Comments on: Come meet A-Rod tomorrow

By: bebop

bebop — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:56:48 +0000

“God Bless America” is played out period. How about the more inspiring, patriotic and far more beautiful “America The Beautiful?” Ray Charles’s version especially.

By: Joekuh - Wang, throw your FB for strike 1.

Joekuh - Wang, throw your FB for strike 1. — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:51:27 +0000

“It is fruitless to plan around a player who is not even eligible for free agency for 2 years.”

Unless said player is Lebron James….

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:42:43 +0000

Actually, “MAY believe otherwise” would be best. I don’t profess to know what they’re thinking any more than anyone else — however much I might suspect I do.

By: KGsturnz0r217

KGsturnz0r217 — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:42:19 +0000

although he won’t be able to play or catch at age 50, to limit him to DH next year is ridiculous.. he should catch 4-5 days a week. DH Miranda or Vazquez next year.

re: Damon, offer him Arbitration for a change, if he accepts. you got a Fast DH/Fresh LF on occasion. If he declines, you get picks. From Left to DH: Swisher/Jackson/J-Rod DH:Damon/Vladimir

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:40:00 +0000

Correction:

I should have said, “however much statistics and Yankee pitchers BELIEVE otherwise”, not “may suggest otherwise”.

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:35:34 +0000

John,

You said:

“I’m just saying for the future Damon will probably be a DH within a couple years. His OF play is actually bad and his arm is horrible. I just don’t want the yanks to sign anymore older players because they need to reserve the DH spot for Jorge”

No, John. Because of his past glories and his World Series rings, Jorge will be able to catch the vast majority of Yankee games indefinitely. After all, if he can do it at age 37 and not be a liability (however much statistics and Yankee pitchers may suggest otherwise) why can’t he catch at age 38 — or 39 or 40 or even 50. After all, he’ll still have his World Series rings. And you can’t PROVE that he’s a liability behind the plate at ANY age. I’ve even read on this forum that catchers don’t even INFLUENCE pitchers’ ERA. Just ask Baseball Prospectus…

By: Giuseppe Franco

Giuseppe Franco — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:14:14 +0000

Speaking of young outfielders, Heathcott is going to be at the Stadium tonight to meet the players and take some BP.

So the recruiting effort to get him signed will be in full swing when he gets to step out on that field with the big boys and check out the new home.

By: Nick in SF

Nick in SF — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:20:13 +0000

“Cashman is a snake…everyone thinks they know him and what he is thinking, then he comes out of nowhere with a surprise.”

I thought I’d been insulted but…maybe I was actually complimented?

By: Brandon ! "B/c the Yankees don't believe in young and athletic in the OF"

Brandon ! "B/c the Yankees don't believe in young and athletic in the OF" — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:43:01 +0000

I want to compare him to Hamilton but I just won’t until he shows it in the minors. I see more Blalock or Damon except w/ a gun for an arm and more athletic. Zachary has a chance to be really special but I just wouldn’t think about him until 2 or 3 yrs. down the road.

His arm has been clocked 98 mph from the OF. His exact words.

“I’ve been clocked at 97-98 mph from the outfield, so having a strong arm helps, too. My glove is probably the best thing I have defensively, and I take a lot of pride in it.”

By: Bo knows

Bo knows — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:30:24 +0000

By the way, on Slade Heathcott the Yankees # 1 draft pick.

From Nyyfans

To correct my comment in bold above, I checked that Hamilton comp; it was provided by the Director of Major League Scouting – Frank Marcos, who went on to say that very few guys have Heathcott’s tools.

For those who aren’t very familiar with what his skill set entails, he has plus-plus speed (the only Yankee who is that fast is Brett Gardner and he shows solid instincts as a baserunner); he has a plus-plus arm (clocked at 94 MPH fro the outfield with accuracy); he shows scouts the ability to hit for average and power and the Yankee scouts project him to be at least plus in both categories when he makes the majors.

In addition scouts like his fielding ability in the outfield where he shows above average instincts in tracking fly balls, that along with his tremendous speed give him a chance to be a plus centerfielder, or possibly a plus-plus rightfielder (remember that arm strength plays well in right). Like Marcos said, very few baseball players are such a complete package.