Cashman, Saying Yanks Eased Up in 2010, Supports Added Wild Card TAMPA, Fla. - Late in the 2010 season, when the Yankees were guaranteed a playoff spot through the American League wild card, they decided they could do without the commemorative hat and T-shirt that comes with a division title and took their collective foot off the gas pedal. Instead of fighting to win the American League East, they cruised to the finish line in order to preserve themselves for the playoffs, although they didn't necessarily admit it at the time. But Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman, while discussing his support of an added wild card in each league, acknowledged Sunday that the Yankees did ease off, which would not happen once the new system is implemented. "We're exhibit A," he said. We conceded the division two years ago because of the previous setup. I don't want to take anything away from Tampa Bay's Eastern Division title, but we didn't try to win the division. We tried to line ourselves up for the playoffs, and that worked. We wound up sweeping Minnesota and going to play the Texas Rangers two years ago because we got our guys healthy and ready to go. The division title in essence, the way that wild-card situation was sitting, it was rendered meaningless. Whether you were a wild card or a division champ, it really meant nothing more than a T-shirt and a hat. The Yankees finished the season 95-67, one game behind the Rays, losing their final two games of the season and 7 of their last 10 as they lined up their pitchers and rested their regulars. But the days of conceding the division are near an end, either this year or next, when the second wild card is added. It is expected that the two wild cards in each league would meet in a one-game playoff, making it far too risky not to attempt to win the division. For that reason, Cashman is a big proponent of the new system, which is expected to be introduced either this year or next. "I think Bud Selig did a remarkable thing by adding a wild card and by enhancing the playoff push, and it's going to create a lot of buzz and excitement and meaningful games deeper into the season," he said. It certainly brings back being the importance of being the division winner again.