Let’s play two
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Aug 06, 2010 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Before the Yankees and Red Sox play in front of a packed house tonight, the New York writers will play the Boston writers in front of about a dozen friends and family this morning at Yankee Stadium. It’s the second game of our two-game home-and-away series. New York won the season opener at Fenway.
The way I understand it, there was no Yankee Stadium game last season, so this will be our first game at the new place.
Some of our regulars can’t make it, including starting pitcher Tyler Kepner. So Bryan Hoch is taking the mound for New York. He’s a crafty left-hander with good fastball movement and a curve he can throw for strikes. I caught his bullpen session in Cleveland and walked away impressed.
Sam played right field in our first game, and I played some second. Haven’t seen a lineup yet for today’s game, but you can bet we’re taking this thing seriously. Hoch has made it his mission to win this thing.
Good luck Chad….Sweep the series!
Kick some Boston butt Chad and Sam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good luck Chad!!
“Same rallying cry of the 2008 Yankees, Ray. Probably going to achieve the same results too.”
Bill D, it’s true. I was tired about hearing about the Yankees injuries too at the time.
Chad
Tell Bryan to hit one of theirs first.
Guess the beat writer lineup???
Let’s not make it 0-3.Pawtucket beat scranton,we can’t lose all 3.
For those (besides me) that care about such things-there’s a little blurb at the top w/some Yankee related stuff. Swish and Joanna were at the opening of Darryl Strawberry’s restaurant, and the movie that’s mentioned (Friends with Benefits) is the one that Alex is making a cameo in. Also, speaking of Yankee cameos, The Other Guys opens today w/Derek Jeter.
http://www.people.com/people/a.....19,00.html
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....pid=469845 These are Jamie Hoffman’s stats. You would think that would be a solid piece of the bench
Minor league numbers don’t always translate to the majors.
Especially guys that play in the PCL. All of those parks are extreme hitters ballparks and their numbers are inflated.
Hoffman is the classic AAAA player. Which is why he is having trouble making a major league roster.
Look at Shelly Duncans numbers from last year and see where that got him.
In Cleveland.
Well, rumors had it that they tried to reaquire him. And I’m sorry, but he would at least be as good as Curtis/Huffman, who both managed to make the team this year. He steals bases too. Soo its not like he’s useless, SJ, LOL
How do you know this? The Dodgers traded for a Posednick.
One would think Hoffman could have helped them since they were looking for an OF.
The fact the Dodgers looked elsewhere should tell you what they think of him, despite his stats.
Colin Curtis is a better hitter and prospect than Hoffman.
He had no place on this roster. He could have helped Scranton though.
Good morning LOHUD
I hope everyone is feeling percolated and excited for a nice weekend break.
Last night I was browsing possible 3rd base options and found that there is little quality available over the next couple years.
It made me realize Brandon Laird really has a shot of being an everyday 3b for the New York Yankees.
The organization is trying to teach him other positions in order to make him more versatile.
If they are successful, he could be called up to be a bench player in a transitional year for him going from a bench guy to full-time 3b when the Yanks are ready to switch Arod to DH.
and look up someone like John Axford’s numbers in Triple A. He’s def a AAAA prospect too right? It’s really unfair to jump to conclusions like that, unless you see them play/see them play for an extended time in the bigs. I have seen him play once (SSS) but still, he’s not THAT bad.
“Especially guys that play in the PCL.”
Good test to this theory, which I agree with as a lot of that league plays in rarified air, will be the young catcher the Jays just brought up to replace Buck. Arencibia brings 31 homers and an OPS just under 1.000 with him from Las Vegas to Toronto. Let’s see how that translates in the bigs.
He’s a better hitter and prospect, SJ, b/c you’ve seen him play more…makes sense. Podsednik has completely different skills than Hoffman. His game is focused solely on speed/slapping hits. Let’s use almighty SJ’s thinking:The Yankees traded for Freddie Guzman, shows how they felt about Curtis… LOL
Except Hoffman has shown the abilty to hit lefties which is something we need in the OF
All I’m saying is, let the guys have a shot before the so-called experts say they suck/are AAAA players. Duncan’s stats in Cleveland: .270 6 HRS 20 RBI’s. Not terrible numbers. PLus imagine his presence in the clubhouse
Bill D,
From the last thread, yea I agree but regarding Cameron I would argue that players at that age playing such a demanding position are more prone to those injuries and they should have known that going in.
Despite the injuries….Theo constructed a defense/pitching ball club with a 38 yro CFer, a below average defensive SS, and poor defensive catchers. Not to mention the injury risks in their rotation. Now they admitted in the off-season that this was a “bridge year”, and if that was truly the case then fine….but having said that I don’t see how they can spin it off as injuries now when they should have known this might happen….To me, its kinda like starting a car race low on fuel then complaining about running out of gas.
New Post: Borden leading off for New York
Duncan would be better to have around for brawls, but I don’t think many would want him playing the outfield or batting all that much.
“There’s two big differences between Laird and Hinske. The first one is obvious; Laird’s a righthanded batter, Hinske’s a lefty. It might not sound like much but it is significant, especially when he would be calling the New Stadium home. Being a lefty batter opens up more possibilities for platoon situations and matchups and all that. The right side of a platoon always gets the shaft, that guy gets about a third of the playing time or so. So right off the bat, Laird’s at a disadvantage.
The other difference between the two is plate discipline. Laird’s career high in walks is 40, which he set with Low-A Charleston in 2008. He’s at 38 right now, so he’ll assuredly eclipse that total this season. Meanwhile, Hinske never walked fewer than 40 times in his minor league career, and he did that as a 20-year-old playing 74 games in a short season league. Hinske’s career minor league IsoD (Isolated Discipline, it’s just OBP minus AVG and tell us how much a batter gets on base on something other than hitss) is .095, Laird’s is .058.
Remember, plate discipline doesn’t just mean taking walks, in fact that’s just a byproduct. The real advantage of being disciplined at the plate is getting in favorable counts and better pitches to hit, because a hit is always better than a walk. Hinske has a significant advantage in that department compared to Laird, who is known for his power, not necessarily his eye.
Getting back to the question, yeah, I think Laird can be some kind of super sub for the Yankees, filling in at the four corner spots. How valuable is that though, when he’ll get maybe two starts a week? If that’s his ultimate ceiling with the Yanks, which is very possible considering the players entrenched in those spots in the big leagues, then his biggest value to the team is as a trade chip. Don’t keep him around to come off the bench, trade him while his stock is high and maximize the asset”.
They gave Shelley Duncan a chance here and it didn’t work out.
They don’t need Shelley Duncan’s presence in the clubhouse.
The fixation some of you have in trying to turn this team into a rebuilding team is quite comical.
Its a different world playing for a team that isn’t going anywhere than playing with the Yankees.
There is no PT for younger players here at most positions.
Duncan is a butcher in the OF. Its not a match.
Somebody hitting LHP in AAA doesn’t mean they will hit LHP in the majors.
The Dodgers have had the guy twice. They have had opportunities to call him up both times he’s been with the organization and passed.
If that doesn’t tell you they don’t see him as a prospect, I don’t know what does.
If he can’t crack the Dodgers 25 man roster, its pretty tough to see him cracking the Yankees roster.
Not every “young” player is the answer to problems.
If they were, the teams constantly rebuilding and playing young players would win every year.
I’m not saying they need Duncan, I’m saying he has performed at a reasonable extent this year. And no, they haven’t always passed. They called him up at one point, but only gave him a limited chance to prove himself. There are so many “young” players that are overlooked by the so called experts, but if they are given a shot, some perform. If Mike Hessman can get a callup, Huffmann can as well. Dodgers have a better center fielder. Arguably a slightly better right fielder. And Manny/Pods>Gardner, I’m sorry. They have more depth in the outfield. I’m owning you, I’m afraid. If he couldn’t make it in NY now thats a different story, he prob shouldn’t make it in LA’s outfield. But not the other way around
Don’t put Jon Heyman in the lineup. He’d start a rumor that somebody was on 3rd base with a triple when there was nobody on base.
Much the same with Buston Olney and Peter Gammons.
“Owning me” how? By touting the attribtutes of a AAAA player the Dodgers have no interest in having on their 25 man roster? lol
You don’t always have to find needles in haystacks.
In case you haven’t noticed, the Yankees aren’t hurting.
The Dodgers have had trouble generating consistent offense all season.
Yet, they haven’t given Hoffman a sniff.
That should tell you something.
If the guy was as good as you think he is, somehow, he would be on somebody’s 25 man roster.
Manny>Gardner?
On all levels, put down that crack pipe.
If you watch Duncans at bats you would see he still has a hole in his swing as did when he was with the Yankees.
A good curve owns him.
Let’s go NY – amazing how I will root for anything that you stick an NY on…
Yes owning you. Cause your reasons are ludicrous. He’s not a superstar. I said they should give him a chance and let him play for a bit, and then ppl like you, the “experts” can bash him. Cause you clearly know how someone will play in the big leagues given the opportunity. In case you haven’t noticed, the Yankees bench hasn’t been great this year. BTW, here’s a link to the Dodger’s depth chart. Look at the links above the infield, those show the outfielders’ names. Click on them. You will see that the Dodgers have quite the productive outfield, sir. You’re really sounding foolish now; its not like Hoffman can the infield for them. And they don’t have a DH slot, b/c theyre in the National League, sir. Hoffmann is a victim of depth. You’re not going to admit it since you believe you know all, but you’re not right here. Just give him a shot is all I’m saying…
What’s the story on Berkman. Is he a 2 month rental? Certainly he isn’t going to be around for next season at this rate.
Brush back, Pete Abraham!!! (LOL)