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Posted by: Mike A. in Open Thread. Tagged: Brett Gardner, Melky Cabrera
Melky Cabrera has a special place in the hearts of Yankees’ fans. We watched him (and his .322 OBP) jump from Double-A all the way to bigs as a 20 year old in 2005, then watched in horror as he looked overmatched at the plate and misplayed routine flyballs into inside-the-park homers in Fenway Park. He returned the following season because of injuries, and has since established himself as a passable everyday centerfielder. He’s one of our own; he’s paid his dues and earned a job.
This season though has been a tale of two Melky’s. His Opening Day homer gave us all hope that he was in line for the breakout season that many predicted was coming, and as recently as May 4th it looked like the breakout was legit. After hitting .291-.359-.505 with a team leading six longballs through his first 31 games, Melky has become an offensive blackhole. The numbers aren’t pretty: .257-.293-.284 with a whopping three extra base hits (all doubles) in his last 30 games. A few days ago he misplayed a potential double play ball, and if nothing else a routine line drive hit right at him, into a bunch of unearned runs. Today he weakly grounded out to first to kill the Yankees’ 9th inning rally against Royals’ closer Joakim Soria, sliding into the bag after being told for two full seasons now not to slide into first.
Enter Brett Gardner. The Yanks’ third round pick in 2005 has spend the first two-and-a-half years of his professional career terrorizing the opposition, whether it be by working counts (.387 career OBP), spraying hits to all fields (.290 BA), or running wild on the basepaths (141 SB). He’s added another much needed element to this game this year: power. Through 60 games he’s already tripled his homer total of the previous two season combined, and is slugging at a .454 clip, almost 80 points better than his career output coming into the year.
Having seen time in both left and centerfield this year, as well as a handful of pinch hit & run opportunities, Gardner is poised to take over as an extra outfielder in the big leagues this year. He’s every bit as capable as Melky when it comes to running down balls in the outfield, and while his arm isn’t as strong, his speed and on-base skills make him a much deadlier offensive player. It is worth nothing that Gardner is just about a full year older than Melky.
While it’s hard to believe that Gardner couldn’t be a viable extra outfielder right now, we’re not here to discuss a bench job. Is it time to take Melky Cabrera and his limp noodle bat out of the lineup and replace it with Gardner’s speed demon game on a full-time basis? Could he perform any worse?
Discuss it here, and play nice.
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Brett Gardner would achieve things on the basepaths that would surprise us, in a good way which would exclude sliding into first.
I think Melky’s ceiling is possibly a good deal higher, but the discipline to get there isn’t as obvious. Gardner’s is and that’s perhaps why he gets more out of his talent.
Call Gardner up and see what the competition does for Melky. He obviously needs some. If Gardner plays well, I would offer up Cabrera to a contender in need of a centerfielder like the Cubs.
The Cubs want a lefty bat
Ignore that comment … i’m an idiot
I think calling up Gardner might also enlighten Mr .Cano. He and Melky are buddies and sorry I think we need more from cano then we need from Melky who I think has been fairly clutch on this team…
i think they need gardner at a minimum for a pinch runner, imagine him on 1st no outs his ability to steal bases in a close game would be huge pls from this team of cement legs…..
cashman has already said he will not be used in this manner.
it’s either all or none right now, because they see him as a viable OF prospect, and want to get him regular ABs, whether it be in Scranton or NY.
prob is that he’s basically Melky, with a little more speed.
to give him credit, while i do think Melky has been exposed from the right side, he looks like a different hitter, and much more comfortable, from the left side.
“I think calling up Gardner might also enlighten Mr .Cano. ”
Totally agree.
In Cano’s defense, while he hasnt been on fire like Giambi, he has hit .300 since May and his OPS is hovering a little over .700, which isnt what we all expected but for a second baseman it isnt awful. I have to assume based on the three previous years he is going to turn it on. And while questioning Melky makes sense because you have a viable alternative and the results throughout his career have made it questionable whether he is an every day player. On the other hand with Cano all you have on this team is Alberto Gonzalez and Wilson Betemit. I know people are in love with the attorney general but he is nothing more than a utility player and a defensive replacement, which is important for the Yankees to have.
I think Gardner makes sense right now. The only problem is that you just dont know how Melky will react. If you do it, it might mean closing the book on Melky for at least this year. At this point you need to do something to try and spark this team. Between Cano and Jeter’s failure to take a lot of pitches, he may be something that helps the team. And with Austin Jackson probably a year and a half away anyway, I dont think ruining Melky or experimenting with Gardner is that awful.
Agree. Even if Gardner doesn’t work they still have Jackson and maybe Tabata.
I just think it’s a good time to cut Melky loose before that big ass swing catches up with him and they can’t get anything for him.
I think Melky has proved he is ML worthy and he is a commodity but his flaws become apparent when he has to play every day. I dont think we need to dump him. Sometimes its nice to hold on to young players just to fill a need on your bench. And if everyone here is able to see his value, Im skeptical there are a ton of teams who would offer anything besides nominal value for him or if he were a complimentary part of a package. I can think of worse things (like allowing Ian Kennedy another start this year in ML) than having a switch hitting fourth outfielder who can play all three positions and has a great arm.
“I can think of worse things (like allowing Ian Kennedy another start this year in ML)…”
Making statements like that will not get you invited to any RAB parties.
LOL
uh oh. now youve gone and done it.
you wont a dissenting opinion here with me.
Personally i think Gardener should be up for a pinch runner situation and defense. i dont think melky is that bad. not worse in the field than damon. but i agree with stuart.. i think cano is entirely too comfortable right now with how he is performing and its unacceptable
so calling up Gardner to compete with Melky is a wake-up call for Cano?
i’m willing to listen to that kind of argument, but right now im not buyin it.
well, we know which way you’re leaning Mike. you guys are starting to sound like steve lombardi:cashman, RAB:melky. i’m starting to think it’s a valid point that you are so quick to tear down melky (who’s just 23) yet seem to defende kennedy with your life (who’s also 23). between the two, Melky has proven a helluva lot more at the ML level. (not that i think that will continue, just saying.)
you forgot to mention Melky beat out a bunt in the 8th that likely would’ve led to the Yanks taking the lead.
as to this debate, i definitely want gardner to get a shot. let him be a LIDR and PR for a few days (send down Moeller) before inserting him into the lineup fulltime. if he’s doing more than melky, either demote melky or make melky the LIDR and PR. gardner’s having too good a season and we desperately need a real PR (moeller pinch-ran today for god’s sake).
You have a valid point about me and Kennedy. In my defense, Melky has been consistently mediocre for 2+ years now, and has shown little signs of improvement. IPK has less than 50 ML innings under his belt and hasn’t had the same chance to establish himself yet.
I take great offense to your analogy. We tore down Melky over the off-season, true. But once he started to put up in April, we tipped our hats to those who had faith all along. I even admitted as such in April. Ever since the calendar flipped from April to May, Melky has played like shit, and we’ve dealt with it. We haven’t written our “this is why Melky will never be good” diatribes. We simply sat back, and watched him struggle.
Now, though, it’s starting to get to us again. With an option in AAA who is playing well, it’s only natural to wonder if a change is in order.
“With an option in AAA who is playing well, it’s only natural to wonder if a change is in order.”
It’s funny when Hughes and IPK were stinking up the place and Ranser was doing well in AAA I didn’t see anyone wondering if a change was in order. To the contrary I saw very excuse use in the book to keep them in the Majors
Well played.
To further defend us, if Kennedy has 2+ season of below-average performance like Melky under his belt, I’d be advocating the same thing.
As I said in my game recap, we’re not defending Kennedy the player quite yet (although Mike is). We’re defending the idea of not trading the farm for over-paid, over-the-hill veterans. If the Yankees are going to win, they have to develop from within. A lot of those players won’t pan out, but a lot will, and we can’t go trading away every good young player just because some pitcher past his peak is available.
Or because the young pitcher has a bad month. Or because Ryan Bradley, Randy Keisler, et al flamed out way back when.
At least be fair Ben. Melky has been the definition of an *average* CF for 2+ years. The bat’s been a bit worse (OPS+). The glove’s been a bit better (RF and RATE).
“if Kennedy has 2+ season of below-average performance like Melky under his belt, I’d be advocating the same thing.”
I would love to see that.
LOL
Well done and well said.
Even though I agree with developing players lets take a good look at the championship teams from 1996 on, I did. I saw a young core, but the teams were mostly made up of free agents and trades. Lets try to put the youth movement in the right context.
As much as I don’t like Melky, this is a great point regarding Kennedy.
I don’t know why everyone can’t be honest about what Kennedy is. He’s a right hander that throws very average stuff. Those guys are a dime a dozen. There’s really nothing that puts him in the same league as Joba or Hughes for that matter except that he was drafted around the same time.
Personally I’d dump Kennedy, because a logjam of average starters is starting to form in AAA. Cashman has to start utilizing guys like Marquez, Kennedy, Igawa, White, etc and start bringing in some pieces that will help fortify this team if it has any hope to make it to the playoffs, and advance further than the first round.
off topic but is Dontrelle Willis done?
I don’t think Willis done. He has mechanical issues that need to be corrected and should be. The question is whether he’ll make that change or not. If not, I think he’s done.
One would also have to hope that it serves as a kick in the pants for Melky. Ever since Cashman saying in Spring Training that Melky wasn’t guaranteed the job, we haven’t seen much action on the CF front (Melky’s torrid start of course explains part of this). But the guy looks lost at the moment (although in general the last 14 days were acceptable, offensively). And frankly, my stomach turned today when Kay went on about how this lineup offers no easy outs for a pitcher. Seriously? With guys with OBP’s of .326, .273, and .238? (Granted, Kay did mention Molina as an easy out).
Melky is fine as a starting centerfielder. I like Gardner over A gonz as a speed threat on the bases/ pinch runner and 5th outfielder. I think you know my opinion on Damon right now and if he is this hot maybe we should put him on the market while hes on fire. We can’t have 3 DH’s(Damon plays left field like) We need to trade one of them. I am a big Bretty-G fan and I’m all for a call up but not by degrading melky
amen. i think damon needs to be on the market right now. the way he’s hitting, you could round up a serious bounty for him from a real contender.
I don’t think Damon is that bad in the field. He’s probably better than a typical LF actually, especially with guys like Manny, Jack Cust, Garrett Anderson, Luke Scott, Raul Ibanez, etc holding down full-time LF jobs.
Every ball hit to him makes me cringe. There was one play today where the ball was hit to his left and instead of getting behind it and charging toward 3rd base, he side stepped(more like skipped) until he reached out barely enough to catch it. I thought he had Guillen’s homerun in left field but it turns out he was 8 feet away from it and had to run and try to rob the homerun.
the numbers don’t back this up.
Damon is a very good LFer.
whether or not you “cringe” is irrelevant.
he gets to more balls than the average LFer.
anyone who criticized Damon for not catching that HR has an agenda. sorry.
that’s why catches like that are on highlight reels, b/c they aren’t supposed to happen.
I think you’re right about his defense in general, but Manimal has a point on that home run. Not that he *should* have stolen the home run, not something one should ever assume, but it was definitely catchable so he should have been in position to make an attempt at catching it. Instead he badly misread it and was nowhere near making a serious attempt at it.
With Damon’s contract, he is virtually untouchable unless the Yanks give him away and possibly pay some of his salary.
The only player among the three-headed DH that could fetch a nice player or two is Matsui.
Giambi, could fetch a prospect or two at the deadline, though can’t see the Yanks shipping himi out with Shelly Duncan and Ben Broussard as his replacement.
I expect we will be seeing a lot more of Gardner next year when the Yanks probably let Abreu walk…
Matsui is too valueble.
I totally agree…he is one of a few guys I really love watching
With Damon’s contract, he is virtually untouchable unless the Yanks give him away and possibly pay some of his salary.
The only player among the three-headed DH that could fetch a nice player or two is Matsui.
this is odd considering they have the exact same contract and Damon is currently the better player.
Both have no-trade clauses
Johnny Damon gets to the second most fly-balls in the American League. If you want to attack his arm strength then go right ahaead, hell, I’ll join you. However, when it comes to range (the most important factor in a player’s defense IMO) he is the second best in the AL.
speed=range but at this point wouldnt you think Bretty-G would have more range and probably a better arm.
Range isn’t just about speed, it’s also about routes and jumps. While I agree Damon’s route on the Guillen HR was not ideal, in general Damon gets to quite a few balls. Wasn’t part of the knock on Gardner in ST that his routes were bad?
I’ll take an OFer who gets good jumps and takes good routes over a guy with blazing speed any day of the week.
Speed doesn’t equal range, it equals the ability to cover up poor routes and bad jumps.
Gardner’s routes are just as bad as Melky’s.
speed=range but at this point wouldnt you think Bretty-G would have more range and probably a better arm.
who cares? Damon is hitting .328/.394/.513.
i am not against supplanting Melky with Gardner for a few weeks but implying that Gardner could even sniff Damon’s jockstrap is hilarious.
I’m wish you on that one, Gardner is probably faster than Damon but doesn’t have the homerun power and hasn’t proven he can hit major league pitching
*with
Gardner would sell his 1st born to even sniff Damon’s career. Let us take a deep breath here. Gardner isn’t the savior. He’s no Jay Bruce.
For all the good stuff, the minor league updates, etc., here’s the kind of post that makes this site lose its credibility sometimes.
Melky Cabrera and his weak noodle bat, eh? His weak noodle bat, his arm, and his glove, have saved this team’s ass quite a few times this year.
Brett Gardner should be up here instead of Shelley Duncan, but the bashing of Cabrera on here is absolute asenine.
I will have to agree. As far as I’m concerned Melky has helped the yanks more than Elsbury has helped the Sox.
Melky Cabrera has had a OPS of .780 or more twice in his professional career, he has hit 8 or more HRs thrice in his professional career, he has had an OBP over .350 twice in his professional career, at a level where he has played 50 or more games in his career he has never slugged .450 or better, never. This is the sixth season of his professional career.
He has a weak noodle bat.
You consider his age and how young he has been at basically every stage of his professional career and i think its a bit too much to say he has a noodle bat for the time being. Now Joey Gathright who we saw play CF for the Royals this weekend, thats a noodle bat!!!!
You know what, you are right. That is a noodle bat. So now that you proved me wrong I charge you with the order of describing Melky Cabrera’s bat.
Al dente noodle bat perhaps?