...or simply not very smart.
Cashman has made some great moves, some highly questionable moves and some moves that were ordered from above, but his continued refusal to find an adequate solution for first base proves that the GM either doesn't care anymore or doesn't understand how to win baseball games.
Minky currently has a VORP of -1.8, meaning that he is performing worse than a typical Triple A call-up. With a struggling team and a lineup that's not producing, the Yankees simply can't afford to carry that kind of dead weight on offense one day longer. Josh Phelps is adequate at best during his half of the platoon, but Minky's a lefty, making him the dominant portion of the platoon, and he is something considerably less than adequate.
Coming into the season with Dougie Baseball pencilled in at first base represented poor planning on Cashman's part. Staying the course this deep into the season represents lunacy at best, blatant sabotage at worst. Cashman clearly learned nothing from the Tony Womack Experience, as he still refuses to admit his mistakes in a timely fashion and move on. Minky can't possibly save enough runs with his glove to atone for the sins of his lumber.
There exists no rational explanation for Minky still holding a roster spot, let alone receiving significant playing time. At the very least, the Yankees' recent offensive woes have forever proven false the ridiculous notion that a team can "afford" to have a weak bat or two in the lineup, as long as the rest of the batting order is strong. Injuries and slumps happen, and when they do, a team needs production from every position, let alone one as offensively-grounded as first base.
Every day the Yankees don't make a move, their already slim playoff hopes take another hit. One of these days, if it hasn't already happened, that hit will be fatal.
Sadly, if the Yankees don't make the playoffs, their epitaph will focus on pitching injuries, overpriced vigilantes and a poor bullpen. All have hurt, true enough, but even a mediocre major league first baseman would offset some of that damage.
