Comments on: The early emergence of Melky Cabrera http://riveraveblues.com/2008/05/05/the-early-emergence-of-melky-cabrera-2718/ A New York Yankees Blog Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:46:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Micky7 Old Ranger http://riveraveblues.com/2008/05/05/the-early-emergence-of-melky-cabrera-2718/#comment-76654 Micky7 Old Ranger Tue, 06 May 2008 01:18:31 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=2718#comment-76654 You got it Ben, thanks, I didn't know. 27/08. You got it Ben, thanks, I didn’t know. 27/08.

]]> By: My Pet Goat http://riveraveblues.com/2008/05/05/the-early-emergence-of-melky-cabrera-2718/#comment-76633 My Pet Goat Tue, 06 May 2008 00:48:31 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=2718#comment-76633 I love the concept of a rebuilding year that gets bandied about the RAB message boards. Are you expecting an 86 win season? Is that what rebuilding looks like? For most teams rebuilding doesn't involve a PECOTA projection of 95 wins. You're mistaking a substantial philosophy shift in roster building for a complete tear-down. So instead of Carlos Silva, the Yanks have a couple of kids getting torched (oops, I forgot my message board etiquette: TORCHED!!!). That said, throwing your arms up in the air and saying, "It's a crap shoot! We're better off trading prospects for proven veterans (read: all the free agents years, none of the prime), cause who could have guessed Melky Cabrera could hit?" is part of the reason that baseball (and the Yankees particularly) was such a poorly managed sport. If it's part of your organizational mission to develop prospects as assets for your big league club, you damn better make it your business to learn how to project and predict their performances. Beyond that it might be a good idea to figure out the attrition rate for top prospects. What percentage pan out? What percentage exceed or underperform expectations? Without a firm grasp on those numbers you're going to make deals like Brian Sabean or Steve Philips. And you should thank your frickin' rosary beads that neither of those guys is the Yankees GM. So Chris, while I appreciate the difficulties you have in determining the worth of prospects, I have to say I'd prefer a more informed approach to the management of young ballplayers. I love the concept of a rebuilding year that gets bandied about the RAB message boards. Are you expecting an 86 win season? Is that what rebuilding looks like? For most teams rebuilding doesn’t involve a PECOTA projection of 95 wins. You’re mistaking a substantial philosophy shift in roster building for a complete tear-down. So instead of Carlos Silva, the Yanks have a couple of kids getting torched (oops, I forgot my message board etiquette: TORCHED!!!). That said, throwing your arms up in the air and saying, “It’s a crap shoot! We’re better off trading prospects for proven veterans (read: all the free agents years, none of the prime), cause who could have guessed Melky Cabrera could hit?” is part of the reason that baseball (and the Yankees particularly) was such a poorly managed sport. If it’s part of your organizational mission to develop prospects as assets for your big league club, you damn better make it your business to learn how to project and predict their performances. Beyond that it might be a good idea to figure out the attrition rate for top prospects. What percentage pan out? What percentage exceed or underperform expectations? Without a firm grasp on those numbers you’re going to make deals like Brian Sabean or Steve Philips. And you should thank your frickin’ rosary beads that neither of those guys is the Yankees GM.

So Chris, while I appreciate the difficulties you have in determining the worth of prospects, I have to say I’d prefer a more informed approach to the management of young ballplayers.

]]> By: barry http://riveraveblues.com/2008/05/05/the-early-emergence-of-melky-cabrera-2718/#comment-76617 barry Tue, 06 May 2008 00:15:26 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=2718#comment-76617 I always had high hopes, especially after looking at the beginning of another great Yankee CFer's career, Bernie Williams. Hopefully the Melk-man can deliver like Bernie did. I always had high hopes, especially after looking at the beginning of another great Yankee CFer’s career, Bernie Williams. Hopefully the Melk-man can deliver like Bernie did.

]]> By: Chip http://riveraveblues.com/2008/05/05/the-early-emergence-of-melky-cabrera-2718/#comment-76591 Chip Mon, 05 May 2008 23:27:30 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=2718#comment-76591 I disagree, I think the plan was always to win this year. Otherwise you don't sign Posada and Rivera, maybe one but not both. I just hope Melky can have about the same career as Bobby Abreu, line-drive hitter with occasional power. I disagree, I think the plan was always to win this year. Otherwise you don’t sign Posada and Rivera, maybe one but not both. I just hope Melky can have about the same career as Bobby Abreu, line-drive hitter with occasional power.

]]> By: Chip http://riveraveblues.com/2008/05/05/the-early-emergence-of-melky-cabrera-2718/#comment-76590 Chip Mon, 05 May 2008 23:24:35 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=2718#comment-76590 A homerun is a homerun, he gets to play half his games with that short-porch which isn't going away anytime soon. He had decent stretches before but when did he hit 6 homeruns in a month? The problem with him everyone had was "he'll never hit for much power", well I think he's proving those critics wrong right now. The great thing is he's doing it without swinging for the fences everytime. BTW, he hit one right-handed off of CC in Cleveland, no short porch there A homerun is a homerun, he gets to play half his games with that short-porch which isn’t going away anytime soon. He had decent stretches before but when did he hit 6 homeruns in a month? The problem with him everyone had was “he’ll never hit for much power”, well I think he’s proving those critics wrong right now. The great thing is he’s doing it without swinging for the fences everytime.

BTW, he hit one right-handed off of CC in Cleveland, no short porch there

]]> By: Ben K. http://riveraveblues.com/2008/05/05/the-early-emergence-of-melky-cabrera-2718/#comment-76555 Ben K. Mon, 05 May 2008 22:12:39 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=2718#comment-76555 I'm going to start holding your comments in moderation until you change your name. Drop the # and the two hyphens please. It's messing up our commenting system. I’m going to start holding your comments in moderation until you change your name. Drop the # and the two hyphens please. It’s messing up our commenting system.

]]> By: chris http://riveraveblues.com/2008/05/05/the-early-emergence-of-melky-cabrera-2718/#comment-76554 chris Mon, 05 May 2008 22:11:39 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=2718#comment-76554 In a way, Melky's devlopment is even more reason why you need to trade prospects smetimes. I say this because you can never tell who will be great and who will stink up the joint (with the exception o those special players - AROD and Jetes. just as no one could have predicted this type of success (myself included as I basehed him evey day last season), prospects who are supposed to be good are just as unpredictable I am hoping Kennedy is back up soon. Regardless of what managment said publicly, when you start two rookies and plan to add another midseason, the goal of this year was development and they were not expecting to contend. This better be a move to get his mechanics back or maybe confidence, but he needs to be on the big league team. If not, then the Yankees are essentially scapping their plans to rebuild the pitching staff thus endangering IPK's career, or puting us in the position of having to watch them start all over with the big three experiment next year In a way, Melky’s devlopment is even more reason why you need to trade prospects smetimes. I say this because you can never tell who will be great and who will stink up the joint (with the exception o those special players - AROD and Jetes.

just as no one could have predicted this type of success (myself included as I basehed him evey day last season), prospects who are supposed to be good are just as unpredictable

I am hoping Kennedy is back up soon. Regardless of what managment said publicly, when you start two rookies and plan to add another midseason, the goal of this year was development and they were not expecting to contend. This better be a move to get his mechanics back or maybe confidence, but he needs to be on the big league team. If not, then the Yankees are essentially scapping their plans to rebuild the pitching staff thus endangering IPK’s career, or puting us in the position of having to watch them start all over with the big three experiment next year

]]> By: Micky 7 Old Ranger http://riveraveblues.com/2008/05/05/the-early-emergence-of-melky-cabrera-2718/#comment-76551 Micky 7 Old Ranger Mon, 05 May 2008 22:07:57 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=2718#comment-76551 I hated the idea some had to trade him this winter (even though I like Brett Gardner), because he was our best option for the CF job. Now if and when they call up (or Waite until next year) Brett/Justin to play CF, Melky will move to RF. I, along with most of you, hope Melky keeps going on and on and is the player we hope he can be...very good, for 10/12 years. 27/08. I hated the idea some had to trade him this winter (even though I like Brett Gardner), because he was our best option for the CF job. Now if and when they call up (or Waite until next year) Brett/Justin to play CF, Melky will move to RF.
I, along with most of you, hope Melky keeps going on and on and is the player we hope he can be…very good, for 10/12 years. 27/08.

]]> By: Micky#7--Old Ranger http://riveraveblues.com/2008/05/05/the-early-emergence-of-melky-cabrera-2718/#comment-76540 Micky#7--Old Ranger Mon, 05 May 2008 21:56:28 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=2718#comment-76540 “You really have to take a guy like Melky Cabrera’s personality into account…” No, you don’t. Yes you do, some people react differently then others. Some need a slap up side the head others...just a kind word. ------ “Melky is a winner.” More so than whom, Damon? Matsui? What does that mean? It means he has been carrying the team for awhile...right? ---- “…he had a live bat…” Please define ‘live bat’. The ball jumps off the bat...as if shot. ---- “Melky is fast becoming a superstar…” Patently incorrect statement. Your right on this one. ---- “…with his demeanor and charm I don’t know how you can’t be anything but happy for the kid…” He is a happy go lucky type of guy...be happy. --- Double negative, but sure I’m pretty stoked the kid plays well. I like this last part the best. --- Now, isn't everyone happy? Just having a little fun MPG. “You really have to take a guy like Melky Cabrera’s personality into account…”
No, you don’t.
Yes you do, some people react differently then others. Some need a slap up side the head others…just a kind word.
——
“Melky is a winner.”
More so than whom, Damon? Matsui? What does that mean?
It means he has been carrying the team for awhile…right?
—-
“…he had a live bat…”
Please define ‘live bat’.
The ball jumps off the bat…as if shot.
—-
“Melky is fast becoming a superstar…”
Patently incorrect statement.
Your right on this one.
—-
“…with his demeanor and charm I don’t know how you can’t be anything but happy for the kid…”
He is a happy go lucky type of guy…be happy.
—
Double negative, but sure I’m pretty stoked the kid plays well.
I like this last part the best.
—
Now, isn’t everyone happy?
Just having a little fun MPG.

]]> By: Ricochet http://riveraveblues.com/2008/05/05/the-early-emergence-of-melky-cabrera-2718/#comment-76528 Ricochet Mon, 05 May 2008 21:37:45 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=2718#comment-76528 I've never been a big fan of his because beyond his arm I think his game is quite Vanilla. I liked the fact that he was like a little kid out there in that he looks as if he was having fun and it wasn't so business like, like the majority of the club. I'm not sold that he's the Yankees future CF, I'm happy for him and he's done a good job but it's only a month into a season so it doesn't mean much at this point. I like what I'm seeing so far but I'm not going to get ahead of myself but whats encouraging is that he's no longer looking like a player trying not to do something wrong and is just playing. In the past in AB's he looked as if he was trying harder not to miss rather than try to hit and that led him to have a swing that was finesse rather than one trying to hit the ball solidly. Ever since he got called up other than an occasional times here and there his swing was weak and it drove me nuts and I would scream for him to swing the bat with some authority because until this year most of his hits seemed to me to be more lucky than skill. He had a ton of bloop and off the end of the bat hits but this year with him actually swing the bad hard and quick he's getting quality hits often and his power is clearly up. I’ve never been a big fan of his because beyond his arm I think his game is quite Vanilla. I liked the fact that he was like a little kid out there in that he looks as if he was having fun and it wasn’t so business like, like the majority of the club.

I’m not sold that he’s the Yankees future CF, I’m happy for him and he’s done a good job but it’s only a month into a season so it doesn’t mean much at this point.

I like what I’m seeing so far but I’m not going to get ahead of myself but whats encouraging is that he’s no longer looking like a player trying not to do something wrong and is just playing. In the past in AB’s he looked as if he was trying harder not to miss rather than try to hit and that led him to have a swing that was finesse rather than one trying to hit the ball solidly. Ever since he got called up other than an occasional times here and there his swing was weak and it drove me nuts and I would scream for him to swing the bat with some authority because until this year most of his hits seemed to me to be more lucky than skill. He had a ton of bloop and off the end of the bat hits but this year with him actually swing the bad hard and quick he’s getting quality hits often and his power is clearly up.

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