Dear Brian,

As you obviously know, a plan is a great tool. Plans help organizations and individuals to manage the budget, schedule, scope, and deliverables of all types of endeavors:  from kitchen renovations to real estate development to software development and yes…to building a winning major league baseball team.  I applaud your application of planning tools and techniques  in building the 2009 New York Yankees. 

However, you are obviously unaware of one critical – arguably the most critical – component:  contingency management (Contingency Management is concept that claims that there is no best way to manage; rather, the best management approach is contigent on the situation or characteristics of an organization.)

You see, managing based on a plan is a wonderful thing. And avoiding the temptation to be overly reactive is an attribute of a mature and seasoned manager. However, sticking to that plan when it is not working…or ignoring the fact that it is not working is about the dumbest f____ thing you could possibly do.

Do you watch the games????? Specifically, have you watched or attended the games in which Joba Chamberlain has started???? 

Before the season began, did you and your staff consider what the next steps might be (the contingency plan) if the Joba experiment was unsuccessful? Did you have any time constraints? Like say, “we’ll give him until the end of May…or June”…or whatever??? Did you identify the targeted performance measures? 

I understand the goal is to make Joba a starter. But, isn’t the greater goal to win in 2009??? In your expert opinion, does the risk of blowing out the bullpen in every fifth game compromise the greater goal?

I know, I know….starting pitchers are more costly than relivers so, from a budget perspective,  it behooves the Yankees to make Joba a starter in the long term. What??? The Yankees care about saving money? The Yankees care about the long term? I thought that the strategic objective of this team is to win every year???

And that brings me to another point…most managers/executives need to worry about the scope, schedule, and cost of any project. You, Mr. Cashman, NEVER have to concern yourself with cost! You have the deepest pockets in baseball! Given that fact, you should have the most well conceived contingency plans in all of baseball!

Get Joba out of the damn rotation.