Compare Melky to some other names out there.

Melky Ichiro Rios
xbh 13 19 15
RBI 27 17 25
HR 6 3 3
so 30 25 59
OPS .708 .733 .708

I simply think that Brett Gardner can help the Yankee bench and to get him enough at-bat’s I’d platoon him with Melky. I think that Gardner could offer the team equal or better production from the CF spot and a lot greater production off the bench.

He doesn’t get on base, He doesn’t hit for power. What does he do? NOTHING. He brings nothing but defense in centerfield to the table.

But you know what? Robinson Cano brings BETTER second base defense to the table, and we have outfielders who can catch.

Cano-Molina-Melky = automatic inning over.

Julio Lugo for the red sox has a worse OPS+ than Melky, but one key area he is winning in is OBP. He gets OBP .360.

If Melky could do that, if he was a singles hitter who got on base 36% of the time, it would be acceptable.

But he isn’t, and he doesn’t.

And we could theoretically upgrade there. If we upgrade at CF, then Cano is the new #9 hitter. Then we don’t have to worry about him, because he is the number 9 hitter, right?

Well, maybe not. But you can’t tell me with 100% certainty that it wouldn’t help the team. Maybe it won’t improve the team but how will we know if Cashman doesn’t try it out? The alternative is to continue having a wasted roster spot in Shelley Duncan. So call up Gardner for a week or two, see if he can improve the team. If not, call up someone else.

“The worst hitter on the team this year has been Robinson Cano. Its not even close.”

Agreed but what does that have to do with Melky?

“Taking Melky out of the lineup isn’t going to make the team better unless the real problems with the team (starting pitching, hitting W/RISP) are solved.”

Those are the larger problems but why can’t we look in other places to improve the team? Some believe (myself included) that Gardner platooning with Melky will improve the team. Gardner brings more speed, a legitimate fourth outfielder and the ability to get on base. Melky has a better arm, comparable range and probably a slightly better bat. I think both players can help this team and to me it isn’t a question of one or the other; I want both.

“Its just making a move to make a move and I don’t think that’s going to happen. Nor should it.”

No its not, I have laid out very explicitly why I think Gardner can help the team and what role he would play if he were called up.

How many teams in baseball have 9 great hitters in their lineup? Nobody.

The Red Sox, Rays, White Sox, and Angels, the teams that would be in the playoffs if the season ended today, sure don’t.

It seems to me you want to make Melky the fall guy in order to find a reason why he shouldn’t be playing.

The reality is, if the Yankees need Melky Cabrera to be a Top 3 offensive CF this year, their season is over.

Its not the way the team is built.

Damon, Jeter, Giambi, Arod, Abreu, Matsui, Posada, Cano (when he was an effective offensive player), that’s not enough offense for you?

Their problem isn’t because the #9 hitter isn’t hitting the way stat freaks want him to hit.

Their problem is, their starting pitching is erratic at best and they don’t hit with RISP. That’s on the entire offense. Not just Melky.

Melky’s been fine and his numbers will improve as the year goes on, same as Cano.

No major league hitter should have an IsoP as bad I posted in his line. Thats putrid. I don’t expect him to be Barry Bonds, but he needs to hit doubles and an occasional HR. We can’t have a slap hitter who won’t get on base in the 9 hole.

He also is not getting on base or turning the line up over, so I don’t know what your point is there.

Melky is showing zero offensive tools at the moment.

Why is melky immune? Why is a less than .700 OPS(which is where he is trending) acceptable? Why should we ignore the fact that he isn’t walking?

Melky’s BB% hasn’t improved, his k% has gone up

i agree.

melky is what the yankees were looking for. he’s younger and cheaper and gives them the financial flexibility to spend elsewhere.