Comments on: Don’t forget the original “kids” http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/04/28/dont-forget-the-orginal-kids/ A Yankees Blog by Journal News beat writer Peter Abraham Wed, 3 Dec 2008 20:37:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Chris NY http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/04/28/dont-forget-the-orginal-kids/#comment-329252 Chris NY Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:49:50 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/04/28/dont-forget-the-orginal-kids/#comment-329252 I haven't read all these posts but wanted to echo the following statement from the very first post in this thread: "Melky Cabrera, as I’ve said before, might be the most underrated player on the Yankees." I've been saying that for a long-time as well. Melky is well-known now for the "energy he brings" to the team, but his defense is under-rated and his bat is continuing to evolve, as is his power. He's on his way to 30+ HR's and whether he gets there or just gets to 20 or so, he and Robbie will eventually both be 30 HR guys. I haven’t read all these posts but wanted to echo the following statement from the very first post in this thread:

“Melky Cabrera, as I’ve said before, might be the most underrated player on the Yankees.”

I’ve been saying that for a long-time as well. Melky is well-known now for the “energy he brings” to the team, but his defense is under-rated and his bat is continuing to evolve, as is his power. He’s on his way to 30+ HR’s and whether he gets there or just gets to 20 or so, he and Robbie will eventually both be 30 HR guys.

]]> By: J http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/04/28/dont-forget-the-orginal-kids/#comment-329231 J Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:40:18 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/04/28/dont-forget-the-orginal-kids/#comment-329231 "Meant something yesterday. Granted it was an 85 MPH breaking pitch or cutter that didn’t move, but it surely did mean something." It means nothing in regard to melky's power. "My gosh how could Sabathia possibly give up a HR to Placido Polanco. I mean, he was only the best 2B in the AL last year, what a scrub! This is the dumbest argument." he has 72 HR's over 1200 games in his career. My point was that even people without power hit HR's off big time pitchers. So if you do hit a HR off a big time pitcher, it doesnt mean anything in regard to the level of the power. If you understood baseball, you'd probably know that. “Meant something yesterday. Granted it was an 85 MPH breaking pitch or cutter that didn’t move, but it surely did mean something.”

It means nothing in regard to melky’s power.

“My gosh how could Sabathia possibly give up a HR to Placido Polanco. I mean, he was only the best 2B in the AL last year, what a scrub!

This is the dumbest argument.”

he has 72 HR’s over 1200 games in his career.

My point was that even people without power hit HR’s off big time pitchers. So if you do hit a HR off a big time pitcher, it doesnt mean anything in regard to the level of the power. If you understood baseball, you’d probably know that.

]]> By: whitty http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/04/28/dont-forget-the-orginal-kids/#comment-328999 whitty Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:30:31 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/04/28/dont-forget-the-orginal-kids/#comment-328999 Zone rating is decent... FRAA is better. IIRC Matsui was -6 or -7 in FRAA last year. Not terrible, but nothing special. The knee undoubtedly had an impact defensively, so adjust for that and he's probably an average defensive left fielder. Zone rating is decent… FRAA is better. IIRC Matsui was -6 or -7 in FRAA last year. Not terrible, but nothing special. The knee undoubtedly had an impact defensively, so adjust for that and he’s probably an average defensive left fielder.

]]> By: Jimmy27 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/04/28/dont-forget-the-orginal-kids/#comment-328993 Jimmy27 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:28:46 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/04/28/dont-forget-the-orginal-kids/#comment-328993 Cabrera is hitting .291 and leads the team with five home runs, three fewer then he hit all last season. THAN -fewer THAN!!!!!!!!!!!! Cabrera is hitting .291 and leads the team with five home runs, three fewer then he hit all last season.

THAN -fewer THAN!!!!!!!!!!!!

]]> By: rover http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/04/28/dont-forget-the-orginal-kids/#comment-328975 rover Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:18:45 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/04/28/dont-forget-the-orginal-kids/#comment-328975 Ask, the indians if Wang is an ace. If still not satisfied ask Sabathia. No one can honestly believe wangs perfomance was a fluke.Yes, he had his A game yesterday, and no he won't always have it. His career stats suggest he can and does win when he isn't his best. That is aceey. Ask, the indians if Wang is an ace. If still not satisfied ask Sabathia. No one can honestly believe wangs perfomance was a fluke.Yes, he had his A game yesterday, and no he won’t always have it. His career stats suggest he can and does win when he isn’t his best. That is aceey.

]]> By: Patrick http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/04/28/dont-forget-the-orginal-kids/#comment-328965 Patrick Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:13:40 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/04/28/dont-forget-the-orginal-kids/#comment-328965 "Basically, we are talking about a high school senior (age-wise) playing in A ball and dominating with the bat. That’s rarified air." To be fair most 19 year olds are freshman or sophomores in college. Also, who knows if Montero really IS 19? Thats completely besides the point though, Montero is ridiculous. “Basically, we are talking about a high school senior (age-wise) playing in A ball and dominating with the bat. That’s rarified air.”

To be fair most 19 year olds are freshman or sophomores in college. Also, who knows if Montero really IS 19? Thats completely besides the point though, Montero is ridiculous.

]]> By: SJ44 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/04/28/dont-forget-the-orginal-kids/#comment-328951 SJ44 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:05:58 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/04/28/dont-forget-the-orginal-kids/#comment-328951 Its kind of hard to do at the minor league level. Ideally, if you want to keep him behind the plate, he needs as many reps as possible as a catcher. Even his non-game work (drills, throws, etc) needs to be at catcher at A ball. Until Romine got hurt, they had a good situation in Charleston. Both guys divided the roles of catcher and DH. Right now, Montero is catching every day. If I was the farm director, based on what I saw this weekend (admittedly, not a large sample size), I keep him at catcher until I absolutely, positively have to move him. And I pray I don't have to move him! lol His potential as a power hitting catcher is off the charts. If, say by September 2009, he's so dominating with the bat and you think he can help you, the Yankees could concievably call him up to DH. But, that's getting WAY ahead of ourselves. For now, I'd just keep him behind the plate and hope his learning curve continues. Its kind of hard to do at the minor league level. Ideally, if you want to keep him behind the plate, he needs as many reps as possible as a catcher.

Even his non-game work (drills, throws, etc) needs to be at catcher at A ball.

Until Romine got hurt, they had a good situation in Charleston. Both guys divided the roles of catcher and DH. Right now, Montero is catching every day.

If I was the farm director, based on what I saw this weekend (admittedly, not a large sample size), I keep him at catcher until I absolutely, positively have to move him.

And I pray I don’t have to move him! lol

His potential as a power hitting catcher is off the charts.

If, say by September 2009, he’s so dominating with the bat and you think he can help you, the Yankees could concievably call him up to DH.

But, that’s getting WAY ahead of ourselves.

For now, I’d just keep him behind the plate and hope his learning curve continues.

]]> By: randy l http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/04/28/dont-forget-the-orginal-kids/#comment-328941 randy l Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:56:53 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/04/28/dont-forget-the-orginal-kids/#comment-328941 sj- that's pretty exciting then from a yankees standpoint. from a pure baseball standpoint it's exciting to see any young player that good. i wonder if it wouldn't be a good idea right from the beginning to teach him both positions of catcher and first baseman. you never know what;s going to happen with a catcher's arm and it gives flexibility once he gets to the majors. looking at the example of clement, maybe if he would have worked out and played at first in the low minors the transition would be smoother now. players who can play two positions are even more valuable. sj-
that’s pretty exciting then from a yankees standpoint. from a pure baseball standpoint it’s exciting to see any young player that good.

i wonder if it wouldn’t be a good idea right from the beginning to teach him both positions of catcher and first baseman. you never know what;s going to happen with a catcher’s arm and it gives flexibility once he gets to the majors.

looking at the example of clement, maybe if he would have worked out and played at first in the low minors the transition would be smoother now. players who can play two positions are even more valuable.

]]> By: CB http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/04/28/dont-forget-the-orginal-kids/#comment-328938 CB Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:54:17 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/04/28/dont-forget-the-orginal-kids/#comment-328938 "Don’t buy it. Zone rating, range factor. All crap. You can see with your eyes." You do know that zone rating is calculated by people reviewing where every ball is hit and charting it, don't you? It's all people "looking with their eyes" and marking down whether or not a fielder got to a ball most other fielders at that position get to. “Don’t buy it. Zone rating, range factor. All crap. You can see with your eyes.”

You do know that zone rating is calculated by people reviewing where every ball is hit and charting it, don’t you?

It’s all people “looking with their eyes” and marking down whether or not a fielder got to a ball most other fielders at that position get to.

]]> By: Fredo Corleone http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/04/28/dont-forget-the-orginal-kids/#comment-328933 Fredo Corleone Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:50:12 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/04/28/dont-forget-the-orginal-kids/#comment-328933 You are wrong. "Last year Matsui, on a very bad knee, had the highest zone rating of any left fielder in baseball and 4th highest zone rating of any left fielder in all of baseball. Those are the facts. And my comment was referring to his overall value - offensive and defensive." Don't buy it. Zone rating, range factor. All crap. You can see with your eyes. Bad routes, less than stellar arm, no speed, and no accident he's the favored DH. You are wrong.

“Last year Matsui, on a very bad knee, had the highest zone rating of any left fielder in baseball and 4th highest zone rating of any left fielder in all of baseball.

Those are the facts.

And my comment was referring to his overall value – offensive and defensive.”

Don’t buy it. Zone rating, range factor. All crap. You can see with your eyes. Bad routes, less than stellar arm, no speed, and no accident he’s the favored DH.

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