The most to prove in 2010: Hitter's Edition
by Travis G on Feb 8, 2010 2:00 PM EST
in Analysis
30 comments
Robbie Cano is entering his age-27 season, the heart of his (historically speaking) prime. We've seen a Cano that makes us want to scream and another that surprises us he doesn't hit .400. Cano can be good enough to hit third for the $200 million New York Yankees but hasn't shown enough run-producing ability to warrant that. Now I know batting average w/ RISP is laden with problems (like small sample sizes and year to year vicissitudes), but Cano has never once, in his five-year career, hit better w/ RISP than without. And he's often hit significantly worse (an average of .50 worse, .306 career vs. .256 w/ RISP).
There's no way he'll be the #3 hitter with Tex in the mix now, but he could still step up and be an excellent #5 hitter. To do that, he'll have to hit better than .206 (his 2009 BA w/ RISP) and .256 (career BA w/ RISP).
Is it something psychological with him, or is it really just bad luck in RBI opportunities? His BABIP is .267 w/ RISP (vs. .346 with nobody on), so there certainly seems to be an element of luck, but my eyes tell me he presses and either gets too aggressive or too passive (the real test, line drive rate w/ RISP, does not seem to exist on the interweb). Fortunately for Robbie, he's not counted on to fill the run-producing five-hole. That will likely fall to Posada, Swisher or Granderson (at least against RHP). But if Cano is ever going to turn into the perennial All-Star we think he can be (rather than the guy who never lived up to his potential), this would be a fine year to start.
Gutty, gritty Brett Gardner will also feel the pressure this season. He'll likely be handed a full-time position out of Spring Training since the Yankees felt comfortable enough to trade away last year's starting centerfielder, Melky Cabrera. If he can merely reproduce last year's offensive output (.270/.345/.379, 26 SB, 5 CS, 107 wRC+), he'll be an asset. Whether he can do that over 500 PA (vs. 284 last year) is another story: can he survive starting for a full season? Will he get exposed playing everyday? Is he the long-term solution in centerfield? We'll likely have an answer at season's end. If Gardner can hit at an average-ish level, his baserunning and defense will make him an above-average player.
Curtis Granderson was acquired to play good defense and make the team younger. He'll feel the heat since he's declined each of the last two years, required two top prospects to get him, and is filling in for a beloved Yankee who made an indelible mark on postseason lore with a historic double-steal. Of the three candidates, Grandy has the most room for improvement from last year, which was well out of line with his career norms. But if anyone can handle the heat of New York, it's Granderson: if you've seen or heard interviews with him, you'll know he's down-to-earth and has his head on perfectly straight.
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The one with the most pressure is Grandy
because we gave up a solid prospect in AJax to get him, so he’s going to have to go out there and show people that he was “worth it” in the deal.
To get to the point of the article though, I look for big things from Cano this year.
He is the perfect number 5 hitter. He hits for average, gap to gap power, and doesn’t strike out a lot. Unfortunately, we all know he has an RISP phobia.
Still, Cano put up a line of .320/.352/.520 with 25 HR and 85 RBI, highlighted by 48 doubles last year. That’s hardly anything to sneeze at.
It seemed to me last year that in a lot of those situations, you would see Cano drive a ground ball up the middle only to have it be snagged by the second baseman. Also, last year he seemed to have better pitch selection.
I have nothing to back up either of those observations, but it seems to me that he is primed for a big season this year.
I would expect his triple line to remain about the same, around .320/.352/.520, but I wouldn’t be shocked by 30 HR 100 RBI.
This sticker is dangerous and inconvenient, but I do love Fig Newtons.
Definitely Gardner
He has to prove that he can hit well enough to be the everyday left (or center) fielder. The others will start 150+ games regardless.
by designatedquitter on Feb 8, 2010 2:37 PM EST reply actions
I say Granderson as well.
Unlike the other two, he didn’t come up through our system. He also wasn’t a FA, so it wasn’t as if he just cost us money. Granted, the deal Cashman cut in that trade was a very good one for us, but we didn’t have to give up some players of quality value to get him.
I (along with many others) feel that Granderson should bat 5th against RHP and lower in the order against LHP. Not only would it give us solid power in the middle of the order, but it would also allow the bottom of the order to go every other, left, switch, lefty, etc… with Granderson, Posada (health willing), Cano, Swisher, Gardner. Against LHP we could move him down to 7th.
Every hitter has holes in their game somewhere, Cano’s just happens to be a major one (the ability to draw a walk). I think best case scenario was what we saw in 2009 with an OBP of .352. This is still a fantastic hitter to have in the bottom of the order, but if Granderson can rebound to his 2008 BA of .280 and get his OBP to around .365-.370, he’ll be more of a threat for us there, against RHP at least.
I'm going with Gardner...
The Yanks passed on bringing in a big name like Damon, Holliday, or Bay. Gardner will have to prove he can play at a productive level everyday out there and justify not getting a big name player.
A-Rod
I think A-Rod has the most to prove since he is headed into a full season without chemical assistance and is healthy. I’m interested to see if he can still put up 50 – 150 – .300 numbers.
he hasn't had chemical assistance since 2003
we all know he can do well without it. He’s proved that time and time again. I also am interested however to see if he can go 50-150 again. This will be his healthiest season since 2007. And how did that turn out? One of the best offensive seasons I’ve ever seen. It’ll be tough to repeat that, but he certainly can do it.
I’m not worried about A-Rod. He’s pretty much a given for 35+, 100+, and a reasonably solid batting average. He always has been. He’s the least of my worries this season.
Do you beleive that he has been clean since 2003?
I like what he contributes to the Yanks as much as everyone here does,but I am far from convinced that he did not use, atleast the first few seasons in NY anyway.In fact I got to lean towards him doing more juice to play well in the best organization baseball has to offer.These guys have fooled me enough in the past to know better then to take a guys word on it,especially one who had as much pressure as Arod has carried.Lump that in with 2004 and some really tough playoff numbers for a few yrs to follow.I wish they were still using.With the steroids they were able to play at the highest level which in turn left us with tape measure shots and a 55 yr old Clemens.Just because I don’t beleive him doesn’t mean he’s not telling the truth but all signs point toward using.Doesn’t help Giambi was in the same dugout.Sorry for the E-novel but I don’t know how to say it without all these words.Get it?Cmon you know it’s funny,so just laugh.
I feel like a clown without my funny nose.They say that dead men don't pull triggers,I will prove em wrong.There are cracks on the roads we laid where the temple fell where secrets have gone mad.
by cashman bashman on Feb 9, 2010 12:18 AM EST up reply actions
I don't know what to believe in the steroid era anymore
but the fact of the matter is that A-Rod hasn’t tested positive for steroids since 2003, and there has been regular testing, plus HGH testing during the 2 WBCs, since then. Is it possible he could have fooled the testers? Yes. But I don’t think it’s all that likely, and I say innocent until proven guilty. There is no evidence that says A-Rod took steroids in NY, so I’ll take his word for it.
Gardner
He needs to step up big, my name is on the line here Gardner!!!!
.280 , 25 doubles, 7 triples, 45 stolen bases, one gold glove!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will settle without the gold glove though.
Gardner for President
Don't forget you have a hooker depending on it to.
And it will be a good one to,not some midget or someone missing teeth,and hasn’t washed her brown colored panties in yrs because she sleeps under a bridge with her heroin.Cmon GGBG put up some crooked numbers,and do it for McDaniel.
I feel like a clown without my funny nose.They say that dead men don't pull triggers,I will prove em wrong.There are cracks on the roads we laid where the temple fell where secrets have gone mad.
by cashman bashman on Feb 9, 2010 12:24 AM EST up reply actions
GGBG has the most to prove
We know what Cano and Granderson can do. But Gardner will be playing every day, and he has to prove something. I for one don’t think he’ll hit well, and by the All-Star break everyone will really be missing Damon’s bat. I’d love for him to prove me wrong. But right now I think that his weaknesses will be exposed playing every day.
Agreed
Plus Cano and Granderson have contracts weighty enough to keep them in the lineup through a slump, and are both former All-Stars in their prime (therefore, likely to be All Stars again). GGBG needs to earn every AB.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
Cano was an All-Star?
when? Usually he has a really big second half, and not a big first half so that could keep him from most All-Star teams.
Seriously?
Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.
by CasanovaWong on Feb 8, 2010 11:14 PM EST up reply actions
I never remembered him on an All-Star team
I looked it up and he was hurt in 2006 when he was voted on. Give me a break it was a mistake lol (I’m talking to you McDaniel)
Wow just wow.
Before you ask please at least put in an effort in finding out first, and how do you not know being a Yankee fan???
Is Cano an all-star? – Answer: YES.
Dude it was 3 years ago. Really?
That’s ok though, Pinstripe Alley will hold your hand.
Gardner for President
I'd say Granderson
he’s the newbie.
We basically know what Gardner and Cano are. Cano doesn’t have much to prove, and Gardner’s basically at his ceiling.
Grandy hasn’t done anything with the Yanks yet.
Rectum? Damn near killed em!
Kate Arod reunion?
Imagine a line up with KH+Arod AND Cervelli. Oh well, I’ll settle for the 35, 100 Arod and Cervelli.
Section 203 Row 15 Seat 1
This might be farfetched
But Cano does his a lot of balls up the middle. Maybe when we have RISP (so mainly somebody on 2nd), the SS or 2B shadows over to cover the base and has an easier time snagging the grounders up the middle.
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
not farfetched at all...
it probably accounts for a ton of his ‘"""failures""""’.
The guy hits the ball hard with RISP.
I think the answer is for him to try and hit the ball to Queens. Load up and knock the hell out of it. Cano’s got untapped power and maybe if he swings for the fence he gets some sac fly’s and who knows what else.
Rectum? Damn near killed em!
With Bases Loaded...
Check out his career avg. with bags sacked, much worse than his .256 career avg w/RISP. Personally, I think it is all in his head, ne needs to understand the pitcher
is the one in trouble with the bases laoded, not him, and be more patient. He tends to swing to much early in the count in with the bases loaded, pichers throw him pitches out of the strike zone, and he chases. Yes, sometimes you want to pull your hair, but if
ever puts it all together…
Cano isn't doing something right
I think it is his approach top that at bat. I think I would agree with freebradshaw with him trying to connect to Queens. YOu know the Babe did that once, and he called it!
Gardner for President
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