First, we have this item that was in the Daily News this past week:
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman’s alleged stalker – who claims she was privy to juicy pillow talk about steroids during their supposed romance – is demanding A-Rod’s big shot attorney be removed because she also uses an attorney from the firm.
Louise Meanwell says in court documents filed Monday that lawyer Joe Tacopina should be forbidden from representing the embattled slugger because one of his partners is repping her in a case related to her stalking and extortion charges.
Meanwell says she spilled details about her bedroom chatter with Cashman to the partner, Stephen Turano, that she could be called to testify on in Alex Rodriguez’ appeal of a 211-game suspension for use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Cashman told her he “knew of Yankee clubhouse steroid use by various Yankee players by name” and “was ambivalent to the use of performance enhancement drugs so long as nothing came back to the Yankee organization,” papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court claim.
Cashman allegedly also shared that “he intentionally misled federal investigators” looking into former Yankees hurler Roger Clemens’ alleged use of steroids.
Meanwell – who also goes by the last name Neathway – says she has paid Turano $10,000 to defend her against charges she violated her probation for an unrelated trespassing conviction in New Jersey when she was arrested in the Cashman case.
“Many trade secrets come out through the intimacy of pillow talk,” said Peter Gleason. “To me, it’s clearly a conflict of interest given the fact that Louise Meanwell could be called as a witness in the A-Rod saga.”
Finally, we have a case where Cashman’s wandering one-eyed willy has comeback to haunt the Yankees. And, if Meanwell’s testimony somehow leads or lends towards the Yankees getting stuck on what they are trying to do with A-Rod, or worse, not even the teflon G.M. will get off the hook for that one.
Next, we have this item that was recently in the Post:
Hal Steinbrenner summoned his baseball people to a Tampa meeting yesterday to discuss something other than the Alex Rodriguez saga.
With questions about the lack of talent in the minor league system ready to help at the big league level, Steinbrenner gathered his department heads.
General manager Brian Cashman attended and the group more than likely included Tampa based minor league head Mark Newman, Damon Oppenheimer, who is in charge of the amateur draft, and Donny Rowland, the director of international scouting.
When injuries hit in spring training the Yankees were forced to trade for Vernon Wells, whom they are paying $11.5 million this year and sign Ben Francisco and Brennan Boesch off the street.
During the season they took in 4-A players such as Reid Brignac, Luis Cruz, Thomas Neal, Alberto Gonzalez, Travis Ishikawa, Brent Lillibridge and Chris Nelson. All were found wanting by other clubs and none distinguished themselves as Yankees.
Toward the end of July the need for a right-handed bat led to a trade with the Cubs for Alfonso Soriano, who cost the Yankees about $6.8 million. The latest signing was Mark Reynolds, who was released by the Indians.
From the minor league system the Yankees elevated David Adams, Corban Joseph and Melky Mesa. Only Zoilo Almonte played well before spraining an ankle July 19 and hasn’t been seen since.
With Vidal Nuno, Michael Pineda and Manuel Banuelos hurt the Yankees are very thin in the starting pitching depth at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
While some may see this as only bad news – and it is bad news that the Yankees farm system is somewhat useless – it’s good news that the Yankees ownership is finally starting to, well, to borrow a phrase from their GM, Brian Cashman, smoke the objective pipe on what’s going on with the Yankees player acquisition and development situation.
When you combine these two news items, one thing is for sure: It looks like Brian Cashman may be getting getting a little skinnier soon. And, that’s a good thing. The dude was sitting like a fat cat for too long now.