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February 19, 2008
The Hal Stein GQ Interview
Blog GQ has a great interview with Hal, (yes, not Hank) Steinbrenner. Click here to read it. A highlight from the feature:
Who’s at the top of the chain of command?
What’s been determined is that this is a family business, and if we’re both gonna be involved, it has to be an equal thing, and we both need to be involved with all major decisions, whether it’s the stadium, big expenditures, or [the unconsummated trade for Johan] Santana, for instance. It’s well publicized in New York that we didn’t agree on that deal. My concerns were economical and financial, and I’m not gonna get into those, but I also had baseball concerns. I didn’t want to get rid of these kids! Boy, the last time we had three young pitchers like Philip Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, and Ian Kennedy, I couldn’t even tell you.
The Super Bowl this year was unbelievable, and the one thought I took away really has a lot to do with us this year, with these three young pitchers. Eli struggled a bit his first couple years. I think New York fans might realize now that if you give a young kid time, great things can happen.
Is it true, as the media has suggested, that Brian Cashman’s job is on the line because the Yankees didn’t do the Santana deal?
No, it’s not. I don’t know where the media gets this stuff sometimes. They gotta sell papers, I understand that. You gotta sell magazines, right? The bottom line is Cashman is with us this year. In any given year for the past thirty years, you could probably say, “This year the general manager’s job’s on the line.” That’s par for the course for that job, but certainly not because of one trade, no.
The perception in the media is that Gene Michael, the architect of the great Yankee teams of the late ’90s, hasn’t wielded a great deal of influence in the organization for some years. Is that true? What will his role be going forward?
As far as I’m concerned, it’s absolutely not true. Cashman and Gene talk all the time. Gene was down here interviewing the potential manager candidates, and he’s always been close to George. The two of them sometimes are kind of like Billy Martin and George, but there was always a level of respect there, and that hasn’t changed. I mean, his take on things is as good as anybody’s. We value his input, which is why he was part of all those interviews.
Makes you wonder, if Gene Michael was up for the task, and willing to be G.M., would the brothers let Cashman walk and have "Stick" take over in 2009? I doubt it - because Michael will be 71 years old next year. The job is too demanding for someone of that age.
How about this: Bounce Randy Levine, promote Cashman to his job, and let Damon Oppenheimer be the G.M. in 2009 with Michael as an advisor? It just might be the best role for all parties involved.
Posted by WW Staff at February 19, 2008 12:34 PM
Comments
Why would Cashman want to stay with the Yankees if they fire him as GM with the phony promotion? Hasn't it been said many times that Levine was only hired to usher the stadium deal and that once the new ballpark is done, he'll be pushed out?
Also, I found it a bit odd that Hal called his dad "George."
Posted by: MJ ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.waswatching.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at February 19, 2008 01:08 PM
It doesn't make me wonder that at all.
Hal loves The Big Three. Cash is responsible for The Big Three. Hal didn't want to do the Santana deal. Neither did Cash.
It seems logical that Hank and Cash are on the same page.
btw, Stick got back into the loop when Cash gained more power.
Posted by: Rich at February 19, 2008 01:08 PM
Damon Oppenheimer will be a GM somewhere in the future. It might as well be with the Yankees.
Posted by: gphunt at February 19, 2008 01:16 PM
>> It seems logical that Hank and Cash are on the same page. >>
Did you mean Hal and Cash?
Posted by: Pete at February 19, 2008 01:32 PM
Sign Cashman to a long-term big money deal to be the head of Yankee Stadium trash detail, keeping him away from screwing us over w/ childhood favorite Red Sox (not that he hasn't done that already) and putting the piece of garbage where he belongs. Oh, WW Staff, I guess you're at work today. Have a good one!!
Posted by: minikraft at February 19, 2008 02:00 PM
Did you mean Hal and Cash?
__
Yes, thanks. I suck at multi-tasking.
Posted by: Rich at February 19, 2008 03:55 PM
There is no chance of stick taking the job, at his age, and the fact that he now lives in Florida, he would probably opt to retire if someone new, whom he either doesn't know or doesn't like became the GM.
Since Cashman is a stick protege, I would say stick probably likes the set up right now.
Posted by: Sonny M at February 19, 2008 06:30 PM