Comments on: Left field closing arguments: Jerry Hairston

By: pistol pete

pistol pete — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:39:32 +0000

Are we really kidding comparing a Gardner/Hairston platoon to Damon. Just think of it this way. Who would be a better 9 hitter, Damon or this ridiculous platoon of part timers. Damon is clutch, can hit lefties, loves Yankee Stadium, is a proven big time player, and is popular in the clubhouse. At one year and about 6 or 7 million he’s a steal. Do you really think money is going to stand in the way of the right player. Please. And furthermore he’ll hit second, the Jeter Damon one two punch benefited both players, don’t screw up something that worked.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:44:08 +0000

I would love to see Hairston back. The team hardly needs another big bat and his fielding and baserunning are top rate. Additionally, while he may not be a great hitter he is a “professional” one (i.e. takes good at-bats, doesn’t make stupid mistakes at the plate or on the bases, etc.).

Yanks would be wise to resign him.

By: cheddar

cheddar — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:31:01 +0000

If we had a happy Hairston on the team, we could win 33 games in a row.

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:15:43 +0000

I dont want Damon back anyway. We need some fresher legs

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:14:59 +0000

Reed Johnson!

By: Doug

Doug — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:10:46 +0000

but you don’t need to be a “top-flight” lefty to be tough against lefties.

here are the 2009 OPS against vs. lefties of various non-top flight left-handed starters projected to be in AL rotations this year:

purcey – .513
braden – .550
harrison – .564
rowland-smith – .571
duensing – .579
price – .642
laffey – .642
rzepcynski – .651
anderson – .788
holland – .809

even two that i mentioned earlier, anderson and holland (who are both considered top young lefties in the league), pale in comparison to the “no-name” guys above them on the list.

and here are the ones you listed. as you can see, outside of lee, none of them were as good as those same “no-name” guys:
lee – .578
saunders – .692
matusz – .708
lester – .717
danks – .756
kazmir – .782
buehrle – .839
perkins – .873

By: JMK aka The Overshare's Garden Apartment Complex

JMK aka The Overshare's Garden Apartment Complex — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:58:25 +0000

Not sure about everything else, but:
Finally, I am willing to bet that every team in baseball WISHES their biggest problem was Brett Gardner.

Pretty much THIS.

By: Januz

Januz — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:50:54 +0000

There are very few people who think Gardner will get 600 AB’s (A Damon signing or a trade is more likely). But even if he did, I would not be worried (Keep in mind, this team had a dynasty with Chad Curtis in left for several of those teams). I made a point the other day, that the 2009 Yankees had the WORST OUTFIELD of any Championship team in their history. Think about it: Ruth and Combs in the 20s and early 30s, then DiMaggio, then Mantle, then Reggie, then Bernie & Paulie. EVERYONE of those guys is superior to Melky, Swisher, & Damon (I think Granderson will as well). Finally, I am willing to bet that every team in baseball WISHES their biggest problem was Brett Gardner.
I did make a silly error with Lester and Dice-K, but the principle remains the same: There are not a lot of top-flight lefties in the AL, so the Yankees will not get killed, even if Gardner faces lefties not named Lester or Lee.

By: Bo

Bo — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:11:22 +0000

It’s not about lefty-righty. its about Gardner getting 600 major league ab’s. I dont think he can handle that. He’ll be exposed.

By: Bo

Bo — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:09:46 +0000

Hairston is great as a UTL guy. Not so great as part of a platoon in LF.