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A little analysis of Jamie Hoffmann

The Yankees went with an interesting choice in the Rule 5 Draft. Instead of going for the high-risk, high-reward player that most teams want, they went for the 'middle-of-the-road' guy. As a perennial contender, the Yanks don't have many chances to 'audition' youngsters (like the Nats and Pirates do). He has a better chance to stick on a major league roster all year than a younger, 'rawer' player. The Yanks wanted a player who would stay on the team the entire season. If Hoffmann doesn't, they will have lost Brian Bruney for nothing.

(That's the rules of the Rule 5 Draft. The drafted player has to stay on the major league team all year. If he can't, he can be offered back to his original organization for $25,000. If they decline that, then he can get sent to the minors.)

Since Austin Jackson was traded yesterday, the Yanks acquired a player eerily similar to him.

Star-divide

Ajax career: .288/.356/.410
Hoffmann career: .283/.355/.401

Ajax has more steals, and is two years younger, but Hoffmann actually looks to be the better defensive player. He has a better Range Factor in centerfield and overall outfield (for what it's worth in the minors), and a much better assist rate (twice as good in fact: one in every 13 games vs. one in every 26 games for Ajax). And as LoHud pointed out, Baseball America rated his defense above average across the board (and the best in the Dodgers' system):

"He's a big, physical outfielder with big league experience," said Yankees pro scouting director Billy Eppler. "Our scouts saw some good things in him, including good defensive ability and a good arm. He runs well for his size, we've got him as a 55 runner at 6-foot-3, 235. Kevin Long, our hitting coordinator, looked at him on video and thinks there's a foundation there hitting-wise."

Hoffmann also had a much better 2009 in Triple-A: 68 games, .285/.360/.455, 37 K, 32 BB, 10 SB, 8 CS for Albuquerque vs. 123 games, .300/.354/.405, 123 K, 40 BB, 24 SB, 4 CS for Ajax in Scranton. However, Albuquerque is a notorious hitter's park. When neutralized for park effects, it drops his stats precipitously: .261/.331/.395. (FYI, Scranton is a perfectly neutral park.) His best asset is his ability to hit lefties: .974 OPS against southpaws in '09. We may see him start against lefties in place of Melky/Gardner.

When he was promoted to the Dodgers in May, Marc Hulet gave some great analysis on the rookie:

He turned down the opportunity to play U.S. college hockey for a good program at Colorado College (he was also an eighth-round selection by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2003).

So obviously, we know Hoffmann has some athletic skill despite being signed as a non-drafted amateur free agent out of a Minnesota high school. Hoffmann... is a player that does a little bit of everything well. He lacks that one tool that really makes him stand out, though. He can play all three outfield positions well. He can hit for a respectable average, but he's not going to hit .300 consistently. Hoffmann is also probably good for 10-15 home runs in a full season, as well as 15-20 stolen bases.

... the right-handed hitter is a good complementary player, who will not be a star. That said, he has the potential to grit-out a few above-average MLB seasons if given the opportunity. Hoffmann could also be a good platoon partner with [Juan] Pierre...

Brett Gardner has been called 'Juan Pierre with patience.' It looks like one of our '09 centerfielders will be traded.

(PS: video highlights of Hoffmann.)

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37 K to 123 Ks?!

Holy crap. I understand being in the minor leagues 2 years longer than somebody can help develop a batter’s patience but holy crap! That’s just crazy!

Yankees all day.

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~Rogers Hornsby

"If you're not doing it right, you're doing it wrong. And there's no in between." ~Mark "Lunch" McKenzie

by Onishadow14 on Dec 10, 2009 2:35 PM EST reply actions  

That's in

68 games vs 123 games. But still, that’s a K in 54% of games vs a K in 100% of games.

by Jaybat on Dec 10, 2009 4:19 PM EST up reply actions  

Trade an 09 CF?

Could be a precursor of things to come yes. Hoffman is insurance for that. “will be traded” is a little too strong for me.

I wish we could continue to just show up and play for no reason. No umpires, no scorers. Just show up and have fun.
-- Alex Rodriguez

by dorsal on Dec 10, 2009 2:44 PM EST reply actions  

I'm stealing this from someone else...

but how strong does a potential Melky for Derek Lowe trade sound?

Why would you get a dude like Hoffman when there’s a few other high ceiling players available?

Something’s imminent here….

"It ain't over till its over"---

If there's anything I'm sure of, its the Sun coming up in the morning, and Steve Smith.

by FreeBradshaw on Dec 10, 2009 2:46 PM EST up reply actions  

Melky for Lowe

This trade rumor is picking up steam on some of the other boards. (i’ve helped to move that ball along :-D )

but i dont see why the braves would give him up that cheap and eat alot of the salary as some are suggesting.

by Balistes on Dec 10, 2009 2:50 PM EST up reply actions  

Let's say they eat $5 million/per

That’s still saving them $10 million/per. That is 10% of their 2009 payroll.

by PortlandYankee on Dec 10, 2009 2:54 PM EST up reply actions  

Melky for Jurrens

DO IT

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Dec 10, 2009 3:48 PM EST up reply actions  

don't do it

get younger, remember? No trade for an old pitcher that they don’t need, while there are many other options around.

Melky has been starting in the OF for this team every year since 2006. LF in 2006, CF in 2007, CF in 2008 (until he sucked and Damon took over), and CF again in 2009. He’s an important part of this team, and should be starting again in 2010. Don’t trade him!

by nyyrocks29 on Dec 10, 2009 3:56 PM EST up reply actions  

No such things as too much starting pitching.

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

by jscape2000 on Dec 10, 2009 4:03 PM EST up reply actions  

true

but why can’t they get younger pitchers where they DON’T have to give up players?

by nyyrocks29 on Dec 10, 2009 4:05 PM EST up reply actions  

Joba...Hughes....

Boom.

Youngins gotta step up.

"It ain't over till its over"---

How come no one covers Steve Smith?

by FreeBradshaw on Dec 10, 2009 4:06 PM EST up reply actions  

Ugh

I really hope there’s nothing to this. I don’t care how much of Lowe’s salary Atlanta eats, we’d still be stuck with him until he’s 40 clogging up a spot in our rotation. He was 4.67/1.51 in the NL last year, and his last year in the AL he was 5.42/1.61. This is a guy who saved a dying career by going to the NL Worst for 3 years and then got Atlanta to give him 60 mil for it. Please no.

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Dec 10, 2009 8:54 PM EST up reply actions  

Damn...

seems like a steal. Seems like we got a ready AJAX who can contribute this year (of course..minus all the K’s)?

I don’t take his age too much into account, cuz of the whole being undrafted baseball player and DRAFTED as a hockey player. He’s just playing baseball more now.

Good CF…maybe he platoons a bit with Grandy in CF given that he actually likes to hit lefties.

"It ain't over till its over"---

If there's anything I'm sure of, its the Sun coming up in the morning, and Steve Smith.

by FreeBradshaw on Dec 10, 2009 2:45 PM EST reply actions  

This lends credence to my "Melky's getting traded" theory...

Hoffman and Gardner profile to be platoon OF with Damon (assuming he comes back) and Granderson.

by PortlandYankee on Dec 10, 2009 2:47 PM EST reply actions  

Here is some more Hoffmann info

coming from the Dodgers’ blog (True Blue LA):

Back in September, Hoffmann was designated for assignment to make room for Thome or Garland (can’t remember which one; and why they didn’t just DFA Jason Repko instead, I have no idea), but Hoffmann signed a minor league deal two days later.

The minor league deal that covered all of 2010, with this note:

He said that he is not back on the 40-man major league roster now because that can’t happen until next May.

"That was part of the deal also," Hoffmann said, "but hopefully I can get back on that 40-man roster as quick as possible."

So it appears this was crafted by Hoffmann’s agent to make sure Hoffmann got a chance to play somewhere.

I had the chance to interview Hoffmann earlier in the year, and he seemed like a good dude. He is from a small town in Minnesota, and his dad is the sheriff.

Hoffmann is pretty athletic, has some pop in his bat, and can play good defense at all three OF spots. He had a pretty memorable sliding catch in Wrigley Field earlier this year on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball, after which he immediately popped up and threw a laser to the plate to nail the runner trying to score. Sure, that’s just one play, but it was smooth, and it did stick out.

I hope he works out for you guys, but I would also love for the Dodgers to get him back. :)

by Eric Stephen on Dec 10, 2009 3:27 PM EST reply actions  

Heh, thanks for the info dude.

Sounds like we got a pretty good player.

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Dec 10, 2009 3:49 PM EST up reply actions  

LOL,

I was JUST about to post that link

by NYYEastcosterNJD on Dec 10, 2009 4:41 PM EST up reply actions  

Cool

Thanks for the link to that video!

by Eric Stephen on Dec 10, 2009 6:12 PM EST up reply actions  

That play was brilliant.

I don’t think Gardner would have made that double play even if he caught that ball standing up.

Yankees all day.

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~Rogers Hornsby

"If you're not doing it right, you're doing it wrong. And there's no in between." ~Mark "Lunch" McKenzie

by Onishadow14 on Dec 10, 2009 6:28 PM EST reply actions  

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