October could be a big treat for Yankees GM Brian Cashman

The burden of wearing pinstripes, to paraphrase new Cardinal Jordan Montgomery after his Bronx departure, cuts two ways come October.

Every Yankees season is judged by whether it ends with a World Series ring or not, a standard that no other teams, outside of maybe the Dodgers and Astros, carry with them from Opening Day.

But as long as the Yankees keeping winning this month, that drumbeat drowns out everything else and general manager Brian Cashman, for one, doesn’t have to worry about the same post-deadline scrutiny that hounded him over the final two months of the regular season.

Cashman’s contract expires at the end of this season, and while typically that would launch riotous speculation about a GM’s future — especially with a single World Series trip in the past 18 years — that doesn’t figure to be the case. With more than three decades working under two generations of Steinbrenners, from George to Hal, Cashman seems as much a member of the family as team executive.

Of course, nothing lasts forever. And even relatives grow apart. But Cashman spun a head-scratching winter into a team that looked unbeatable before the All-Star break. When his handful of supposed deadline upgrades didn’t pan out, the Yankees still survived an August tailspin to clinch the AL East, then won Tuesday’s opener of the Division Series with a 4-1 victory over the Guardians that felt easier than the score indicated.

For all the noise surrounding Cashman as his deadline deals failed to make an impact down the stretch — some through unfortunate events beyond his control — October is all potential upside for him now. Nobody is talking anymore about Cashman’s inability to pry Luis Castillo from the Reds, or how the disappointing Frankie Montas wound up making fans yearn for the days of Sonny Gray.

Andrew Benintendi’s fractured hamate bone? Scott Effross needing Tommy John surgery? Without a crystal ball, not much Cashman could have done about those significant setbacks. But Harrison Bader, the boot-wearing Cardinal acquired for the adored Montgomery, did Cashman a huge favor Tuesday night in only his 15th game since that orthopedic device (for plantar fascia) finally was replaced by baseball spikes. The Bronxville native did the whole local-boy-makes-good routine by swatting a tying home run in the third inning and then showcased his defensive skills by cutting off a double in the gap to prevent a run.

Basically, Bader was everything Cashman had envisioned by dealing away a solid lefty starter in Montgomery, a trade that was reviled downstairs in his own clubhouse. But if Bader keeps performing like this, any grumbling over Montgomery will be replaced by blank expressions of “Jordan who?”

“I always was a fan of his game,” said Anthony Rizzo, who saw Bader quite a bit in the NL Central. “I think getting traded over here, his hometown where he grew up, and the clubhouse and atmosphere we create for everyone here is very welcoming. As soon as guys can get here and feel like themselves right away, I think it's very beneficial. He was able to do that. It was a tough situation coming in, basically in a walking boot, not being able to play for, feels like the whole second half.”

Bader’s boot and Montas’ ailing shoulder, a similar condition to what he had with the A’s in the weeks leading up to the deadline, haunted Cashman as a late-season nosedive threatened the Yankees’ grip on the division crown. But the narratives can shift quickly in October.

Jose Trevino, an unlikely All-Star who chipped in Tuesday with the go-ahead sacrifice fly, was a Cashman April pickup. A month later, the GM grabbed Matt Carpenter, whose fractured foot healed in time for him to make the ALDS roster. Is there any doubt he’s hitting a big homer this month?

If Josh Donaldson keeps flashing leather at third, chips in with a couple of hits and remembers to skip the home run trot until the ball actually goes over the wall, we’ll put off bringing up his $21 million salary the trade for him put on the books for next season. The one department that could ultimately doom Cashman, however, is the area he usually excels in: the bullpen. With the spate of injuries, Aroldis Chapman going AWOL and Clay Holmes now a tarnished All-Star, coming up with the right combination each night could be a crapshoot.

“We just have to feel comfortable that whoever’s on this roster is all-in,” Cashman said. “They’re laser-focused on whatever I can do, whether I’m the best in the world at it or if I’ve fought my way into this mix as a part of this group.”

Cashman should try to enjoy this October. Because the pressure to win a 28th World Series will be nothing compared to putting together the pile of cash necessary to retain Aaron Judge once this title chase is over. Bader morphing into another Mickey Mantle this month won’t be enough to protect Cashman if those talks go sideways again. But one game into this postseason, so far, so good. The GM, as much as anyone, knows how fast things can change.

By David Lennon

dave.lennon@newsday.comDPLennon

David Lennon is an award-winning columnist, a voter for baseball's Hall of Fame and has covered six no-hitters, including two perfect games.