An Open Letter To Brian Cashman

Dear Mr. Cashman,

We, as New York Yankees fans, expect to be in contention every year. To an extent, we are in contention this year, but there is just simply no way we can even make the second Wild Card with the way this team is performing.

Do you really expect Cruz to help the team win? (Image: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports)

Yes, this team that you threw together with guys off the scrap heap is simply not getting the job done. Shocker, right?

I get that you’ve had success in the past with the scrap heap guys – Eric Chavez, Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, Raul Ibanez, etc. But at some point, you have to realize that these guys are on the free agent market for a reason. I give you credit for picking up Lyle Overbay, he has been fantastic, but I unfortunately can’t say the same for the rest of the guys.

Do you honestly think that players like Luis Cruz, Brent Lillibridge, and Travis Hafner can lead this team to the playoffs?

Do you understand just how insanely good the American League East is?

Let’s start with the Boston Red Sox, because they did the off-season the right way. Instead of going out and making a splash to get that one big star player, they spent a lot of money on a multitude of gritty players that could get the job done. Players like Shane Victorino, Mike Napoli, Jonny Gomes, and Koji Uehara have been solid additions for their team because they know how to play good baseball and grind out wins along with the rest of the team.

Then there’s the Tampa Bay Rays who have won 21 of their last 27 games, and find themselves in second place. You know why they’re successful? Because their team has a nice balance of young players and successful veterans. Let’s just imagine for a moment what would happen if Wil Myers were on the Yankees. What would he be doing right now? I bet that he would still be in Triple-A because he “needs more seasoning,” or something. My point is, the Rays aren’t afraid to call up their young guys. Take a chance every now and then, call up a youngster instead of going out and getting an Alberto Gonzalez for your team.

The same thing can be said about the Baltimore Orioles, who have gotten success out of Manny Machado this season. They’re young too, and they also have Chris Davis, but you obviously can’t control that.

My point is, Mr. Cashman, that these teams are successful because they’re not made up of guys from the scrap-heap. I don’t care how many injuries the Yankees currently have, they’re obviously going to keep happening with the way this season is going. There’s so much uncertainty regarding the return of your injured players, that you must go out and make a trade. More importantly, you must acquire a bat.

I don’t care if it’s an, “offensively offensive market,” you need to get somebody if you want to save this season for the team. Trust me, Mr. Cashman, if you don’t, we can all expect the New York Yankees to be contending for fourth place in the AL East instead of first.

Sincerely,

Hunter Farman, and Yankees fans everywhere.