Cashman changes tune about Yanks in ‘Big’ way
TAMPA — Brian Cashman has watched closely this spring and with fewer than three weeks to go before opening day, the Yankees general manager is no longer totally playing the underdog card. He has changed his tune a bit. Remember last month? Cashman stated on “The Michael Kay Show” his Yankees were “The Little Engine That Could.’’ That’s no longer totally the case. Great expectations have officially arrived after Cashman took some blowback for that comment and he has been able to watch the pieces come together at Yankees camp, including the biggest piece, the addition of super slugger Giancarlo Stanton to go along with the likes of Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez. “I’ve changed it to we’re ‘ The Big Engine That Could’ now,’’ Cashman told The Post on Friday at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Big Engine. Big stars. Big payroll. Big expectations. The Big Engine also has a big challenge and a big hill to climb. Those who criticized Cashman for playing the underdog card can take a deep breath now. Yankees fans can expect more great expectations. The Yankees are the Big Bronx Engine That Could.
Which means exactly what, I asked Cashman.
“Which means we have to keep in perspective where things finished last year,’’ Cashman said.
The Yankees lost the ALCS in seven games, coming one win shy of going to the World Series. They had two tries to win one game and couldn’t get it done. The Astros beat the Yankees and then beat the Dodgers to win their first world championship in franchise history.
To a loaded starting rotation, Houston added Gerrit Cole. The Astros sit on top of the power rankings, ahead of the Big Bronx Engine That Could.
Cashman looks at this from two perspectives. The marathon that is the regular season and the sprint that is the postseason.
You can’t win the sprint unless you finish the marathon in good shape.
“The Astros were the world champs, won 101 [regular season] games last year,’’ Cashman said. “The Cleveland Indians won 102 games, so they both had better records than us. In our own division, the Red Sox finished two games ahead of us and they just added more to their team, they added J.D. Martinez.
“So we’re chasing down Boston, trying to prevent anybody from behind us to get ahead and at the same time you have to throw bouquets toward the teams that finished ahead of us last year.’’ All true, but Stanton and his 59 home runs are a nice catch and Cashman is well aware of all the talent and desire in this Yankees clubhouse. The Big Bronx Engine Yankees are in the best league, Cashman said.
“This is the best league in baseball,’’ Cashman said of the power-packed American League. “There’s a lot of buzz and rightfully so of how we finished last year and the additions in the winter time with Stanton but at the end of the day we have to measure it out and see if we have closed the gap.’’
The Big Bronx Engine is huffing and puffing up the hill.
Cashman wants to remind everyone that even though the Yankees were one win from the World Series and upset Cleveland along the way, “It’s easy to forget the marathon that you’re in beforehand and actually who ran it a little bit better.”
The Astros, Indians and Red Sox all ran the better marathon.
“You have to be prepared for all of it but the most important part, first and foremost, is the marathon because you’ve got to find a way to get in,’’ Cashman said. Are these Yankees ready? “We’re going to find out,’’ Cashman said. “We’re trying to make sure we are.’’
Most importantly, there is a new engineer driving the Big Bronx Engine That Could in Aaron Boone.
“He’s been great,’’ Cashman said of his first-year manager. “He’s made it feel like he’s been here for a long time. He’s going to lead this group and it doesn’t look like he’s fazed by that in any way, shape or form.’’
The Big Bronx Engine That Could chugs along.