Read Between the Lines

While the New York sports media continues to overplay its hand, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman offered four telling quotes about his $275 million tool of a third baseman, which pretty much sum up the entire A-Rod situation. And, once you break down what Cashman actually said and figure out what he really means, you get a pretty reliable primer on how the Yankees plan on dealing with Rodriguez throughout the duration of his impossibly long contract. 

You can also tell that the normally calm and collected Cashman, if given the chance, would beat A-Rod like a rented mule.    

“Those are the facts [Alex] gave you, it doesn’t mean it’s acceptable. I like the fact more that he was stupid rather than young or naïve. It was a bad decision that may cost him on so many levels.”

Cashman doesn't buy Alex's bullshit story either, but that's besides the point. A-Rod's reputation is in tatters, because he got cocky and stupidly pissed away his Hall of Fame career; he has to live with the repercussions of his decision for the rest of his life. Who cares about the details?

“We’ve invested in him as an asset. And because of that, this is an asset that is going through a crisis. So we’ll do everything we can to protect that asset and support that asset and try to salvage that asset.”

Cashman and the entire Yankees organization are stuck with A-Rod through the 2017 season, and by god, they are going to wring every penny out of their $275 million investment, even if Cashman himself has to make A-Rod sing "Cotton-Eyed Joe" before the 8th inning at the new stadium. 

"I don't think Alex is very good at communicating. Whether it's about talking about your game and the impact you had on it after hitting a home run or if he had a tough game at the park, let the team down....Anybody that's been in that clubhouse when he's trying to talk about success or failure on the baseball diamond knows that is something he is not very good at."

Cashman thinks Travis the Killer Chimp is better at expressing his feelings than the emotionally crippled A-Rod. 

"I think there's genuine, sincere support for him [in the clubhouse], and I'm sure at the same time, from a professional side, it's, 'I need this guy.' I'm sure there were all aspects of that."

If Eric Duncan could hit 40 home runs a season, the organization--from Hank and Hal at the top, to Humberto Sanchez and Wilkin De La Rose at the bottom of the 40-man roster-- wouldn't even piss on A-Rod if he were on fire, but he's still the team's best player and they probably need him to win a World Series.  So, yeah, Cashman and company totally have A-Rod's back.