Defense is the difference

by Travis G on Jun 16, 2009 10:44 PM EDT in Game Recap

This was a surprisingly close game. Sabathia had one bad inning, and it nearly cost the Yankees the game. But the difference was defense - the Yankees played it, the Nats didn't.

Robbie Cano made several nice plays, as did Nick Swisher and the SS combo of Jeter and Pena. Melky Cabrera made a diving catch in center and Teixeira scooped a couple balls out of the dirt.

On the other side, Ryan Zimmerman made an error that led to a Yankee run, Elijah Dukes (I won't say 'should have') could have caught two hits in the seventh that would've prevented two runs, and Nick Johnson mishandled a sharp liner that, instead of a DP, became a hit.

Just as we were denigrating Cano's ability to hit w/ RISP, he goes 2-2 in that category and 4-4 overall. The Yanks had seven walks and eight hits; every hitter reached base, but only five runs were scored - they probably should have scored about seven.

The impatient National hitters swung early and often, which is why Sabathia only struck out two. Anderson Hernandez, the holder of one career homer, took Sabathia deep in the fifth for Washington's only runs.

No more Aceves in the eighth this time; when Sabathia walked Nick Johnson, we saw the return of Brian Bruney in an important situation: runner on first, up by one, D.C.'s #3 hitter up. T opping out at 96 MPH , Bruney induced a groundout on a slider.

Only one homerun tonight (by a guy with a .309 career SLG), how about that?!

PS: Veras was DFA'd and Slade Heathcott was on hand for the game.

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So how do we feel about Melky at this point

Last year we had a famous post titled “That’s Mr. Fourth Outfielder” about whether he was an everyday player. The consensus seemed to be that yes, he was a fourth outfielder ( I did not agree).

He’s had a helluva year. Where do we stand moving forward? Do we declare ourselves lactose intolerant and trade while his value is high, or settle down for a long term milk mustache?

"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 Jun 17, 2009 1:04 AM EDT reply actions

who do you get for him?

or better yet, who replaces him?

Brett Gardner absolutely not. I actually don’t even understand why the hell Girardi moves Melky over in place of Gardner late in games. I guess to get Gardner in the game and get a better overall outfield defense, but Melky is damn good defensively, always has been really aside from that rookie year.

I don’t know what to make of Austin Jackson. He seems like a nice prospect, Id hope a Curtis Granderson or Grady Sizemore, but that’s asking a lot and he really hasn’t shown that power yet

Personally Id rather keep Melky and Jackson. I wouldn’t trade either. Melky seems to be an on and off player year to year, so next year he could suck again.

They both seem like above average MLB players, Jackson maybe a bit more potential than Melky. Id also give their shiny new 1st round pick at least a season in the minors to find out if the Yanks really do have that star CF waiting in the wings. Then maybe Id trade Melky or Jackson.

by FreeBradshaw on Jun 17, 2009 8:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Gardner

I don’t want to see him anywhere but CF. Moving Melky to RF in those cases is the right choice because of his ability to throw runners out- which isn’t incredibly important in CF. Gardner’s got great range, but not a great arm- so you cannot put him at corner OF spot late in the game.

So you don’t lose range in center (in fact you gain), and you certainly gain range by replacing Swish in RF with Melky. I don’t agree with a lot of Girardi’s in-game decisions, but that one IMO is the correct one.

by NumberSeven on Jun 17, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

agree with #7

Gardner in CF & Melky in RF (and Damon in LF) is our best possible OF defense.

the Yanks hould hold on to BG – if for nothing more than his D and speed. that’s exactly what you want in a bench player. you want a guy who can run for Matsui (Posada, Swisher, Tex, etc.) late in a game, steal a base, and score an important run (like last night). and then come in to play plus D.

as far as trading Melky, it depends what we could get. i’m against it right now. i still want to see if Ajax can stick at CF full time, and if we sign/trade for a good OFer (e.g. Bay, Holliday).

by Travis G on Jun 17, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions