Baseball for the Thinking Fan

Login | Register | Feedback

btf_logo
You are here > Home > Baseball Newsstand > Baseball Primer Newsblog > Discussion
Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Sunday, March 30, 2008

LoHud: Abraham: Brian Cashman answers your questions

Well, not actually your questions…but some other people.

How have new statistics and methods of analysis changed the Yankees scouting and evaluation methods since you became GM of the Yankees?

Brian Cashman: “I’d like to think that … (his phone rings) Excuse me a minute.”

(At this point, he walked out of the room with his phone and I was left standing in the clubhouse. After five minutes, I went looking and found him in the batting cage on the phone. He finished up and we continued the interview back in the clubhouse. No, I have no idea who was the phone.)

Back to Evan’s question: How have new statistics and methods of analysis changed the Yankees’ scouting and evaluation methods since you became GM of the Yankees?

Brian Cashman: “I’ve been educated. Sometimes your eyes can, you have a perception of a player or of a season or seasons that take place and statistics, there’s a number of statistics I believe, I have learned and been educated that can challenge your perceptions and that’s, if you come across some statistics that … I’m trying to think of the how the best way to say it, essentially the end game is there’s a number of statistics that I’ve learned through people like (Yankees director of quantitative analysis) Mike Fishman that have opened my eyes, that have led me to understand that certain players aren’t necessarily what you perceive them to be. And it’s prevented me from making acquisitions and saving me from losing a certain prospect as well as taking on money that would have been a waste that earlier in my career I would have done. I don’t want to name a player, but for instance, there’s a left-handed reliever with some arm strength that I know earlier in my career I would I have gravitated to more because he’s left-handed and the arm strength was there and he had a reputation. But when you walk through the statistical analysis of the actual consistent performance of that player it kind of broke down those perceptions and reality set it. It made me stand down and I saved more than a few million dollars and a player that was a young prospect who’s considered an asset. Early in my years that was something I probably would have finished off rather than did the extra time to study and dissect and then back down or stand down.”

Repoz Posted: March 30, 2008 at 04:40 PM | 11 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
  Related News: GeneralSabermetricsNY Yankees

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

Page 1 of 1 pages
   1. Rich Posted: March 30, 2008 at 07:30 PM (#2723622)
Can you name the minor league position player who you believe will make an impact with the Yankees this year? Anybody in particular who has caught your eye?

Brian Cashman: “Brett Gardner.”


I don't understand the fascination with a prospect who projects to be a 4th OFer without any SLG.

From what I've read, my answer would have been Alan Horne, who supposedly had a great ST, showing improved command.
   2. Exploring Leftist Conservatism since 2008 (ark..) Posted: March 30, 2008 at 09:52 PM (#2723670)
I don’t want to name a player, but for instance, there’s a left-handed reliever with some arm strength that I know earlier in my career I would I have gravitated to more because he’s left-handed and the arm strength was there and he had a reputation. But when you walk through the statistical analysis of the actual consistent performance of that player it kind of broke down those perceptions and reality set it. It made me stand down and I saved more than a few million dollars and a player that was a young prospect who’s considered an asset.


Have to admit this made me curious. Any ideas as to who was the unnamed lefty?
   3. SG Posted: March 30, 2008 at 09:54 PM (#2723671)
Any ideas as to who was the unnamed lefty?


I was thinking Jeremy Affeldt at first, but he wouldn't have cost a prospect. My next guess is Damaso Marte.
   4. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: March 30, 2008 at 09:58 PM (#2723674)
I dunno...Cashman had Marte had one point (traded him for Luis Sojo, as a matter of fact) so it doesn't seem like it'd be him.
   5. SG Posted: March 30, 2008 at 10:05 PM (#2723679)
No no no, he was traded for Enrique Wilson.

Good point though. Brian Fuentes maybe?
   6. Exploring Leftist Conservatism since 2008 (ark..) Posted: March 31, 2008 at 02:27 AM (#2724081)
Your guesses are as good as mine. Actually, they're a whole lot better than mine. Cash became GM in 1998. I don't know when he hired Mike Fishman, but it sounds like the event happened early in Cashman's tenure--before 2001 sound reasonable?
   7. The Good Face Posted: March 31, 2008 at 12:31 PM (#2724259)
I don't understand the fascination with a prospect who projects to be a 4th OFer without any SLG.


A guy could be eye-catching without necessarily being of much value. I'm pretty sure Bo Jackson caught plenty of eyes when he first starting playing baseball, even though he took a couple years before he became a productive player. Of course, Gardner will probably never be more than a 4th outfielder, but that doesn't mean he's not fun/impressive to watch.
   8. Mike Emeigh Posted: March 31, 2008 at 12:37 PM (#2724270)
Someone called this to my attention:

Mike from North Carolina asked: Do you ever look at fan web sites or blogs or read the media to see what their feelings about the team are. Does that ever impact anything you do?


This was not me.

-- MWE
   9. NJ is feeling better Posted: March 31, 2008 at 12:46 PM (#2724278)
Have to admit this made me curious. Any ideas as to who was the unnamed lefty?

I'm fairly certain it's Mike Gonzalez.
   10. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: March 31, 2008 at 12:50 PM (#2724290)
Mike Gonzalez sounds right, now that I think about it.
Page 1 of 1 pages

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

 

 

<< Back to main

Support BBTF

donate

Thanks to
Quiet Flows the Don Taussig Avenger (Edmundo)
for his generous support.

Bookmarks

You must be logged in to view your Bookmarks.

Hot Topics

NewsblogSources: Cubs’ Starlin Castro Accused Of Sexual Assault
(5863 - 9:15am, Feb 10)
Last: snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster)

NewsblogYES Commemorates 10th Anniversary with Special Logo, Programming
(4 - 9:14am, Feb 10)
Last: Leroy Kincaid

NewsblogL.A. Times: 11 bidders remain in running to buy Dodgers
(10 - 9:07am, Feb 10)
Last: LionoftheSenate (is roaring!)

NewsblogOrioles Scouts Banned from Korea
(8 - 9:04am, Feb 10)
Last: Steve Parris, Je t'aime (M. Valentin)

NewsblogJeff Sullivan: The Worst Team Ever Projected?
(54 - 8:54am, Feb 10)
Last: Random Transaction Generator

NewsblogRosenthal: Swapping Figgins for Ichiro at leadoff could revive Mariners' offense
(4 - 8:48am, Feb 10)
Last: Misirlou's got a busy day, he's wearing a vest

NewsblogGrantland/Bill James: An Open Letter to the Hall of Fame About Dwight Evans
(27 - 8:42am, Feb 10)
Last: villageidiom

NewsblogFangraphs: Cameron: The 10 Worst Transactions Of The Winter
(88 - 8:39am, Feb 10)
Last: snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster)

NewsblogOT: NBA Monthly Thread, February 2012
(380 - 8:31am, Feb 10)
Last: jmurph

NewsblogNY Daily News: Brian Cashman's accused stalker says Yankees GM misled feds on steroid probe
(51 - 7:30am, Feb 10)
Last: ray james

NewsblogMONEYBALL~ Oscar Nominations 2012: Academy Award Nominees List ~ MONEYBALL
(595 - 6:22am, Feb 10)
Last: Quiet Flows the Don Taussig Avenger (Edmundo)

NewsblogKnobler: Stay away from steroids -- but vote how you want
(20 - 6:11am, Feb 10)
Last: Athletic Supporter leads the nation in drifters

NewsblogPrimer Dugout (and link of the day) 2-10-2012
(4 - 5:37am, Feb 10)
Last: Not The Real Fausto Carmona (Dan Lee)

NewsblogWhatever Happened to the Spitball?
(19 - 4:19am, Feb 10)
Last: toratoratora

Transaction Oracle2012 ZiPS Projections - Texas Rangers
(19 - 3:53am, Feb 10)
Last: Jebuddhallah

Buy MLB playoff tickets, plus 2011 World Series, 2011 ALCS tickets and NLCS game tickets. We also have Texas Rangers playoff schedule, tickets to Red Sox games and Yankees game tickets. Plus, buy Phillies baseball tickets, Tigers playoff tickets and the biggies like ALDS baseball tickets and 2011 NLDS tickets.

Demarini, Easton and TPX Baseball Bats

 

 

 

AllianceTickets.com has cheap MLB Tickets. Get all your Colorado Rockies Tickets, Seattle Mariners Tickets, San Francisco Giants Tickets and all your favorite baseball tickets here. We also carry cheap Denver Broncos Tickets, Seattle Seahawks Tickets and Denver Nuggets Tickets.

Page rendered in 0.3183 seconds
40 querie(s) executed