Comments on: Yanks’ center field spot up for grabs, in a way http://riveraveblues.com/2008/03/yanks-center-field-spot-up-for-grabs-in-a-way-2249/ A New York Yankees Blog Wed, 15 Feb 2012 07:19:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: RollignWave http://riveraveblues.com/2008/03/yanks-center-field-spot-up-for-grabs-in-a-way-2249/#comment-55599 RollignWave Tue, 04 Mar 2008 01:06:30 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/2008/03/03/yanks-center-field-spot-up-for-grabs-in-a-way-2249/#comment-55599 they care about position context for sure. but he's comp is very very well becauese of a few simple reasons a. most MLBer establish themself around age 25 . Cabrera essentially established himself at age 21. so he's wayyyyyy ahead of the average player there. b. most guys who establish themself this young weren't very good when they first came up. if a hitter was immediately good at this sort of age. (like Ken Griffey Jr and A-rod.) they're typically no-brainer hall of famers. however, they typicaly get better. some of the comps i bring up when people put the whole (but he doesn't look like he'll get better debate) is Kirby Puckett / Steve Finely / Roberto Clemente. I find it hard to make compelling argument that they showed anything that suggested their potential before they broke out... all at much later stages of their career then where Cabrera is at and I laugh if anyone suggest they have crazy mad power tools . they don't, Kirbry was a 5'9 slap hitter. Finely showed you what a 4th OF REALLY should look like with his low .600s OPS at age 25. and Clemente threw up about 4 season of 4th OFish numbers before he suddenly added 15 to 20 more HR power (and he was also pretty small) the thing they have in common was that they were all speedy guys who had very high contact rate. Cabrera doesn't really have the former but he clearly has the later. they care about position context for sure.

but he’s comp is very very well becauese of a few simple reasons

a. most MLBer establish themself around age 25 . Cabrera essentially established himself at age 21. so he’s wayyyyyy ahead of the average player there.

b. most guys who establish themself this young weren’t very good when they first came up. if a hitter was immediately good at this sort of age. (like Ken Griffey Jr and A-rod.) they’re typically no-brainer hall of famers. however, they typicaly get better.

some of the comps i bring up when people put the whole (but he doesn’t look like he’ll get better debate) is Kirby Puckett / Steve Finely / Roberto Clemente. I find it hard to make compelling argument that they showed anything that suggested their potential before they broke out… all at much later stages of their career then where Cabrera is at and I laugh if anyone suggest they have crazy mad power tools . they don’t, Kirbry was a 5’9 slap hitter. Finely showed you what a 4th OF REALLY should look like with his low .600s OPS at age 25. and Clemente threw up about 4 season of 4th OFish numbers before he suddenly added 15 to 20 more HR power (and he was also pretty small) the thing they have in common was that they were all speedy guys who had very high contact rate. Cabrera doesn’t really have the former but he clearly has the later.

]]> By: Nate http://riveraveblues.com/2008/03/yanks-center-field-spot-up-for-grabs-in-a-way-2249/#comment-55561 Nate Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:09:18 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/2008/03/03/yanks-center-field-spot-up-for-grabs-in-a-way-2249/#comment-55561 Could Beltran and Bernie be on their because their both switch hitters or does PECOTA not care about that. I can't remember. Could Beltran and Bernie be on their because their both switch hitters or does PECOTA not care about that. I can’t remember.

]]> By: Rich http://riveraveblues.com/2008/03/yanks-center-field-spot-up-for-grabs-in-a-way-2249/#comment-55538 Rich Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:50:42 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/2008/03/03/yanks-center-field-spot-up-for-grabs-in-a-way-2249/#comment-55538 I think it's possible, given how well he did after the promotion, that the light has gone on for him. I think it’s possible, given how well he did after the promotion, that the light has gone on for him.

]]> By: Rob http://riveraveblues.com/2008/03/yanks-center-field-spot-up-for-grabs-in-a-way-2249/#comment-55515 Rob Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:26:41 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/2008/03/03/yanks-center-field-spot-up-for-grabs-in-a-way-2249/#comment-55515 Gardner has shown he needs a second crack at a level. But you're right. We have to see what he does the first half of this year. But I know I wouldn't be surprised to look up and see .380 OBP and .400 SLG in June. Gardner has shown he needs a second crack at a level. But you’re right. We have to see what he does the first half of this year. But I know I wouldn’t be surprised to look up and see .380 OBP and .400 SLG in June.

]]> By: River Ave. Blues | The final word on Melky http://riveraveblues.com/2008/03/yanks-center-field-spot-up-for-grabs-in-a-way-2249/#comment-55512 River Ave. Blues | The final word on Melky Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:11:22 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/2008/03/03/yanks-center-field-spot-up-for-grabs-in-a-way-2249/#comment-55512 [...] Rob brought up a point in our post about Melky. The quote was that we are “setting [ourselves] up for an embarrassing fall should Melky [...] [...] Rob brought up a point in our post about Melky. The quote was that we are “setting [ourselves] up for an embarrassing fall should Melky [...]

]]> By: Bill http://riveraveblues.com/2008/03/yanks-center-field-spot-up-for-grabs-in-a-way-2249/#comment-55511 Bill Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:59:57 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/2008/03/03/yanks-center-field-spot-up-for-grabs-in-a-way-2249/#comment-55511 More than anything I think Cashman and Girardi are trying to motivate Melky and make sure he doesn't get complacent thinking he has the CF job locked up. Melky is still plan A there, but they just want to let him know that they have a plan B and C so he better come prepared to play. That makes me think that maybe Melky hasn't come into camp in exceptional shape. Let's remember that he was also among the players that struggled early last year. However guys like Damon and Abreu came into this year in great shape. Nothing really has been said about Melky, could this be implying that they are less than impressed with his conditioning? I think more than anything it is motivation, but they do view Jackson as the future in CF and certainly haven't comitted to a future that includes Melky. I wouldn't be surprised if the Yankees pulled the trigger on a move there. I do however think they are undervaluing him. More than anything I think Cashman and Girardi are trying to motivate Melky and make sure he doesn’t get complacent thinking he has the CF job locked up. Melky is still plan A there, but they just want to let him know that they have a plan B and C so he better come prepared to play. That makes me think that maybe Melky hasn’t come into camp in exceptional shape. Let’s remember that he was also among the players that struggled early last year. However guys like Damon and Abreu came into this year in great shape. Nothing really has been said about Melky, could this be implying that they are less than impressed with his conditioning? I think more than anything it is motivation, but they do view Jackson as the future in CF and certainly haven’t comitted to a future that includes Melky. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Yankees pulled the trigger on a move there. I do however think they are undervaluing him.

]]> By: B http://riveraveblues.com/2008/03/yanks-center-field-spot-up-for-grabs-in-a-way-2249/#comment-55509 B Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:53:06 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/2008/03/03/yanks-center-field-spot-up-for-grabs-in-a-way-2249/#comment-55509 Bret Gardner needs to crack a .700 OPS in AAA before he's even mentioned in any of these conversations. Bret Gardner needs to crack a .700 OPS in AAA before he’s even mentioned in any of these conversations.

]]> By: Ramadan http://riveraveblues.com/2008/03/yanks-center-field-spot-up-for-grabs-in-a-way-2249/#comment-55507 Ramadan Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:27:38 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/2008/03/03/yanks-center-field-spot-up-for-grabs-in-a-way-2249/#comment-55507 Brett Gardner is a nothing prospect. Leave Melky alone. Brett Gardner is a nothing prospect. Leave Melky alone.

]]> By: Rob http://riveraveblues.com/2008/03/yanks-center-field-spot-up-for-grabs-in-a-way-2249/#comment-55503 Rob Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:14:08 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/2008/03/03/yanks-center-field-spot-up-for-grabs-in-a-way-2249/#comment-55503 I agree completely that it's up to Girardi to manage matchups. With how slow they are to the plate, how fantastic would Gardner be against Wakefield and Matsuzaka? Out of the 9 spot, he works a walk 38% of the time, and then he's a complete pest with Damon, Jeter, and Abreu up. P.s We're going to see the same game from Ellsbury. I agree completely that it’s up to Girardi to manage matchups. With how slow they are to the plate, how fantastic would Gardner be against Wakefield and Matsuzaka? Out of the 9 spot, he works a walk 38% of the time, and then he’s a complete pest with Damon, Jeter, and Abreu up.

P.s We’re going to see the same game from Ellsbury.

]]> By: TurnTwo http://riveraveblues.com/2008/03/yanks-center-field-spot-up-for-grabs-in-a-way-2249/#comment-55502 TurnTwo Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:05:05 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/2008/03/03/yanks-center-field-spot-up-for-grabs-in-a-way-2249/#comment-55502 he cant hit a lick? maybe you meant cant hit for power... but thats not his game. you've basically right now got a battle between 4th OF-type players... one who has a little more power and is proven at the MLB level, or one who has a lot more speed, but unproven at the upper levels just yet. All things being equal, it's up to Girardi to determine if he can utilize Melky's extra 'power' or Gardner's extra speed in this lineup to make it a better team. he cant hit a lick? maybe you meant cant hit for power… but thats not his game.

you’ve basically right now got a battle between 4th OF-type players… one who has a little more power and is proven at the MLB level, or one who has a lot more speed, but unproven at the upper levels just yet.

All things being equal, it’s up to Girardi to determine if he can utilize Melky’s extra ‘power’ or Gardner’s extra speed in this lineup to make it a better team.

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