ST. LOUIS — Brian Cashman insisted this was just the first trip the Yankees have taken lately where he has not been preoccupied with the draft, trade deadline or Hall of Fame induction.
But his presence Friday afternoon at Busch Stadium was noticeable as the Yankees tried yet again to snap out of a skid that now has lasted more than two months — entering a series against the Cardinals 29-37 since May 30 — and placed them in danger of missing the playoffs altogether with 41 games to go.
“We’re the defending American League champs trying to re-defend that, and obviously, right now, we’re not in control of the division,” Cashman said by the visiting dugout. “Our first goal is to try to win the American League East and automatically clinch the ticket that way. If not, we’ll be fighting to punch a ticket a different way.
“There’s a lot of time on the clock, but not enough time at the same time. I don’t want to misrepresent there’s not urgency because there is.”
