Off day notes and links
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Jul 28, 2011 
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First, a reminder that the documentary Derek Jeter 3K is about to begin on HBO. It premiers at 9 p.m. ET, and I’m sure it will keep showing regularly for a month or so. If you have HBO, I’m sure you’ve already set those DVRs.
Second, just wanted to mention that Dave Robertson’s event last night at Foley’s Pub and Restaurant was a massive success. By the time I finished writing and got into Manhattan, I was fairly certain I was late. I got there just a little before 9 p.m. — Dave was supposed to serve drinks from 7 to 9 — and there was no sign of Robertson behind the bar.
I walked to the back, and there he was at a table signing autographs for a line that still snaked all through the back of the bar. His wife, Erin, said they showed up early and found a long line already extending outside the front door, so Dave decided to start signing early, and then it was hard to stop. He raised roughly $14,000 for High Socks For Hope.
My own estimate has Robertson drawing significantly more fans than Brian Cashman did this winter. Maybe he can bring that up in arbitration this offseason.
A few links on this off day…
• The buzz about Ubaldo Jimenez has died a bit in the past few days, and the rumor-of-the-hour has become Hiroki Kuroda. If the price for Jimenez is too high, Kuroda might be the best alternative. But he might not come cheap either.
• Speaking of Jimenez, Buster Olney says the asking price is still as high as three top-end prospects. I don’t blame the Rockies for looking for that much, but I’m not sure it’s a price I’d be willing to pay.
• Graham Stoneburner is healthy and ready to return to the Trenton rotation tomorrow. Even in the prospect world, Stoneburner’s not quite a household name, but he’s one of the more intriguing pitchers in the system.
• Not sure there’s any reason to believe the Yankees are involved, but the Astros are reportedly moving closer to trading Hunter Pence. With Carlos Beltran off the market, Pence could be the biggest bat moved this year.
• In the days after his 31st birthday, The Hardball Times took a look at CC Sabathia’s place in history.
• MLB.com was with the Yankees today for the HOPE Week lemonade stand.
Robertson looks like he is about to pour out a fresh Montero for the yankees.
I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep until Dellin, Manny, and Jesus are all tucked into bed in their pinstriped pajamas on Sunday night.
Pence could be on the move
The Astros appear to be moving closer to trading All-Star right-fielder Hunter Pence, MLB.com has learned.
As of Thursday afternoon, at least six teams are involved in negotiations to acquire Pence, according to a person close to the situation. No deal is imminent, and Astros general manager Ed Wade declined to comment when reached by MLB.com.
The interest in Pence has picked up considerably since Carlos Beltran was acquired by the Giants from the Mets.
KRIV-TV in Houston reported on its website Thursday the Reds, Phillies and Braves, along with three teams in the American League, are in the negotiations.
D-Rob is just an all-around awesome guy.
Ubaldo >>> Kuroda in all kinds of ways.
In fact, no thank you to Kuroda. We got us a Nova in the back pocket.
3 teams in the AL are in the negotiations for Pence.
#mysteryteamspoileralert
repost:
there has to be a reason why monetero is not up now.
if his bat is ready, they have to think he’ll get more catching knowledge with girardi, pena, and posada mentoring him.
i’ve gotta think there’s an attitude or hitting reason.
i don’t buy the ‘he won’t play every day’ argument. he can catch once or twice a week, dh 2 other days.
Repost:
Ghostwriter July 28th, 2011 at 9:01 pm
kd July 28th, 2011 at 8:57 pm
there has to be a reason why monetero is not up now.
if his bat is ready, they have to think he’ll get more catching knowledge with girardi, pena, and posada mentoring him.
===================
I don’t think that this is true. I really wonder how much time they have on the ML level to work on these kinds of things. Cervelli has regressed terribly during his time with the big club. When he first came up, he could play a decent backstop, and now he doesn’t. It doesn’t look like anybody is working with him.
There is no way Cervelli or Martin are a bridge to anything. Yankees wont tolerate a .500 OPS catcher (check Martins splits) and Cervelli sucks.
Free Montero
I second that sentiment, Nick in SF.
Gotta love DRob.
Why are the Phillies watching Betances? Do they want to send us Cliff Lee?
Can’t see Posada getting less AB than he’s getting now. Like his baserunning, Posada will exit as quickly and as gracefully as an ice floe.
Face…Maybe just maybe the Yankee Brass and dugout view Martin’s value a shade differently than you do…….You should just take a moment and consider this before you pull out your spreadsheet
m,
All indications are that he was pulled for ineffectiveness.
The emergence of David Robertson has been my favorite thing about this baseball season.
LGY,
Got all excited. Thought they were pulling him right off the showroom floor!
“i’ve gotta think there’s an attitude or hitting reason.”
KD
My take is it’s been different reasons at different times. Initially they wanted him to get the extra work in catching everyday. Then I really believe it was a money issue and not starting the Arbitration clock. Now I think it’s about maintaining his trade value.
I am also now starting to hear about how much CC likes throwing to Cervelli. ( I did like the Tony Pena influence I saw the other night). I’m not convinced of this, but if CC wants Cervelli that has to have at least some influence on the decision.
If not traded (fingers crossed) he will be up soon is my guess.
“Why are the Phillies watching Betances?”
Perhaps if Cash has to surrender Montero in the Jimenez package, Cash has his eye on bringing in a young hitting prospect… maybe Betances for Singleton or something. Or a 3-teamer where we get Singleton, Betances goes somewhere, and Philly gets something.
Personally, I’d rather see a future rotation of CC, Manny, Dellin, Nova and Hughes. Damn you AJ!!
BTX,
I know, right?
Everything I’d want on their team they’re not willing to trade.
It makes no sense on the surface. The Phillies and Yankees probably won’t be doing business together.
m,
FWIW you are not the only one who thought that.
mashmore98 Mike Ashmore
OK, I see I’m getting questions about Betances being pulled b/c of a trade. IMO, no. He just wasn’t getting outs.
35 minutes ago
I think that Posada has had a lot of time to get it together, and he hasn’t done so. Regrettably, I think that the Yanks need to phase him out as quietly and respectfully as possible. The Yanks need better run production than they’ve been getting. The two biggest bang for-the-buck opportunities to do so are at DH and catcher. They should call up Montero, trade for Matsui, and inquire about a possible upgrade for JOnes.
Any guess as to the 3 mystery teams in the AL involved in Hunter Pence negotiations?
Boston?
NYY?
Texas?
They may have had a coversation about Worley……
Tar July 28th, 2011 at 9:09 pm
“i’ve gotta think there’s an attitude or hitting reason.”
KD
My take is it’s been different reasons at different times. Initially they wanted him to get the extra work in catching everyday. Then I really believe it was a money issue and not starting the Arbitration clock. Now I think it’s about maintaining his trade value.
I am also now starting to hear about how much CC likes throwing to Cervelli. ( I did like the Tony Pena influence I saw the other night). I’m not convinced of this, but if CC wants Cervelli that has to have at least some influence on the decision.
If not traded (fingers crossed) he will be up soon is my guess.
===========
Pena influence? How so? I’m sure that CC would get over Cervy being dealt or sent down…
SI_JonHeyman
trade deadline wrapup: everyone who was “untouchable” has either been shopped or traded by now
“Why are the Phillies watching Betances?”
Look who the Phillies play on August 1st! Connect the dots, people!
http://mlb.mlb.com/schedule/in.....1&m=8
Does Boston need a right fielder?
Actually, Philly could be there to watch the opposing pitcher.
I think j alfred was at the game tonight …..maybe he hugged Dellin too hard between innings and threw him off his game?
Vance Worley! Holy crap just checked his stats.
The Phillies used JA Happ to get Oswalt.
They can probably work even greater miracles with Worley.
3 AL teams for Pence… probably the same 3 that wanted Beltran – Red Sox, Tigers, and Rangers. Indians already got their OF.
White Sox are an interesting name… maybe they are looking at potential Quinten replacements… maybe we can be a 3rd team in a Chicago/Houston deal with players like Quinten and/or Danks/Thorton involved.
Or maybe Oakland, who desperately needs some young bats, are involved for Pence and we could be involved in a Gonzalez/DeJesus/Fuentes or something 3-way with OAK and HOU.
# Ghostwriter July 28th, 2011 at 9:14 pm
Does Boston need a right fielder?
Yes. And a SS. And a C. And SP.
Tom in N.J. July 28th, 2011 at 9:14 pm
“Why are the Phillies watching Betances?”
Look who the Phillies play on August 1st! Connect the dots, people!
http://mlb.mlb.com/schedule/in…..1&m=8
******
Pretty solid Tom!
“Pena influence? How so? I’m sure that CC would get over Cervy being dealt or sent down…”
Did you see him do the Pena stretch squat? It was obvious to me and I haven’t noticed him do it before. As for CC, I agree he will get over it.
“Does Boston need a right fielder?”
Need is a relative term…..but JD Drew has been pretty bad this year……they’d probably at least like to have a platoon partner for him.
I wanna make it very clear, trading for kuroda = FAIL. One thing is having a low era in the NL west(he’s not even winning) and another one is the AL monster. I keep saying the yanks should try to get Garza from the cubs who is AL east proven. Not even Jimenez will succeed in the AL after Garza should come a lot cheaper than those 2
If the Yankees make a trade with Colorado it would be one of the first times I remember Cashman making a trade that was rumored. it’s not the usual MO.
I’d be shocked, really.
Jerkface July 28th, 2011 at 9:03 pm
There is no way Cervelli or Martin are a bridge to anything. Yankees wont tolerate a .500 OPS catcher (check Martins splits) and Cervelli sucks. Free Montero
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Typical. The Yankees could care less about what Martin’s OPS is. The value of a superb defensive catcher that the pitchers love throwing to makes an average to below average bat acceptable.
m July 28th, 2011 at 9:17 pm
# Ghostwriter July 28th, 2011 at 9:14 pm
Does Boston need a right fielder?
Yes. And a SS. And a C. And SP.
**************
They don’t need a catcher or a shortstop.
Tar July 28th, 2011 at 9:18 pm
“Pena influence? How so? I’m sure that CC would get over Cervy being dealt or sent down…”
Did you see him do the Pena stretch squat? It was obvious to me and I haven’t noticed him do it before.
===========
Interesting. I hadn’t caught that. In an earlier post, I was just bemoaning Cervy’s regression as a catcher during his time with the Yanks. Perhaps I was a bit premature, but it seemed to me that his development had been neglected…
Face…Maybe just maybe the Yankee Brass and dugout view Martin’s value a shade differently than you do…….You should just take a moment and consider this before you pull out your spreadsheet
–
I’m sure all the pitchers love him and he is a great teammate, maybe even Girardi has ensorceled Cashman into thinking he is awesome. He has a league average CS% and more errors than 9 TEAMS. I have no doubt he can catch the baseball (usually) or block a pitch, but you can’t OPS .500 while doing that and say you’re a starter.
Martin looks like a nice backup.
The Sox need a starting pitcher…..and if Butholtz is hurt seriously then they need one worse than the Yankees do.
maybe i wasn’t clear. i think it’s a baseball or professionalism reason as to why the yankees have not called him up. it has nothing to do with the arbitration clock. being in first place means more to the bottom line than a year early on his clock.
if he got called up and mashed, he’d be worth a ton more. right now he’s potential. if he validated he had a ml bat, he’d be worth a lot. if he struggled, they’d just send him back. i doubt 6 weeks of hitting 220 would kill his trade value
2011 OPS Against
CC: .583
Bedard: .654 (15 starts)
Colon: .702
Kuroda .714
Ubaldo .724
AJ .731
Nova .738
Freddy .740
Hughes .945
Ubaldo got off to a bad start but so did Bedard. His first three starts were horrendous, so his OPS against was CC-like for the next twelve, until hurt the end of June.
Jerkface July 28th, 2011 at 9:23 pm
Martin looks like a nice backup.
**************
If you ever needed conclusive proof that this stat geek doesn’t have a clue about the game of baseball, this will put that to rest forever.
If you ever needed conclusive proof that this stat geek doesn’t have a clue about the game of baseball, this will put that to rest forever.
–
So Jose Molina is a starter on a WS team?
I think Martin can hit.better than he has……and I think he’d be more effective playing less and splitting the time .
kd July 28th, 2011 at 9:24 pm
maybe i wasn’t clear. i think it’s a baseball or professionalism reason as to why the yankees have not called him up. it has nothing to do with the arbitration clock. being in first place means more to the bottom line than a year early on his clock.
if he got called up and mashed, he’d be worth a ton more. right now he’s potential. if he validated he had a ml bat, he’d be worth a lot. if he struggled, they’d just send him back. i doubt 6 weeks of hitting 220 would kill his trade value
========
It could be a maturity thing. I think that the Yanks decided in the offseason that 2011 was not going to be his year, and so far nothing has happened that could make them reconsider their plans.
“I was just bemoaning Cervy’s regression as a catcher during his time with the Yanks. Perhaps I was a bit premature, but it seemed to me that his development had been neglected…”
Ghost
I agree with all of that. Last game was the first time I saw ( what I would consider) any progress in his defense. At the least, it shows me he is committed to making whatever changes are necessary.
I wonder what took so long for Pena to start having an influence on him?
derek’s apt..is ridiculous!!!!
blake July 28th, 2011 at 9:26 pm
I think Martin can hit.better than he has……and I think he’d be more effective playing less and splitting the time .
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I really wonder what happened to his hitting since April. He was so good, but he’s been pretty awfulfor about 3 months.
Bedard just never stays healthy……he could help if he could…..but you can’t give up much for that kind of risk.
“If you ever needed conclusive proof that this stat geek doesn’t have a clue about the game of baseball, this will put that to rest forever.”
____________________________________
Martin has been atrocious since April.
Give me a break. The only people who don’t have a clue about the game of baseball are the ones who think that Martin is a long-term option at catcher playing the way he has.
He’s a great guy, a hard worker, calls a great game, yadda yadda yadda. I believe all that. He also hasn’t been a starting quality player in THREE years now.
Villa Nova Ya……..Bobby Abreu !!!! I ran into Everyday Eddie G today at the gym and besides all the typical golf game and baseball stuff, I asked him about Phil Hughes and his struggles……His take is that Phil’s arm lacks electricity, no juice…..He went on to explain that in order to understand what’s happening now all you do is go back and look at the innings he pitched in 07-08-09 and then suddenly 2010…….As for the concern about his off season conditioning program or lack of, Eddie who pitched 20 years in the bigs told me that Hughes could have logged in 20 miles a day on a stationary bike and it would have zip influence on this season…….Yanks need to let him log in innings under a watchful eye with a vision to 2012…..He’ll likely have some good outings but it’s unlikely he’ll string them together…..
They don’t need a catcher or a shortstop.
Not this year.
Lowrie is their SS of the future? I know he’s hitting well now, but I’d be surprised if they didn’t upgrade to someone like Reyes.
Salty is their catcher of the future? That’s less certain.
====== I really wonder what happened to his hitting since April. He was so good, but he’s been pretty awfulfor about 3 months.”
Nagging injuries and a bit of regression is my guess……I don’t think he’s as bad offensively has he’s been though.
Martin can’t even hold Munson’s jock strap, which is supposed to be his best comp. Yankees did real good with posada behind the plate for 15 years, probably because the man could hit. Anyone trying to work some inane diss against me for criticizing Martin must miss all the times I say he should stick around, just catch LESS.
Additionally, anyone who props up Martin based on his defense (which itself has flaws) better be stumping for Gardner to be a starter long term.
Tar July 28th, 2011 at 9:29 pm
“I was just bemoaning Cervy’s regression as a catcher during his time with the Yanks. Perhaps I was a bit premature, but it seemed to me that his development had been neglected…”
Ghost
I agree with all of that. Last game was the first time I saw ( what I would consider) any progress in his defense. At the least, it shows me he is committed to making whatever changes are necessary.
I wonder what took so long for Pena to start having an influence on him?
=================
Cervy had Pena, Girardi, Posada, and Martin to draw from! I just don’t understand his regression. I’ve always liked Cervy, because he seems like such a team guy (as well as a bit of an underdog). He has done everything that the Yanks have asked of him, with no complaints of which I am aware. I thought that it was a real shame that nobody seemed to work with him on his defense…
“it has nothing to do with the arbitration clock. being in first place means more to the bottom line than a year early on his clock.”
They only had to wait until like June or something. Being in first place in June is not an organizational goal. The potential savings in waiting that short period of time could be substantial.
Having said that if he was ready, and the Yankees had a dire need, thenyes they would have called him up in a second.
From 2008 to now Martin has declined pretty much every year in some offensive category, but this is secretly a good thing but Mark Teixeira and his gold glove are terrible because of some 4 year trend.
They only had to wait until like June or something.
–
Extra year of control by April 19th, avoiding super-2 bonus by early may. Baseball season started earlier so any kind of arb/super 2 issues were cleared earlier.
No doubt Bedard is a risk. Most seem to assume that Yanks wouldn’t give up Betances for him . But I surmise Seattle might think/hope otherwise, since they were scouting tonight (and Felix is off the table).
Jerkface July 28th, 2011 at 9:35 pm
From 2008 to now Martin has declined pretty much every year in some offensive category, but this is secretly a good thing but Mark Teixeira and his gold glove are terrible because of some 4 year trend.
=========
Well played, sir!
I dont think Martin is ever going to be a great hitter…..or maybe not even the type hitter he was early in his career……but he has the tools to be average-above average for a catcher and his defense is pretty good overall….he’s a safe option as.long as he’s healthy …..would be a good guy to break Montero in behind if they’ll do it.
The Yankees catching tandem is not only 20% below league average for all batters but 8% below average for league CATCHERS. And they don’t even throw out a league average amount as a unit! So there are teams getting better offense and better defense than the yankees!
The change of pace catcher hits as bad as the starter and plays worse defense!
If only we had multiple solutions to this internally. Nope, better trade them for AJ burnett.
The Yanks already have Garcia and Colon as reclamation projects. I don’t see how Bedard provides them any more security than they already have…
Jerkface July 28th, 2011 at 9:33 pm
Additionally, anyone who props up Martin based on his defense (which itself has flaws) better be stumping for Gardner to be a starter long term.
***********
More idiocy. Didn’t know Gardner was a catcher; not that the position matters much.
Martin is being out hit and out defended by Brett Gardner, a player many call a 4th outfielder, but because he isn’t a ball whisperer everyone wants to dump him.
Kuroda is not much better than what the Yankees have.
Cashman will not trade the farm for Ubaldo.
Yankees have 2 question marks with Hughes and AJ. If Colon and Garcia stay healthy that is a big plus. Nova will be brought up if needed.
If the Yanks give up Betances for Bedard then i think Cashman is gone after this season because he clearly wouldn’t be calling the shots anymore……that would just be a horrific overpay.
More idiocy. Didn’t know Gardner was a catcher; not that the position matters much.
–
Anyone who knows baseball can understand how many runs Gardner saves in the field with his defense. One needed to only be awake to watch Hughes start to see Gardner save Hughes ass in the 5th.
Martin is going to be phased out in favor of Montero (or Romine). Martin’s lack of production with the bat, likely will hasten this process.
If the Mariners expect Betances, then Cash should expect Doug Fister.
Fister would be nothing more than a fall back option if Ubaldo doesn’t come through.
And for all we know, Cash is pitting Seattle (Montero lovers) against the Rockies.
Pat M -
Bobby Abreu. How quickly we forget, I guess.
So, this Eddie fella, he’s saying that the conditioning or lack thereof is not connected to Hughes’ troubles this year? That they just have to “get through it” more or less as a part of his development? An extended “dead arm” year, so to speak?
And as far as pitching this year, just make certain nothing goes particularly wrong – that he stays healthy and keeps good mechanics?
Basically you all are simultaneously overrating catcher defense while underrating the defense of the rest of the unit.
Meh, it’s not a crime if your catcher is not hitting. It’s a dead zone for most teams anyway.
And people want to keep Gardner mainly for his ball whispering abilities. And because he’s back to be a SB machine.
Meh, it’s not a crime if your catcher is not hitting. It’s a dead zone for most teams anyway.
–
And imagine that the Yankees is actually more of a dead zone than most teams. While not providing sufficient defense to cover it.
Martin isn’t Lou Marson (look him up)
The Yankees should trade for Lou Marson and make him the starter, he hits .242 .293 .344 .637 but he throws out 47% of runners. Also he can block pitches and I’m sure he is a nice guy.
JF,
Your beef should be with the yankees. No one here is responsible for Montero not being here. And they’re not going to throw a kid in there to start over Martin on a playoff team.
Villa Nova Ya…..Basically Phil Hughes needs to limp his way through this season and get his inngs in…….Layman’s terms, his right arm is on fumes in Eddie’s opinion……
And they’re not going to throw a kid in there to start over Martin on a playoff team.
–
He doesn’t have to start over Martin, I never suggested this what-so-ever. Sorry for being aggressive but I have to deal with these idiots who can’t formulate an argument.
The Yankees are paying big time for putting Hughes in the bullpen in 2009.
Yankees were so dominant in the 90s because they had plus productions from positions that very few teams get premium offense from – Catcher, SS, and CF.
The Great Yankee teams were known for getting production from these spots and not rendering them dead spots in the lineup.
It is why Mauer got $180 million. Or why Posada is a borderline HOF. Or why the Yankees have been desperate trying to masquerade Montero as a C.
Yankees history has been about getting offense from premium positions.
Jerkface July 28th, 2011 at 9:46 pm
I have to deal with these idiots who can’t formulate an argument.
**********
You are the undisputed king.
You are the undisputed king.
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Of this blog? Thank you.
Pat M -
Man – the Yankees were so careful with him and it still happened. But looking at it another way, Hughes has never had a “typical” season – always one thing or another. And then last season, the first without the innings limit, you really do have to add on the post-season, don’t you?
I just hope the patience is there. Seems almost counterintuitive in NY to preach patience, and it’s what they need most across the board.
The yankees should of never jumped hughes innings by so much from 2009 to 2010.
40 OR 50 More innings,fine,but not 90 more innings.
That is insanity.
Okay, my bad. But when you start off the night with Martin is a black hole, and move on to Martin/Cervelli tandem stats then…
The only way Montero comes up is if there is an injurty to one of the two OR they trade Cervelli (ha!) or if they DFA Cervelli.
Cervelli doesn’t play enough to have earned such a fate. Our offense does not run through or depend greatly on the catchers’ contributions. Jorge is not going to get less AB. Alex coming back will take some DH AB.
Unless you think the Yankees view Montero as a white knight, I don’t think he’ll be up until September. And yes, I think they do that when rosters expand. To do otherwise would be foolhardy.
I guess you can accept Gardner’s subpar OPS+ as a corner OF because our CF hits like a corner OF.
Why can’t you accept Martin’s subpar OPS+ because our 2b hits like a 1b?
I think there is something to be said for strong offense at premium positions but the Yankees or any team can find ways to balance out production on the whole.
Why fixate on some positions but not others?
Melky got buried for having only 10 HR’s as a corner OF.
Gardner has 4.
Would the New Yorl Yankees rather have an in-his-prime Jorge Posada or an in-his-prime Jose Molina as their starting catcher?
They could option Cervelli. My point about the tandem is that I think its impossible to conceive of a Martin / Cervelli tandem lasting until Gary Sanchez. They just don’t get enough out of the unit to justify it. They’d have to make a trade or sign a different catcher to split time with Martin.
Bringing up Montero to replace cervelli and dialing back on Martin’s play time should be the first move made post ASB. If Montero catches fire you have a viable bat to bring into the postseason.
What is the latest Montero can get called up and qualify for post-season play?
I guess you can accept Gardner’s subpar OPS+ as a corner OF because our CF hits like a corner OF.
———————
Define subpar.
Oh and btw Cano is not hitting like a 1B this season. He has an .823 OPS.
Bret The Hitman July 28th, 2011 at 9:54 pm
I guess you can accept Gardner’s subpar OPS+ as a corner OF because our CF hits like a corner OF.
===============
Gardner’s OPS+ is 109, which is by definition not subpar.
4 HR’s for Melky in LF and he would’ve been raped.
Melky never broke a 100 OPS+ as a Yankee.
That’s why he got buried. Not because of some arbitrary HR total.
Nobody does sports documentaries like HBO, what a terrific hour…
Why can’t you accept Martin’s subpar OPS+ because our 2b hits like a 1b?
I think there is something to be said for strong offense at premium positions but the Yankees or any team can find ways to balance out production on the whole.
Why fixate on some positions but not others?
Melky got buried for having only 10 HR’s as a corner OF.
Gardner has 4.
–
Some responses: You could accept poor offensive performance if you have enough good to great performance from other positions to make up for it, but the Yankees don’t. With Tex not hitting, Swisher re-slumping, Cano not having a Cano like year, A-rod dead, Jeter not good, and Martin/Cervelli playing atrociously there isn’t enough quality swings in the lineup to carry such a black hole.
The reason you fixate on positions is due to the ability to replace them. You aren’t replacing Tex or A-rod or Jeter, they are all under contract. Catcher is the only position where they could make a painless move right now. Option cervelli, DFA Molina, call up Montero.
Who fixated on Melky as a corner outfielder? He was mostly thought of as a centerfielder. And Gardner brings far superior defense and base running to the equation, something the team as a whole lacks. If they could replace him efficiently, I’d do it though. Gardner for Melky happened to be an efficient replacement.
The Yankees need to have a strong core up the middle. They have 50% of it with Cano and Granderson, just lacking something at SS and catcher and only 1 of those can be helped.
Melky never had an OPS+ above 93 with the Yanks.
Melky as a Yankee
.269/.331/.385 86 OPS+
You can say that we can deal with Tex’s lack of production because Cano is hitting like a 1st baseman. But Cano can’t carry SS, C, 1B all by himself…
Oh is that why Gardner has been cast as an elite corner fielder?
He broke out with a 109 OPS+ ?
LGY July 28th, 2011 at 10:02 pm
Melky never broke a 100 OPS+ as a Yankee.
That’s why he got buried. Not because of some arbitrary HR total.
==============
Okay, I’ll shut up–it look like you have this one under control.
Brett Gardner is 10% better than the leagues LFers, Swisher is 1% better than the leagues RFers… Granderson, A-rod, and Cano were carrying the team offensively.
Jerkface,
All those guys have to hit. You can’t expect Montero to carry them.
I really hope Dellin’s rough finish didn’t ruin some of his trade value.
Bret The Hitman July 28th, 2011 at 10:04 pm
Oh is that why Gardner has been cast as an elite corner fielder?
He broke out with a 109 OPS+ ?
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Strawman. Frist, yoiu called him subpar. And now you claim that we called him elite,. because we falsified your asseriton that Gardner is subpar?
All those guys have to hit. You can’t expect Montero to carry them.
–
The point isn’t for Montero to carry the team, its to start balancing the load.
10% better than a bunch of guys who suck?
I’ll do backflips.
Villa Nova Ya…..His innings jumped up by 100 in 2010….I’m not factoring in his Minor league rehab starts in 09 which there were some….Point is that dead arm was really a tired arm from the work load from the previous season……This not to be viewed as an excuse but rather a partial explanation beyond the typical he stinks babble that is so prevalent here….
10% better than a bunch of guys who suck?
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And the yankees get the opposite of that at catcher, so 10% worse than a bunch of guys who suck? Start flipping.
Jerkface,
nah. I think you expect Montero to carry them. If they hit the way they’re supposed to hit, they can carry Martin. Don’t blame Martin for the fact x,y,z aren’t hitting.
He’s calling the games.
Gardner’s reacting to them.
So flip that.
???
You just said we can carry Martin because guys can hit, but now that its pointed out they aren’t hitting we are supposed to not blame Martin? you can’t use other members of the team as a crutch for Martin then blithely hand wave it away.
He’s calling the games.
Gardner’s reacting to them.
So flip that.
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Without Gardner hauling in all those flyballs, holding 2Bs to 1Bs and outright robbing hits and throwing out runners, Martin’s game calling looks like butts.
Without Martin calling games, maybe those balls go over the fence.
Pat M -
Explanations are good. Better than ?????s
And explanations give hope for a turn around, possibly.
Cervelli’s catcher’s ERA is 3.56
Martin’s catcher’s ERA is 3.61
Villa Nova-Ya July 28th, 2011 at 10:00 pm
What is the latest Montero can get called up and qualify for post-season play?
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I know it has to be before September. So I’m guessing Aug. 31st
What is the latest Montero can get called up and qualify for post-season play?
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I know it has to be before September. So I’m guessing Aug. 31st
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August 31st, but if they have anyone on the DL they can replace them on the roster with Montero. the k-rod loop hole.
Thanks, igotid88.
Usually this time of year I get excited for a possible trade. What good player we’ll get that’ll improve our team? But not this year. I’m scared I’ll get a text or come here and read a headline I wouldn’t like.