http://tinyurl.com/4udc28 LOS ANGELES - One of the most persistent rumors that circulated among baseball officials during the season was that Pat Gillick was going to move from Philadelphia GM to Mariner president and recruit Brian Cashman to be Seattle's GM. That buzz ceased earlier this month when Cashman agreed to a three-year extension to stay. But Cashman should still find a way to work with Gillick. Because the skills that define Gillick's career - skills that should lead him to the Hall of Fame - are traits the Yankees can use even on a consultant basis. Gillick is renowned for scouting acumen, sagacity in decision-making and terrific people skills that help bridge disparate viewpoints. He also finds the genius in little moves that net huge results - and the Phillies are one win away from reaching the World Series because of that theory. Matt Stairs, a hardly heralded Aug. 30 acquisition from Toronto, hit a two-run homer off Dodger closer Jonathan Broxton last night to give the Phillies a 7-5 lead. J.C. Romero, whom the Phils picked up on waivers during last season, induced a double play from Andre Ethier in the bottom of the inning to assure Manny Ramirez could not come up as the tying run. And Brad Lidge, an undervalued chip obtained last offseason in a trade from Houston, produced his 46th save in 46 tries, securing a win that gave the Phillies a 3-1 lead in this series. "We have assembled a great team," Lidge said. "There are no weak links." That reflects on Gillick, who has mostly cleaned out his Philadelphia office while indicating he no longer wants to be submerged by the 24/7, 365-day-a-year GM trap. But he has not definitively said his baseball career is done. The Yanks should jump at that, because Gillick can enhance their sketchy player-choosing process. "He might be the best evaluator I have ever been around," said Philadelphia's director of major-league scouting, Gordon Lakey, who has worked with Gillick in three locales over 38 years. Cashman considers Gillick the role model for all GMs. That admiration, in conjunction with Gillick being 71 and not wanting to be a GM any longer, should remove any threat Cashman would feel employing Gillick. Cashman was in all-day meetings yesterday and did not return calls. If he is hesitant, it would be about conceding the organization needs the boost. But Cashman should know the outside perception of his front office is missing a seen-it-all, experienced hand that has Cashman's ear, now that Gene Michael's influence and energy have waned, and that it also is too beholden to statistical analysts (who advised against obtaining Romero, for example). Gillick is old school. He doesn't do stats. He believes in face-to-face meetings, not e-mail or cell calls. He would provide a terrific sounding board and veteran eyes for Cashman. Of course, Gillick has made mistakes. The Phillies are in the NLCS despite Gillick having signed Adam Eaton as a free agent. But they also are here because of the skills that helped four different Gillick GM-ed teams reach at least the LCS. He transitioned the Blue Jays from expansion to champions. He is the lone GM to guide the Peter Angelos-owned Orioles to the playoffs. He was the architect of the record 116-win 2001 Mariners. When Gillick comes to an organization, he does not - as most new GMs do - bring in a whole new group. He makes selective hires, but also works with what was in place, building unity and loyalty by listening to all opinions. Those who pre-date Gillick with the Phillies, such as assistant GM Ruben Amaro, rave about his inclusive nature. With the Yanks feeling the stresses of Hank Steinbrenner's yapping and the ever-present separate New York-Tampa factions, Gillick's touch could help as a conciliator. "You never get the impression you are working for him, only that you are working with him," Lakey said. The Yanks will look at a lot of free agents this offseason. Gillick might be the most important. --

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