Yankees: Goose Gossage, the get off my lawn guy

How is Goose Gossage surprised that he isn’t being invited back to Yankees camp? Saying analytics are for nerds in one thing, but talking negatively about one-inning closers like Mariano Rivera is enough to get you banned from Tampa.

Goose Gossage is going the way of the dinosaur. And so are the people that think similarly to the 66-year-old Hall of Fame Yankees reliever.

I get that many of his best years were spent with the Yanks — and that his fiery disposition and electric stuff were just part of the reason as to why Goose was a nine-time All-Star and 1978 World Champion.

But times have changed. And Gossage has become an unnecessary distraction.

These new Yankees, led by their rookie manager must keep their heads down and fight for every victory. Due to a superb 2017 campaign, that infamous bullseye is once again firmly planted on their pinstriped backs.

One would hope that a team mostly filled with young upstarts would find former players ready, willing and able to bring enlightenment to Tampa. Instead, Goose continues to stir the pot.

On the eve of Spring Training, Gossage spoke to The Daily News and decided to tell the world how he really feels about Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.

"“Brian Cashman is an embarrassment to the Yankees as far as I’m concerned,” Gossage said by phone from his Colorado home. “He’d have been fired 10 years ago if The Boss was still alive. He wouldn’t be pulling the [expletive] that he pulls . . . He’s got the Steinbrenners fooled.”"

I’d hate to be the one to point this out ol’ Goose, but The Boss WAS around 10 years ago. Granted, he might not have been in the best health, but George M. Steinbrenner passed way in 2010.

"“Well, with power, is that what happens to you, you turn into a f—ing a–h—,” Gossage continued."

Bitter, party of one!

"“That’s all Cashman’s about, numbers,” Gossage said. “He’s got eight nerds following him around. Every time he stops, they bump into each other . . . Cashman would have a nerd in the dugout managing if he had any [guts]. He doesn’t think there’s any professional expertise that needs to be applied.”More from Yankees NewsAaron Judge Time interview scared Yankees as much as it scared youWhy weren’t Yankees in on Kodai Senga now that we know the price?Baseball Reference proves Yankees’ Aaron Judge lives rent free in BostonYankees’ Clay Holmes trade just became even bigger disaster for PiratesMets stealing New York Post’s entire Yankees offseason plan is hilarious"

Gossage, who was a guest instructor for more than 20 years would continue his rant, saying that Cashman doesn’t respect the older generation of players.

Of course, this too is inaccurate as the organization has already stated that a slew of retired ex-Bombers will be in Tampa acting as mentors this spring; including Ron Guidry, Alfonso Soriano, Tino Martinez, Willie Randolph, Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira.

Gossage believes because he was once a supreme athlete, the things he says today are 100% accurate. And while a small majority of the aging population probably agree with him, his close-minded, entitled way of thinking is sad.

Sure, Goose is free to express himself however he sees fit, but there are repercussions for stupid actions. The younger generation would have more respect for the man if he stuck by his guns WITHOUT complaining about his invitation to Spring Training being revoked. You can’t have it both ways, Rich.

Much like Curt Schilling, who may never see the inside of Cooperstown without buying a ticket, creating controversy and then adding gasoline to the fire with an obscenity-fueled rant directed to the reigning MLB Executive of the Year won’t garner you many supporters.

The funny thing is that you’ll quickly be able to see where fans draw the line. On Twitter, you’ll read from a respectful generation that appreciates what Gossage meant to the history of the Yanks, but understand his disappearance is crucial.

While at the same time, on comment sections of articles much like this one, you’ll likely witness incensed diehards, that like Gossage, blame Cashman for anything and everything that has gone wrong in the Bronx since 1998.

Next: ESPN proposes JD Martinez to Yankees

From his negative remarks about Latin players to weighing in on Clint Frazier’s grooming standards, it’s time to take the microphone away from Gossage. His rhetoric is passe.