careers. He expressed his great joy to be back in New York and thanked New York fans for their support through the years. In front of Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner, he also expressed his gratitude to the Boss for giving him a chance to manage his ballclub. Torre and the Yankees endured a nasty divorce that left Torre with bitter feelings towards his old employers and led to his writing a book that created a rift between him and the Yankees hierarchy. But between the invitation extended to Torre to attend last year's memorial to the Boss at Yankee Stadium and last night's expressions of gratitude by Torre, it seems like all is forgiven.

Midseason Pettitte return works for Yankees

A midseason return for Andy Pettitte would work for both the veteran lefty and the New York Yankees.

Joe Girardi indicated this week that Pettitte is throwing to keep himself in shape for a possible return, one that increasingly looks less likely to happen in spring training. But returning to the team sometime in mid-June solves a lot of problems for both sides.

It gets Pettitte back to the Yankees when they will still be in competition for an American League East division title, barring some epic early-season collapse. I think that’s unlikely, even if the Yankees must go with Ivan Nova and Sergio Mitre in the starting rotation for a few months, because I think the Yankees have a strong enough lineup and a sterling bullpen to win some of their games, including the ones that turn into slugfests.

For Pettitte, it gives him more time with his kids before he has to show up for work in the Bronx and less of a separation as his family could conceivably join him in the summer months up north. Of course, this assumes that Pettitte's heart is still in it and this reluctance to return doesn't signal a deeper longing to move on from the baseball chapter of his life. Maybe he’ll just wait to see how his teammates do early in the season and make his return once he realizes that they still need him.

It's not like there isn't precedence for this. Remember, the crude Roger Clemens announcement that he was coming back, made from George Steinbrenner's box at the old Yankee Stadium during a 2007 game. I'm sure a Pettitte return would be handled with more class and greeted even more warmly.

Time to question Brian Cashman's judgment

Maybe the Steinbrenners were right to overrule Brian Cashman after all. He’s clearly losing his mind.

If Cashman was really willing to offer Carl Pavano $10 million to return to the New York Yankees, then it is undoubtedly time to question his judgment. I know Pavano has resurrected his career with the Minnesota Twins, but he was an absolute nightmare in the Bronx. He left town with $40 million of the Yankees' money and gave them absolutely nothing in return for it. He is unredeemable in the eyes of the Yankees faithful and probably would have gotten booed on every single pitch he threw by his hometown crowd.

The fact that Cashman would even consider a deal with Pavano is mind boggling considering the failed return of Javier Vazquez. I had a problem with that move, but at least you could make a case that Vazquez wasn't given enough time to find himself in pinstripes during his first tenure. Pavano spent four years in New York on the disabled list and the wrong side of his teammates. Even Mike Mussina, one of the least media-friendly guys to wear pinstripes in recent years, publicly called Pavano out.

This highlights the main problem of the Cliff Lee debacle: the lack of a Plan B by Cashman. He's not the only one at fault for this as I think all the Yankee officials assumed Lee couldn’t wait to take their millions. But it's Cashman's job to have a back-up plan.

Carl Pavano doesn't qualify as a good Plan B, but at least Pavano did Cashman the favor of re-signing with the Twins. If he'd actually taken a deal from Cashman and had another disastrous tenure in pinstripes, fans would be calling for nothing less than the general manager's head on a platter.

Yankees wise not to fight with their kids

After the nasty contract dispute with Captain Derek Jeter, I half expected the New York Yankees to pick a fight with their three youngsters eligible for arbitration in an attempt to save a few bucks. I'm happy that they wisely decided not to let things get ugly.

The Yankees signed Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Boone Logan to reasonable, one-year deals, avoiding any contentious hearings with less than a month until pitchers and catchers report.

After the year he had, I thought Hughes could have gotten a bigger raise, but he won't be hurting with $2.7 million. That's still a bargain for the Yankees considering that he, along with CC Sabathia, is seen as the only reliable member of the starting rotation. But hopefully him settling for a reasonable deal rather than fighting for the last dollar sets the stage for smooth negotiations on a long-term deal when his time comes.

In signing Logan and Joba, the Yankees bullpen is now set. Logan proved to be an integral cog in the relief corp last year and will play an even bigger role with the revamped power lineup of the Boston Red Sox. This year may be even more important for Joba. He needs to prove that he can get back to being that dominant guy we saw a few years ago and I think the Yankees will give him one more year to find it again before they start thinking about moving on.

I hate the baseball arbitration process because even the best relationships can turn sour under the pressure. But in signing their three eligible youngsters, the Yankees got at least one thing done right this offseason.