One winter in South Carolina
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Jan 16, 2010 
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Several people have asked what baseball players are doing this time of the year. Since I just talked to Brett Gardner this week, I’ll let him answer that question. He won the World Series on November 4, and then…
“Pretty much take off about five weeks,” Gardner said. “So I started back in the middle of December. Been doing a lot more running and a lot more core stuff.”
During his early winter workouts, Gardner mapped out his offseason. He thought about the things that went right and the things that went wrong last season, “That way I’d have some things to work on when I picked up a bat again,” he said.
It was right after Christmas that Gardner started hitting. He went to the cage a few times around the holidays, took his family on a vacation just after the new year, and went back to work when he got back to South Carolina. Right now he’s hitting three or four times a week, including some bunting drills. Gardner said he’ll be hitting every day by January 20 or 25. He plans to leave for spring training in the first week of February.
“I’m anxious to get back after it,” he said. “But it’ll be here before we know it.”
As for his expectations for spring training, I’ve already written that Gardner expects a fight for the starting left field job.
“I definitely feel more a part of the team (this year),” Gardner said. “Let’s face it, a year ago this time, I was coming off a pretty tough year. I’d been up there the last couple of months and it just didn’t work out the way we wanted it to. This year was just great. The best eight months in my life as far as my baseball career has gone. We’ve got a great group of guys coming back, just as good of a team, if not better.”
Sounds like he REALLY wants that starting LF job. He’s been working hard all offseason! I think that if he can work on his lower half, he’s gonna surprise us all.
Just do well Brett if you’re given the opportunity by the Yankees.
I don’t think we can say that a player needs to be working harder in the offseason when they take a few weeks off. A guy like Gardner has probably had very little time to actually vacation with his family since signing with the Yankees (not sure if he played winter ball, but you know what I mean).
Just as long as he gets back and has a good offseason plan after that break. That’s what worries me – does a guy have a plan to work on what he is needing to strengthen. Look at Jeter – clearly last year’s offseason plan was well thought out and was wildy successful. Whoever worked out Jeter’s offseason plan needs to work with more of the team!
the Baldelli facebook page looks pretty legit to me, he even posted pictures of himself with fans..with their names.
Gardner is a good kid. I’m just not convinced that he’ll hit enough. I don’t think the Yankees are either.
craw
“Rich,
You can go on by what’s reported, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us have to do the same.
IMO, Cashman is negotiating by just waiting to see how low of a price can he acquire another outfielder.”
I’m not sure how the two thoughts are mutually exclusive, but ok.
Brett the Jet could be this decade’s Mick the Quick!!! But I would settle for less and still be happy.
I’m still so happy we won the WS
It can be expected that Kevin Long will be at the minor league complex along with the early arrivals.
Joba should be there also to get himself in (real) pitching shape and make a serious statement in doing so.
Chad
As I mentioned last thread from the Lohud journal today, Gardner seem motivated by his earlier than others, self imposed workout schedule, noting his bunting handicap, as something he needs to improve.
“I’m not sure how the two thoughts are mutually exclusive, but ok.”
Rich,
Our main disagreement is simple, I don’t think Cashman is going to trade Gaudin to free up 2M for Damon because I don’t believe the 2M is just available number the Yankee Brass is floating out there. I think it’s a negotiating ploy and that the Yankees will get another outfielder when at the proper time. It’s even a remote possibility that they think Gardner could do the job.
In time, we’ll see which way the Yankees go in regard to LF and all of the rumored players.
By the way, the possibility that Gaudin gets traded is high, but not to sometime in March and not because of freeing up cash for an outfielder. It might be in return for some outfielder though.
Strike the word “don’t” in front of believe.
Hey Chad quick question, non Yankees related if you may.
What do you think players like Lincecum and Felix will end up with after arbitration this year, specifically Lincecum.
Just a rough estimate, I personally think Lincecum gets from 12-17 million or so.
Thames, Johnson, Byrnes, Baldelli, Winn, Damon, Gomes, Ankiel, etc…
Not all of these guys will have guaranteed deals by spring training. A couple of these guys are going to have to accept spring training invitations.
Cashman might as well wait to see what he can get for a free flier.
I can see no reason for the Yankees not to have signed one of the remaining RH hitting outfielders except they are waiting for something. I don’t see what that could be other than Damon or for Nady and his health questions to be answered.
“I’m just not convinced that he’ll hit enough. I don’t think the Yankees are either.”
Well, so far the Yanks haven’t re-signed Johnny Damon and they traded away Gardner’s outfield buddy Melky.
As the roster stands now, Gardner’s biggest competition for playing time would be Rule 5 pick Jamie Hoffman.
Is there any evidence that the Yanks don’t think Gardner can hit enough to be more that a pinch-runner/defensive replacement?
(“Bubba Crosby” would not be a suitable answer)
craw
Well, the other reason to trade Gaudin is that he can’t get LH hitters out to save his life (career: .293 .389 .433 .822), but yes, whether it’s to free up money for a better LF (not necessarily Damon, because Cash may not want him back), or to subtract payroll to parry against the forces that would like to enact a more onerous Yankee tax in the next CBA, I think that is something they will do. I don’t think the timing matters that much. I also think they may DFA him to save money if they can’t trade him.
My point, however, has been that I think it makes sense to give any money that Gaudin (or Mitre) would make to Damon. I’m not saying that Cash think that.
im firmly in the pro-gardner camp….i hope he has a respectable year at the plate…couple that with +defense and +speed and you have an above average player…
the problem is not just gardner
it is we lost a good # 5 hitter combined with swishers struggles,cg struggles against lh pitching & question marks about gardner
we also have no outfielders on the bench
imo cash is waiting on nady
“Is there any evidence that the Yanks don’t think Gardner can hit enough to be more that a pinch-runner/defensive replacement?”
Cashman is still playing in the sandbox.
“couple that with +defense and +speed and you have an above average player…” I’d certainly agree with that, but the bigger thing here that people seem to be missing, is that you don’t even need him to be an above average player. Posada, Tex, Cano, Jeter, A-Rod, Granderson, Swisher, Johnson, Sabathia, Burnett, Vazquez, Pettitte, Joba, Mo, Phil, Robertson, Marte, and Aceves all figure to be above average at their respective positions. When you have a core like that, there’s nothing wrong with having a defense-first guy with great speed as your #9 hitter.
Sawx fans on http://www.boston.com Extra Bases blog actually give the Yankees praise for beating all of MLB, for coming to the aid of Haiti, donating 500K. THEY slam Selig AS WELL for ONLY donating 1M from MLB.
Here’s a quote from a sawx fan, that wondered how the Yankees were able to donate hours before MLB.
“I hate to say it but, Yankees always take the leadership role in this kind of devastating event.”
Yeah baby the Yankees are one first class org!
“I hate to say it but, Yankees always take the leadership role in this kind of devastating event.”
Yup, I know a lot of Virginia Tech fans that are now Yankee fans because of their generosity following the shootings.
Zell has some of the latest demolition photos of yankee stadium:
http://zellspinstripeblog.com/.....tos-11609/
So long as BG wears the pinstripes all should root for him. He I think deserves an opp to prove he can be valuable on a consistent basis. Doesn’t matter to me how he establishes that value. Personally if he could just hit oh around 320 with Ob of around 370 and swipe 60 win a gold glove and silver slugger while setting a record for infield hits in a single season. I think he could work out just fine.
(sarcasm)
“Cashman is still playing in the sandbox” = no evidence.
Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, of course. But the fact that it’s only January 16 and Cashman might not be done yet is not proof that the Yanks don’t think Brett Gardner can be an adequate everyday #9 hitter.
I don’t know if they do or don’t. I suspect they are unsure. Unsure enough to get someone else to start in left field? I don’t think so. But we shall see!
Cardinal beat the Saints please!
Yankees would’ve donated more to Haiti but they don’t want Boras sniffing around, because wink wink they have a tight budget!
Perhaps it’s me just being stuborn, but I still cannot see Bret Garnder as the every day LF. Just can’t.
I posted this on the previous thread:
There is no way i would want Damon returning to the Yankees. If he was to return at such a reduced salary, i think he would be a disgruntled player. Also, does anyone recall his defense from last year? IMO, it was below average at best. How many times was he near the wall and made a ridiculous jump or attempt at it. Damon’s only worth to this team is as the #2 hitter for this lineup, and with the Nick Johnson signing it really doesn’t leave Joe G many options. I think Cashman is just parting ways and thankful of his play for the past four years. I think they are prepared to go with a platoon of gardner and ____(fill in the blank with Hoffman, Reed Johnson etc…someone who can and will provide better than average defense).
People had better get through their thick heads that as of this moment, Gardner is not a +defender. He’s average. He has a below average arm in strength and accuracy and he terrible at going back on fly balls. If it wasn’t for his speed in chasing down fly balls in the two gaps, he’d be worse than Nady or Swisher. with luck, he’ll improve on both, as well as his bunting and base running. He needs to learn that when he’s put in to run for somebody, it’s called pinch running, not pinch standing around.
Thnks Kurt 1st possession touchdown Cardinals!! 7-0
GB7
Isnt “If it wasn’t for his speed in chasing down fly balls in the two gaps” part of a being a defensive outfielder? I agree that his arm isn’t the best, but the rest of his OF play is pretty good.
“There is no way i would want Damon returning to the Yankees. If he was to return at such a reduced salary, i think he would be a disgruntled player. Also, does anyone recall his defense from last year? IMO, it was below average at best. How many times was he near the wall and made a ridiculous jump or attempt at it. Damon’s only worth to this team is as the #2 hitter for this lineup, and with the Nick Johnson signing it really doesn’t leave Joe G many options. I think Cashman is just parting ways and thankful of his play for the past four years. I think they are prepared to go with a platoon of gardner and ____(fill in the blank with Hoffman, Reed Johnson etc…someone who can and will provide better than average defense)”
——————————————————–
yup. Damon received his chance. He wanted no part of a fair contract. The yankees moved on and no longer need him
Horace Clarke
January 16th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
GB7
Isnt “If it wasn’t for his speed in chasing down fly balls in the two gaps” part of a being a defensive outfielder? I agree that his arm isn’t the best, but the rest of his OF play is pretty good.
————————————————————
That alone doesn’t make him a +defender.
I’ve been waiting for all tounderstand Damon’s devaluation came at the hands of Cashman, he set the market. Noway Damon or Boras seen that coming. Damon can’t help but be ANGRY!
GB7-
Are you saying you would prefer a player like Damon roaming LF for the yankees next year? Or just that they should go find a more established player for LF and keep Gardner as your PR or 4/5th OF’er?
“People had better get through their thick heads that as of this moment, Gardner is not a +defender.”
i think a lot of people would disagree with this statement. There were a couple instances were gardner looked confused in the outfield but on a whole he has excellent range. There have been numerous articles that say this and even the much maligned defensive metrics agree. Sure his arm leaves some to be desired but it is fairly accurate and it looks as if release point is his biggest problem because he holds on to the ball too long and throws a lawn dart.
“Unsure enough to get someone else to start in left field?”
How about unsure enough to have a Plan B in case being unsure about Plan A becomes a sure thing?
Unless they know what they have with Hoffman, they still need a back up plan whether or not Gardner gets the starting job. Srength in numbers……
“I’ve been waiting for all tounderstand Damon’s devaluation came at the hands of Cashman, he set the market. Noway Damon or Boras seen that coming. Damon can’t help but be ANGRY!”
————————————————-
lost in translation
Horace Clarke
January 16th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
GB7-
Are you saying you would prefer a player like Damon roaming LF for the yankees next year? Or just that they should go find a more established player for LF and keep Gardner as your PR or 4/5th OF’er?
————————————————————you’re trying to read between lines that aren’t there.
Actually i was looking for your suggestion for LF if it isn’t Gardner?
RalphieD (OPPC)
January 16th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
“People had better get through their thick heads that as of this moment, Gardner is not a +defender.”
i think a lot of people would disagree with this statement. There were a couple instances were gardner looked confused in the outfield but on a whole he has excellent range. There have been numerous articles that say this and even the much maligned defensive metrics agree. Sure his arm leaves some to be desired but it is fairly accurate and it looks as if release point is his biggest problem because he holds on to the ball too long and throws a lawn dart.
————————————————————
He cost the team two doubles and a triple in the post season. As far as people disagreeing with that, I could care less. I call it like I see it.
Horace Clarke
January 16th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Actually i was looking for your suggestion for LF if it isn’t Gardner?
————————————————————
They’ve pretty much run out of other legitimate options, now.
Where Johnny went wrong this offseason.
1.Boras says to Cashman, “don’t make an offer for less than 3 yrs at 13M.”
2.Yankees trade for an All Star CF Granderson. They get Boras’s attention.
3.Boras Damon ,and wife start talking crazy to anyone listening in the media, about all the interest in Johnny.
4.Cashman finally offer 2yrs 7M’s.
5.Boras counters with 2 yrs 10M
6.Cashman in so many words has said CYA!
Im happy with Gardner in LF…the fans moaning are spoilt brats
Marcus Thames with some some pop on the bench will fit nicely
“Im happy with Gardner in LF…the fans moaning are spoilt brats”
——————————————-
pretty much.
The younger readers of this blog may not know this, but players a few decades ago had to have jobs during the off-season to make ends meet. Most took advantage of their fame and sold insurance or were “greeters” at restaurants.
Tru dat, Thomo. A different era. But not that so long ago.
Brian Cashman has no interest in filling up the spring training roster with invitees to vie for a LF spot.
With fewer than 35 games, Joe Girardi can’t give enough playing time to make a fair evaluation.
The 1st 2 weeks of exhibition games has hitters seeing AA and AAA pitching until roster cuts are made.
The LF list will be narrowed down before position players report.
33 more days before pitchers and catchers report for their 1st workout ……. tick-tick-tick …
I just read the article on RAB about Connor Jackson. He’s an intriguing option should Cashman decide to go the trade route.
“I just read the article on RAB about Connor Jackson. He’s an intriguing option should Cashman decide to go the trade route.”
That was written before they DFA Byrnes. Doubt they’d trade Jackson now.
“I just read the article on RAB about Connor Jackson. He’s an intriguing option should Cashman decide to go the trade route”
Recent moves by D’backs would suggest little or no interest in trading Jackson.
The fans wanting another outfielder are those that understand Gardner is unproven. The jury is still very much out whether he can hit sufficiently. If he can’t, and I have serious doubts, a back up plan and player is a must.
Thomo
In my Yankees collection. I purchased a movie on CD called “For love of the game.” A true story of pitcher Billy Chapel(Det) pitching a perfect game against the Yankees.
MUCH TO MY SURPRISE IN THE EXTRA FOOTAGE section,it’s a movie of Babe Ruth on a train with friends, doing his Barnstorming in the offseason. He sees some kids playing ball, get off the train (still in his suit pants,shirt and tie) and plays with the kids. The footage is old, Babe is around Jeter’s age. What a great find!
If Damon were even a slightly less than average OF with a slightly less than average arm, Cashman and Boras might have reached a deal for $7-8M with a team option for another year but that’s not the case.
Boras overvalued Damon right from the get go.
” I purchased a movie on CD called “For love of the game.” A true story of pitcher Billy Chapel(Det) pitching a perfect game against the Yankees.”
I don’t think it’s a true story though.
Damon just had one of the best years of his career and was a hero in the WS…I can kinda see how he didn’t want to take a huge paycut.
Damon has a horrible throwing arm but he can still hit and he still gets to enough balls to be adequate in LF..if he could throw better you wouldn’t hear about his defense nearly as much. He also is pretty durable and consistent and a proven clutch hitter. I agree that going multiple years for him would be a mistake and I don’t want them spending a fortune on him either but he is greatly undervalued by many on this blog and his presence would be missed if he isn’t back. We are probably talking 5-7 million for one year..not a big risk for one of the most consistent hitters in baseball…just saying
Bronx Jeers
The point was the bonus footage on the CD about Babe’s barn storming days in the offseason, in answer to Thomo. Not about the movie! I was surprised they included the Babe footage on the CD! The CD also has contains a baseball trivia quiz that test your baseball acumen.
don’t let boras hate get in the way of signing jd.
I would say Damon has one or two good years left in him. More than the current Left Fielder.
“Damon just had one of the best years of his career and was a hero in the WS…I can kinda see how he didn’t want to take a huge paycut.”
Sure, and the Yankees are the richest team in baseball, so I can see it too.
But, ego aside, Damon was being paid to do a job he couldn’t do anymore for the second half of his contract. That’s the way it goes, Johnny.