Giambi takes BP

by NumberSeven on Jul 23, 2007 3:02 PM EDT

The AP reported that Giambi took batting practice today for the first time in two months, with no ill effects. "Everything is great so far," Giambi said. "Better than expected." He hopes to rejoin the Yankees by August.

It certainly raises an interesting question. Is there room for Jason in the everyday lineup? And if he becomes the every day DH, who gets bumped? Melky? Damon, Abreu, and Matsui make to much $$ to sit on the bench- but Melky is the best all- around fielder the Yankees have got in the OF, in my opinion. And Damon in the OF regularly seems like a recipe for disaster. But Giambi also pulls in too much green to sit.

Who's the odd man out?

Here's the story from ESPN.com

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2946373

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Comments

First of all

No one makes to much money to sit on the bench if they're playing poorly.
Damon has played first base a couple of times already this season, I expect him to wind up there so Giambi can DH.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Jul 23, 2007 3:07 PM EDT reply actions

What about Duncan?

Sadly, he's the one who'll get bumped - which sucks, because he's made a big impact in the few days since he got the call. It's too bad we can deal Giambi - we've been better without him.

by docgonzo on Jul 23, 2007 3:20 PM EDT reply actions

That's can't deal

not can.

by docgonzo on Jul 23, 2007 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Duncan has

been a nice addition for 3 games. He has to show alot more in the upcoming weeks to prove he is worthy to be in this discussion.

Pride, Power, Cocktease

by ReLaunch on Jul 23, 2007 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed....

They are catching lightning in a bottle with Duncan right now.

He's not the long term answer.

by anaconda on Jul 23, 2007 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Why wouldn't he be?

We honestly don't know what he's capable of, which can only be assessed if they play him. I think he can be a solid .290/25HR/80RBI type of player - a much better option than Giambi, who is obviously nearing the end of his playing days.

by docgonzo on Jul 23, 2007 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Because there's a reason he's been

a career minor-leaguer.

I hope he plays well, but he's a one-dimensional player who had a great weekend against a really bad team.

Good pitching will find the holes in his swing and exploit them.

Giambi has another year in pinstripes, so his playing days aren't over yet.

Let's not start comparing Duncan with a healthy Giambi because that's just silly.

by anaconda on Jul 23, 2007 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Duncan

His swing on his first HR yesterday looked really ugly- he lunged out and golfed it and almost fell over. It was not what you'd call smooth or sweet. A pitcher with movement will probably make him look really bad at some point.

by SP on Jul 23, 2007 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I feel we shouldn't have too high hopes BUT

I do not want to dismiss him either.

He is not a carreer minor leaguer. He had a good college career, All American, league all star. He was a high draft choice. He was a minor league all star.

He came through the Yankee system which is hard because we do not promote that many. He played 5 and a half seasons in the minors. Even the great Jeter played 4 in the minors. Posada played 6 full minor league seasons with september call ups the last two. Looks like Cano played 4.5.

Sometimes big people mature late.

He is a big awkward guy.

We need a right handed power bat. If giambi comes back, we have too many players. I Minky comes back we have way too many.

I'd like to keep Philips and Duncan but understand one is probably going, maybe both. On the otherhand, we are way to lefthanded with Minky and Jason.

Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical(Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on Jul 24, 2007 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Someone

making their pro debut at the age of 27 does not scream prospect to me either. I do agree though the Yanks should see what they have. But I also think it is foolish to expect some kind of solution when he has only played 4 games.

Pride, Power, Cocktease

by ReLaunch on Jul 24, 2007 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Indeed

See Phillips, AAAAndy for reference. Duncan has huge holes in his swing and has glove issues, but we might as well ride this thing out.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Jul 24, 2007 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

You think

he can be a 290/25/80 after seeing him play for 3 games? Give me a break.

Pride, Power, Cocktease

by ReLaunch on Jul 23, 2007 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions

implausible

I actually don't think that its wholly implausible that Duncan could hit 25+HR over a full season in the big leagues. He's very big, very strong, and has a very solid track record for power production coming up through the minors. There are plenty of players in AAA who, given a full season in the big leagues, could bop a cheap 25HR. But, most are one tool players who are unequipped to last in the majors due to the greater deficiencies in their games. This is, I think, true of Duncan. The bigger question is whether or not his BA, OBP, Contact Rate, and Defense would be sustainable in the big leagues.

The 25/80 part, I think, is feasible - particularly in the Yankee lineup. Whether or not he'd be able to keep his OBP up (and I do mean OBP as in driven by walks, since I can't imagine him being a contact hitter), and become a solid OPS type (think a poor man's Cust or Dunn) is another story entirely....

by GuyinNY on Jul 26, 2007 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Duncan

Here we go again..and just how do we know that Duncan is a fluke? How do we know he is not the long term answer as a Right handed power DH? How many other major leaguers hit 3 HR's over the weekend, many of them also playing against bad teams. I wonder how many times Duncan's name will come up this week in trade talks...and by the way..wouldn't that right handed power swing look good against the Sox in Fenway.

by viasistina on Jul 23, 2007 6:09 PM EDT reply actions

Do you remember

Shane Spencer? No one on this site is saying do not play him now. But what many people are saying is that there is a reason he has been in the minors until he is 27. Also, hitting 3 homers is great against fastballs thrown by awful Rays pitchers, but lets hope he can sustain it against other teams/better pitchers.

Pride, Power, Cocktease

by ReLaunch on Jul 23, 2007 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Is Duncan for real?

I don't think so...his numbers in the minors don't give any indication. Now supposedly he has changed some things in his approach. In the words of Bill Parcells after Romo had a good game..."Lets don't anoint him yet".
One things for sure...after watching his swing, he won't see any fastballs in the next week, and I hope this kid can hit off speed, sliders, curves and whatever, cuz thats all he'll see.
Don't even think of comparing him to Giambi. I just hope that we continue to use Phillips in some way. He has done more than anybody thought he could do and has earned a spot.

When asked what he thought of Canseco being the first to do 40/40, Mickey Mantle replied "Hell if I knew that y'all would make such a fuss, I'd 'a done it!"

by mickey07 on Jul 23, 2007 6:50 PM EDT reply actions

Phillips

Has everyone forgot about Andy, he has proved that he can play a very good defense and come threw in the clutch while batting. Shelly has yet to prove himself, he's only played 3 games. Kinda like when Edwar had a great start, a lot of people including myself thought he would be great.

"Slump? I aint in no slump... I just aint hitting" -Yogi

by yanks are gonna win on Jul 26, 2007 9:39 PM EDT reply actions