So why is Brian Cashman giving Dave Eiland the old heave-ho?

Just heard the news, that Yankees pitching coach Dave Eiland is out. Brian Cashman said he fired him, but wouldn't say what for. Instead, Cash said that the reasons were "private."

Chad Jennings of LoHud reports:

“It has nothing to do with what took place in the playoffs,” Cashman said.


Cashman said the decision is not based on performance. He labeled the reason as “private.”


“It was my decision,” Cashman said.

I could be wrong, but I can't say I remember hearing a coach's firing being explained as "private" before. Either they point to performance when getting rid of them, or they let the coach leave on his own with the old "wants to spend more time with his family" excuse. There's something strange here.

I wrote earlier today that I still want to know why Dave Eiland took that leave of absence this year -- nobody ever explained it. And him being gone from the team for a month sent A.J. Burnett into a downward spiral.

I  wonder what the deal is. I think there's some bigger story here, something the media has kept quiet until now. I think there is something going on that the team wants to keep private, but I wonder, now that Eiland is gone, if we'll hear what really happened.

So, who should replace Eiland? Some of my Facebook friends suggested Leo Mazzone, and another brought up Dave Righetti's name. Don't know what Rags' contract status is, but I hope the Yankees bring him home next year!

One other note: Wally Matthews is reporting that Cashman admitted to making mistakes last offseason. Wally writes on Twitter that Cashman said, "I didn't have a great winter last year. A lot of the things I did didn't benefit us." Gee, ya think?

What do you think? Tell us about it!