The rivalry between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees adds a new chapter after the Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly comments About the Yankees’ performance in the World Series.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman acknowledged this team “underperformed” and did not play his “A-game” throughout the series, but defended the team against criticism that he was flawed.

“First of all, I acknowledge that we played poorly in the World Series,” Cashman said at the GM Meetings in San Antonio this week, responding to questions about the team’s poor defense and baserunning, seen as key differences in the series.

“We saw that and unfortunately our best game did not come when it mattered most,” he continued. “I also think, objectively, if you step back and analyze who we’re playing, whether it’s the best game or not. The Dodgers or any of the postseason teams, whether we’re playing them or playing other teams in the National League, all of those rosters, It’s made up of players who do things better in some categories than others.”

While Cashman acknowledged the Yankees’ difficulties, he did not directly address the flaws the Dodgers had exposed in their five World Series games. Kelly, on the contrary He was outspoken in his criticism.

Cashman stood firm in defending the Yankees, stating that he believed the team was strong even if they were not at their best when it mattered.

“We had a good team, but we didn’t play our best when it mattered most,” Cashman said. He also dismissed the notion that the Yankees are a flawed team, adding: “Every year is different. “I think every one of those years we had a chance to run the table and be the last team standing, otherwise we would have gone home if we weren’t playing our best baseball.”

But it was hard for Cashman to really take Kelly seriously because he hadn’t appeared in the World Series. Instead of heeding her criticism, Cashman thought Kelly’s thoughts were personal.

“I also know people with the Dodgers, so I definitely have some internal conversations where I get feedback that I think is more representative of certain players rather than the group as a whole,” he said. “And in Joe’s case, it feels like there’s a reason why it’s a little bit personal for him to talk like that. So this feels like it’s more personal than anything else.

“So I can’t do any more than that. I know you’re definitely talking a lot right now. And hey, he won or they won, so I can say what I just said,” Cashman said with a shrug.