Pinch hitting: 6 pound, 8 ounce Baby Joba
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Feb 02, 2009 
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The pinch hitter series rolls on. Today we have Kevin from 6 pound, 8 ounce Baby Joba.
Kevin and his buddy Conor started blogging on Dec. 3, 2008 and have posted 172 times, which is pretty impressive. They are diehard Yankee fans and obviously love Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. Conor and Kevin grew up in the New York area, but have since been displaced to Denver and Boston They’ve interviewed Tyle Kepner, Kat O’Brien, Ed Price, Tim Dierkes and Mike Ashmore. Apparently I didn’t rate. And I love that movie.
Here’s his post anyway:
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As a Yankee fan, I tend to take All-Stars and Hall of Famers for granted. In just the last two years the Yankees have signed CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Mark Teixeira, and Roger Clemens, and re-signed Mariano Rivera, Alex Rodriguez, and Jorge Posada. I love watching these high caliber players, and I will always root for them; well, as long as they are in pinstripes). But I?ve always been more enthralled with the guys who?s destiny isn?t yet set, the guys who are still trying to make a name for themselves. It?s the Melky Cabreras, the Bubba Crosbys, the Brett Gardners who keep baseball in my blood.
I always seem to connect with the younger players who are still trying to prove themselves at the big league level. I quickly became an adamant supporter of Chien Ming Wang and Robinson Cano as they rapidly developed into integral members of the team, but it was Cabrera who became my favorite player. Melky is not an all-star, but it is always a blast watching him play. He just oozes energy, whether it be his bullets from center that save a run, his priceless handshakes with Cano, or his game-saving catch against the hated Red Sox, robbing Manny Ramirez of a home run. There is something about the youthful enthusiasm that he brings to the field every day that makes it impossible for me to stop rooting for him.
I had the same feeling with Bubba Crosby a few years back. One of my fondest memories of the Yankees is when he hit that walk-off homer against the Orioles. Sure, in the grand scheme of things it was insignificant, but in the moment it was one of the most exciting baseball events that I?ve experienced in recent years. He isn?t a star, he isn?t even a big leaguer anymore, but his excitement after that shot to left was a perfect example of why baseball is America?s past time; it is all about living out your dreams.
There?s just something priceless about watching those young guys fighting for a job, whether they are going to become stars or not. I think that everyone gets that feeling to some extent. Remember when Shelley Duncan started mashing home runs as soon as he made the team in 2007? Or when Joba surprised us all with his 0.38 ERA in his 24 innings in 2007? How about Aaron Small winning 10 games in 2006? Unbelievable! Even when Phil Coke was lights out last year, and when Gardner came up, he might have only hit .228, but everyone loved seeing him give everything he had, every time he played. As Yankee fans, we get so wrapped up in the All-Stars on our team, that we sometimes forget about the other guys who, in my opinion, truly complete the game.
I love watching the big name guys, but for me, there?s something about watching someone work his way onto a big league team that is even more exciting.
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Thanks, Kevin. Coming tomorrow: Steve from Was Watching.
interesting post, good job guys. Pete when are you heading to tampa??
I think I like this post the best! (no offense to those I know “personally”)
I love the half-millionaires doing their thing, trying to stick with the team. I look forward to those rare gems like Wang, Cano, Joba, and hopefully Hughes. The ones that can take the place of older, more expensive players.
Looking for big things from Gardner if he’s given a chance.
It?s buried in the last paragraph, but guess who has the highest average ticket prices?
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=3532208
i agree with you guys to a certain extent – i like watching the young guys who come up and prove they can be major leaguers even if they are not all stars. However, I dont like when yankee fans hype up the young guys so much that the regular fan seems to lose all grip of reality and believe that no matter who comes out of the farm if they have the slightest bit of talent, they are destined to be big leaguers. I think gardner will prove himself at the very least worthy of a major league spot on the 40 man. Im not nearly as confident about melky. Some guys are great rooting for but in the end, a fan needs to keep some perspective. Not every single rookie we bring out of AAA is going to turn into Joba or Wang. There will be a heck of a lot more bubba crosbys though. There fun to root for but I dont like when people start pretending they are destined to be all stars.
I wonder if they use ShamWows in the Yankee clubhouse
Booga-
Huh?
No offense taken, m.
Nice guest post. So which one of you is melkyisgod and which one is brettisgod?
Hey
I am drunk and i am typing! WHOA!
BOOGA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good post. I like watching the young put it together (or not) too. That goes hand in hand with why going to a baseball game is so fun even when its two bad teams, you never know what can happen. You might see a guy get his first big league hit or no hitter or who knows what else.
The reason Melky has my support (besides wearing pinstripes) is a game I went to against the Royals and a ball got driven over his head and he laid out for it running straight back into center and just caught it. It was a great catch and showed why having young athletic guys on the team makes it more fun to watch.
Pete, you definitely rate and are next on our list of interviewees. Dave, I agree that Yankee fans tend to overhype the prospects. But like you said, and as I said, those guys are real fun to watch and root for. I think my favorites are the guys that aren’t hyped and then just prove everyone wrong. You are right that we exagerate the successes of the young guys, and athough that is annouing, I definitely do it. I mean I try not to assume that after one big league game a guy will be an all star, but it sure us fun to imagine.
You chose a really good subject to write about. I love watching Melky and hope he bounces back from a lackluster 2008. There is just something about him.
And there is also something about Brett Gardner, who, in spite of a very small batting average, seemed to know when to get his hits. Didn’t he have a couple of game winners? He’s a tough cookie.
The two couldn’t be more different in demeanor, could they?
I’m pulling for Melky, but to be honest, if Gardner gets the nod, I’ll pull for him. I will assume that whoever gets the nod WON the job and wasn’t given it. It will be interesting to see what happens if both of them have impressive springs. My gut tells me this manager will prefer Gardner.
It is so much fun watching players develop. It’s even fun to watch really generally so-so players have an occasional fantastic game or make a difference in a game with a sparkling play or timely hit. The unexpected gems.
Of course we love when the stars do their thing, and in the moment a grand slam by ARod in the bottom of the ninth is pretty awesome, but a couple of days later (with not only ARod but the other established players) it becomes “what have you done for me lately?” But with the “regular” guys, there’s always a feeling of “I hope he can do it again!”
i like gardner and melky, but i think we need a CF. i think that even if jorge is healthy all year, he will need to be rested more than in the past and that will put molina in the lineup alot. carrying both molina and gardner/melky is too much of a drag on the lineup imo. i am really hoping cash has something up his sleeve to cover CF
going into the season with melky/garder in CF is alot like going into last year counting on unproven talent in the rotation, and that didnt work out too well.
Ham Fighters -
Yeah, a part of me feels like they should hedge their bets a little in CF, too. I truly want Brett or Melky to get the job, and be consistent all throughout the season. When Melky is going well, he is a really good #9 hitter. Brett is still such a question mark, though.
And you bring up a good point about needing to have insurance for Jorge’s bat. they have insurance for his defense (in fact, Molina is probably better over all behind the plate). He’s the biggest question mark – bigger than Matsui. If he goes down again, well, it will most likely be another long season.
Didn’t I read somewhere that Molina was slimming down or working our or something in order to improve his stamina for next season? It was quite a while ago, and I don’t remember where, but that thought is rattling around upstairs.
** working out!
Ham Fighters
I don’t think having one of the young guys in center is as critical as a young unproven pitcher.
One reason they might not go after someone else to play center is they would need to either trade someone or release someone off the 40 man roster.
Don’t forget Justin Christian when he stole 2nd and then stole 3rd in the 8th inning and scored when Hernandez thru the ball into left field to tie the game against the O’s
I’m fine with Melky\Gardner only when Matsui Damon and Nady slash Swhisher are completley healthy . But if Damon or Matsui or some big time hitter gets hurt . . Man thats when you see Melk man or gardner as big time liabilities.
i really dont think we can expect that much from jorge. the consensus of those who do projections seems to be that he will do about 55R, 15HR, 65rbi .270 in about 400AB’s. (similar to his 2005 #’s) this seems reasonable to me. this would mean that jorge would be less of a contributer on offense and that molina would get alot of at bats.
neither this situation nor the CF situation in itself should bring down the yankees offense, bu the combination can. this is why i’d like to see and upgrade at CF or maybe it is time to look for an upgrade at b/u catcher.
i dont like going into the season with both situations looking potentially shaky.
Football is done for another 6 months except for interest in the college draft.
Unless anybody loves the indoor sports, baseball is ready to take center stage in 11 days.
Nice post guys.
The CF battle is going to be interesting. With Melky out of options he is either going to make the team or be traded. I see Cashman making a trade to upgrade cf and or clear roster space.
Players like Wright, Miranda, Edwar and Kennedy are just some players that are expendable in my eyes. Maybe with a Nady package you could get something back.
Also,Yasser Gomez a 28yr old from Cuba is available as a free agent. He has some nice numbers for Cuba.
I wouldn’t be so anxious to unload Kennedy and Miranda. NYY will need them by the end of the year.
Ham Fighter
I agree that Posada is a big concern. The problem is how do you upgrade till you know what he can do. I think it would be hard to find a catcher that is an upgrade offensively without giving up to much on defense. I would like to see Molina hit better but I really like his defense. You won’t find many starting catchers that are better defensely. I think the yankees are better at catcher with Molina than Boston is with Varitek.
The problem with trading some of the outfielders to upgrade center is the glut of FA outfielders that are out there. I think that could reduce their leverage as to what they get in return. Teams could take a chance on a FA for one year and the see what develops from there.
Pete- Your boys Bruce and Silvio, they no look-ah so good.
I think the Yankees are making a mistake going with Gardner/Melky. Gardner is a 4th OF at best and I saw quite enough of Melky last year. The Yankees are being penny wise, pound foolish. They are willing to go into the season with a black hole in CF simply because they won’t spend any more $$$. I think this decision will come back and bite them.
Realistically, who is out there to replace Melky or Gardner?
“I wouldn’t be so anxious to unload Kennedy and Miranda. NYY will need them by the end of the year.”
Isn’t Miranda a 1B-man? I think it’s safe to assume that spot isn’t a liability for us anymore.
If anything, Miranda is a raker. Replacement for Matsui. Give him a couple pinch-hit’s this season and see how he does. Unfortunately right now Nady or Swisher fill that pinch hit role unless Damon is our starting CF (which I don’t see).
I wouldn’t trade Kennedy on the cheap, he has been too good in AAA. Then again, so has Igawa…… … ……..
“Realistically, who is out there to replace Melky or Gardner?”
I’ve heard the name Jim Edmonds. But Gardner and Melky are better defensively. Other than that you would have to make a trade. I think Gard/Melky will be given a shot.
“They are willing to go into the season with a black hole in CF simply because they won’t spend any more $$$. I think this decision will come back and bite them.”
I disagree with this. Melky has proven to be a + in CF and Gardner plays pretty well out there from what I have seen. Melky sucks with the bat but I think Gardner will surprise us this season. If Gardner hits .250/.300/.325 with his speed he is a huge threat. Those numbers are achievable.
Happy Groundhog Day to all.
Punxsutawney Phil says 9 miserable months of baseball for Boston.
Betsy
Center is a question mark but I think calling it a black hole is going a bit far. I think either one will give above average defense. I like the speed Gardner brings. I’m not saying he will hit but if he can he brings something to this team that has been lacking. I think he has the potential to give the Yankees as much as Ellsbury gives Boston. Gardner has about as much speed and I think a little better arm. Ellsbury’s bat was quite inconsistant as well.
Posada’s projected OPS according to the 4 projections listed on Fangraphs are .797, .833, .840, and .860. Those average out to .833. That would be within 25 points of his career average. Not bad.
In 2005, he had an actual OPS of .782, so his projected performance this year is significantly better than that year’s.
The question with Posada will be playing time. He’s usually played right around 140 games a year. That seems too much to expect this year, even if he stays healthy. However, even if he plays only 120 games, that still compares pretty favorably with the typical AL catcher. In 2008, only Mauer and Suzuki topped 140 games. Three guys were in the 130s. One was in the 120s. Four were in the 110s. Starting catcher just isn’t a full-time position these days.
The best way to upgrade CF is with Edmonds. He would be a very good bat and about an average defender. He wouldn’t break the bank, either. If the Yankees got Edmonds, they could use Gardner for late-inning defense and pinch-running.
Russell NY
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:34 am
“I wouldn’t be so anxious to unload Kennedy and Miranda. NYY will need them by the end of the year.”
Isn’t Miranda a 1B-man? I think it’s safe to assume that spot isn’t a liability for us anymore.
If anything, Miranda is a raker. Replacement for Matsui. Give him a couple pinch-hit’s this season and see how he does. Unfortunately right now Nady or Swisher fill that pinch hit role unless Damon is our starting CF (which I don’t see).
I wouldn’t trade Kennedy on the cheap, he has been too good in AAA. Then again, so has Igawa…… … ……..
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Miranda plays first base, but, he’s also a big left handed bat. If anything happens to Teixeira, NYY will need that bat. One of Nady or Swisher will likely be traded before the end of spring training and Miranda is one of the few left handed power bats in the system. There are few teams in need of a rookie first baseman, and, even in a trade, he’s not going to bring enough back, because of his ML inexperience.
I don’t understand how any of these players on the downside of their careers would be an upgrade in center.
Bruce scared me to death last night. It was like watching your old uncle at a reunion trying to play sports. You just know something is going to get broke. Seriously, I feared for Bruce’s life last night.
*One of Nady or Swisher will likely be traded before the end of spring training and Miranda is one of the few left handed power bats in the system.*
likely to be traded?
why?
*The best way to upgrade CF is with Edmonds. He would be a very good bat and about an average defender.*
very good bat and average defender about 5 years ago, sure.
TurnTwo
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:02 am
One of Nady or Swisher will likely be traded before the end of spring training and Miranda is one of the few left handed power bats in the system.
likely to be traded?
why?
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Because they don’t have room to carry 5-6 outfielders on the team and they can get more value in a trade over letting one of them rotting on the bench or letting Nady walk at the end of the year and get nothing in return.
Good post, I think most baseball fans agree with you. It is exciting watching the underdog or unknown player excel.
It’s amazing to me how many Yankee fans have trouble relating to what’s expressed in this post.
I am probably the most miscast Yankee fan, as I love player development. I also love Melky Cabrera for the reasons listed above.
Thanks for the post. Great to see some soul show up every now and then.
GB7
What do you see for a market for Nady or Swisher given all the outfielders on the market?
“very good bat and average defender about 5 years ago, sure.”
Let’s just deal with facts, okay? Last year, he has an OPS+ of 112, which for a center fielder is very good, right?
As for fielding, his range factor was almost exactly league average, and he reportedly still has a very good arm.
Clearly, he is aging and on the decline. He’s not going to put up an OPS+ of 170 like he did in 2004. That doesn’t mean he’s still not a heck of lot better player than Brett Gardner (OPS+ 53) for ONE year.
GB
I agree with Miranda’s bat, and for insurance reasons(Matsui and Tex) it does makes sense to hold on to him.
Kennedy I believe will be a major league pitcher, just not for the Yankees. by the time a spot opens up, somebody in the system will have caught up to him. Of course injuries could lay waste to the best of plans.
I see the Yankees keeping Swisher and Nady because trading them will not bring back anything better, and because the Yankees have uses for them.
Nady is owed $6.65 million, will become a FA in 2010, and is a Boras client. He is also a marginally above-average player. I would be very happy if the Yankees could trade him and make Swisher their everyday RF, but I don’t see any other team giving us anything of value for Nady. If Abreu is really available for under $10 million, why not just sign him instead?
Swisher is owed at least $22 million through 2011. No one is going to pick up that contract and give us someone good in exchange.
These players make more sense on the Yankees than anywhere else. We need a RF and Nady is adequate. We can use Swisher to let Damon, Matsui, Nady, and Teixeira take days off without seeing a massive drop in production, and he might get some starts in CF considering how Melky and Gardner are hardly locks.
MaineYankee
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:20 am
GB7
What do you see for a market for Nady or Swisher given all the outfielders on the market?
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Most of the corner outfielders still want more money than either Nady or Swisher make, and other than Ramirez, they’re mostly left handed bats, or, they cost draft picks. I think that more than a few could end up playing in Japan or South Korea. Nady and Swisher also have an advantage in that they can play both corners and first base, though Nady hasn’t played more than 80 games there.
Good post, but I disagree about Melky. Oozes energy? Maybe in the field, but certainly not in the batters box.
Edmonds is old (39) and a bad bet to last long as an everyday CF. He looked finished in 2007 and the beginning of 2008. We would probably get 2007 Edmonds, not Cubs Edmonds.
Also, he can’t hit lefties.
Edmonds could work as a platoon player – but a guy who can’t play the OF every day is the last sort of player we need right now.
GB7,
Do you see Nady or Swisher bringing us any players who would be a good fit for us? I doubt they could get us an upgrade in CF or the pen or a starter who could crack our rotation. They could bring back decent bench guys, but that likely wouldn’t be an improvement over Nady and Swisher themselves.
I just don’t see a trade adding up for us.
I hate to be reduntant but all of the fear of CF and Posada / Matsui is why the Yanks need to pursue Manny.
With him in our lineup we could survive CF and Posada not playing all year.
I know the goal is to stay under last years payroll but the goal is also to win in new stadium.
Find a way to move Nady’ salary and possibly half of matsuis and get a deal done.
Boras will be calling this week. Get creative with deferred salary and make it happen so we are set for next 2-3 years.
What a great post. It’s fun to root for the stars, no question about it, but who grabs the imagination more than a promising rookie? We know what the stars can do but can only dream about what the young guys are capable of. The uncertainty and limitless possibilities are what energizes the game.
Nice job, Kevin. I agree with you, too. I was always a Bubba fan and now a Melky fan. I think the energy of players like that helps keep the veterans pumped, too. It just makes for a good mix. Here’s hoping that Melky can really pick up his game for ST and really BE our CF for this year!
Riffraff considers him/herself “probably the most miscast Yankee fan, as I love player development. I also love Melky Cabrera for the reasons listed above.” No, your not miscast. Lots of us feel that way. Much as I look to numbers for important information on a player, I am ultimately more interested in the intangibles: guts, ability to concentrate, love of the game. (Maybe I’m miscast as a 21st century baseball fan.) Both Melky and Brett give us that, and we need it–desperately. Let’s start taking chances again. We have a strong enough lineup that we can insert a couple of question marks. The upside to doing so is enormous. It’s called energy & passion, and, for some of us at least, it (and not the new metrics) remains the heart of baseball.
“Good post, but I disagree about Melky. Oozes energy? Maybe in the field, but certainly not in the batters box.”
Amen! And I’m not a religious man but c’mon now. Melky oozes suck as a hitter. Last year for Cano can be considered a down year but Melky Cabrera was a joke. Aside from the first month you didn’t feel one ounce of comfort he was going to get anything done. I would MUCH rather see Brett Gardner out there. He oozes energy all around.
Jeremy
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:55 am
GB7,
Do you see Nady or Swisher bringing us any players who would be a good fit for us? I doubt they could get us an upgrade in CF or the pen or a starter who could crack our rotation. They could bring back decent bench guys, but that likely wouldn’t be an improvement over Nady and Swisher themselves.
I just don’t see a trade adding up for us.
—–
They bring us salary relief and a spot on the 40 man roster. I am all for the young guys in CF but we need another big bat in this line up.
Green Beret thinks that NYY will trade either Nady or Swisher “because they don’t have room to carry 5-6 outfielders on the team and they can get more value in a trade over letting one of them rotting on the bench or letting Nady walk at the end of the year and get nothing in return.”
I know that a lot of fans think this, but I’m not sure why. What is the problem with carrying five outfielders? Do you think we need the extra spot for a third catcher? (I would only want to do that as a last resort.) As long your reserve outfielders are somewhat versatile, they are worth the roster spot they take up. One of our biggest weaknesses, since the days of Raines, Straw, and Chili Davis, is our bench. Both Swisher and Melky have upsides defensively and (hopefully, Melky too) can handle the bat. We don’t need Manny, Adam Dunn, or any other “one-way” pieces. We need all-around players. Fortunately, we already have them.
And let Nady walk after the season. And offer him arb, and collect the draft picks.
Nice post.
Saying the Yankees need another bat, I presume you are talking about Manny or Dunn. That’s not happening unless Dunn’s contract drops to the Crazy Low Price of 1 year/$5 million or so.
I can see getting Dunn for that price and moving Matsui at the cost of about half his contract. Even that would be an upgrade of questionable value.
With Manny, we would again have to eat much of Matsui’s contract to make room for him. When you add the cost of trading Matsui (who has a NT and might refuse to be traded anyway) to Manny’s contract (let’s say 2 years/$45 million) and factor in the luxury tax, we could end up paying $30 million a year for him to spend most of his time as DH. That’s too much even for a hitter of Manny’s caliber.
If Damon could play CF, maybe we could keep Matsui and install Manny in LF. But that would leave us with the worst defensive OF in baseball. And I doubt Damon can play CF anymore to begin with.
If we trade Nady or Swisher to free up salary, we end up losing either our RF or a vital bench player. We do not have good substitutes available for them and would have to spend even more money to plug the gaps we created.
Long story short, Manny would be a fantastic addition but would not be worth the logistical and financial headaches his acquisition would cause. Trading Nady or Swisher will not help us add a bat.
Just saw a commercial on mlb network for tonites game at 8 mexico vs puerto rico. Any yanks playing?
*great*…Steve from Was Watching. Guessing we will see a post about how much he hates Cash & 87 references to his own past blogs where we “heard it first”.
Nick in SF-
neither one of us is melkyisgod or brettisgod. haha
thanks for all the support everybody!