Despite Critics, New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman Continues to be Proven Right

Brian Cashman (Photo: William Perlman, The Star Ledger via USA TODAY Sports)

It was the end of July, and the Yankees were looking to improve for their postseason push, but General manager Brian Cashman decided to stand strong with his top prospects even with big ace David Price looking for a new home.

Cashman decided to add without subtraction as he called upon prospects Greg Bird and Luis Severino to help the team make a postseason push.

Typical Yankees fans were upset with the decision to not move top prospect Severino or No. 2 prospect Aaron Judge to get Price or Kansas City Royals new ace Johnny Cueto saying that the Yankees weren’t playing to win, but they couldn’t be more wrong.

Cashman knew exactly what he was doing and what he had down on the farm for the first time in a long time. The 21-year-old Severino has been nothing short of spectacular posting a 4-3 record with a 3.12 earned run average.

Numbers don’t tell the whole story for Severino, as he has simply been electric throwing 97 mph consistently, with a wicked slider. Severino has also tallied 45 strikeouts in 43.1 innings pitched.

Severino in only 43.1 innings has shown Yankees fans that he is capable of pitching on the big stage and has shown maturity in only eight games started.

In a must win game on Tuesday night, it was Severino who took the ball throwing six solid innings giving up two runs on three hits and striking out three against baseballs most prolific offense. Also stepping up was Bird who hit a three-run home run in the 10^th to secure a Yankees victory.

For Bird, it was his 10^th home run and 28^th run batted in since being called up in August. Six of his 10 home runs have given the Yankees a lead.  Bird has now homered in three straight games for the Yankees and is currently sits third for most home runs over a span of 34 games only trailing Kevin Maas (12) and Shane Spencer (11). Bird also has 28 RBI in 34 games, which is the most over that span since Hideki Matsui had 26 RBI in his first 33 games back in 2003.

When asked about Birds’ recent success Cashman told reporters, “Big fan.”

“I’m glad we had him ready to plug and play when Tex (Mark Teixeira) went down and he’s put in some real high-quality at-bats,” Cashman continued. “He’s given us some good defense.”

“For a guy his age to not be overwhelmed, it’s pretty exciting for his future.” Cashman added while speaking with reporters. “He’s got a real calm demeanor. “He’s got a real special way about him that I think will serve him well in a long career, especially in a big market. He’s just not excitable.”

After watching Bird take his hacks, many compared the 22-year old’s swing to former Yankee slugger Don Mattingly. Quite a compliment to pay a young player who has been in the league for a little over a month, but now the Yankees and Yankee fans see what many baseball writers and scouts meant.

“When I think about some of the young kids that I managed, a lot of it had to do with [time] in Florida,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi told reporters a month ago. “And this is a big comparison, and I’m not saying this is what my expectation would be, but Miguel Cabrera had a slow clock and really had an understanding of what he wanted to do. I think Greg Bird has an understanding of who he is and what he wants to do.”

Bird is sure to be the clubs starting first baseman in 2017, but with the way he has busted upon scene the Yankees could use him much earlier than that.

Another young face to look forward to is that of Judge. The 6-foot-7, 275 pound outfielder has been compared by Yankees coaches and scouts to be similar to Yankees legendary outfielder Dave Winfield, who played in eight straight All-Star games with the Yankees and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.

Judge hit 20 home runs this year with Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton, and will most likely be the Yankees starting right fielder in 2017.

So to sum it all up, sure Cashman could’ve traded away these guys for Price or Cueto and made all the critics happy, but for the first time since the 1990s, the Yankees aren’t “buying wins.” They have a playoff bound team in 2015, with a future with no limits. The Yankees have a farm system loaded with talent, Severino and Bird are proving themselves more and more every day, and Cashman continues to look into the future where his core lies in the making.