Ummmm, Pete? Melky’s a lefty thrower.

predicition there is no way Melky holds that CF position one more year. Action is gunning for that spot, Brett is a gamer he’s been that way all his life. Melky stay on your toes and I love the Cashman quote it’s about time players earn thier spot out there !

I would say that this is a big year for Melky in terms of his long term future with the team. He’s shown the ability to get on base but he needs to improve his power output.

Last year was a step backwards for him offensively.

Seriously, I think it’s neat that Hank speaks his mind. I’m assuming that he’s not totally serious when he lurches into knee-jerk hyperbole.

Who knows which “Nation,” or “brand,” is truly dominant? NY and Boston fans should be glad that we’re not Milwaukee, or KC, etc.

For what it’s worth, Boston’s away games in 2007 were before an average crowd of 38,641. The Yankees average away crowd was 37,227. (For the statistically inclined, I’m aware that the greater capacity of Yankee Stadium [compared to Fenway] may skew these numbers. On the other hand, the Sox don’t have an equivqlent “traditional” NL rival to counterbalance the Yankee away games with the Met.)

I cite those numbers to suggest that the Sox may indeed have more cachet nation-wide. So maybe Hank doth protest too much.

Folks have to realize the Yankees aren’t developing Jackson and Tabata, as well as a great deal of their high end pitching prospects, to deal them.

Those days are done.

I’m not saying guys won’t be traded. Some will be dealt.

The high end guys? Not gonna happen. Even if a new GM is in place next year.

The Yankees are serious about building their core from within and supplementing it via trades and the free agent market.

If by next spring training, Austin Jackson is a 22 year old, 5 tool phenom, he isn’t getting traded.

Juan Pierre isn’t the reason why the Marlins beat the Yankees. Geez, never has a couple of bunt basehits been so overblown.

They got OUTPITCHED in that series. That’s what beat them. Not Juan Pierre.

Juan Pierre is not a difference maker and hasn’t been for years. Don’t let one good playoff series five years ago cloud your judgment. The Dodgers did and they wasted 45 million bucks.

I like Gardner better than most. That said, he is still a 4th OF (at best) with the Yankees.

Unless Austin Jackson falls flat on his face, or Melky for that matter, I can’t see Gardner overtaking either of them.

Melky? Folks keep doubting him and he keeps getting better. Take a look at Bernie Williams first two full years as a Yankee and compare Melky’s first two years. Melky’s numbers are actually better.

I don’t know what his ceiling is. I do know that if he keeps improving, he’s sticking around.

A lot will depend on him holding physically during the year and how he hits from the right side. If those two facets of his game come together, as Joe Sheehan for one seems to think, he has a chance to be a very, very good player for years to come.

A .331 slugging PCT with a .343 OBP is not just bad, its abysmal. Overall Gardner only played around 100 games last year so he was at AAA putting up those numbers for half of his season.

Yes he had a nice start at AA but that was only 52 games. He had much more trouble hitting at AAA. Being 24 after having played in college 3 years and doing well at AA is one thing. He was largely over matched at AAA.

With a guy who is a marginal hitter, AAA is an important step. He’s not a guy with the hitting tools where you can project his AA numbers.

I think he’s a decent prospect who could be useful in a specific role. I’m not sure why so many people are so excited about him however, especially while downgrading Melky at the same time.