Around the Yankee Galaxy, Monday edition

by 3460kuri on Dec 28, 2009 4:00 AM EST

-The Yankees still need a left fielder. I'm not buying Brett Gardner as the starter out there - his bat is barely good enough for center, let alone an outfield corner. I doubt a trade is in order, as the Yankees would either need to trade more prospects or take on a salary dump, two things that seem unlikely at this point. So, I will throw a name out there for the sake of speculation - Rick Ankiel.

I know, cue the Scott Boras and HGH references. In all seriousness, there are some serious pros to this move - he's relatively young, hits for power (.200 career isolated slugging percentage), and has played good defense in left (1.7 career UZR and 3 career FRAA), albeit in a limited sample. And, most importantly, in what's been one of the worst winters ever for free agents, even Boras knows he's not getting a multi-year contract. Ankiel made $2.8 million last year, and if the Yankees offered him, say 65% of that, he'd be stupid not to take it.

-The New York Daily News lists their ten best moments of the last decade in New York sports. I think the 2001 World Series heroics should have ranked ahead of Mike Piazza's game winning homer in the first game back after 9/11. Speaking strictly in terms of baseball, the '01 World Series was one of the best ever, and that's before you consider the post-9/11 atmosphere and President Bush throwing a perfect strike for the ceremonial first pitch. Even with a Yankees loss, it's hard to think of many moments in sports that have topped that World Series.

-The Bleacher Report breaks down what to expect from Javier Vazquez in 2010. While I'm not quite as pessimestic, I'm in agreement that we shouldn't expect a repeat of 2009. They also have no love for Jorge Posada.

-Baseball news has been slow lately, but let's all cheer up. Spring Training is only 49 days away.

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Ankiel sucks

I want him nowhere near a Yankees uniform. Personally, I’ll take GGBG over Ankiel in left.

If they want another cheap LF option, look at Xavier Nady. He’ll be very cheap too, but he is actually a good player when he’s healthy.

I’m also still holding out hope for Damon to return. Nobody is showing the slighest interest in him, and the later the offseason gets, the more likely it is that he has to lower his price. If he finally does, then the Yankees can strike and bring him back. That is still a possibility as well.

by nyyrocks29 on Dec 28, 2009 8:06 AM EST reply actions

That Bleacher Report is close to useless.

V sucked in 2004, agreed.
He really sucked at Yankee Stadium, especially since that’s where his worst start of the season came, late in the year while he struggled with an arm injury: combined 1.1IP 6 ER.

Then to try to pin his injured suckitude on Posada’s catching, by the circular logic of V has his highest career Batting Average Against when Posada is catching…

If AJ’s postseason didn’t teach us anything else, it’s that the pitcher gets most of the praise and blame for his good and bad games. Posada or Molina, AJ had good and bad games. V is no different.

No discussion of the injury, no discussion of his first and second half splits.

I’ll write a better breakdown on my lunch hour.

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

by jscape2000 on Dec 28, 2009 10:33 AM EST reply actions

i’m pushin 4 ankiel hell of an arm and can flat out rake compared 2 brett g. brett is bubba crosby with more grit a perfect defensive replacement for swish late in the game or pinch runner not an everyday player but a good energetic bench guy give ankiel a chance 2 be on a world series champ and watch him unload he is their best “affordable” option

by bigdaddy15 on Dec 28, 2009 11:03 AM EST reply actions

Ankiel... no...

Ankiel’s 3 year weighted wOBA: .331
Gardner’s wOBA last year: .337

Ankiel is 30, so he probably won’t get any better, and his stats last season really scare me. Gardner is 26 and might get a bit better. Factor in that you are paying him the league minimum, and his better defense and speed, and it’s a no brainer in my opinion.

by Wraithpk on Dec 28, 2009 11:09 AM EST reply actions

but ankiel could put up 25-30 jacks and his defense isnt remotely bad enough 2 warrant not signing him plus i would take anyone willing 2 crash into a wall headfirst for his team hit him behind arod and grandy behind him nuff said!

by bigdaddy15 on Dec 28, 2009 11:15 AM EST reply actions

I’m not sure how his 49 career HR makes you think he can do a 25-30 HR season again, but what you should look at is his career .311 OBP. Don’t want that on the team, no thanks.

by Wraithpk on Dec 28, 2009 12:43 PM EST up reply actions

u also gotta realize u need 2 make up some of matsuis and damon offense and not 2 knock him gut brett aint gonna cut it in that dept.

by bigdaddy15 on Dec 28, 2009 11:20 AM EST reply actions

wOBA is one of the best ways to measure offense.

I don’t like Ankiel. Too many questions in my mind. He’d be a nice piece if he was on the bench, but salary is a factor.

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

by jscape2000 on Dec 28, 2009 11:45 AM EST up reply actions

1.jeter 2.n.johnson 3.texiera 4.a-rod 5.ankiel 6.granderson 7.posada 8.cano 9.swisher imo best lineup 1-9 in all of baseball

by bigdaddy15 on Dec 28, 2009 11:23 AM EST reply actions

Jeter-Johnson-Tex-Arod-Posada-Granderson-Swisher-Cano-Gardner is already the best 1-9 in baseball.

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

by jscape2000 on Dec 28, 2009 11:46 AM EST up reply actions

The problem...

With this lineup isn’t the everyday lineup itself – it’s fine even with Gardner batting 9th. The problem is what happens when guys get hurt – Posada and NJ being the most likely to. Then it’s Jeter-Granderson-Tex-Arod-Cano-Swisher-Gardner-Cervelli-Hoffmann. (right now anyway). That’s why the Yankees need to acquire either a starting outfielder (preferable) or at least couple of high-end bench players.

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Dec 28, 2009 12:30 PM EST up reply actions

Exactly

That’s my problem with having Gardner as a starter. Never mind I think he ain’t worth a roster spot on this team anyway, but if an OF gets hurt, we’re screwed.

by david d on Dec 28, 2009 1:42 PM EST up reply actions

Put Gardner in LF

Gardner is fine as everyday left fielder. Ordinarily, you would want a good hitter at that position—but given that the Yankees have good hitters at every other position (assuming Posada is behind the plate), they don’t need a good hitter in left field. Gardner can hit ninth and steal some bases. The Yankees won a World Series with Melky Cabrera as a starting outfielder, and while he is a better hitter than Gardner, he’s not that much better.

I would rather see the Yanks bring Damon back for a year (or two max) rather than signing Ankiel. He hit terribly last year.

I agree that the Yankees’ lineup, even with Gardner in left, is still probably the best lineup in baseball.

by albanyattorney40 on Dec 28, 2009 12:03 PM EST reply actions

The Yankees also won the World Series without a viable fourth or fifth starter.

Just because it happened that way doesn’t make it ideal. I can live with Gardner as a center fielder, but he does not hit enough to play left.

by 3460kuri on Dec 28, 2009 1:44 PM EST up reply actions

but we started the season

with Melky and swish on the bench. I am worried about our depth.

by yankeechaser on Dec 28, 2009 6:31 PM EST up reply actions

i can live with brett if they don’t make a move but if they don’t bring back damon 4 their price i would rather have ankiel over dye and nady dye has no defense and hit .250 last season and who knows what nady brings after a 2nd tommy john though i do like nadys bat in his limited time with them it will be interesting 2 see which route they go

by bigdaddy15 on Dec 28, 2009 1:55 PM EST reply actions

What is it with the Gardner-hating around these parts?

The guy had an OPS of .724 last year — stronger, in fact, than Ankiel’s .672 OPS. Nady (.739 OPS), Dye (.793 OPS), DeRose (.799 OPS) and even Melky (.752 OPS) are not significant enough upgrades once you factor in Gardner’s superior defense. If the Yanks are not going to go after Bay, Holliday or Damon, I might be interested in one of the above as a platoon option with Gardner if the salary were right. But there’s really no reason to pay any of those guys starting OF money. Gardner will get on base in front of Jeter. He’ll steal some bags.

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

by LateInningRelief on Dec 28, 2009 2:50 PM EST reply actions

nobody is hating on Gardner

but he isn’t a good enough hitter to be a good every day left fielder. I love him as a backup OF, defensive replacement, and pinch runner, but nothing much more than that. There are better options than Gardner.

However, if it’s between Gardner and Ankiel, I’ll take Gardner in left.

by nyyrocks29 on Dec 28, 2009 8:52 PM EST up reply actions

Other than Holliday, Bay and Damon,

who are the better options?

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

by LateInningRelief on Dec 28, 2009 10:59 PM EST up reply actions

Austin Kearns?

What would you think about signing Kearns to compete with Hoffman to be the RH platoon partner with Gardner in LF? He’s good defensively with a great arm and would supply some RH pop off the bench.

I know he’s had a terrible couple years but he’d come cheap, is only 29, and might do well with a change of scenery.

Thoughts?

by ECClarke on Dec 28, 2009 6:13 PM EST via mobile reply actions