The Yankees are playing in their first World Series since 2009. The 15-year pennant drought is an eternity in Pinstripe’s world.
Just don’t tell Brian Cashman how long it’s been.
“I hate the 15-year thing because it completely forgets and discounts that some other organization cheated us when we were all the way in the end,” said Brian Cashman on MLB Network Wednesday referring to the Houston Astros cheating scandal in 2017. “If you knew what was going on, I don’t think they would be advancing during that time frame, I think we would’ve been advancing. So, I hate that 15-year thing because I don’t think it accurately reflects history.”
The cheating declaration may fall on deaf ears as the Yankees had their chance in 2022 to get their payback against their postseason rivals and the Astros waxed them in a four-game ALCS sweep on their way to another World Series victory.
Outside of the 2017 cheating scandal, Cashman has been one of the top blame-getters from fans for the Yankees’ World Series drought. The architect of the Bombers has been the GM since 1998 and has four World Series titles under his leadership.
However, none would be more vindicating for the 57-year-old than winning the World Series beginning Friday in Los Angeles between the Yankees and Dodgers.
Cashman doesn’t necessarily get a lot of the credit for the late 90’s-2000 championship squads as Gene “Stick” Michael is viewed by most as the mastermind behind building the Derek Jeter-led teams. Even in 2009, traces of Michael’s building were still integral to winning their 27th championship.
In 2024, Cashman’s hands are all over this roster.
Moves such as trading for Giancarlo Stanton in 2017 — a deal that’s received a ton of controversy up until his postseason heroics — and going all in for one guaranteed year of superstar Juan Soto are enormous parts of why the Yanks are still playing baseball on Oct. 25. And winning the whole thing would immediately change the recent perception of Cashman by the Bronx faith especially after the self-labeled disastrous 2023 season where they missed the playoffs going 82-80.
“We executed our philosophy [in 2023],” Cashman told SI. “But then I think that, because we had a poor season, the philosophy was challenged. So we stayed true to our philosophy, which has consistently paid off for us for feels like 30 years, but the philosophy was questioned and challenged and dissected and turned upside down and inside out, by outside and inside forces. And we stayed the course.”
“We’re either going to double down on everything we do and how we do it, or make some adjustments. And for the most part, we doubled down on most of what we do.”
Because the Bombers stayed true to their philosophy — or just made a trade for one of the best players in the sport in Soto — they are in the big dance. There has been plenty to critique about the Yankees throughout this season — and the past few — whether that be sloppy play or the need for more bullpen help.
However, they are one of the last two teams standing and to be the last would mean vindication for the organization and Cashman after years of criticism as this would be arguably the first time that his team has won the last game of the season.
