The Yankees have clearly decided to build a team around Aaron Judge. Gone are the days of breeding a winning mentality down on the farm with guys that would play together for a bit before being brought up to try and win on the big team. Jeter, Pettitte, Mariano, Jorge and yes, even Bernie Williams. It's that thing that was pushed by Stick Michael, and even if George Steinbrenner wanted to trade a guy like Mo, Stick would jump in and say, "No, No George. You need to trust me on this one." And George... would listen. Now yes, George would go rogue and pick up big time free agents that many times didn't do much. But for the most part, the farm was Gene's and life was good. Hence, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000.
During Cashman's tenure with the Yankees, he was GM and Senior Vice President since 1998 don't forget, . the Yankees have won six American League pennants and four World Series championships. But if you really think about it, only 1 championship was manufactured by Cashman. The others were created by the great Gene Michael.
Not to go on a tangent, but it's become clear to me that the Yankees 2nd biggest problem, the first being bad leaders in top management, is the diminished farm system. The Yankees don't teach baseball and they sure as hell don't mold team comradery like they did when Michael was alive. Look at this chart... I mean really look at it:
It's pathetic.
Since 2015 we are barely ranked in the top ten. Do you know how bad that is? and look at 2021 and 2022. The teams that have molded and formed a solid farm are the teams that are pretty unstoppable this season. The Orioles. The Pirates. The Dodgers. Texas. The Reds. Team with futures... teams that will make the playoffs while the Yankees will not.
And it makes sense. Former Yankee farmhand, Ben Ruta blasted the team for lack of effort down on the farm. Sports Illustrated writes:
"Former outfielder Ben Ruta, who played in the Yankees’ minor league system from 2016 to ’20, criticized the franchise for leaning too heavily on analytics and lacking in proper baseball instruction while on the Foul Territory podcast on Wednesday.
“Fully expect them to clear house in the minor leagues … they will change developmental culture back to old Yankees days,” Ruta wrote in the episode’s comments section, per host Scott Braun. “Keep in mind, I played in the Yanks org. before analytics in ’16 to ’18, and then after in ’18 to ’20. Stark difference in development.”
"Here's all you need to know: In 2020, before COVID, we played a game called pitchers vs. hitters," Ruta wrote. "The only way to win was to walk or hit a ball 95-mph-plus. There is no baseball being taught there anymore. No baserunning, moving runners, fundamentals, etc."
Sure, it's Ben Ruta, and I'm positive when the Yankees got wind of him speaking out they thought "It's Ben Ruta, no one cares about Ben Ruta", but the truth is, the Yankee fans care. The Yankee fans want answers. All of this is bullshit.
The Yankees are on a losing streak and sinking deeper and deeper into the basement. They aren't going to the playoffs, folks. But imagine having a farm system that could go through the wins and losses and development together. Would there be a difference? I think there would be, I really do.
You want to build a team around a superstar like Judge? Go watch the Angels.
Trout and Ohtani are surrounded by that team... and they've done nothing. Have we become the Angels?
#FireBoone
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