The day after, Yanks execs call it failure

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Brian Cashman used the word early Friday morning in the Yankees' clubhouse, and team president Randy Levine used it Friday afternoon: Failure.

The Yankees won 97 games this year and, to the surprise of most, captured the AL East title, beating the favored Red Sox, who didn't reach the postseason.

And their ALDS Game 5 loss to Detroit Thursday night, which sent the Tigers to the ALCS to play Texas and ended the Yankees' season, doesn't erase those accomplishments.

But using the bottom-line evaluation instituted by George Steinbrenner, the 2011 season can fall into only one category.

"The Yankees' way, what The Boss taught us all, is if we don't win the World Series, then the season is a failure," Levine said from his office Friday. "Very disappointed that we didn't get past the ALDS."

While the issues surrounding the Yankees this offseason aren't as headline-grabbing as last year's (Derek Jeter's contentious contract negotiations come to mind), there are items of significance to be sorted out, starting with what Levine called "the first order of business" -- bringing back Cashman to begin building the 2012 Yankees.

The general manager's three-year, $6-million deal expires Oct. 31. All indications are the organization wants Cashman back and that he wants to return. "That hasn't changed," Cashman said after Thursday's game.

If that continues to be the case, there aren't expected to be any obstacles preventing an extension of Cashman's tenure as GM, which began in 1998.

"I'll sit down with ownership," he said. "Obviously, they're going to be very disappointed, and rightfully so. We'll deal with that [his contract] on another day. No one's prepared to talk about it. I wasn't prepared to talk about tomorrow [the offseason] tonight for any aspects of the club, including myself. So that will be for another day. Unfortunately, we're going to have to deal with all that stuff sooner than we wished."

Despite a number of highs during the season, both by the team and by individuals, they can't stop the Yankees from smarting about their early ouster from the postseason.

Levine mentioned the 97 victories -- second only to the Phillies' 102 -- and the "tremendous moments" involving Jeter's 3,000th hit and Mariano Rivera's all-time saves record.

But . . .

"We're very disappointed because that's the way we operate here," Levine said. "If you don't win the championship or get to the World Series, it's a failure. That's the way it's always been and that's the way it always will be."

Managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner issued a statement that said, "I'd like to thank our great fans for their support throughout the entire 2011 season. We shared a number of memorable moments, including Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera's historic achievements, while earning the right to play in the postseason for the sixteenth time in the last seventeen years.

"I personally share in our fans' disappointment that this season has ended without a championship. That is, and always will be, our singular goal every season. I assure you that this disappointment will strengthen our resolve to field a team in 2012 that can bring a 28th championship to the Bronx. That work starts now. "

Cashman's deals made before the season bore fruit -- from Bartolo Colon to Freddy Garcia to, when healthy, Eric Chavez. But while saying "the ultimate goal was not achieved," he didn't second-guess himself for standing pat at the trade deadline.

Cashman was briefly involved at the trade deadline in discussions with the Rockies about righthander Ubaldo Jimenez, who eventually went to Cleveland, where he disappointed. Cashman pulled out of the talks when the Rockies insisted that he include a top prospect such as Manny Banuelos and Ivan Nova.

"I can just tell you I tried to do everything I felt was right and hoped that it would be enough," he said. "I was comfortable and am comfortable with the decision I made. I wish I could have made us better so we weren't sitting in this position, but I'm comfortable with the process I went through and everything I did. But I don't see there's any missed opportunities that I could have done differently based on the conversations I was having."

Still, his bottom line was the same as Levine's.

Said Cashman, "We failed."