NY Post: BRADENTON, Fla. — For however long Brian Cashman remains the Yankees’ general manager, don’t expect to see a replacement for Derek Jeter as team captain.
Cashman is in the first year of a three-year deal that expires after the 2017 season.
“A captaincy is not something I would recommend,’’ Cashman said following the Yankees’ 2-1 exhibition game win over the Pirates Thursday at McKechnie Field. “It’s not something we have to fill. We have a number of high-quality individuals.’’
Cashman’s message Thursday was the same one he delivered in Fenway Park in late September when Jeter was on the way into retirement.
Because George Steinbrenner named team captains starting with Thurman Munson in 1976 and ending with Jeter in 2003, Cashman likely wouldn’t be the one to decide if a captain is required or not.
Hal Steinbrenner didn’t respond to a question about team captaincy, although there certainly is no franchise player like Jeter on the roster or in the system who could be viewed as the next Yankees captain.
Between Don Mattingly’s retirement in 1995 and Jeter being anointed in 2003, the Yankees didn’t have a captain.
And it’s not as if there is a home-grown stud who has evolved into a team leader in the clubhouse. There has been talk Brian McCann will eventually settle into the role. That would be made easier if he has a better second season than first, when the left-handed hitting catcher batted .232.
“That’s hard to say. I am not in the clubhouse with these guys,’’ Cashman said when asked if the players will miss Jeter’s leadership. “Derek was a once in a lifetime player that we were lucky to have, but he is not here. Voids will get filled and the game goes on.
“I don’t think it’s necessarily something we have to do. It will fill on its own, naturally.’’
Cashman, in an interview on ESPN Radio, said there will never be another leader like Jeter, nor should there be.
“As far as I’m concerned, and I’m not the decision-maker on this, that captaincy should be retired with number 2,” Cashman said. “I wouldn’t give up another captain title to anybody else. … He was so good and so perfect for that.”
Cashman pointed out several situations in which players without being named captain have played a big role in leading teammates.
“Leadership comes in a lot of different ways. Mariano [Rivera] led the relievers. [Andy] Pettitte and [Roger] Clemens led the starters. The manager is a leader,’’ Cashman said.
Cashman’s manager, Joe Girardi, was a leader on the 1996-99 Yankee teams that won three World Series titles, but wasn’t designated a captain by The Boss.
Knowing the touchy nature of the subject, Girardi danced around his reaction to Cashman’s thoughts.
“I am not prepared to answer that question,’’ Girardi said. “I don’t think you have to name a captain to lead. I think everyone in the clubhouse [leads], no matter what. I don’t think you have to have a ‘C’ on your chest to be a leader.’’
When The Boss made Jeter the Yankees’ 16th team captain, there was a belief that it was a jab at manager Joe Torre, but Torre fully embraced Jeter being named to that prestigious position.
Late last season Cashman explained he didn’t believe Jeter’s replacement as captain was needed. Thursday was proof that thinking hasn’t changed.
Love Brian Cashman saying this. You don't need an official captain to be successful and have good clubhouse chemistry. And Jeter was the perfect captain so I love that he doesn't want to name a new captain any time soon -- or ever. I don't get why everyone is pushing for McCann to become the next captain. He's been there one year! And batted .232! There's no one on the roster that should be a captain right now. Just because Jeter was such a good captain, and it was an important part of the franchise for the last 11 seasons doesn't mean you have to rush to find another captain. A lot of teams don't even have captains. The Yankees have had long stretches of no captain. No need to be irrational and start campaigning for a guy that's played one pretty bad season with the team to be captain. If anyone should be captain for the Yankees right now -- and again, I don't think there should be one for a while at least -- it would be Brett Gardner. And I'm sure he'll emerge as a strong leader for the team this year. I really just don't get anyone who thinks there should be a captain right away to replace Jeter. How do peoples' brains work like that? That would SUCK if you had a brain that thought that.
How bout that ring on Cashman's finger? God damn I miss those things. Been too long since we got one of those. Need that 28th.
Miss this face already.
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