We're optimistic about the Yankees, because Randy Johnson's out West, and Andy Pettitte's back East.
Because they exported Jaret Wright, and imported Kei Igawa. Because the bullpen's a bit deeper, and the defense a tad better -- as long as Jason Giambi rarely plays it, as planned.
But the principal cause for optimism is that Brian Cashman's hands grip the reins of the Yankees' carriage harder than ever. No more must the Yankees succeed in spite of division and dysfunction between the general manager in New York and the empowered front office execs and advisors to George Steinbrenner in Tampa (can you imagine if Colts owner Jim Irsay had allowed a faction of "advisors" to undermine Bill Polian?).
No longer are the players Cashman doesn't want foisted on him, as Raul Mondesi and Kenny Lofton once were.
"For the last two years I've been able to set course on how we should proceed," Cashman said by phone from Tampa.
That is the most promising Yankees' development of all.
Cashman possesses the clout to persuade Steinbrenner not to fire Joe Torre when Steinbrenner wanted to last October, and the steely-eyed wisdom to say goodbye to Bernie Williams when Torre, blinded by sentimentality, would welcome him.
The Yankees of old would've signed Mariano Rivera to a hefty contract extension now instead of wisely waiting until after the season to see how the tender 37-year-old elbow that sidelined him for three weeks in September holds up.
The Yankees of old would've overpaid for a No. 4 starter such as Gil Meche or Adam Eaton in the hope their money and pinstripes would -- abracadabra! -- make their shortcomings disappear.
But these are the Yankees of Brian Cashman.
"We're still a big-game hunter on the free-agent market," he said.
But he's not going to waste payroll dollars on poor risks, either.
What Cashman and his staff have done that impresses most is replenish their farm system.
Nobody wants to talk about the Yankees' tomorrows; for years the Yankees focused obsessively on today. But the best sports franchises balance the tightrope between present and future. In their efforts to win every year, at any cost, the Yankees' farm had become fallow.
No more. Besides developing homegrown stars such as Chien-Ming Wang and Robinson Cano, and the useful Melky Cabrera, they've added so many promising prospects that Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus both ranked the Yankees' minor-league system among baseball's five best. They're particularly deep in pitching prospects, developing, adding to and holding onto them.
When Cashman traded Gary Sheffield to the Tigers, everyone knew the Yankees had to deal him. Yet, Cashman still acquired two of the Tigers' better pitching prospects for a player they no longer had use for.
Believe it or not, dealing Carl Pavano in the off-season would've been unwise. Yes, Pavano's "injuries" and commitment exasperate. But trading him when the Yankees need starters and his value is lowest would've made no sense. Cashman recognizes this.
None of this is to say Cashman hasn't and won't make mistakes.
But it'll be his team, and they'll be his mistakes.
