Brian Cashman has been doing this for a long time. The longtime Yankees GM also knows one well-placed comment can travel far: into his clubhouse, into his manager's office, and straight back to the critics in New York.

“I don’t have an answer to that question,” Cashman said on the field before Friday night’s game. “I know roster-wise we are better, but not as good now as we were because we lost a couple of the pieces we added at the deadline to injuries.”