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They called up Reese instead. Because they'd rather Thompson, at 26, play every day...in Columbus. Don't want to stunt his growth. Well, well, kiddies, this is where the rubber hits the road. If Cashman is in the driver's seat, we may see a creative solution to this outfield mess (a reasonable rotation of Crosby-Melky-Thompson-even Mitch Jones for example or acquiring an inexpensive "young" veteran)or, if Torre has his way, we'll see some prospects shipped out for the moldering ashes of a once-productive major league outfielder a la Ruben Sierra, whose only skill will be intermittent power between strikeouts and lost fly balls. What will it be? What will it be? Good thing I'm going off to Europe for the summer.

Wait, when was Cashman creative? By re-signing Bernie when it was obvious from the last three seasons that Bernie's quickly limping his way to Willie Mays, 1973 status? Or was it the time he signed Wright, Pavano, and Womack in the same offseason?

Torre's a bumbling fool in many ways but he can't be held to account for the way the team is put together. That's on Cashman and/or the people above him in the chain of command.

What makes you think Torre disagreed with any of these moves? What makes you think Torre and his particular wants and needs weren't the determining factors behind those moves? Remember Enrique Wilson in RF? As for Bernie, he was re-signed because of sentimentality and to fill Sierra's role on the roster, not to play every friggin' day like he's the Yankees' version of Chone Figgins. Andy Phillips is on the team, he doesn't play him. Kevin Thompson has a great Spring, he doesn't bring him North (he's 26 years old...what the heck is he going to develop at Columbus for the third straight season?). Matt Smith hasn't given up an earned run, he sends him down. Melky Cabrera is called up in order to play every day, he benches him (and replaces him for defensive purposes with Bernie , for chrissake). He's the one who lobbied to re-acquire Cairo and the one who plays him almost regularly at his, what, 4th best position. He's the one who writes out the line-up, who manages the bullpen, who determines the rotation, who preaches smallball while studiously avoiding anyone on the bench who can remotely do those things (Cairo is our "speed" guy off the bench!). Blaming Cashman and George/Tampa/Michael Kay for the Yankees' painful shortcomings in recent seasons is like blaming a box of crayons for the fact your kid draws pictures of people with three eyes and one ear. Yes, the FO has made several unwise, even stupid decisions but every other manager in the business would kill to have the core of this roster. Not one of them would start Cairo at first base or bring in Sturtze to face Ramirez unless they'd gone to the same all-night party Giambi apparently went to after Wednesday's game.

And as I always respond to this predictable line of defense...if Cashman disagreed with any of it, he'd take away Torre's toys or fire him. So, again, if Cashman is to get a pass, you must give Torre as pass too. An organization is only as strong as its weakest link. If Torre is the weak link, what does it say about his boss (Cashman) who can't even figure out whom to sign, re-sign, bring up, send down, cut, or fire?

So then maybe Jeter will play center. I'm going to shot myself for saying that.