Derek Jeter gets all the credit.
But when you step back and look at the success the New York Yankees have had over the past 15 years, you may be surprised to find out who is really responsible.
Now, let me be clear right off the bat. Players win games. After all, they are the ones that have to execute and score to beat their opponents.
However, in one particular sport and on one particular team, I believe that the manager gets the shaft – and not the one you're thinking of.
Yankees general manger Brian Cashman has one of the best front office jobs in professional sports. But along with the glamour of the extremely high-profile position comes an unimaginable amount of stress, pressure and expectation. The job also comes with relentless scrutiny from the most historically fickle contingent of fans and media in the world.
I feel that no one person has been more underappreciated than Cashman in the history of sports. The guy has been the conductor of four World Series Championships in his 13 seasons with the Yankees, and he could possibly add another one this year.
After a few disappointing seasons, when the Yankees were in their "funk" and unable to capture a ring, rabid Yankee fans called for Cashman's job – even after three straight championships from 1998 to 2000.
I guess Yankee fans will always be Yankee fans, but this postseason is a perfect illustration of the genius that is Cashman.
It isn't really news that the Yankees can go out and get big names. I realize that.
The acquisition of guys like C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, and Curtis Granderson are obviously going to have an impact on an organization.
The separation between Cashman and other GMs is in his proven ability to go out and find the role player – the guy who always seems to make the right play exactly when the team needs it the most.
Amidst all the talent on the Yankees roster, guys like Marcus Thames are priceless for what they contribute to the team.
On the surface, Thames' .288 batting average may not jump off the page at you, but you begin to realize his importance after a closer look.
Thames had walk-off hits – a home run and a single – on two occasions this season, helping lift his team to victory.
On Saturday night, he made his presence felt once again by blasting a two-run home run to help the Yankees eliminate the Minnesota Twins in the American League Divisional Series.
It's not only Thames, either; Nick Swisher has completely changed the clubhouse mentality of a team that was used to an all work and no play attitude before his arrival.
Cashman has been finding these players since he got the job in 1998.
One of his first moves was to bring in Scott Brosius, who was thought to be all washed up. Brosius responded by winning a Gold Glove for the Yankees and capturing the 1998 World Series MVP award after belting two home runs in Game 3 against the San Diego Padres.
Orlando Hernandez, Chuck Knoblauch and Shane Spencer could also be added to this list. In 2000, a 34-year-old David Justice won the ALCS MVP award and played a huge role in the Yankees' third consecutive World Series title after joining the team via trade only four months earlier.
Next time you catch a Yankees game and are admiring the collection of talent on display in pinstripes, remember who put it all together and who continues to excel at the toughest job in sports.
