Randy Winn vs Joe G.

by jscape2000 on Jan 28, 2010 11:00 AM EST in New York Yankees Analysis

The switch hitting CF hit , a marked falloff from 2008 when he hit .

He went .292/.354/.397 against righties, .158/.184/.200 against lefties. He posted a .314 BABIP, even though his LD% was 22.3%, and we would have expected a .340 BABIP, right in line with his numbers from the last few years.

He struggled especially at home in spacious AT&T Park (.225/.289/.296) and in the second half (.243/.314/.298).

Our manager has shown a willingness to look at numbers, to consider the splits and play the matchups. In the playoffs, most would argue, he did this to a fault. I don't want to quibble over the this pitch or that pitch numbers, because in the course of the season, playing the matchups will win more games than trusting the veterans and running out the same lineup each day.

I also don't care how you would deploy our outfielders, at least not today.

How do you think Joe Girardi will use Randy Winn- a plus defensive player with a Jerry Hairston level bat and the range and arm to play all three outfield spots?

Poll

How many ABs for Randy Winn?

0-200, Buried on the Bench

114 votes

200-300, A Backup

440 votes

300-400, A Platoon Player

631 votes

400-500, A Starter with a Caddy

106 votes

500-600, Play Every Day

28 votes

1319 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 15 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

If I were a betting man

I would say that right now Gardner is in the lead to be the opening day starting LF, but I think that they will both get ample playing time, and if either of them distinguish themselves, they will get the lion’s share of time.

Kind of like last year when Gardner was the starting CF to open the year, but Melky outplayed him and moved into the starting lineup.

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

by Lord Duggan on Jan 28, 2010 11:49 AM EST reply actions

I think he'll play the majority of time.

Even if they platoon, Gardner’s light hitting will grow tired and Winn will win out.

As the #9 hitter…Randy Winn is damn good option. I can’t see Brett Gardner earning any more then spot starts and possibly defensive replacement duties at the end of games for Swish.

So..starter with a Caddy.

You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there

by FreeBradshaw on Jan 28, 2010 12:17 PM EST reply actions

Bradshaw and I agree,so what he said

I feel like a clown without my funny nose

by cashman bashman on Jan 29, 2010 2:27 AM EST up reply actions

Gardner won the Job in Spring Training

Then when the season started he struggled. And if you looked he just started out hot in spring and then cooled off. Melky started out slow and got hot at the end.

by imyrick on Jan 28, 2010 12:18 PM EST reply actions

Gardner was actually solid till he broke his thumb, he hit .283 before the All Star break. April he hit .220, May .327, and June .333, before his injury in July. So he started fairly good.

by DarthRichter on Jan 28, 2010 12:34 PM EST up reply actions

Why Winn?

He can’t hit lefthanders – his best years are in the distant past. I wasn’t happy with the Reed Johnson rumors & he would have been a better option. Maybe we can still hope for Rocco Baldelli – that’s almost scary. I fear we will again be trading prospects for a left fielder in July. Montero may be ready, bat-wise, in July, but I question if he can pay LF in the Stadium.

by yankee319 on Jan 28, 2010 12:51 PM EST reply actions

How Exactly

How would Reed Johnson have been better? He can’t hit Righties, Winn is a career .280 hitter against lefties, he clearly had on off year no reason to think he can’t be a little better this year……His best years may be behind him, but he’s going to be the 9TH hole hitter!!! He doesn’t have to hit 330, if he does what he did last year with maybe a few more homers, for 2 million dollars it’s a great deal.

by DarthRichter on Jan 28, 2010 1:02 PM EST up reply actions

no, not last year, I’ll take what he did in 2007 and 2008.

by Wraithpk on Jan 28, 2010 2:05 PM EST up reply actions

Me too

If he can duplicate 07 or 08, we definitely got a steal, but last years number wouldn’t be bad for a platoon hitter, with solid defense.

by DarthRichter on Jan 28, 2010 2:14 PM EST up reply actions

I'm cheering for Gardner.

by Freddyd on Jan 28, 2010 1:35 PM EST reply actions

Winn has lost it completely...

I don’t like Winn or Gardner out there. I wish they had pursued Ankiel.

Does it really matter though? Can’t you just win with average stats out there.

by rickyfan3.0... on Jan 28, 2010 2:04 PM EST reply actions

why did we sign winn

gardner is a lefty so i would assume if theyre planning to platoon he would play the majority of time against righties(yes even though he can hit lefties). winn happens to be terrible against lefties. so i feel this isnt setup to be a platoon, if they wanted a platoon wouldnt it be logical to get a right handed or switch hitting outfielder who could hit lefties well. instead we have a switch hitter who cant hit lefties and a left handed hitter. doesnt seem to make much sense to me.

by cermolaNY2 on Jan 28, 2010 2:29 PM EST reply actions

I think they got Winn to make Gardner look better by comparison

Gardner still has at least some room to improve. Winn, if we’re lucky, will return to a league average career. I see Gardner starting and carrying the load in left unless and until he falls flat on his face. Winn looks like a spot starter to rest any of other 3 outfielders, and perhaps late inning defensive replacement for Swisher. Swisher seemed to play right like he has ADD. When he’s paying attention, he’s fine.

by designatedquitter on Jan 28, 2010 4:03 PM EST reply actions

winn is economical.

Randy Winn, if nothing else, was the economical choice. he doesnt demand high salary and sure as hell doesn’t put up huge numbers. Im not thrilled about the move but at least he can play all outfield positions and hes a switch hitter. I still think we need someone else to play left. Gardner is a joke at the plate. and winn is on the back end of his “average joe”career.

by eddieo311 on Jan 28, 2010 7:06 PM EST reply actions

If Gardner is a "joke"

what does that make Winn? A comedic epic?

by FloridaownsFSU on Jan 28, 2010 9:00 PM EST up reply actions

I like this about Winn

He did have 22.3% line drive rate in 2009, his highest in at least eight years, so Winn’s bat hasn’t gone totally limp. (from http://riveraveblues.com/2010/01/what-should-the-yankees-expect-from-randy-winn-in-2010-23081/)

That’s nice.

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 Jan 28, 2010 11:49 PM EST reply actions

Winn means depth

He’s going to be a backup to Gardner, maybe a platoon. I like the idea of Gardner starting LF, that way we have the “fast, energizer” type of guy on the basepaths. Now if only he could learn how to steal 2nd…

I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.

Vince Lombardi

by moose35 on Jan 29, 2010 9:48 AM EST reply actions