Ruling out OF choices

by phonty on Dec 22, 2009 5:39 PM EST

According to NBC Sports:

http://bases.nbcsports.com/2009/12/attention-yankees-fans-brett-gardner-is-your-starting-left-fielder.html.php

Cashman is saying Gardner can be a starting OF for the Yankees next year and he's not looking to sign any more big contracts/pieces for the remainder of the offseason.

"Brett Gardner is now in a position to be an every day player for us."

Could this mean no Damon, Holliday, or Bay? What are your thoughts?

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huh?!?

" You F@#$ed Up, You Trusted Us!"

by GTWYankee on Dec 22, 2009 5:42 PM EST reply actions

GARDNER IS NOT A STARTING OUTFIELDER!!!!!!!! He is a fourth outfielder at best. I don’t buy this at all. There’s no way Cashman is stupid enough to think that Gardner can start every day. Remember when he said that Juan Miranda could be his starting DH? Or when Bubba Crosby would be his starting CF?

I think Damon is coming back.

by nyyrocks29 on Dec 22, 2009 5:46 PM EST reply actions

Chill.

We’ve heard this sort of quote before… didn’t he say something like that about Bubba Crosby? When Cashman says something like this, past experience is there’s a free agent signing somewhere in the near future. No worries.

That said, I do think Gardner might be okay as the everyday LF. Granted, I personally like him coming off the bench since we can put him on base as a pinch runner and immediately impact the game with his speed… but it’s entirely within the realm of believability that he could handle LF for 2010. We don’t NEED a star at every position, if Gardner plays at league average level, we’ll be fine. His speed gives him good range and in LF he won’t have to cover as much ground as CF, nor will he have to throw from as long a distance. At the plate he could stand some improvement but he isn’t terrible, either.

by pinstriper on Dec 22, 2009 5:53 PM EST up reply actions

thats the question though

will Gardner play at an average level? I don’t think so. The guy can’t hit. Good pitching really kills him. Look at the World Series. He was lost. He has no power at all. And if you play him every day his average isn’t going to be pretty. I’ll have to see him hit .270 in a full season before I believe he can do it. Damon, on the other hand, is proven in NY, proven in the clutch, a fan favorite, and has a perfect swing for Yankee Stadium. And they can get Johnny back for 2 years 20 million, maybe less. Who would you want in the lineup? Damon or Gardner? I love GGBG off the bench, but he really is just a fourth outfielder. I’ll take Damon any day.

by nyyrocks29 on Dec 22, 2009 6:00 PM EST up reply actions

Hopefully

it’s just a negotiating strategy to lower Damon’s price some more before signing him.

by phonty on Dec 22, 2009 5:48 PM EST reply actions

Does anybody know...

If Nick Johnson can play LF? Gardner would be a natural as a PR and D replacement

by BacktimeTV on Dec 22, 2009 6:16 PM EST reply actions

Not with his injury history

I expect the Yankees make a move whether it be for Damon or they decide to crush the AL East for the next 5 years and sign Holliday.

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Dec 22, 2009 6:20 PM EST up reply actions

i think they'll crush the AL East the next 5 years regardless

I’m being an optimist there.

by nyyrocks29 on Dec 22, 2009 7:04 PM EST up reply actions

Probably

But I don’t want to CRUSH Boston, I want to relegate them back to the psychological state in which they accept 2nd place in April.

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Dec 22, 2009 7:15 PM EST up reply actions

+1

by WhatwouldJeterdo on Dec 22, 2009 8:05 PM EST up reply actions

Some of em took the Vazquez trade like a kick in the balls

I think we’re on track.

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

3rd down + Steve Smith = 1st Down.

"I just saw Avatar, and Sean Avery was hands down the best character!"

by FreeBradshaw on Dec 22, 2009 9:01 PM EST up reply actions

Cash always says that they don't need to make any moves

that Hughes and Chamberlain can be starters 4 and 5 – then boom he gets Vasquez
that Miranda can be full time DH – then boom he gets Johnson
that GGBG will start in left – then boom he gets Damon/Holliday/Bay/DeRosa/Cervelli/Lord Duggan

Book it.

This sticker is dangerous and inconvenient, but I do love Fig Newtons.

by Lord Duggan on Dec 22, 2009 7:03 PM EST reply actions

and also

remember in 2006? “I’m good with letting Bubba Crosby be our starting CF”. A few weeks later, he signs Damon.

I personally have learned not to take Cashman seriously when he says things like this.

by nyyrocks29 on Dec 22, 2009 7:05 PM EST up reply actions

In a little more then an hour huh...

This is why its “cashman being cashman”.

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

3rd down + Steve Smith = 1st Down.

"I just saw Avatar, and Sean Avery was hands down the best character!"

by FreeBradshaw on Dec 23, 2009 10:55 AM EST up reply actions

I give it a week, max...

before Gardner is no longer a starting OFer.

If they don’t use Gardner then they should stick to getting Holliday, he is the best long term solution this year and next. Unless of course the Yankees can’t fit it into their budget of 185 million, which is currently at 198 million

by Monotonousblob on Dec 22, 2009 7:55 PM EST reply actions

currently at 198 million?

wow. it’s higher than I thought. Still, I would go over 200 million if it meant getting a decent LF (like Johnny Damon). Payroll isn’t exactly a problem for the Yankees, is it?

by nyyrocks29 on Dec 22, 2009 8:23 PM EST up reply actions

At some point it is.

I’d put that point somewhere around $220 million, or maybe just a bit higher.

Thing is, if we max out now, what do we do next year when we have to re-sign Jeter and Mo plus go try to sign some of the free agent starting pitchers on the market? It’s going to be a big year… would be nice if we didn’t have every last bit of breathing room locked-in.

by pinstriper on Dec 22, 2009 8:58 PM EST up reply actions

Blob, where did you get that $198 million figure? I thought we were a little below that, too.

by pinstriper on Dec 22, 2009 8:59 PM EST up reply actions

I was going by this, change a bit since I check

I could be wrong though

HERE

by Monotonousblob on Dec 23, 2009 12:10 AM EST up reply actions

Nah...

this is Cashman being Cashman.

I’ll say it till they are all locked up on other squads….Holliday, Bay or Damon are in play as long as the Yankees have no viable starting LF.

Gardner..yes, ‘probably could start’.

Hell..it might turn out good!

Yet..I don’t see them going through with it.

Happy Holliday’s.

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

3rd down + Steve Smith = 1st Down.

"I just saw Avatar, and Sean Avery was hands down the best character!"

by FreeBradshaw on Dec 22, 2009 9:00 PM EST reply actions

All good points mentioned so far.

I just was listening to MLB radio and they had Jim Bowden (who is one of their fill-in co-hosts/analysts) saying that the Melky/Vazquez trade was the prelude to a big free-agent signing before the Holidays. So, if he (and all of you) are correct, we’ll hear by Thursday night who the starting LF (or just one of the starting OFs) for the Yankees in 2010 will be, whether it’s Holliday, Bay, Damon, or someone else that’s acquired under the radar.

by phonty on Dec 22, 2009 9:28 PM EST reply actions

There gonna try and trade Mitre/Guadin

to free up a little money and the word is Derosa or Marlon Byrd.

by cashman bashman on Dec 22, 2009 9:50 PM EST reply actions

probably would fall in line with the rest of the signings/trades

Nothing ‘gigantic’..yet, solid moves.

I’d prefer Byrd in those 2..he’s a natural OFer.

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

3rd down + Steve Smith = 1st Down.

"I just saw Avatar, and Sean Avery was hands down the best character!"

by FreeBradshaw on Dec 22, 2009 9:54 PM EST up reply actions

When Brett Gardner is the Yankee's Opening Day Left Fielder...

…Hideki Matsui can play in the OF

…The Red Sox WONT suck

…The Cubs will win the World Series

… New York will become a Red State

…The Lions will have a winning season

I can’t see Cash being happy with GGBG as the starter in left. His hitting is just atrocious. He might go after someone like Holliday (though I doubt it) or maybe a cut price option like Damon, Nady, or Byrd. Maybe even the Sheff?

"Son, Nobody is half as good as Mickey Mantle"

by ntrokel on Dec 22, 2009 10:23 PM EST reply actions

I wouldn't bet on it

I think Cash may be playing a little game with Boras to get Damon at $7 or $8M for one year, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Gardner was the starting LF. He beat out Melky last year out of spring training, and then got injured. He’s a viable candidate.

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

by LateInningRelief on Dec 23, 2009 6:50 AM EST up reply actions

viable candidate?

The guy cannot hit.

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Dec 23, 2009 9:36 AM EST up reply actions

Last year, he had a .270 BA

and a .345 OBP. Those are both a tick above league average. Meaning Brett is a C student. He can hit. In fact, he can hit better than half ML players.

If, in his 3rd year, he can bring that up to .285 and .400, he’s the perfect guy to hit in front of Jeter. If not, he’s the 9 hitter and plays great D. It would be great to have a killer in LF, but I actually would like the Yanks this year to take a harder line on payroll. Crazy idea, huh?

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

by LateInningRelief on Dec 23, 2009 5:27 PM EST up reply actions

As far as filling the hole goes...

If it’s Holliday, I’ll be thrilled

If it’s Damon, I’ll be ok

If it’s Bay, I’ll live

If it’s anyone else….

by WhatwouldJeterdo on Dec 22, 2009 11:23 PM EST reply actions

Trade Joba/Hughes?

With the Vazquez trade it’s clear that either Joba or Hughes is out of the rotation. The loser of that battle will provide relatively little value to the team pitching in middle relief (because remember, in the playoffs when middle relief becomes important the one that’s in the rotation can still move to the bullpen). Since the Yankees are not trying to develop both of them as starters, it may be time to trade one for an early to mid 20’s high ceiling outfielder – something the Yankees do not have. Jay Bruce comes to mind. Chase Headley. There are a bunch more out there. I don’t really want to see either go, but at this point, one could probably be traded for something more valuable than a setup man.

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Dec 23, 2009 1:04 AM EST reply actions

Nah, Trading either Hughes or Joba

right now would be a mistake. From what we have seen out of both Joba and Hughes, has not been exactly awesome, but is has not been terrible. Being that Joba is 24 and Phil is 23, they have not even dipped into their full potential. I am completely fine with 1 of them going to the bullpen for this season and possibly another, because you know that they will both, most likely, become starters for this team within the next 2 years. One of their spots is being held by Pettitte at the moment. Once Pettitte retires, probably end of this season, that spot will be open for Joba or Hughes.

So trading one of them for a young outfield prospect at this point in time, is not worth the value of either Joba or Hughes because of the fact the Yankees will not have to go looking for another starter once Pettitte retires.

by BigDanz2000 on Dec 23, 2009 8:53 AM EST up reply actions

I agree with Danz...

if they aren’t trading him for Halladay…why for Bruce or Headley (who stinks).

There may e only one spot open for them…yet, why are we so quick to dismiss these guys?

Hughes is gonna have an innings limit…so, he’ll be the starter in the beginning..then Joba after that…or vice-versa.

Also..injuries can play a part can’t they? Remember CM Wang?

Joba and Hughes could be in the rotation at some point.

Having an extra starter..is more important.

They aren’t done re-tooing the OF…they aren’t gonna trade one of these two for someone like Bruce (who the Reds are not gonna trade..) or Chase Headley..who does stink.

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

3rd down + Steve Smith = 1st Down.

"I just saw Avatar, and Sean Avery was hands down the best character!"

by FreeBradshaw on Dec 23, 2009 10:59 AM EST up reply actions

Bruce or Headley

Are just the first 2 names that came to mind. My overall point is that since the Yankees seem to have no intention of developing both these pitchers it makes sense to trade one for an inexpensive, high ceiling outfielder – something they’d actually use – rather than just letting their value deteriorate over another year in the bullpen.

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Dec 23, 2009 2:47 PM EST up reply actions

The Yankees of course are intent on

developing Joba and Hughes.

Its tough to be what the Yankees wanna be…perennial WS contenders, and develop TWO starters.

They put Joba on the big league team..and he struggled a bit. No reason to not give him another year.

THese guys are young. There’s time.

They’ve both proven to help the team out in their brief career’s haven’t they? They are valuable parts of the team.

We’ll see as the year goes on and at the end of the year.

I doubt that both will not accumulate starts over this year. Injuries, ineffectiveness…both can happen.

Cashman was 100% right..its much harder to find starting pitching then OFers who can play.

I don’t like the idea of Gardner starting in LF…but the 1-8 hitters in the order are damn good..they can get away with him in there.

What they can’t do is give up starters.

Joba and Hughes aren’t 25 yet. They have plenty of time. if they weren’t traded for Halladay…they aren’t going anywhere, especially for an OF.

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

3rd down + Steve Smith = 1st Down.

"I just saw Avatar, and Sean Avery was hands down the best character!"

by FreeBradshaw on Dec 23, 2009 4:18 PM EST up reply actions

you never know what's going to happen

This time last year we had no idea that Wang would be a disaster; Sergio Mitre and Chad Gaudin would be in the starting rotation; We would only have 3 starting pitchers for the entirety of the postseason. Too much can happen to starting pitchers and these two are way too valuable to trade.

by SLS on Dec 23, 2009 7:53 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Well...

Last year Wang went down and Hughes remained in the pen the rest of the year while Mitre and Gaudin started because the Yankees were afraid of him getting hurt the way Joba did in 2008. I have nothing against Javy Vazquez – he’s a solid mid-rotation pitcher – it’s just frustrating because it feels like these guys are never going to get a chance to just pitch.

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Dec 23, 2009 8:39 PM EST up reply actions