Yankees acquire Hinske from Pirates
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- June
- 30
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Eric Hinske will be joining the team today. No word on who is being sent down although it would figure to be Ramiro Pena.
The release from the Yankees:
The New York Yankees today acquired infielder/outfielder Eric Hinske from the Pittsburgh Pirates along with cash considerations in exchange for minor leaguer right-handed pitcher Casey Erickson and minor league outfielder Eric Fryer.
Hinske, 31, appeared in 54 games with the Pirates this season, batting .255 (27-for-106) with 18 runs, 9 doubles, 1 home run and 11RBI. He has played 13 games in right field, six games at first base and three games at third base, and has made 29 pinch-hit appearances, going 8-for-24 (.333) with 5 walks. Hinske was the Opening Day right fielder for the 2008 American League champion Tampa Bay Rays, batting .247 (94-for-381) with 21 doubles, 20 home runs and 60 RBI, making 47 starts in right field, 37 in left field, nine at first base and four at third base. He was also a member of the World Series champion Boston Red Sox in 2007.
Hinske was originally selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 17th round of the 1998 First-Year Player Draft and made his Major League debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2002, winning the American League “Rookie of the Year” award that season. The left-handed batter has compiled 196 doubles, 106 home runs and 410 RBI in 957 career Major League games with the Blue Jays (2002-06), Red Sox (2006-07), Rays (2008) and Pirates (2009).
Hinske will join the team in New York today. The Yankees will make a reciprocal roster move prior to tonight’s 7:05 p.m. game vs. Seattle.
Erickson, 23, was 3-3 with a 2.25 ERA (44.0IP, 11ER) in 21 games (three starts) with Single-A Charleston in 2009. He combined to go 6-1 with a 2.95 ERA in 19 appearances (15 starts) with Charleston and short-season Single-A Staten Island in 2008, leading the Staten Island staff in innings pitched (75.0) and strikeouts (77). He was selected by the Yankees in the 10th round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft out of Springfield College.
Fryer, 23, appeared in 59 games with the Single-A Tampa Yankees this season, batting .250 (56-for-224) with 11 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs and 24 RBI. He also collected a team-high 11 stolen bases in 16 attempts. Fryer was acquired by the Yankees on February 4, 2009, from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for left-handed pitcher Chase Wright. He was originally selected by the Brewers in the 10th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of Ohio State University.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Josh Thomson
Why Hinkse, Pete? Im curious about this one?
I like it.
does this mean joba’s going back to the pen?
/francessa’d
I see this is a mini-salary dump by the Pirates, which costs the Yanks almost nothing ($400K? Pfft!!), should Hinske not be any good.
Not quite the Abreu trade, or even the Farnsworth for I-Rod trade, but still Ok.
They must really have something against Shelley Duncan…
Why? Makes little sense to me
Hinsky is a terrible Outfielder and not a good hitter, just another Morgan Ensberg, Richie Sexson deal.
Don’t like this one, I liked the chemisty we had going with the outfield and infield, is this specifally insurance for a rods hip?
FYI in case it hasn’t been mentioned already:
Live chat with Tex at 3.
http://mlb.mlb.com/fan_forum/chat.jsp
I read they are sending down Pena, Pete:
http://blogs.nypost.com/sports.....in_hi.html
Heard Pena is the one who’s getting sent down…
The only way this deal makes sense to me is if they DFA Ransom.
this makes little sense barring an injury
Ugh. Hinkse over Pena? Thx Cash
Gotta be sending Pena down so he can play everyday.
Good bench bat, that’s about it. We needed a bench bat that could sub in at RF with Nady gone for the season. It’s insurance if Swisher goes into an extended slump (which he’s done twice this year). That way you don’t have to count on both Gardner and Cabrera to hit.
How can anyone not see how this makes sense? Veteran hitter with OBP skills (valuable) and power (valuable), a lefty in NYS with power (valuable), can play multiple positions even if only average or below average (still valuable) and cheap and we traded nothing (net neutral).
Pena is going to go learn the OF in the minors so he can get regular ABs, learn some new skills, and prepare to be the super util guy maybe late this season or next season.
Ransom will be able to sub at the harder IF positions (SS,2b, and 3B vs lefties) and Hinske will spell A-rod and Swisher or Damon or Melky/Gardner depending on matchups and/or off days.
Even in a bad year Hinske is OBP .373 for the pirates, thats valuable.
Wow this thread is off to a roaring start in terms of unnecessary whining and griping about getting a decent bench player for what amounts to a bucket of balls. Glad to see the geniuses are out in full force this afternoon. Good time to stop reading the blog.
I LOVE this trade!! He’s a GREAT utility/bench player! I just HOPE that it’s Cody Ransom that gets sent down..NOT EL NINO
Im loving pena’s talent
This makes perfect sense. Hinske seems like a gu who can hold his onw hitting. He plays a variety of positions and can play for A-Rod and take his turn in the OF. Good move.
Pena was not a role player anyway and needs regular at bats.
How do you guys see this as a bad thing. Hinkse has performed decent at the major level. Duncan is a career minor leaguer for a reason. This gives Girardi the option to bench A-Rod or any outfielder and still have a decent bat in the lineup. Gave up next to nothing. It’s a good deal.
Vote for Tex people. He needs to pass the dude who looks like he hangs out in leather bars.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/.....t_reg.html
re-post:
This is an interesting trade for the Yankees!
Eric Hinske is an AL East specialist. This is a player who knows his way around Toronto and Boston Tampa. And he knows the visitors’ locker room in Baltimore very well.
His baseball-reference.com page is sponsored by Scott E. and says “The Orioles missed out on a great player. Good luck in Pittsburgh!” I know what you’re thinking. Scott E.? Must be Scott Erickson, who knows of what he speaks!
Welcome to New York, Eric Hinske!
(are html tags on or off??)
I don’t see how Ransom is better than Pena.
This definitely deepens our bench a lot.
Funny thing is, if the Red Sox made this deal, the same folks complaining about this deal would be praising Theo for getting another veteran for the bench.
Another rookie of the year that fell off the face of the earth? Is he younger than Berroa?
Sounds like a solid role player to me.
____________________________________________
Just finished reading the Girardi article. It was nice to see something, let alone something positive, written about Girardi.
Couple things. First, Girardi is on an island. Or trepidously near one. He’s in sink or swim territory. Cashman would always publicly support and cover Torre’s gaffes.
Cashman doesn’t do the same for Girardi, perhaps signalling an “each man for his own” as he tries to survive himself. (Boo!)
I don’t think Girardi really much cares. He’s confident, has the love of his family, has guys playing hard for him (the ultimate sign of respect in sports), and he knows he’ll always have a job in baseball no matter what this particular Yankee squad does. Or what Cashman does to or against him.
Second, Alex better kiss Girardi’s feet each and every day. If Torre were here when all that $^%& happened, I don’t know what would happen. Well, you can say that Torre’s supporting Manny. Well, true. But the difference is Torre loves Manny. He’s replaced Jeter as his clubhouse pet. Alex was never more than a hitting machine that was a headcase in his eyes.
Anyway, go Joe Girardi.
Frankie: Ransom has real power and hitting ability in the majors, his early season disaster slump excluded. Pena has gotten some nice hits for us, but doesn’t have the experience of Ransom and clearly still has some holes in his game.
I think everyone loves what Pena has brought to the club, but as has been mentioned before, he needs to get regular at bats.
Scranton is the place for him right now.
Vote for the All Star game and get Tex in., He deserves it and the Sox fans are voting guys in like crazy. Yankees fans vote for your guys for a change this year. Ellsbury with more votes than Damon is just another example of how absurd it all is.
Does it Pena that Ramiro is being sent down?
if you dont get the trade, it’s been discussed at great length in the previous thread. to summarize…hinske = something for nothing. the guy can play 4 positions and has decent power and good OBP. Pena needs to play everyday and this will help him do that, plus the Yanks seem to have interest in experimenting with him in the OF which can be accomplished in AAA.
Cmon guys Vote for Tex hes behind again by 40k
I don’t understand this deal. Given Pena’s superlative SS fielding and his speed, it’s not clear to me that Hinske is much of an upgrade. BTW who is now the SS backup, Hinske or Ransom?
Does it Pena that Ramiro is being sent down?
—-
Awful. You have been demoted to extended spring training for this.
So Pena will be back in Sept. Sporting an outfielder’s glove?
Unless Hinske is filler to replace somebody the Yankees expect to trade, I’m mystified by the move — completely, totally, and absolutely mystified.
No problem with Pena going down if he’s the one. Cervelli, too when it’s time.
Weren’t they both at AA? Unbelievable how they fit in almost seamlessly. They just have to continue working because they’re the understudies right now and will get the first call.
I don’t care if Tex makes it in, in fact it’s an advantage if he misses out so he doesn’t risk injury needlessly.
Hinske sees 4 pitches per at bat, puts him right behind Damon and Tex and fourth on the Yankees. He has had some big post season hits. He is not a good fielder, but is a nice batter to have off the bench with some pop who is lefthanded at Yankees stadium? And how does this move not make sense? The guys moved are and will be nobodys. Pitchers in that low ball at age 24 more than likely don’t have much upside.
this trade could work out for us.
No bullpen guys available anywhere Cash??
I would rather have brought up Duncan… he is a lefty masher and has a great personality that could help loosen up the clubhouse even more.
How many guys have been injured in history at the All Star game ? Other than the slumps after the Home Run derby. But in the game itself. Come on. Anyone who would prefer to see the Red Sox play the NL and make the team who don’t deserve it can’t be serious.
And here I thought the Yankees couldn’t add any payroll?
I’m sure that the happiest pitcher in baseball about the Yanks getting Hinske is Wang. Hinske was a career .433 hitter, 13-30 with 5 doubles, 2 homers abd 4 RBI.
This allows the Yankees to put some pop in the lineup if they need it, have a power lefty bat off the bench, and someone who can fill in at the corners. Ransom can do this too, but his bat is weak and not experienced.
hinkse is a pro.
Agree 100% with SJ44… if Theo made this deal, we’d all be whining about the Sox getting another bat for nothing.
Hinske, Shminke, whatever.
I’m just glad Cashman realized he needed a fifth outfielder with pop more than two utility infielders.
I’m a little disappointed though. It means Shelly isn’t getting another chance in the Bronx.
I was at two of Slam’s games in ‘07 when he hit home runs. The second was that day game when he threw out a runner at home and hit a 3-run dinger with two outs in the 9th to tie the game. (I think it was against the O’s, maybe the Rays. I can’t recall.) The place went ape doo-doo.
I liked him because he always gave the Yankees a pinch-hit power threat. I hope some other team signs him this off season or whenever he become a minor league FA and he gets another chance in the majors.
By the way, for all you who were whining in Sunday nights thread about Robbie hitting into DPs, Yankees Republic has a good article today about yanking Robbie from the 5th spot. Long but well argued.
http://theyankeesrepublic.blog.....to-go.html
Check out his chart. Very Interesting.
2009 GO/AO SO/PA OBA/ISOd RISP OPS+
Cano 1.27/1 7.5% .330/.033 .215 111
Swisher 1.06/1 21.7% .373/.128 .204 127
Matsui 0.97/1 15.5% .345/.099 .212 110
Posada 0.95/1 19.3% .359/.087 .273 126
Damon 0.80/1 15.6% .364/.076 .313 131
He wants to put Damon five? I don’t like that option, but he’s right. A-Rod needs better protection in the lineup.
Wait, Hinkse can play 3B? Is this true?
john-How many guys have been hurt? Ever heard the story of how Pete Rose ended a catcher’s carrer by running him over in the ASG?
You’re allowed to want to vote him in, but I could frankly care less and would much rather not risk injury.
“Vote for Tex people. He needs to pass the dude who looks like he hangs out in leather bars.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/.....t_reg.html”
———-
Youkilis has passed Tex in voting.
Are you gonna allow this to happen??
Vote for Tex as many times as you can. It beats working.
How many bullpen arms have the Yankees aquired or traded for in the past that have worked out? Marte, Mike Myers, Villone, Farns, Embree, White, should I mention some more? At this point in the trade market Street who apparently the Yankees already inquired about is unavailable. The pen has been pretty good recently and the only arm I want is a major one which isn’t happening right now.
Even though the Hinske deal isn’t a blockbuster move, he’s very familiar with the AL East with Baltimore being the only team he hasn’t been with.
As a member of first Toronto, then Boston, and on to Tampa Bay, he’s done damage to the Yankees with some key hits.
He knows his role and won’t complain. Billy Beane would have wanted a lot of the Yankee farm system for Holliday.
“Wait, Hinkse can play 3B? Is this true?”
Not well, but you can hide him there every 10 days or so to spell Rodriguez.
I guess the Yanks are apparently into acquiring players who were once Rookie of the Year but turned out to be HUGE BUSTS. First Berroa, now Hinkse. I like Pena way better. Speed is key..
James from Jersey-Yep. The Yanks website describes him as an IF/OF who can play third.
not sure if he’ll be major league ready for the OF in September, but the rumor’s going around that they want him to be positioned as a super-utility guy in the future…I imagine either way that he’ll be back in Sept. Ransom has no options so would have to be DFA’d and is a suitable backup for SS and 2nd…Hinske can play RF, LF, 1B and 3rd although many have said he’s not a great 3b (neither is Ransom)…so that leaves Ransom to play SS and 2nd with Hinske to sub in at the OF corners, 1B if Tex needs a day and I imagine it will be between Ransom and Hinske to fill in for ARod at 3rd…all this on top of the fact that he didn’t cost anything and the Pirates are paying part of his salary make for a good move IMO.
“Ellsbury with more votes than Damon is just another example of how absurd it all is.”
——–
it’s an example of Red Sox fans voting more than Yankee fans.
can’t let that happen.
Looking at Hinske career-wise, his bat shouldn’t hurt. His glove at third might.
Looking at Hinske this year, though, he has been awful over the last month, especially over the last two weeks.
People have been excited over the Pirates essentially keeping part of Hinske’s salary. Another way to look at it, of course, is that the Pirates didn’t think Hinske was worth $400,000. Looked at that way, it’s not that exciting a pick-up.
I see this as essentially a gamble, but not necessarily a winning one. But the Yanks didn’t risk that much, so I guess it doesn’t hurt (unless he doesn’t play well and the Yanks hold onto him anyway, a la Berroa) and could help.
Jay June 30th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Unless Hinske is filler to replace somebody the Yankees expect to trade, I’m mystified by the move — completely, totally, and absolutely mystified.
————————-
Mystified? Really? Take a deep breath there.
They traded pretty much nothing for a bench player. Seems pretty clear and simple to me.
I think that they want Girardi to look down the bench at the end of games…and see a bat.
I think the team will appreciate the move. That’s what I love about Cashman. He’s always bringing in reinforcements to help fuel the campaign. It’s not in the David Justice category, but I’m sure the guys will appreciate the gesture.
One HR in 106 ABs in ‘09 after hitting 20 in 381 ABs in ‘08. Hmmmm.
“Funny thing is, if the Red Sox made this deal, the same folks complaining about this deal would be praising Theo for getting another veteran for the bench.”
No, the funny thing is if he went to the Red Sox (again), he’d start hitting .350 and fit like a glove…
Cano also ranks 162nd in the league in seeing pitches per at bat. He is worst of the Yankees starters. He has 5 walks in his last 100 at bats, very few on the season. For those that remember his patience to start the year, he had 4 in his first four games. His batting average has declined substantially each month since he has gotten less and less patient. He is batting close to .200 with RISP and I think .115 with the bases loaded which historically he is awful in that spot. All in all just not the best spot for him. His approach is all wrong batting 5th, if he learned from Tex to wait on his pitch and put the pressure on the pitcher he would be great there. But he has reverted to the Robbie of 2008.
Hinske only improves the bench, what’s not to like
Don’t the players get to vote backups? Maybe Tex gets in anyway.
I’m sure Maddon would love to replace the truck driver after one at-bat.
This is from Joel Sherman of the NY post:
“They are planning to send down Pena later today. They want Pena to continue to develop as a prospect and get more at-bats.”
It can be found here: http://blogs.nypost.com/sports.....in_hi.html
john-I agree, he should not be batting fifth.
m, I don’t know about all of that Girardi analysis. Each point could be correct, but I’m not sure if they all have and real basis.
Girardi doesn’t care much? I bet he cares a lot.
Guys are playing hard for him? Maybe. There are also a lot of very professional players on this team. It’s nice of Tex, for example, to praise Girardi as a manager, but I’m not sure Tex would be playing any less hard for Tony Pena or Joe Torre.
Girardi will always have a job in baseball? I don’t know about always, but I don’t doubt that he’d get another show somewhere eventually if he washed out in New York. But if he were fired today he would not be hired “tomorrow” as you once wrote. Unless you were counting the YES network.
I like Girardi but I think the jury is way out on how good a manager he is. Emphasis on ‘how’. I also think that the Yankees will do well enough this season that bringing back Girardi won’t be an issue. That is my hope, at least.
“that could help loosen up the clubhouse even more”
Tightening up the bench might be more of a priority than loosening up the clubhouse.
pat-Ha ha good line.
“I’m sure that the happiest pitcher in baseball about the Yanks getting Hinske is Wang. Hinske was a career .433 hitter, 13-30 with 5 doubles, 2 homers abd 4 RBI.”
SO True GB, SO TRUE
Ransom stays because he can play every infield spot. Hinske can play RF and 1B, 3B in a pinch. Since Swisher is pretty much every day in RF it allows a Tex day off or some flexability in the OF for injuries or pinch hitting. He also opens up a spot for Damon and Swisher to DH as a breather because Matsui can’t get out there. And he is a guy who is a veteran, on winning teams, willing to play as a bench player or whatever role you need. Pena will be back soon enough.
Bob(the original),
You said:
“Mystified? Really? Take a deep breath there.
They traded pretty much nothing for a bench player. Seems pretty clear and simple to me.”
I’m not hyperventilating, Bob. In fact, I pretty much don’t give a damn. I don’t know a whole lot about they guys they traded. Etc.
Absent a trade, I just don’t see how he’s an upgrade over anybody on the current roster.
So I suspect it’s either in contemplation of a trade or because he’s a dead pull hitter and should hit well at Yankee stadium (although he didn’t from 2006-2008), or because he’s great at some defensive position at which the Yankees contemplate paying him. Again, I suspect it’s the first — that he’s a move in contemplation of filling a hole resulting from a future trade.
But hyperventilate? No way. It’s a very minor move in any case. I just normally think I can find SOME rationale for Cashman’s moves — and I can’t find any apparent rationale here.
I can’t believe some people are still clamoring for Shelley Duncan. He was a one hit wonder. Am I the only one who saw how once the scouting report got around on him, he was nothing but an automatic out at the ML level?
Give it up people.
Nick,
I’m sure Girardi cares. A lot. It’s always been his dream to be the manager of the New York Yankees.
But I don’t think he cares that management may or may not have his back. His job in his eyes is to show up and manage. Win or go home. He knows the drill.
And he’ll have a job, even if he has to sit out a year in the Fox booth (he won’t step into the YES booth, because well, duh, he probably would’ve just been fired by the Yankees) as he surveys the landscape.
He’s young, he’s shown he can manage a bullpen, and IMO is good with working with young players. So, yes, I don’t think he worries too much about management opportunities should the Yankees choose to go in a different direction.
And tomorrow was a figurative term. Especially since “tomorrow” was a long time ago!
VOTE FOR TEX!!!
Don’t let him lose out to Youkilis. Every one of us should vote the maximum number of times!
Jay, it’s quite simple. A-Rod needs time off at third. Cashman wanted to deepen the bench. Pittsburgh was looking to give the guy away. Cashman took a flyer on him.
Reading anything more into is a waste of time.
I guess Hinske is an improvement over Pena, but if I remember correctly, he couldn’t buy a hit in the playoffs last year. Definitely over-matched.
If Girardi gets fired, that’s it for him. He will become a broadcaster. Nobody will manage a guy who lasted 1 yr in Florida and 2 yrs in NY with no playoff appearances, prickly relationship with the media and veteran players.
He might latch on as a bench coach on a 2nd tier team, but broadcasting is much more enticing.
Why did PIT pay us to take him ?
Poster #3 — get off my jock, son! Don’t be a biter.
Hinskie is a very nice bat to have off the bench late in a game. He is a patient hitter who is not afraid to take a few pitches.
Shelly Duncan is great for elbow slaps and a few long home runs, but he is a weak overall player who can’t hit a major league pitcher with a decent curve ball.
Hinskie played very well for Boston in 2007. He made some outstanding catches in the outfield and he had a few very big hits.
Bob, I think people have vastly forgotten how bad Shelley is because he’s big and scary and not afraid to throw down in a brawl…but the guy basically can not hit a decent breaking ball and plays the field terribly…
hinske isn’t some all-star but that’s why he is a utility bench guy…he just gives the Yanks options for rest days and Girardi a bat off the bench. Hinske is a less skilled but much cheaper version of DeRosa who everyone’s been in love with for the past couple weeks.
Just because you’re fired by the Yankees doesn’t mean you can’t work for YES.
I do agree with you that Mr. Girardi seems to be a well-centered individual and I suspect and hope that he is not wasting moments worrying about his own future. So we agree on that.
And I agree that he would get another shot somewhere, eventually. You have to be way more than a two-time loser to stop getting managerial jobs in the big leagues!
I think Shelley deserves a second chance. But I like the Hinske deal.
Good move, IMO.
Hinske has a good bat, can play 3B, RF, LF. He is a better option than Ransom at third when A-rod needs a day off. He will also help out in RF when Swisher goes into another extended slump.
I’m a bit troubled, however, that Ransom is likely going to stay ahead of Pena. Does Cashman forget that Ransom essentially lost his job to Pena before injuring his hamstring? Pena has less power but he’s a better contact hitter, a better fielder, better bunter, better baserunner. Seems like an easy choice to me.
Patrick-They want him to work on his bat every day in the minors.
Couldn’t buy a hit in the playoffs last year? He has 2 at bats and had a homer? They didn’t give him many chances.
Hinske’s OPS after the All-Star Break from 2006 to 2008: .719.
For an infielder with a great glove, a player with that kind of bat could be an asset. For somebody who played almost half of his games in right field and most of the rest in left field or first base, no.
He did play 178 games at third base. Maybe it’s because they’ve given up on Ransom and plan to play him at third on days they rest A-Rod.
For whatever it might be worth, I would expect Ransom to have a better bat. I have no idea what kind of glove Hinske has though at third base (although it looks like it ain’t great from what I can gather from Baseball Prosectus’ stats). On the other hand, Ransom isn’t so hot in the field either — and I gather he still has options left. So the Yankees can send him down and keep him — if they want to.
Again, not a big deal (literally) in any case.
Girardi’s in-game moves have been questionable at times, but you cna’t deny that he always has his players’ back.
From yelling at Gardenhire/Boston’s 1B coach, to defending A-Rod and bashing Selena Roberts took, to getting thrown out after bad calls, and making an effort to loosen up (pool tournament, allowing Swisher and Burnett to play loud music and pie guys etc.), and even things like taking the fall for Burnett after his Boston game (blaming himself for pitching him on extra rest) etc.
He’s made a hell of an effort to improve his relationship with the players and be more loose this year.
Come onnnnnn, we can’t do better than this????
“Patrick-They want him to work on his bat every day in the minors. ”
Maybe that’s it..
Patrick, Cashman remembers, but Ransom has no options and Pena and the Yankees will benefit more in the long run from him getting to play every day in AAA and perhaps learning to play the outfield essentially becoming a much better defensive version of Hinske…and if he can pick up the hitting he’ll be even better off.
Nick,
Absolutely. Don342 makes a pretty good point that he might look like a two-time loser. But if I’m an owner and I’ve got Dusty Baker on one hand and Girardi on the other? I’d go with Girardi. Unless he shows up to interview with a toothpick dangling from his mouth.
sorry to pile on there Patrick, I just type slowly
think about the trade this way…would you guys rather have given up Melencon (sp) and at least one other decent prospect for DeRosa or give up two guys you’ve never heard of for Hinske and some money? Seems like an easy choice to me.
Maybe it’s because they worry about Pena not getting enough playing time — or because they plan to package him in a trade….
I’d love to see Shelley Duncan get a chance, too — although Hokiehill may well be right about him not being able to hit curve balls, etc. And I don’t know what complications it would create with the roster.
as much as I want to see Duncan called up this is a good move…
Nick,
This is what you wrote, “But if he were fired today he would not be hired “tomorrow” as you once wrote. Unless you were counting the YES network.” So I took you at your word. Of course it’s possible that Girardi could work for YES Network. But I don’t think it’d be right after he was fired.
Hokiehill
You said:
“[T]hink about the trade this way…would you guys rather have given up Melencon (sp) and at least one other decent prospect for DeRosa or give up two guys you’ve never heard of for Hinske and some money? Seems like an easy choice to me.”
Amen, Hokiehill. Amen.
you’ll get to see Shelley come up if Matsui falls apart…the guy is just a bat and not that good of one either.
Isn’t that a telling sign that Pittsburgh paid US 1\2 his salary?
I mean, which team ever pays salary when they trade with us? For a bench player making $1.25 million, no less.
Just remember Hinske has played only 21 games at third in the last five years. He went from being a full time third baseman in 2004, to essentially never playing it again from 2005 on.
I’m sure there’s a reason for that, and my guess is we’ll find out what it is once Hinske starts playing third every week or 10 days for ARod.
As I said in the last thread, I hope that after Hinske’s first key error at third everyone stays as positive as they are now.
Thanks, Hokiehill.
I didn’t realize Ransom has no options.
BTW I like Duncan too but more because he’s a hard-nosed wide open kind of player…but unfortunately he’s just not that good and is probably a career AAAA (that’s 4 on purpose) player
Trade Hector Nolesi for a guy like Adam Everett to play SS
There’s a reason why Duncan is a near 30 year old career minor leaguer even though he has the power to hit 25 dingers.
He has serious holes in his game. He is not a defender. Hes a DH who strikes out a ton and can’t hit major league pitching.
Hinske is a major upgrade over Duncan and can help this team.
Well, I think Dusty Baker’s ‘wears out his welcome’ shelf life gets shorter each stop, but he did bring a team to within a couple innings of a title. You might be giving too much credit to the hypothetical owner/GM who’s making the decision between the two. Which is not a real choice, of course.
I would much rather debate how much credit Girardi gets for having won #27 and beyond that what his career arc might look like if he can’t last into 2010 in the Bronx.
Now that he has AL East specialist Eric Hinske as a bench weapon, I think Joe is going to look a lot smarter than he did when he looked down the bench and saw Angel Berroa.
Go Joe!
we need to offer the Mets any of our AAA hitters and try and get something back
Mets could use Ransom, Duncan, J-Rod. Maybe get back someone good. Duncan could actually help them and add some pop.
Love the Duncan, but there’s a reason why he’s never even gone in trades as a filler or throwaway.
Vote for Tex people. He needs to pass the dude who looks like he hangs out in leather bars.
Nominated for Comment of the Day
OPS+ of 100 for 2009 will receive a boost in our Stadium, and the career .373 OBP is always welcome.
Did hit 20 HR last year, so that’s nice.
He has good pinch hit numbers from last season, which means he should help off the bench. We really don’t have a sort of professional bat off the bench.
What I DON’T want to see is this guy get over-used, which will drag down the outfield/infield if he plays with regularity.
The Yankees are sometimes guilty of falling in love with a flavor and over doing it, negating the positive impact the player can provide in smaller doses.
All right, all right. I’m voting.
By the way, you realize how easy it is to fake an email? You could vote like 100 times if you wanted to.
By the way, not that i care, it’s a very minor move, and I have to get back to work.
But for whatever it might be worth, as Wave Your Hat says, it looks like the last year Hinske played more than a handful of games at third base was back in 2003 and 2004. And according to FanGraphs he was a HUGE liability in the field in those years.
Back to work….
Great… now Girardi will play him 4 times a week. He loves those scrub players…..
“As I said in the last thread, I hope that after Hinske’s first key error at third everyone stays as positive as they are now.”
Wave is right. And it’s bound to happen. First error Hinske makes people will go nuts saying he’s awful and that the yankees can’t build a bench. Despite the fact that Hinske is one of the better possible players who plays on the bench.
When the yankees played the Sox there was a lot praise heaped on Nick Green. Why could’t he do that for the yankees? The red sox always make the right move for the bench, etc, etc.
Does anyone think that Green is a good defensive SS? Is it even fair to ask guys like Green or hinske to meet those standards given that they are bench players for a reason?
m: Ok, how about this: Girardi gets a call to meet Cashman. “Brian wants you to wear a suit, Joe, and he wants the meeting to be in the YES studio. Come early, you’ll need makeup.”
Forget tomorrow, Girardi doesn’t have to miss a game!
Pena’s arm gives him a lot of options
We could teach him how to be an emergency catcher, RF, CF along with a utility infielder
If Hinske makes an error, they will blame it on Cano somehow, saying he is non-nonchalant, lazy etc.
“sorry to pile on there Patrick, I just type slowly ”
No, that’s okay you gave me a good answer.
Don’t know if this already has made the Lohud rounds, but somebody on NYYFan has a link to the so-called “unofficial” list of the 104 names.
Only Yanks, current and former, are Andy & Damon, and Jason and Abreu, respectively.
Not surprisingly, there is a representative group of our 2004 foes to the north, including Pedro, Ortiz, Nixon, Manny, of course, Derek Lowe…
Who knows if it’s the legit list of “other” names, but here’s the link:
http://rotoinfo.com/read_article.php?articleId=318
…and Damon would qualify for that 2004 Red Sox clan of listed users, of course.
“Trade Hector Nolesi for a guy like Adam Everett to play SS”
Why ?
They still have to take someone of the 40 man roster to make add Hinske, and they should just release Ransom.
After this season three Yankee outfielders (Matsui, Damon and Nady) will become free agents. Its possible that all three could leave. In light of that I wouldn’t be surprised if the Yankees signed Hinske to a short term (1 or 2 years) extension in the next few weeks.
bodhi-It made the rounds. Pete says it’s fake.
Y? he’s better than Pena.. Yankees again over thinking!! Pena’s a nice role player
Y? he’s better than Pena.. Yankees again over thinking!! Pena’s a nice role player
It bothers me so much that Jed Lowrie is in the running for shortstop with over 500,000 votes while batting .056 with 18 AB’s and 1 hit.
Hinske’s carrer OBP is .337, not .373.
He’s a lousy fielder with no speed, mediocre OBP and declining power.
I want my bag of balls back.
Phil,
They have an open spot on the 40 man I believe and they can also put nady on the 60 day.
CB,
You said:
“Does anyone think that Green is a good defensive SS? Is it even fair to ask guys like Green or hinske to meet those standards given that they are bench players for a reason?”
For whatever it might be worth, CB, according to FanGraphs, Green is a slightly above average defensive player. According to Baseball Prospectus, he was average to slightly below average until 2007 and has been slightly above average since.
I haven’t seen him play enough to even have an uneducated impression.
Just in case you were interested…
If the Yanks needed to substitute for Jeter defensively in the late innings I could see an argument for keeping Pena and sending down Ransom (if he had an option, which he doesn’t).
But, the Yanks don’t need to substitute defensively for Jeter, and even if they had a need to do so (which they don’t), they wouldn’t do it anyway.
Given that, I’d keep Ransom over Pena because Ransom’s more likely IMO to hit better than Pena and Pena could improve by playing every day in AAA.
They still have to take someone of the 40 man roster to make add Hinske, and they should just release Ransom.
—————————————————-
I would think that Xavier Nady will go on the 60 day disabled list today and that should free up a spot on the 40 man roster for Hinske.
Talk about making a trade for the sake of making a trade. I don’t mind the move is they move Ransom off the 25 man roster, but I do not want to see Pena sent down. He brings something more valuable to this team than a bat- the ability to pinch run and steal a base (also play a great shortstop when Jeter is out).
*Be sure to vote for Teixeira!!! He’s down 40,000 points against Youkilis and Thursday is the voting deadline*
I have now voted 75 times with three different email addresses.
Whose with me?!
Wait till they come to OUR house AGAIN
June 30th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
bodhi-It made the rounds. Pete says it’s fake.
=====
Thanks.
BTW, interesting username. It sort of has the menacing, naive quality I’d associate with a Raymond Carver story. What’s the reference.
““Trade Hector Nolesi for a guy like Adam Everett to play SS””
———
Detroit apparently loves Everett. They had said resigning him was an offseason priority.
“I have now voted 75 times with three different email addresses.
Whose with me?!”
——-
I’m at 100 votes…. guess that’s still not enough.
I’m with ya.
Hinske is 1-1 with a walk off Brandon Moeeow
Play him tonight
Hinske is now an Orioles stint short from achieving the rare AL East “Five-fecta”
There is no problem with the 40 man roster (for the first time in a long time).
Currently there are 39 players on the 40 man. Nady and Marte are still on the 15 day DL and can be moved to the 60 day whenever the Yankees want to.
Kevin Cash is still on the 40 man roster. That’s another spot.
So there are 4 very available spots, and I’m not even counting Brett Tomko.
Wave Your Hat
June 30th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Just remember Hinske has played only 21 games at third in the last five years. He went from being a full time third baseman in 2004, to essentially never playing it again from 2005 on.
I’m sure there’s a reason for that, and my guess is we’ll find out what it is once Hinske starts playing third every week or 10 days for ARod.
As I said in the last thread, I hope that after Hinske’s first key error at third everyone stays as positive as they are now.
————————————————————
Hinske was moved from third to first when Toronto brought Corey Koske in to replace Delgado. Koske didn’t work out, so they brought in Troy Glaus. Toronto then stole Overbay from Milwauke for next to nothing and put him at first.
I would have much rathered they got DeRosa, but he was going to cost much more than Hinske. This is a deal the Mets should have made.
Boston Dave,
You ROCK!
Keep it up!!!
That caller brought up a GREAT idea
Mets should sing Barry Bonds…. costs them nothing and can still hit.
“How can anyone not see how this makes sense? Veteran hitter with OBP skills (valuable) and power (valuable), a lefty in NYS with power (valuable), can play multiple positions even if only average or below average (still valuable) and cheap and we traded nothing (net neutral).
Pena is going to go learn the OF in the minors so he can get regular ABs, learn some new skills, and prepare to be the super util guy maybe late this season or next season.
Ransom will be able to sub at the harder IF positions (SS,2b, and 3B vs lefties) and Hinske will spell A-rod and Swisher or Damon or Melky/Gardner depending on matchups and/or off days.
Even in a bad year Hinske is OBP .373 for the pirates, thats valuable.”
Think I’m going to save this in a file so that everytime somebody complains about Hinske I can paste it.
They got Hinske and Swisher for virtually nothing and people are still complaining about it, amazing!
Brandon Morrow and Jarrod Washburn both pitched well against us last season. I don’t want to say any of that this series.
Seattle gives up the least runs per game, though you wouldn’t think that looking at the starters’ ERA. Their bullpen must be good.
MattNC
June 30th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Hinske’s carrer OBP is .337, not .373.
He’s a lousy fielder with no speed, mediocre OBP and declining power.
I want my bag of balls back.
====
Thanks, my error.
His OBP for last season was .373.
If he can do that and hit HR for us off the bench, that’s fine with me.
If we hang our hat on him for more, then he hurts us. I am not a fan of his defense, either, as per my post.
Like I said on the other Post, Hinske is a good move if he can play 3rd and the OF. We’ve been asking for a guy like this all year. He’s replacing Nady
I’d Take Pena over Ransom, and we may just see it later in the year, but it will do Pena some good to play more. I hope Pena keeps his head up and works on hitting RH where he needs lots of work.
Cash seems to be on the job and has made some good in season moves the last few years. Hopefully he not done and gets another bullpen arm soon too.
“according to FanGraphs, Green is a slightly above average defensive player. ”
Green’s range at SS has been decent. He’s getting to balls. But he’s had bad hands and made a number of errors. That’s why I brought him up. Fans always go nuts with errors. Green has made them.
“Mets could use Ransom, Duncan, J-Rod. Maybe get back someone good. Duncan could actually help them and add some pop.”
The Mets behavior during this crisis of theirs is mind boggling. Omar doesn’t seem interested in making any moves. That has to be disheatening for the team and the fans.
Jay
June 30th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
CB,
You said:
“Does anyone think that Green is a good defensive SS? Is it even fair to ask guys like Green or hinske to meet those standards given that they are bench players for a reason?”
For whatever it might be worth, CB, according to FanGraphs, Green is a slightly above average defensive player. According to Baseball Prospectus, he was average to slightly below average until 2007 and has been slightly above average since.
I haven’t seen him play enough to even have an uneducated impression.
Just in case you were interested…
————————————————————
Those 9 errors by Green in less than 50 games says differently.
hinske improves our bench. who knows what melky or gardner will do down the stretch.
pena has a great glove, but needs to develop his bat. he needs to get more ab’s. also we’d have to dfa ransom and risk losing him.
Morrow took a no hitter into the 8th inning against us last year
Washburn always owns us
Vargas… another pitcher who we haven’t seen before, spent a couple of yrs in the NL.
Not going to be an easy series at all. Seattle has very good pitching.
no chance the yanks sign hinske to a contract extension this year. none..
what would the hurry be? he going to be a FA!!! So..
why spend so much energy on no brainer far from significant move, he is a good bench player, the price was right, is that complicated????
Jay
June 30th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
CB,
You said:
“Does anyone think that Green is a good defensive SS? Is it even fair to ask guys like Green or hinske to meet those standards given that they are bench players for a reason?”
For whatever it might be worth, CB, according to FanGraphs, Green is a slightly above average defensive player. According to Baseball Prospectus, he was average to slightly below average until 2007 and has been slightly above average since.
I haven’t seen him play enough to even have an uneducated impression.
Just in case you were interested…
————————————————————
Hinske doesn’t have blazing speed, but, he is pretty quick and is an exceptionally smart base runner. 60 steals in 80 attempts comes out to 75%, which is more than acceptable.
You didn’t need all the stats to come to the conclusion that Cano should NOT be batting 5th. Many on this blog who have watched every game have been talking about that for weeks now and yet Giradi keeps him there. It’s a head-scratcher…
To be fair, Laura, Omar doesn’t have many prospects to deal. I don’t know anything about how they draft or what their farm system is like, but taking an uneducated guess they don’t do well.
I don’t think they could possibly have traded away all their talent. The Mets were able to hold on to F-Mart, and otherwise they got Santana by giving up very little.
They brought up some guys to fill in, I don’t know how ready they were. But it looks like they were brought up to soon, even F-Mart.
I just don’t think that Omar has much to work with as trades go. But it boggles my mind how he’s still employed after two late-season collapses, the Randolph firing debacle, and now this.
Forget how we looked against Seattle pitching. That was all Before Hinske.
The After Hinske era has arrived.
Or will this be the During Hinske era? Hmmmmmm.
Kay Hinted about the 103 names on the list of Peds Users online somewhere this is what i found check it out
http://rotoinfo.com/read_article.php?articleId=318
Kay Hinted about the 103 names on the list of Peds Users online somewhere this is what i found check it out
http://rotoinfo.com/read_article.php?articleId=318
Kay saying the Mets front office scolded Manuel for being a tad bit chatty to the press. Uh Oh
Hinske fortifies Bombers
June 30, 2009 2:04 PM
River Avenue Blues’ Mike Axisa on the deal that might save the Yankees’ season (and yes, I’m joking, but not completely):
Hinske
[Eric] Hinske, 31, hit .255-.373-.368 with the Bucs while playing first, third and rightfield. With a career .803 OPS against righthanded pitchers, he gives the Yanks’ bench a little bit a thump from the left side. He signed a one year, $1.5M contract with the Pirates last winter, and [Joel] Sherman says the Pirates are sending over $400,000 to cover approximately half of what he’s owed the rest of the year. Since Hinske can handle the four corner spots, the team will option Ramiro Pena to Triple-A Scranton so he can get regular playing time, as well as get some reps in the outfield. Cody Ransom becomes the defacto backup middle infielder.
You might wonder what the Yankees would want with a guy like Hinske, who’s not having a good season and is nobody’s idea of a future star. Well, the Yankees need a guy like Hinske. He can play four positions passably enough and he can still hit enough to give you a chance, particularly against right-handed pitching. Look at the Yankees’ bench, pre-Hinske … there is one extra outfielder: either Melky Cabrera or Brett Gardner (whichever of them isn’t playing center field in a given game).
Are there better fifth outfielders than Hinske? Maybe. But very few of them can also play first base and third base. Considering Hinske’s negligible salary and the two “prospects” the Yankees sent to Pittsburgh — neither was ranked among the Yankees’ 30 best prospects before this season — this might qualify as the smartest deal of the month.
Good afternoon GB.
I think it is a good move for your Yankees to pick up Hinske.
He has been a good role player wherever he has been in my opinion. You guys aren’t getting him to be a star player, but a good bench player and I think he will fill that role very well.
no chance the yanks sign hinske to a contract extension this year. none..
what would the hurry be? he going to be a FA!!! So..
—————————————————
It wouldn’t cost the Yankees too much (he only makes about $1.5 milllion per year). It also provides the Yankees some leverage in free agency or the trade market. If they lose 3 outfielders (and return an OF of Gardner, Swisher and Cabrera) then they will appear “desperate” to other free agents or to other teams who might want to trade with us.
“I just don’t think that Omar has much to work with as trades go. But it boggles my mind how he’s still employed after two late-season collapses, the Randolph firing debacle, and now this.”
Clearly, Omar has pictures of the Wilpons doing something that they shouldn’t be doing.
the need for Hinske next season may depend on how Pena looks in the OF…
thanks Rishi…River Avenue Blues’ Mike Axisa sounds like a smart guy
“He has been a good role player wherever he has been in my opinion. You guys aren’t getting him to be a star player, but a good bench player and I think he will fill that role very well.”
Hey ray! My problem with Hinske is that the story says that he complained about lack of playing time. I don’t see him playing much for us either. We don’t need any gloomy guys in the clubhouse.
Meh. Hinske’s not much but at least he has won a championship – unlike most of our guys.
I don’t get what is so hard to understand here. With Nady done for the year, they need to give Swisher a breather. That breather is obviously not coming from Matsui. The Yanks know what they have in Melky, so this is saying something about him as well. Lastly, at least he is versatile and has experience.
“Omar doesn’t have many prospects to deal. I don’t know anything about how they draft or what their farm system is like, but taking an uneducated guess they don’t do well.”
Omar only has himself to blame – or himself and his ownership.
The mets have been awful in the draft. To the point of being almost disinterested in a strange way. They’ve drafted one guy after another with the primary issue being to get guys that will sign cheaply – at slot or below. They’ve particularly kept drafting a number of middling college relief pitchers in relatively high rounds.
That has been Omar’s fundamental mistake. It’s like he came to NY and figured that in NY you can’t develop young players. It has to be now. Free agents and trades are the way to go.
They also had this strange pipe dream that signing Pedro Martinez would give them this huge strategic advantage signing kids from the DR because Pedro is revered there. They built this large complex on the island.
And not much has happened with that.
They just haven’t invested in player development under Omar.
In the meanwhile 15 of the 25 players on the yankees active roster were acquired and developed through their own minor league system with lots of depth – particularly in pitching – left in the minors.
This year’s team is the first one for the yanks where Cashman’s efforts to restock the system has had enough time to matriculate up to the majors.
Stark contrast with Omar and the Mets.
Manual has been talking a little too much…. and he is basically hurting Omar’s leverage by begging for a trade everyday.
Regardless, Hinske probably feels like he hit the Lottery. He went from the Pirates to the Yankees. Talk about an upgrade!
Eric Hinske sure does get around. I can remember watching him on the Jays, when he was actually a decent player.
I guess this can’t hurt the Yankees, as they really didn’t have to give up much for him.
“Regardless, Hinske probably feels like he hit the Lottery. He went from the Pirates to the Yankees. Talk about an upgrade!”
And he shouldn’t be phased by it. He’s been in the last 2 World Series. Largely as a spectator, but he did homer in last year’s classic. He won’t be a huge contributor, but he won’t cringe in big games either.
Ouch!
nyp_joelsherman: Exec from team that had Hinske: “If the #Yanks think he can play 3B 1 time a week for A-Rod, they are crazy. He stinks there.”
hinske is solid. He could also play third. Gives A-Rod rest.
“Hey ray! My problem with Hinske is that the story says that he complained about lack of playing time.”
Hi Laura! I guess I missed the part where Hinske has been complaining about playing time. That is too bad because if he was content to be a role player I think he can be a very good one that has some versatility in terms of positions.
CB,
Thanks for that.
As far as the well traveled vet, look at others. Matt Stairs, Kenny Lofton, Gary Sheffield, Robert Horry
.
There’s a need for their kind of experienced presence. When called upon in critical (postseason), they’re less likely to wilt under the pressure.
Seriously, folks. Time to test the power of the blog.
Stop the Red Sox deluge and vote for Tex to start the All-Star game. You can vote up to 25 times per e-mail address.
Takes about five minutes.
Also, Pedroia is creeping up on Kinsler.
I will be interested to see what the approach is at 3rd…do we give Hinske a shot to see if he’s good enough to cover it once every 6-7 days and use Ransom if he’s not, or do they platoon at 3rd for ARod’s off days and use Hinske more as a Swisher sub…
ray (sox fan)
June 30th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Good afternoon GB.
I think it is a good move for your Yankees to pick up Hinske.
He has been a good role player wherever he has been in my opinion. You guys aren’t getting him to be a star player, but a good bench player and I think he will fill that role very well.
————————————————————
Good afternoon, Ray. Hope all is well in the (sox fan) family home. I assume your wood pile is now drying out and you’re getting ready for winter starting next month. BRRRRRRRRR.
I agree with you and hope Hinske helps NYY win as many games as he helped Boston in ‘07 and Tampa last year. He does nothing exceptional but does a lot of things pretty well. He’s learned to be a very good bench player over the last couple of years. That’s something NYY hasn’t had in a few years, possibly since Glenallen Hill.
raymagnetic,
You said:
“They got Hinske and Swisher for virtually nothing and people are still complaining about it, amazing!”
I don’t think anybody’s complaining about it, ray. I just think they don’t see it as upgrading in any way. Like MattNC said, “I want my bag of balls back.”
Again, it’s no biggie in any case.
What is that exec talking about? Why would the Yankees get him to replace Alex a game a week? I think he’s a versatile sub to come off the bench as needed. Defensive shifts and what not. Ransom will give Alex his regular spell.
Pirates are busy today:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....ledge.html
I don’t understand people saying:
- They would rather have Ramiro Pena than Eric Hinske for this year.
Really? Pena’s ok right now but he needs seasoning, which he will not get up here. AAA is where he should be right now.
- They would rather have Shelly Duncan than Eric Hinske for this year
Really? Did you all WATCH Shelly Duncan after the league stopped throwing him fastballs?
- This move sucks for the Yankees
Really? We gave up nothing and upgraded our bench. How does that move suck?
I do get the people who say:
- People on here will go nuts after Hinske makes his first error or has the audacity to strike out with a RISP.
The grass is always greener with many people.
- Only the Yankees suck. No other team in baseball makes outs with RISP or grounds into double plays.
- Only the Yankee front office makes moves that don’t work.
If the Yankees won a game 15-0 where the pitcher threw a perfect game, the in-game comments here will still be complaining that we made 27 outs.
I just don’t get that kind of “fan” who does not understand that baseball is not a game of perfection but thinks the team, owners and executives owe it to them.
pat June 30th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Ouch!
nyp_joelsherman: Exec from team that had Hinske: “If the #Yanks think he can play 3B 1 time a week for A-Rod, they are crazy. He stinks there.”
—————-
This from the guy (Sherman) who thinks Hughes could be the heir apparent to Mo – a guy who isn’t retiring until after the 2010 season and could pitch longer than that.
“Exec from team that had Hinske: “If the #Yanks think he can play 3B 1 time a week for A-Rod, they are crazy. He stinks there.””
I wonder if this executive has his own twitter feed? Curse of EH anyone?
Hinske will stink. The question will be how will his level of stink compare to Ransom’s?
Alex has to get days off.
Can’t have all-stars at every position and on the bench.
Hinske is a good fill in the hole player. If he has to play more than that, we’re in trouble anyway.
Yeah, I’m actually surprised that Omar hasn’t taken more of a hit. What happened this year is an anomaly with everybody going down but even so I always thought that the Mets could do a lot better with FA signings. I don’t follow what they do in the draft, but apparently it’s not significant. I did think it was crazy of them to re-sign O. Perez, especially at 12 mil a year. Or the Luis Castillo contract, seems crazy. Since 2006, I thought the Mets would just get better, but they haven’t.
He’s a good luck charm. Allows Pena to play everyday in minors
Hinske is a bench player for a reason. He’s not an everyday player. But he’ll fill a nice void for the Yanks. He immediately becomes their most dangerous bat off the bench (assuming all the regulars are in the lineup). He has a better pinch hitter bat than Molina, Cervelli, Ransom, Gardner and Melky. He’s not a better player than the last two…but as a pinch hitter he is much more valuable.
All the Posada haters need to listen to what David Wells just said on WFAN totally gives Posada huge amount of credit for his big game pitching success and overall success
Wells LOVED Posada
Calls these Guys nuts if they don’t like him
CB
Doesn’t he have better things to do on his honeymoon than comment on Hinske?
JP would have been my guess.
just curious why anyone would care what an exec from the Pirates says?…personally if they said one thing, I would do the opposite…
I like the Hinske acquisition.
I just don’t like it at the expense of the plus defense, ability to bunt and speed Pena gives this team.
Would I rather have Hinske than Ransom? Absolutely.
But not at the expense of Pena.
Pena has the potential to be our Homer Bush. His defensive ability is extraordinary and while he may not be a .300 hitter, he’s good for his role.
Ransom is getting a pass here because Girardi’s got a thing for him and doesn’t want to be labeled as a manager who ditched a guy who went down on injury.
It’s the wrong move.
Hinske is a like a Cigar store wooden Indian at 3rd.
His bat, however, was worth the move and upgraded the bench.
But this team should not be sacrificing a plus defense/small ball reserve in order to keep Ransom on the roster.
It will come back to bite us. The first time Ransom has to play SS it will really bite us.
David wells on the wfan right now, calls anyone who doesnt want to throw to posada crazy and that he never shook him off.
YANKS RULE !
If it turns out Hinske can’t play third, will the Yanks try to hammer a square peg through a round hole by either continuing to play Hinske at third anyway or subbing Hinske for Swisher too often?
That’s the only real down side I can see to this deal so far.
david wells just said posada has got a cannon…lol
I just spoke to Nick Green. He likes the trade. Nick also love being the starting SS for Boston!
How come we can’t get players like that?
Hokiehill,
The executive referenced in that twitter isn’t from the Pirates.
But that doesn’t stop them from expressing their unsolicited opinions.
“JP would have been my guess.”
JP is a very good guess. Ask Adam Dunn. I actually don’t think it’s the honeymooner. The twitter connection was too much to let pass though.
“If it turns out Hinske can’t play third, will the Yanks try to hammer a square peg through a round hole by either continuing to play Hinske at third anyway or subbing Hinske for Swisher too often?”
I hope not. If he can’t play 3b just accept it and move on. They’ll just need to play Ransom there. I don’t think they’ll force it.
If Hinske is unacceptable at 3b he’ll just be a pinch hitter and rare spot 5th OF.
I must be in the mood to get slapped around some today to make this suggestion on this blog, but that’s ok!
I think Tim Wakefield deserves at least some consideration to be on the all star roster.
Granted his ERA I think is something like 4.7 but he has done well and his record is 10-3. He could have a 12-3 record before the all star game.
I fully realize that a pitcher’s record is not the only indicator of how well a pitcher has done.
But I do think he deserves at least some thought to be on the roster.
Go ahead now…I am ready to be blasted. Be gentle.
Stultus Magnus,
You said:
“Yeah, I’m actually surprised that Omar hasn’t taken more of a hit. What happened this year is an anomaly with everybody going down but even so I always thought that the Mets could do a lot better with FA signings. I don’t follow what they do in the draft, but apparently it’s not significant. I did think it was crazy of them to re-sign O. Perez, especially at 12 mil a year. Or the Luis Castillo contract, seems crazy. Since 2006, I thought the Mets would just get better, but they haven’t.”
My guess is that what happened is that Sterling Equities’/Wilpon Family’s nine figure losses in the Madoff scandal tied their hands and kept them from signing the players that Minaya knew the Mets needed this year even though it was very much a buyer’s market. I’m sure it drove him crazy not to be able to be a buyer this off season, but if the money’s not there.
In any case, I don’t think it was Omar Minaya’s fault. I believe he was just operating within the financial constraints that he was given by Wilpon and being a good soldier not to say so. It’s not really Wilpon’s fault either (except for not being smart enough to avoid Madoff — which I gather puts him in pretty good company). Sometimes the money’s just not there.
Overall, I think Omar’s done a pretty good job — given the resources he’s been provided.
I gather that the strategy Wilpon had intended, before Omar persuaded him otherwise, was to eschew the free agent market entirely and build ENTIRELY from the draft. That may have been a better strategy long term. But given the strategy they’ve chosen, I think he’s done a pretty good job — not perfect by any means, but pretty good. Certainly far, far better than Cashman — if you exclude the farm system.
even if Hinske ends up being a bum who can’t play anywhere it still only costs the Yankees about $400M and 2 scrubs…and Pena isn’t going very far. The potential downside is essentially zero
i approve of this move.
didn’t read all the comments here, but have to agree with Jerkface’s first post in this thread. though, i was expecting the usual complaints…
and i just voted 50 more times for the all-star game. using email addresses from years ago.
can you just use a bogus email? they don’t seem to verify it..
The mariners pitching staff is good because they play in an incredibly pitcher friendly ballpark and until recently had the most RIDICULOUS OUTFIELD DEFENSE ever. They had 3 CF caliber players patrolling each position.
Their ERA is .8 higher on the road is a similiar number of IP.
Yankee stadium should do well to hurt them also.
Jon from NJ
can you elaborate on what you mean with the melky comment?
I’d make sure that CC or Joba is pitching when ARod is given the day off and Hinske plays third. They don’t give up that many ground balls anyway.
I think that the Hinske move is a good one. He is coming in to be a back-up and the Yanks did not give up very much for him at all.
ray (sox fan)
June 30th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
I must be in the mood to get slapped around some today to make this suggestion on this blog, but that’s ok!
I think Tim Wakefield deserves at least some consideration to be on the all star roster.
Granted his ERA I think is something like 4.7 but he has done well and his record is 10-3. He could have a 12-3 record before the all star game.
I fully realize that a pitcher’s record is not the only indicator of how well a pitcher has done.
But I do think he deserves at least some thought to be on the roster.
Go ahead now…I am ready to be blasted. Be gentle.
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He might have made it if Boston had been the AL champs, Ray. If for no other reason than the years of doing anything Boston has asked of him, and, it’s not exactly like he hasn’t earned the recognition over the years.
“it’s an example of Red Sox fans voting more than Yankee fans.
can’t let that happen.”
Well, I voted for Tex but aside from that I don’t really care lol
If Ransom stays on the roster instead of Pena, that’s Cashman’s call not Girardi’s.
Hinkse should be useful at 3B on the days that A-rod needs off. I also think he could help spell Swisher when he inevitably goes into another slump.
ray (sox fan)
June 30th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
I must be in the mood to get slapped around some today to make this suggestion on this blog, but that’s ok!
I think Tim Wakefield deserves at least some consideration to be on the all star roster.
Granted his ERA I think is something like 4.7 but he has done well and his record is 10-3. He could have a 12-3 record before the all star game.
I fully realize that a pitcher’s record is not the only indicator of how well a pitcher has done.
But I do think he deserves at least some thought to be on the roster.
Go ahead now…I am ready to be blasted. Be gentle.
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Hi ray
I think he can be on the senior citizen ballot.
Wells didn’t say anything I haven’t heard him say before. The whole Posada can’t call a game was ridiculous from day 1.
Hinkse should be useful at 3B on the days that A-rod needs off. I also think he could help spell Swisher when he inevitably goes into another slump.
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He’s also another left hand bat who can DH if needed. Considering the condition of Matsui’s knees that may be important. The Yankees would have no problem finding a doctor who would agree to put Matsui on the 15 day DL any time they want. Then they could bring Pena back up from the minors for those 2 weeks.
Jay, just think if the Mets signed Manny. All hell would have broke loose when he got banned. At least they did that right, even if it was by default.
One last thing…
Using only Baseball Prospectus stats, Hinske was a pretty decent contributor offensively and not so bad defensively in 2008 and so far in 2009.
Unfortunately, as I posted earlier, his 2006-2008 stats suggest that he tends to fade really badly after the All-Star Break.
But again, I don’t know anything about the players they traded for him. And if the folks who say all they sent off was a bag of balls, who cares.
If he’s added to the roster at the expense of Pena, I would guess that he would hurt more than help performance wise this year — although they probably want Pena playing every day. If he’s added at the expense of Ransom, I would guess that it would probably be a net negative, too — at least in the infield. But given Matsui’s knee(s) and Damon’s propensity for getting injured (not to mention Nady and his situaition) having another outfielder couldn’t hoit.
But again, assuming the prospects aren’t that hot, it doesn’t seem like a big deal (again literally) in any case.
Are the Pirates trying to become the currrent edition of old Kansas City A’s?
I think Wakefield is INCREDIBLY underrated. And at $4 million per year — WOW!
DB,
You said:
“Jay, just think if the Mets signed Manny. All hell would have broke loose when he got banned. At least they did that right, even if it was by default.”
You bet, DB. And I suspect that financial constraints was the only thing keeping Omar from signing Manny. I’ll bet he would have LOVED to have signed him. And I’ll bet he would have loved to have signed Hudson and another piece or two, as well.
By the way, the giveaway that Manny was using steroids for years (that I never understood why people didn’t pick up on — aside from the fact that he was a golden haired child as a member of the Red Sox) was his hamstring issues.
what Girardi article is being referenced in this thread?
Jacoby Ellsbury and Jed Lowrie are 5th in voting….Boston fans stuff the ballot much? God I hate bandwagoners.
Jacoby 6th when 3 spots go…
Before you float the list as accurate,it has names missing.imo Bonds,Macguire,Palmero,(Pujols,who actively defended Bonds) All should be under suspicion.
You people need to give it a break on Duncaon. He can’t hit a breaking ball. It’s that simple.
Weird move picking up Hinske.
Not sure if the Yanks did this to prevent the Red Sox from acquiring Hinkse since Lowell is going out to the DL.
I read Hinske can’t hit lefties but he does have decent power and may be able to launch quite a few HRs in the New Stadium.