I was thinking that the problem is so deeply rooted that nothing short of a change in ownership, and a total change in front office philosophy is going to help us….which has me terrified for the future of this team.

I think Burke is gone. They have young catchers waiting for a shot, and Joh got that crappy extension. Even though Burke has done a decent job, they probably won’t have three catchers again next year. Unless they plan on having Clement DH and Joh and Burke as the backstops.

Roles, again.

Would we really want Cashman? The Yankees are always good, but he’s done it with a lot more money. And they haven’t had a lot of home grown players since the crew that won the World Series.

Didn’t Kim Ng also have a part in that?

Washburn and Batista will probably be traded when the new GM is announced. They suck, but were both getting looks this year from different teams.

I think the rotation will be Felix, Bedard, Silva, RRS and Morrow.

If Batista is around, it will probably in the pen or an emergency starter.

But I’m usually wrong though.

The best example last winter was the “Richie Sexson as Comeback Player of the Year” crap. But they also didn’t make a serious move to sell Vidro and Batista high; instead, they penciled them in for the same results (as luck-based as they were) this year as last.

If all three of Washburn, Silva and Batista are on the Opening Day roster and in the rotation, that would be an indication that they’re still believing in magic. If both Burke and Johjima are on the Opening Day roster, that would be an indication they’re still in a rut. I don’t think they will be able to, because the injury issue has hit him so hard, but I’d love to consider moving Putz, too.

If neither of these options are possible maybe try him at first as the Tigers did with Jose Guillen. ”

Lopez doesn’t have enough power or patience to hold down a corner infield or DH spot, IMO. Any team should be able to put a 25 HR threat, .280/.350/.450 player in any of those positions without having to settle for a converted middle infielder.

So I’m not advocating Cashman, but I’m suggesting if Gillick was running things there’s a good chance he’d try to hire him since they’re old friends (and since it looks like the Yankees are going to miss the postseason for the first time in 14 years, he may very well be the sacrificial lamb looking for work). I don’t think we honestly know what Cashman would be like as a GM in an organization without meddling owners. I don’t know that he’d create the kind of voracious info-centric organization that might be built by someone more familiar with, say, the Indians.