Bob Raissman: Brian Cashman forced to start selling hope as his battered Yankees sink in standings

Cashman must have realized the Knicks playoff run and the coming of high-profile Aaron Rodgers couldn’ t provide cover for the Bombers inept play. The GM, in the first year of a four-year contract extension, also is the de facto producer, director, casting agent, promoter, of this Bombers production. A production that falls under the creative auspices of the Yankees...

The effectiveness of Brian Cashman’s afternoon attempt to sell hope to the pinstriped masses, during a Stadium chat with notebooks and cameras, will ultimately be decided on the field and in a doctor’s office.

Like most baseball impresarios, Cashman knows even if the stage is collapsing, the show must go on. No grand revelation there. Cashman must have realized the Knicks playoff run and the coming of high-profile Aaron Rodgers couldn’t provide cover for the Bombers inept play.

“Don’t count us out,” Cashman, while selling inspiration too, told the assembled media seals. “Don’t give up on us …. It’s a championship-caliber operation.”

The GM, in the first year of a four-year contract extension, also is the de facto producer, director, casting agent, promoter, of this Bombers production. A production that falls under the creative auspices of the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network.

If the product YES is “selling” is losing can that regional sports network be considered “a championship-caliber” operation?

See, Cashman’s Wednesday Q&A with boss scribes was also directed at all the eyeballs that have historically tuned in to YES to get a Bomberscentric view of the product. Cashman not only must consider his team’s performance, but how their quality of play, or lack thereof, impacts YES’ ratings/business.

In late March, Yankee loyalists arrive at the TV, computer, phone screens routinely expecting the Bombers, with the likes of Aaron Judge (now injured) and Giancarlo Stanton (now injured), to start racking up wins while slugging their way into the playoffs.

But will eyeballs still show up in record numbers to watch Cashman’s never-say-die crusaders try digging themselves out of a moon crater? Me thinks watching the Yankees navigate an unpredictable path to October would be must-see TV.

While consistent winning is the goal, as a TV product it can get predictable. Stale too. In August and September winning can sometimes adversely impact Yankees TV ratings when the Bombers are a lock to clinch a playoff spot.

Yet a comeback script is a different story. It will get even spicier when Judge returns. The slugger, who signed a nine-year deal worth $360 million last December, will be expected to carry the Yankees out of the basement and to the top of the AL East. Can he do it? Eyeballs may even have to spend extra money to see a crucial game on a streaming service the Yankees are partners with.

Think about it. Selling hope, especially Yankees’ hope, can be a lucrative business.

TIERNEY CASHES IN

In a very Francesian-like performance, Brandon Tierney took to the Sports Pope’s historic, but now ramshackle WFAN balcony, looked down at the few stragglers in attendance, and declared: “Yankees aura is dead!”

We cannot confirm whether the few remaining peons had ever heard Tierney go off on Brian Cashman before. But the Talkie has a history of it. At one point last week, the excitable Tierney said, if given the $290 million “budget” Cashman had to work with in the offseason, he “guarantees I would’ve put a better roster together” than the Bombers GM.

Now, that’s a grand leap of faith. Either that, or Tierney doesn’t have much regard or respect for the complexity of Cashman’s gig.

DISCOUNT DOUBLE CHECK

Once Valley of the Stupid Talkies got a look at Aaron Rodgers painting the town (Jets) Green since he arrived in Woodyville, they are drooling over the possibility of getting him for a paid weekly spot.

On his Wednesday soiree, ESPN-98.7′s Michael Kay kept explaining how Rodgers “would fit in [on his afternoon-drive show] if he does a weekly [appearance].” Kay then said it would be up to the “companies” he works for to pony up.

Right. Rodgers won’t likely be giving any discounts. And the economy of the radio biz, locally and nationally, is anemic. And that’s being kind.

If Kay wants Rodgers so bad, maybe he should reach into his own pocket to help pay the new Jets QB. After all, in March, according to published reports, Kay signed a “seven figure per year deal” to stay with 98.7.

GARDEN TALK

Wonder how Gerard Gallant’s decision to go Wig City Wednesday, while taking questions from boss scribes about his future as Rangers coach, went down in the Byzantine world of James (Guitar Jimmy) Dolan where silence is golden?

Gallant, as usual, was blunt. Was he mad at the specific questions or Dolan and Rangers brass for letting him twist in the wind since the Blueshirts were bounced in Game 7 by the Devs in the first-round?

If Dolan was perturbed over Gallant’s outburst, we can almost hear Guitar Jimmy singing, er, saying: “Why can’t Gerard be more like Leon [Rose]?” The Knicks prez has not talked to the media covering the team (with the exception of MSG Network’s Mike Breen) in nearly a year.

Even now, when the ‘Bockers are experiencing success, Leon Sphinx has not come up for air to share words of wisdom with Knicks media.

AROUND THE DIAL

Attempting to prove he doesn’t mind taking a low-profile approach, Stephen A. Smith — on ESPN’s “First Take” — commented over video of Knicks reporters approaching RJ Barrett. The scribes asked Barrett: “Did you hear what Stephen A said about you?” Smith: “They’re just looking to make me the story.” SAS said he would elaborate, but didn’t. …

Don La Greca, Peter Rosenberg and Michael Kay thought it was a swell idea to debate, on ESPN-98.7, whether Alex Rodriguez should have worn a Yankees jacket to a Heat-Knicks playoff game at the Garden. Not exactly scintillating radio. Still, when you’re attempting to dig your ESPN-98.7 show out of a ratings hole, you are up for trying anything. …

More Valley of the Stupid: VOS reaching new lows when callers and Gasbags are seriously debating over the amount of airtime and applause certain courtside celebrities are getting during Heat-Knicks. For example, FAN/SNY’s Sal Licata was apoplectic, leading the charge, over Carmelo Anthony getting more facetime and Garden applause than Patrick Ewing. Then, along with (SXM/ESPN/YES’) Frank Isola, came a Licata breakdown of Melo/Ewing Knicks careers. Licata had time to burn but this was more info than we needed. …

Over his many moons in the yakking business, Ian (The Bird) Eagle has worked with a plethora of different partners. Jimmy Jackson, who joined Bird for Heat-Knicks Tuesday on TNT, is one of the best. Jackson is a definitive analyst with a great voice. He also doesn’t expand his analysis making the same point multiple times in the same sentences. And he was on top of a couple of crucial fourth-quarter calls that should have gone the Heat’s way. The two voices blended for some great chemistry too. They projected a big event feel.

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DUDE OF THE WEEK: DREW MAGGI

Perseverance has a new name and it’s Pirates infielder Drew Maggi. He grabbed the heart of the MLB world when he was promoted to the Nationals after 13 years and 1,154 games in the minors. Maggi went two-for-six in three games before he was sent back to the minors.

DWEEB OF THE WEEK: TREVOR BAUER

The former Cy Young winner isn’t taking a low profile while trying to restart his career in Japan. Instead, he’s doing his “sword celebration” while pitching for Yokohama DeNa and encouraging fans to join him. A teammate, Yasuaki Yamasaki, wasn’t buying Bauer’s sword shtick. “Don’t be an idiot,” Yamasaki wrote. “This is disrespectful.”

DOUBLE TALK

What Max Scherzer said: “For me the number one thing is getting through this start back healthy, good, checkmark.”

What Max Scherzer meant to say: “I need one positive to take out of a lousy outing.”

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