2008-2009 Yankees Off-Season Thread

I would think he will be used to spell Tex at first and possibly right field. Didn't they say Matsui can't play the field till the break? That means they expect Damon to play every game in Left? I don't think he will be able to so they may move Nady to Left and Swisher to right for those games and have Damon DH.

 

I was being serious.

Anyway, yeah, I thought about ARod's size being a negative factor in his ability to shift over. But is Jeter really going to be sent to left? I guess it's more possible now that Torre is gone, but I just don't see it happening.

You are absolutely right though. There's not a chance Derek Jeter will ever wear another pro club's cap. I still think he'd serve the Yankees best at second though. And I'd have far more confidence in ARod readjusting to short than Cano anywhere but third.

I don't mind Jeter in left, I just don't see it.

 

Plus Swisher will have to play somewhere. If they intend to trade him, they'd have to raise his stock somehow.

 

Yeah it's a weird concept to tackle. I always envisioned him as a second baseman in his twilight years.

 

But like I said, they've declared Melky the outfield backup. Are they really going to carry 3 backup players? They're already looking at carrying Albaladejo rather than a long-innings guy like Giese.

I think a big part of the move is to assure they don't lose Melky for nothing (he's out of options) but that doesn't make it any easier if I'm Swisher.

 

^ Yeah I see what you are saying. I guess whichever player, in this case, Melky, the team thinks has more value on the market, will get the playing time and the other one will be released.

 

Melky is gone at the break, if not before. Swisher will probly be gone around then, too.

They'll need to add some rotation depth at that point, all contenders do...and if Melky and Swish perform even a little bit, the Skanks should be in good position to add it.

Fuckers.

 

For now. The entire point of this is to buy more time to see what Gardner can do. Melky is out of options, and Gardner is not. If Gardner sucks horribly for the first six weeks of the season, they'll send him down, and they'll still have Melky.

I'll bet you almost anything that Swisher sees more ABs than Melky for whatever period has them both on the bench. Swisher will see time in LF and RF. Melky will mostly ride the pine or maybe be a late inning defensive replacement.

If anything, I think the Yanks trade Nady and keep Swisher. Nady's a FA after this season. Swisher is signed relatively cheaply through 2012, has been a better hitter over his career, and is a better defender, as well.



And IATA, rotation depth is not really a concern for the Yankees this year. If it does become an issue, that would mean things have gone horribly, horribly, horribly wrong, in which case they are not likely to be contenders.

 

NM, I see you just said that. Well, he can't be just "out". He has a major league contract and they either have to have him on the roster, trade him or cut him, right?

 

well Girardi said melky is the FIFTH OF....the nip is out of the picture right now....soooo, damon, gardner, nady are 1,2,3.....melky 5.....could ummm swisher be 4?

 

Well this all goes back to what I was asking to begin with. Is Swisher staying with the team? In that case, they'll be carrying 6 outfielders (including Matsui) only one of which really hits for legitimate power, and he won't be playing defensively. That's a lot of roster spots to be filling, especially when you're going to have to clear one in May.

IATA, pen depth isn't a concern this year. As Cappy mentioned, if the Yankees need pen help in the late summer it will be because everything fell apart, and they won't be in the race anyway. The Yankees problem right now is that they have too many guys and can't decide who gets to stay with the pro club.

 

Ahh, I didn't see that in the article I read. Okay, that makes it make more sense now. Though I still don't get carrying 5.5 outfielders.

 

I dont get carrying nippon boy at all but unfortunately we're stuck with him. As someone else already said, the minute matsui can play in the outfield, Melky is gone...unless Gardner falls flat on his face

 

You may not like him but Matsu will probably bat for a higher average and have more RBIs then any other OF on the team...again.

 

I didn't realize until I just read it on the Yankee site that the new stadium is 63% larger than the old one and in these pictures it certainly looks it.







http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news...t_id=4088816&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy

 

Another story on Chamberlain's velocity.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03312009/sports/yankees/lack_of_velocity_still_joba_issue_162196.htm

 

I'm starting to waver on the firm belief that Chamberlain should start. The dude is a medical disaster just waiting to happen. Even if he's less valuable as a reliever, he'd be more valuable there then plopping down Krispy Kreams at home wearing a sling.

 

Out of curiosity, what the hell are you basing this on? A medical disaster waiting to happen? Is being a starter more taxing than being a reliever? If he has mechanical issues, they're not going to go away just because he moves to the pen.

ETA: Besides, since when has George King become an authority on anything. Guys, please. Stop reading the Post. It's garbage.

 

I to this day say Joba should be the 8th inning man.

Mo may have a year left, hopefully more, at a high level...Is it so bad to have "your" Papelbon, young stud closer waiting in the wings when Mo retires? Unless you're going to tell me Melcanon or JB Cox is going to burst on the scene like Joba did and be just as good...Then I just can't fathom the fact that right now he's being used as our 5th starter.

Who the hell needs a 5th starter? I'd rather roll the dice with Hughes and have one less worry for that 8th inning spot when I feel much more confident and comfortable with Joba-Mo than Marte-Mo or whoever is going to set him up.