That's "Mr. Fourth Outfielder" to You

by jscape2000 on May 5, 2008 10:19 AM EDT in Analysis Comment 17 comments

Last year, at age 22, Melky hit: .273/.323/.390, 24 2B, 8 3B, 8HR.
PECOTA projected him to hit (50th percentile): .276/.336/.406, 23 2B, 8 3B, 8 HR.
He's on pace to hit: .293/.363/.485, 24 2B, 0 3B, 30 HR.
At the same number of career ABs (but at age 25), Bernie hit: .289/.384/.453; this was a huge improvement on his previous season (.268/.333/.400).

Are we seeing a comparable step forward from the Melk Man? Or is he playing so far over his head that he's due for another atrocious month (see, April and September 2007). Or is Melky really having a breakout year?

What do you think?

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Whoever thought

even for a day that he would be the most valuable guy not traded for Johan (unless you count Wang) ?

Is there an easy way to look up the Yanks record when he starts, and their record when he doesn’t for the past 2 years and this season?

It could be my memory deceiving me, but they look like crap when he’s not out there.

When he became a regular player last year and the year before, the team’s level of play went way up (yes I realize a lot of other things happened, but his contributions shouldn’t be overlooked).

Aside from the numbers improving, he just has a knack for being in the middle of good things happening, and his ability to recover from the disastrous start to his career in the bigs says a lot about him. In basketball they’d say he has a “nose for the ball”.

Now if he’d only stop sliding into first base.

"Well, that kind of puts a damper on even a Yankees win."
-- Phil Rizzuto after hearing about the Pope's death

by matthaggs on May 5, 2008 10:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Most exciting

for me is seeing him developing his power. He’s got 6 homers in 103 ABs this year- last year he had 8 in 545… he’s on pace for just 30 HR’s this year—is that gonna happen? No… but high-teens maybe 20 is a really possibility i think.. and together with a .280s avg and his solid play in CF, we could be seeing a guy who will be patrolling the OF for the Yanks for years..

Here’s hoping the back-to-back jacks yesterday wakes up his buddy Robby…

The Jayfiss Report ...one fan's rants

by NumberSeven on May 5, 2008 11:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm on record

albeit a scatchy, broken, on sale for .99 cents at the used CD store record for promoting Melky to the leadoff spot.

"Here, if you have a milkshake, and I have a milkshake, and I have a straw. There it is, that's a straw, you see? You watching?. And my straw reaches acroooooooss the room, and starts to drink your milkshake... I... drink... your... milkshake!"-Daniel Plainview

by yankee come lately on May 5, 2008 1:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nah

With the power streak he’s on, we should keep him lower in the order to drive in runs. We hadn’t seen him in the middle of the lineup until recently, but it’s been working. If it ain’t broke…. Then again, Girardi seems to have had a knack for breaking up hitting streaks this season (see Matsui) and needlessly toying with the lineup. I think Damon-Jeter-Abreu-ARod-Matsui-Melky-Posada-Giambi/Duncan/Ensberg/Betemit-Cano will work great once we get Posada and A-Rod back.

"If you lived in my grandfather's house...and you wanted to eat, you had to be a Yankees fan." --Joe Biden

by SenorSwanky on May 5, 2008 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just goes to show

what allowing a young player the chance to play can do.
First, though, if the Yankees did not have such an intense need for a good defensive CF then Melky might not have been given such a in depth look.
Also, if the Yankees had more patience with young pitching they might be OK.
Who here does not think that Toronto has some pretty good starting pitching? But, three of those guys (Shaun Marcum, Jesse Litsch and Dustin McGowan) became starters because of injuries and need. They all became starters in May and stayed in that role through the season and no are performing well.
Toronto was able to develop quality pitcher and are better off because of those injuries last season to AJ Burnett, Gustavo Chacin, Josh Towers and BJ Ryan.
They did not try and go out and get a Joe Blanton or Bronson Arroyo.

I wish the Yankees had that type of patience.

by thejobarules on May 5, 2008 2:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

CORRECTION

I did not specify above but those three Toronto starters began in the rotation May of 2007.

by thejobarules on May 5, 2008 2:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

For the record ...

I have always been a big fan of Melky—ever since I saw him play in Norfolk when he was with the Clippers. He just looked like a player. I even likened him to Bernie… That’s when Pfisty got all testy with his Melky sucks diatribe.

I really do think Melky is going to be akin to Bernie but with a better arm in the outfield. Now if we just had this kind of patience with our young pitchers.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on May 5, 2008 3:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think Melky got to play

because of injuries. Then he kept playing because he was the best we had.

No real patience there.

To play in the bigs you gotta produce. NY or anywhere else.

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)

by Cbeck3 on May 5, 2008 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...

What the headline should read is, “That’s Mr. McReserve to you!”

Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.

by Edwantsacracker on May 5, 2008 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

seriously

I’ve never been able to decide if I like Melky because of his personality or because he really does have potential. It no longer matters!

"The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided." -Casey Stengel

by bxgrl1 on May 6, 2008 4:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love him, but ...

He gives away at bats too often. You don’t see Matsui doing that—ever. Occasionally, Melky loses his plate discipline and looks awful. But aside from that, he does have potential, and I believe he’s starting to unlock it. I’m going on record right now and suggest he’ll put up numbers similar:
.292 22hr 94rbi 88runs scored, 12sb. I think it’s reasonable provided he doesn’t get hurt.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on May 6, 2008 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh no

Matsui is one of my pet peeves. There are times when he clearly goes up there trying to hit homers and screws himself into the group Reggie Jackson-style. Those infuriate me.

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

by jscape2000 on May 6, 2008 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting that you bring up Matsui

I think matsui does have bad ABs from time to time. i mean they guy is batting .320+ this year, so i ain’t complaining about his overall performance.. but he can look less than great sometimes up there..

The Jayfiss Report ...one fan's rants

by NumberSeven on May 6, 2008 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's why ...

I think Matsui goes up and adjusts to the situation. If the situation calls for a ball through the left side, he does it. When the team needs a homer he tries—and yes, sometimes screws himself into the ground like Reggie.

I wish Giambi took that kind of approach. Hmmm, they are giving me a double down the leftfield line. The team could use baserunners. I’ll spank one to left. But no. Giambino tries to outdistance everyone and ends up hitting .150. THIS IS WHO TICKS ME OFF MORE THAN ANYONE ON THE TEAM.

He should take a look at Moose. Moose was stubborn and refused to pitch to both sides of the plate. He has since died to himself and is a better pitcher for it.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on May 6, 2008 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Died to himself"?

So this is a deathbed conversion for Moose?

Interesting turn of phrase…

I always feel pressure. What I don't have is fear. -- El Duque

by LateInningRelief on May 6, 2008 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The slippery slope ...

No question Moose was on the slippery slope of baseball death. He needed a conversion—a new way to get it done. I’m not ready to jump on the Mussina train just yet, but few will argue that he’s had a conversion experience of sorts as he drew closer to the white light.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on May 7, 2008 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Melky

I am a big fan of Melky.

I love the arm, the speed and the batting eye…. but there is one thing that makes me crazy. When there are men on base, he tends to hit dribblers on the in-field. He hits into a lot of double plays.

Other than that, I am happy to see him in the starting lineup.

Just waiting on number 27.

by wankerboy on May 5, 2008 4:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs