Astros GM Calls Out Yankees' Excuse For Holding Onto Cortes
There's been a lot of talk, you know, about the ongoing back-and-forth between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees, especially when it comes to the Yankees' reasons for some of their struggles. It seems the Astros' front office is not holding back, pointing a finger at the Yankees' choices, particularly around a pitcher like Nestor Cortes. This whole situation, it's almost like a long-running play, with new acts popping up all the time.
This latest twist, with the Astros' general manager making some direct comments, really brings the heat to a rivalry that always seems to simmer, or sometimes, actually, just boil over. It's not just about what happens on the field anymore; it's also about the words exchanged off it, creating a really compelling narrative for fans who follow the game.
So, we're going to take a closer look at what's been said, why it matters, and how these public spats shape the story of two of baseball's most talked-about teams. It's a pretty interesting look into how things play out when big teams square off, both in games and in the press.
Table of Contents
- Brian Cashman- A Look at the Yankees' Long-Time Leader
- What's the Real Story Behind the Yankees' Excuses?
- The "Letter" and the Back-and-Forth
- Is There Really No Excuse for the Yankees in 2024?
- The Astros' Way- How Their GM Built a Stronger Team
- Did Yankees Fans Get a Raw Deal from the Astros?
- When Things Get Heated- Public Clashes and Straight Talk
- What's Next for This Baseball Rivalry?
Brian Cashman- A Look at the Yankees' Long-Time Leader
When you talk about the New York Yankees over the past few decades, one name that always comes up is Brian Cashman. He's been the person making the big calls for the team for a very long time, shaping their roster and their approach to the game. His career with the Yankees has seen a lot of ups and downs, including some great successes and, more recently, a stretch where the biggest prize has seemed to slip away. He's a figure who draws strong opinions, both good and, well, not so good, from the fans and from other teams, too.
| Full Name | Brian McGuire Cashman |
| Role | General Manager, New York Yankees |
| Years as GM | Since 1998 |
| Notable Achievements | Multiple World Series victories as GM |
| Known For | Aggressive moves, long tenure |
What's the Real Story Behind the Yankees' Excuses?
It's interesting, really, how much Brian Cashman, the Yankees' general manager, has spoken about the Houston Astros' sign-stealing situation from 2017. He came out in 2022, you know, and seemed to use that whole thing as a reason why his Yankees haven't made it back to the World Series. It's almost as if that moment became a shield for him, a way to explain away the team's struggles in recent years. This particular line of thinking has, in some respects, been a constant refrain from the Yankees' side of things, creating a rather consistent narrative about what happened back then.
For some, it sounds like he's still going on about something that happened quite a while ago. The idea that a past event, even a big one, could be the main reason for current performance issues, is that, something people really buy into? It does make you wonder if focusing on something that's already in the past keeps a team from looking at what they could do better right now. The ongoing discussion around this topic, it's just a little bit of a head-scratcher for some folks, who might think it's time to move past it.
The Astros GM Calls Out Yankees' Excuse for Holding Onto Cortes
The conversation got even more direct when the Astros' general manager, James Click, weighed in on the Yankees' choices. He made it clear, you know, that holding onto a player like Nestor Cortes, especially given the trade deals other teams were making, might not have been the best move for the Yankees. He seemed to suggest that the value Cortes brings to the Yankees is not nearly as much as the big trade package the Astros sent to Toronto for Yusei Kikuchi would have been for New York. That's a pretty bold statement, essentially questioning the Yankees' decision-making when it comes to their roster and what they might have gotten in return for a pitcher like Cortes.
This comment, it really highlights a key difference in how these two teams approach building their rosters. The Astros, under James Click, have managed to improve their team, while also keeping hold of their really good young starting pitchers, which is a pretty impressive feat. It's a way of operating that shows a lot of foresight, in some respects, ensuring they have talent for the future while also competing now. This approach stands in pretty stark contrast to the Yankees' situation, at least as the Astros' GM sees it, anyway.
It brings up the idea of opportunity cost, what a team gives up by making one choice over another. When Aaron Boone, the Yankees' manager, sent Nestor Cortes out into the tough environment of the World Series, and then, you know, intentionally walked one of the worst hitters in postseason history to face someone else, it makes you think about those choices. It's a bit of a curious move, and it adds to the whole discussion about how the Yankees manage their pitching staff and their games, too.
The "Letter" and the Back-and-Forth
The back-and-forth between these two teams isn't just one-sided. The Astros have spoken up for themselves, with their owner, Jim Crane, pointing out a messy situation involving the Yankees that had been kept quiet. He brought up "the letter," and then said, "you were doing it, too. What are you talking about?" This was a pretty direct shot, a way to say, "Look, you're pointing fingers, but you had your own issues." It's a very clear example of how these big league rivalries can get personal, with both sides bringing up past events to defend their positions, you know.
This exchange happened in the 2022 MLB season, and it was quite a moment. Brian Cashman, the Yankees' general manager, shot back at Jim Crane with a response that was, some might say, worthy of a mic drop. It just shows how intense the feelings are between these clubs, and how quickly things can escalate from a general comment to a very pointed accusation. It's a little like watching a tennis match, where the ball keeps going back and forth, and each return is harder than the last, basically.
The roof being open the same amount of time for both teams, that's another small detail that gets brought up in these discussions. It's almost as if every little thing becomes a point of contention, a piece of evidence in the ongoing argument. This kind of detailed focus on every aspect of a game or a season shows just how much these teams and their fans want to find reasons for what happens, and to assign blame or credit, too.
Is There Really No Excuse for the Yankees in 2024?
The feeling among many observers is that if the New York Yankees don't make it far in the 2024 MLB playoffs against the current setup, especially if the Astros are out of the picture, having been beaten by the Tigers, then they truly have no excuse. It's a pretty strong statement, suggesting that all the reasons they've given in the past won't hold water anymore. The general thought is that they should really be looking at their own areas for improvement instead of finding reasons why the Astros won in previous years. If they did that, you know, they might actually start winning more games themselves.
This perspective pushes the idea that a team's success comes from within, from fixing what's not working on their own side, rather than dwelling on what an opponent might have done. It's a bit of a call to action for the Yankees, urging them to focus inward and to take responsibility for their own performance. The narrative has been well told, and fans, in some respects, are ready for a new chapter, one where the focus is on the present and the future, anyway.
The general manager for the New York Yankees, Brian Cashman, has been very open about his team's long stretch without a World Series win. He did not hold back when talking about the Houston Astros in connection with this drought. It's clear he feels strongly about it, and that feeling, you know, has been a major part of the public conversation surrounding the Yankees for quite a while now. This kind of open frustration is something you don't always see, and it definitely adds to the drama of the rivalry, too.
The Astros' Way- How Their GM Built a Stronger Team
On the other side of this rivalry, the Astros' general manager, James Click, made his team better while keeping all of the club's really good younger starting pitchers. This is a pretty big deal, actually, because usually, to get better, teams have to give up some of their promising young talent. But Click managed to improve the roster without sacrificing those future stars, which shows a lot of skill in team building. It's a strategy that pays off, giving them both present strength and future potential, you know.
The saying goes, "to the victor, go the spoils," and Brian Cashman, the New York Yankees' general manager, really leaned into this idea on a Tuesday as part of an interview with MLB. He seemed to be suggesting that the team that wins gets to enjoy the benefits, and perhaps that the Astros' wins were somehow tainted. But the Astros' front office, by keeping their talent and building a strong team, seems to be proving that their success is also a result of smart moves and good management, too.
The Cubs' recent trade, which brought in a breakout slugger for their postseason push, signals their aggressive way of trying to compete in 2025. This move, however, comes with the chance that the player might leave as a free agent after the season, which could make the steep price they paid a bit risky. This kind of trade, you know, shows the different approaches teams take to getting better, and how some are willing to take bigger chances than others. It's a pretty good example of how complex these decisions can be, and how they can have big effects, both good and bad, down the road.
Did Yankees Fans Get a Raw Deal from the Astros?
Yankees fans feel very strongly that the Astros cheated them out of a chance to be in the World Series, and that José Altuve took away Aaron Judge's chance at a big award. This feeling runs deep among the fan base, and it's a major part of why the rivalry between these two teams is so intense. It's not just about losing games; it's about a sense of injustice, a belief that something unfair happened that changed the outcome of important moments. This kind of strong emotion, you know, really fuels the fire between the two clubs, too.
The story has been well told, and it's something that continues to be a point of discussion whenever the Astros and Yankees are mentioned together. This ongoing feeling of being wronged means that every game between them, every public comment, takes on extra meaning. It's more than just baseball; it's a continuing saga of perceived unfairness and a desire for some kind of balance, basically.
The idea that the Astros won because of cheating, and that the Yankees are justified in their frustration, is a powerful one for many fans. It shapes how they see the past, and how they feel about the present. This strong belief, you know, makes it hard for some to just move on, and it keeps the conversation about the 2017 situation alive and well, even years later, anyway.
When Things Get Heated- Public Clashes and Straight Talk
The rivalry isn't always just about general managers talking in interviews. Sometimes, things get really heated and personal. As the Astros waited for the rain to clear, someone from their front office got everyone's attention by having a public disagreement with the Pirates' dugout leaders. What was thought to be a simple call on whether a game would go on turned into a much bigger scene. This kind of public argument, you know, shows how much emotion is involved in the game, and how easily things can boil over, even between people who aren't on the field playing.
New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman went on a national radio show and is still going on about the Houston Astros sign-stealing situation. It's a consistent topic for him, and it shows that the feelings from that time are still very much present. Thankfully, Josh Reddick, a former player, told him what's what. This kind of direct talk, you know, is something that fans often appreciate, as it cuts through some of the more formal statements and gets right to the point. It's a pretty good example of how players, even former ones, can weigh in on these big discussions, too.
If they would focus on their own areas for improvement instead of finding reasons why the Astros won, they might actually win a game. This thought, often expressed by those outside the Yankees' direct circle, suggests a path forward that involves looking inward. It's a call for self-reflection and a change in focus, away from past grievances and towards present actions. This idea, you know, is about taking control of their own destiny, rather than blaming others, in some respects.
What's Next for This Baseball Rivalry?
The Houston Astros are a professional baseball team based in Houston, and they play in Major League Baseball. You can find their live scores, video highlights, and the latest news on ESPN. You can also get standings and their full 2025 season schedule there. For rumors, news, and videos from the best sources on the web, there are many places to look. You can sign up for the Astros newsletter to get the latest information, scores, stats, and highlights. CBSSports.com also has the latest on your favorite MLB teams. To be the best Houston Astros fan you can be, Bleacher Report helps you keep up with the latest storylines, expert analysis, highlights, scores, and more. They also have the latest injury updates and player news from around the league. The Astros recently made a trade, adding a breakout slugger for their push in the postseason, too.
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