The New York Yankees did not extend an invitation to Hall of Famer Goose Gossage to act as a guest instructor for spring training for the first time in two years, and he’s not taking it lying down.
Gossage, who was not invited due to his history of controversial comments about the state of the game, blasted Yankee GM Brian Cashman for the decision, and also took on what he feels is the declining state of the game.
“I don’t like Cashman,” Gossage told Brendan Kuty of NJ Advance Media. “That’s all. It’s not a secret.”
Gossage blasted Cashman, saying that the GM would prefer to “have a nerd in uniform” as manager instead of what he perceives to be “baseball people.”
“If he had any balls, he’d do what he wants to do,” Gossage said of Cashman. “He doesn’t think he needs any baseball people around. Maybe he’s right. The way the game is being run today, maybe you don’t.
“The game is so different today. Like I said, real baseball guys for years made a career out of baseball. You’re not a coach anymore. You have to be their best friend.”
Gossage wasn’t sure his history of controversial comments, including blasting Jose Bautista for bat flipping and criticizing modern closers for only pitching one inning, impacted the decision.
“You’ll have to ask Cash,” Gossage said. “I didn’t get a call either way. There is no respect for older players. There’s no respect for anybody who has any real baseball knowledge. That’s the way it is. That’s what I don’t agree with.”
Gossage even claimed George Steinbrenner would have fired Cashman by now if the late Yankee owner was still alive.
The Yankees had understandably had enough of Gossage’s attention-grabbing statements while he was at least somewhat associated with the team. He is as old school as it gets, and he was never going to stop reminding everyone of it. It just wasn’t worth the trouble anymore, especially with the Yankees fielding a fairly young, impressionable team — a World Series contender that Cashman built, by the way.
