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Follow us on TwitterMelky Cabrera has a job for a few more weeks
Posted by: Ben K. in Injuries. Tagged: Hideki Matsui, Johnny DamonWe interrupt our slam Jason Varitek All Star Game coverage to bring you some not-so-great news on a few injured Yankees. Via the AP:
Matsui did not hit Tuesday after experiencing additional discomfort in his sore left knee. The Yankees had hoped he might be ready to return when eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list on Friday.
“Perhaps you can say so, it’s a short-term setback,” Matsui said through a translator at the Yankees’ minor league complex. “I’m going to hit tomorrow, that’s the plan anyway.”
Damon, eligible to be activated from the DL on Sunday, continues to have soreness in his injured left shoulder, and won’t likely start hitting off a tee until at least late this week. He underwent treatment only on Tuesday.
“It feels a little better today,” Damon said. “It still feels horrible waking up. I’m still kind of down because I know (Yankees manager Joe) Girardi wants to put me in the lineup on Sunday and I’m not sure we can do that.”
Damon’s news is being reported as a “setback,” but I don’t think that’s entirely accurate. His injury hasn’t gotten worse; it just isn’t getting better as quickly as he and the Yanks had hoped it would. Matsui’s knee and his progress, however, should probably be regarded as a setback, and at this point, I’m skeptical that we’ll see Matsui back in the Bronx before 2009.
With this news, the Yankees are obviously going to have to face a tough decision. While I’m not sold on his long-term prospects, it does make sense to give Richie Sexson a look at DH/1B in a platoon situation. Otherwise, we’ll be stuck with Wilson Betemit in the lineup nearly everyday. Meanwhile, the Yanks will continue to mix and match with Brett Gardner, Melky Cabrera and Justin Christian until Damon recovers. Tough times for the outfield.
yuck.
i know people hate to trade prospects nowadays, but would it be the worst thing in the world to move a couple of prospects for a young OF’er who is either under contract or cost controlled thru arbitration for the next couple years?
it is possible to help this team now, and for the near future… those ideas dont have to be mutually exclusive when trading between now and the deadline.
Who is that young outfielder though?
thats the million dollar question.
i just got finished listening to Holliday on WFAN, and he is playing RF tonight. just sayin.
he’s not real young, and youd have to extend him, i realize that. but i think he’s a gamer, and a winning player, and he’s still in his prime for a couple more seasons.
but again, i realize thats not the popular choice.
Just because he’s playing RF for a couple innings in an exhibition game doesn’t mean that he’d be a good long-term defensive option over there. And the big LF at the stadium could be an issue too. And…his bat away from Coors is basically Hideki Matsui. He’s a solid player. But is it worth giving up a Jackson or a Hughes and THEN paying him a bunch of money to extend him deep into his decline phase?
you see it as deep into decline phase, i see it as 3 to 4 prime years, and 2 to 3 years of decline.
and i made the RF comment tongue-in-cheek. lets not try to take everything thats written too seriosuly.
and yeah, if you could extend him after you trade for him, i think it is worth a Phil Hughes.
I wouldn’t trade Hughes!
Hey since everyone is saying that the Yankees should aquire an OFer here is an article I found. Please keep in mind that I am not saying if I agree with the article or not!
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/s.....amp;ATT=49
That strikes me as good short & medium term planning and some prospects should be used as trading chips. This is what makes people like the Pirates Xavier Nady and/or Damaso Marte attractive options for the Yanks (and others).
That’s like being held up w/ a gun, those are the type of moves that kill progress in building a future instead of building it.
Why? Once again your not talking about the farm and both Nady and Marte are sign next. Both can useful parts for 2009.
Why does everyone want Marte? He will be 35 next season and is just another aging reliever?
No thanks! The Pirates can keep both Nady and Marte.
well isnt damon matsui and abreu up either next yr or the year after? abreu next yr the other two theb year after right?? so why not look for that roght field replacement now for abreu? that way you have him play for damon and matsui while theyre out and then you can re evaluate in the offseason if its worth keeping abreu or not or god knows whatever this makes less sense as i keep typing just do something to make us stop losing and only scoring 1 run a game
They should just throw in the towel on Matsui for the year.
As Donald Rumsfeld once said, you go to war with the army that you have.
If we’re taking advice from Donald Rumsfeld on ANYTHING, we’re doomed.
beat me to it
Let’s not go there! 27/08
Let’s not go where? Let’s not speak about when our public officials, who serve at our pleasure, fuck up horribly, betray their oaths of office, and deserved to be fired?
That’s why I said “Let’s not go there”. Dems and Rep will never see eye to eye on politics. This is about sports not politics, let it go. 27/08??
Dems and Reps will never see eye to eye on politics, but both Dems and Reps agree that Donald Rumsfeld is an idiot chowderhead who completely FUBAR’ed our military and made horrid decision after horrid decision during every single day of his service as Secretary of Defense, pre-war, mid-war, and post-war. It’s not a political issue at all. It’s a commonsense issue.
Only in your dreams! Forget it, politics and what…should never be discussed with a Dem? They usually spout the same platitudes that they were told by some political hack. In other words; if you were intelligent, you would think for yourself. Respectfully, get a life and brain. 27/08??
I really think another hitter needs to be brought in, possibly more than one. Now whether it is a minor league call up, a trade, buying some AAA vet’s contract, somebody(s) needs to be brought in to get some knocks.
I don’t know if they can do anything too drastic though, because you really don’t know what the deal is with Matsui. We need closure on him more than anything. With Johnny, whenever he comes back you can just stick Melky or Gardner on the bench (where they belong this year).
Unless the plan is to get a younger-ish and talented vet (who is signed for longer than just this season), I really wouldn’t entertain dealing the prospects just yet.
The Yanks should make Matsui have the surgery. Knee injuries are always difficult to come back from. Damon will probably be relegated to DH-ing duty when he returns from the disabled list as arm already sucked, and will be worse than before.
The Yanks should consider trading for an outfielder. Anybody who can get the ball out of the infield would be just fine.
What of Nelson Cruz? He’s 27 and putting up great numbers at AAA again. He’s not done well in limited duty in the bigs, but it seems like the Rangers aren’t really considering him seriously anymore. Could be a solid move?
I was thinking about him too, but who knows, I also like Ronny Paulino from the Pirates.
Wait scratch Paulino hasn’ played since June 17
Wait scratch Paulino hasn’t played since June 17
nady would be a solid pickup, trade for him, throw him in left and then we dont have to resign the aging abreu(put nady in right next year)
IPK, melky and another arm good enough you think?
According to reports the Pirates have an interest in Ross Ohlendorf.
I would imagine Melky, IPK and Ohlendorf could pry Nady from the Pirates. Given the Pirates desire to remove bigger salaries add another arm and you might be able to get Marte as well.
That would be an awful, awful trade for the Yanks.
I understand need a RHB and Ross, IPK and Melky has has bad years but I don’t like that trade. IPK can be a solid #3 starter, Ohlendorf can be top reliever and while O’s sucks, his D has been very good and he’s young. Overall that trade works short term but not long term especially for a guy who doesn’t really walk.
Like you and Ben, I think sam’s scenario is overpaying for Nady. However, I don’t think you will find many people will agree with your statement that IPK “can be a solid #3 starter” — even those of us who wanted him in the rotation to start the year were saying he projected as a solid 4 or 5.
I would consider Ohlendorf and Melky for Nady or IPK plus a lesser prospect for Nady. Melky has really worn out his welcome with me at this point — I don’t care if he is only 23. My niece has a better looking swing than he does. We can no longer blame his crappy hitting on a lack of consistent playing time.
To be fair, it’s easy to say that IPK can’t be a solid #3 starter becuase of what they have seen. But he is 23, who went in a runt. Hey with his stuff, and if he regain that control he has, he can be solid pitcher with #4 or 3 potential.
Melky I would trade as well but for something a tad better.
As for Ohlendorf, He has potential to be a good setup man it didn’t happen.
I am not saying I wouldn’t trade those guys but for Nady no.
Look at Pelfrey. He was another highly regarded college pitcher that flew to the majors. He’s just figuring it out now, 3 years later. It takes time. IPK will be just fine … eventually.
Pelfrey has much better velocity.
Well that’s all that matters.
Pelfrey may have had more velocity, but Pelfrey’s ceiling was the same, if notlower, than IPK’s (at the same times in their respective careers.)
Kennedy projects at best to a #2 and at worst to a #5. Pelfrey projected at best as a #3 and at worst as a bullpen arm or a AAAA pitcher.
you can get Nady for Ohlendorf and a non-prospect….no need to overpay
Kennedys ceilling was never higher than Pelfry’s. Kennedy has no velocity and relies on control. One problem is that Kennedy cannot ever find the control. Kennedy kind of reminds me of Dan Cabrera of the O’s without the velocity, which is not a good thing!
Kennedy doesn’t miss many bats.
BTW, the Pirates are gonna ask the moon for Nady, and to be honest I would rather see someone else and not give up on Ohlendorf.
Just some food for thought.
In review it should have been written two of the three not all three. But the fact that it also addresses the future RF need in 2009 would be worth examining in my book because if I see Abreu in RF next year I will be disappointed.
I agree that Melky’s time may have passed and perhaps his depature could provide a little fire under Cano.
A #3 starter? Dude whatever you are smoking…I would like some! Wang, Joba, and Hughes are all better than IPK. For someone who needs to rely on control and doesn’t have that much control…he’ll be lucky if he can be a solid #5 starter.
I do agree with you though about Ohlendorf. He can be a top reliever with his fastball that reaches about 97mph and that nasty sinker. If the pirates are gonna ask for the moon on Nady, well then they can keep him.
So What if Wang, Joba and Hughes are better than IPK. One is a front line starter while the other two can develop into one. To compare those three to IPK doesn’t help your arguement. IPK to me a solid #3 starter. A #3 starter is a mid rotation guy, not good enough to be a front line guy but better than a back end starter. He has that potential. It takes time.
I agree about Ian Kennedy’s ceiling as a number three guy. I don’t waste my time arguing at this point, after his bad start to 2008 there will be about a handful of people who would even consider that thought of him having a Major League ceiling.
Really? How come the Twins didn’t want him then? We all need to be serious here.
The Twins did want him. They wanted him, Hughes, Melky, and more. We said no to that, not them.
That was after the Yankees had first refuse to put Hughes in the deal. Come on, so no they really didn’t want him!
Ok, fine. IPK is a #3 starter…But not for the Yankees!!! 1st, can you really see him in next years rotation? I certainly cannot, and with Horne, Sanchez(if he can stay healthy), Marquez, and Brackman all probably being ready in about 2 years. Don’t really see IPK in the rotation after next year either. Takes time? Then you can say the same for Igawa, Melky, and Gardner(who should probably be bunting more).
Again, whatever your smoking dude. I want some!
I agree with Ben the only way I make that trade is it’s Marte and Nady.
Xavier Nady is playing well above his career norms this year. He’s normally a bit above average offensively. So, you’re handing the CF job to Gardner for the rest of the season at least, sending away our highest-upside non-DLed rotation option and another piece for a guy that’s a bit above average?
“Melky Cabrera has a job for a few more weeks”
I believe it’s Brett Gardner that has a job for a few more weeks.
Brett Garner can’t even get the ball out the infield.
Gardner looks completely over matched in the bigs.
No he doesn’t. He is patient as hell which is fantastic to see because he is not trying to be something he’s not. He’s sticking to that approach that got him to the Major Leagues. Most of his strikeouts have come on called strikes and I can bet you that if he were a seven year veteran some, if not most, of those calls would go his way.
To be fair Jamal, while he has a good approach at the plate, he does K’s alot even in the minors. And when you don’t have power and barely can get the ball out of the infield, pitchers (especially with good fastballs) are not gonna challege him 2-0, 3-1 counts because he only hurts them with singles.
sorry they will challege him.
Please give me the name of one player, with no power, who strikes out a ton that was able to be a successful major league player?
In my opinion Brett doesn’t make nearly enough contact to be successful at what his game is.
And Melky doesn’t?
He has Mike but again, Melky has looked so bad that Garner a career 4th or 5th OF looks good especially since he does take some pitches but you know that Garner isn’t that good. The only reason Garner is being cut a little bit a slack is that Melky O has been that putrit so Garner is just a breathe of fresh air when in reality he isn’t.
Infact, Melky has more potential than Garner inconcern with Power (albeit not much) and is also a better Defender at CF.
I am not a Melky fan, but Garner isn’t the answer either.
BG will be a valuable member of this team. He always takes time to adjust to each level. Just be patient with the guy. I think he will eventually catch breaks, get a few calls at the plate, and do his thing: score runs. Given time, I really think that he will be a .380 OBP and 60 SBs. Let’s be patient and see what the kid has because all he has done throughout his career is get on base and score (after his usual adjustment period).
You do know that Brett’s last name is Gardner and not Garner right? You made so many references to Garner it just makes you sound a little ignorant. Not trying to be mean, but come on … it’s not like he just made it up yesterday.
Again, to all involved here: Brett Gardner has been in 11 games and has 36 at bats. The list of players who have been successful major leaguers, everyday players, solid starters, All-Stars, and Hall of Famers who started out as bad or worse than Gardner in their first 36 at bats is so long, there’s not enough room on the Internet to hold it.
Calm the fuck down and let the damn kid play.
Sorry about the name but nevertheless my opinion of him has not change.
Organization wide, the following Yankees under the age of 30 are untouchable:
Position Players:
Robinson Cano
Austin Jackson
Jesus Montero
Pitchers:
Chien-Ming Wang
Mark Melancon
Andrew Brackman
Joba Chamberlain
Philip Hughes
Gerrit Cole
Everybody else should be available. Our two biggest needs, both short term AND long term, are another starting pitcher and a quality bat (with at least average defense) in the outfield. Everybody on second list should be made available via trade in order to acquire one of those two needs, both now and in the offseason.
Position Players:
Justin Christian
Shelley Duncan
P.J. Pilittere
Wilson Betemit
Alberto Gonzales
Juan Miranda
Brett Gardner
Colin Curtis
Eric Duncan
Melky Cabrera
Mitch Hilligoss
Bradley Suttle
Damon Sublett
Francisco Cervelli
Tim Battle
Abe Almonte
Austin Romine
Carmen Angelini
Jose Tabata
Pitchers:
Scott Patterson
Kei Igawa
Darrell Rasner
Edwar Ramirez
Jose Veras
Steven White
Brian Bruney
Steven Jackson
Alan Horne
Alfredo Aceves
Chris Britton
Daniel McCutchen
Humberto Sanchez
Jeff Karstens
Jonathan Albaladejo
Phil Coke
Ross Ohlendorf
Eric Wordekemper
J.B. Cox
Kevin Whelan
Zachary Kroenke
Anthony Claggett
David Robertson
George Kontos
Jeff Marquez
Pat Venditte
Christian Garcia
Luke Greinke
Ryan Pope
Adam Olbrychowski
Ivan Nova
Jeremy Bleich
Dellin Betances
Zachary McAllister
Jairo Heredia
Take three or four of those players and turn them into a Josh Willingham, Nate McClouth, Matt Kemp, Pat Burrell or something along those lines. Between IPK, Tabata, Romine, Angelini, Humberto, Cox, Garcia, Betances, and Heredia, we have plenty of very desirable pieces to build a deal around without including our untouichables.
And then go add a frontline pitcher in free agency.