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November 26, 2007
Just Call 1-877-ASK-HANK
Bob Klapisch dishes today on the ever-ready HankdeStein Jr. -
In the not so distant past, the New York Yankees' information flow was about as tight as the Soviet-era Kremlin's, which was to say, good luck trying to get a front-office response to the most benign questions. News blackouts from Tampa, Fla., were the default policy, especially in the offseason.
But all that's changed since George Steinbrenner's sons, Hank and Hal, became the franchise's new heads of state. Need to take the temperature on the Yankees' November strategies? Call Hank. There's a high probability he'll get back to you within the hour with an unfiltered response.
It's now a media nirvana, covering a Yankees team that operates with such transparency. Indeed, Hank Steinbrenner has become one of baseball's most accessible owners, because, as he says, "I believe it's the right thing to do. The fans want to know what's going on."
And that begs the obvious question: Is GM Brian Cashman being marginalized as he enters the final year of his contract?
Both parties insist that's not the case.
Hank Steinbrenner on Cashman: "Brian's been with us for, what, 16 or 17 years? I can't make any guarantees, but considering he's been a lifelong Yankee, I don't see any reason to make a change."
Cashman says, simply, "My job has not changed at all" since Steinbrenner began eclipsing him. In fact, Yankees insiders say Cashman is still running the day-to-day operations, answering to Hank and Hal as he once did to George. The only difference is in visibility -- or in Cashman's case, his invisibility. The GM is rarely returning phone calls these days, deferring instead to Hank.
Hank isn't just easier to reach than George, he appears to be more patient and benevolent, as well, promising the days of back-page threats and insults are over.
"We're paying these guys a lot of money and we expect performance. I don't expect their demeanor to be one of entitlement. But destroying a player in the press, it doesn't help," Steinbrenner said.
"Look, you can't hide in a room counting beans. If you're a leader you have to step up regardless if things are going positive or negative," Hank said. "Brian is the GM, but the owners have the final decision, because we're the only ones with a financial stake in the team.
"Corporations run better when the guy running the company has a big financial stake. Outsiders are the ones who don't do much, bail out and then take the golden parachute."
Man, where has Hank been the last four years?
Posted by Steve Lombardi at November 26, 2007 12:36 PM