Livin with Melky...
by ATLBRVS_19 on May 17, 2010 12:57 AM EDT
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Can somebody provide me with some insight as to what the deal is with Melky Cabrera? He has done absolutely nothing in a Braves uniform and everytime he steps into the box something horrible is almost guaranteed to happen? Most of the time its an ugly K or a momentum killing pop out or GIDP. As a result he has been demoted to the pinch hit role and Eric Hinske has become the everyday LF. Today the Braves bats were raking against the Dbacks and when it was Melkys time to pinch hit for the pitcher he promptly hit into a bases loaded nobody out 6-4-3 double play. In that situation it didnt matter because the Braves were up like 10-1 but usually it does matter.
My question is what was the overall feelings about Melky in NY? I know that he had an avg of about .270 and a OBP of about .330 but that dont really tell how the fans felt about him. It would be nice if he would start producing. Maybe he just does better in the AL much like Vazquez seems to do in the NL. If both don't get it together pretty soon maybe Cashman and Wren could do a reswap?
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Nah you guys can keep him
Melky has always been a league average player. Maybe he misses his BFF Robinson Cano. I’m looking at his fangraphs page and I can’t really see anything he’s doing differently from the past besides being slightly more patient at the plate this year. I think he’s just failing to adjust to NL pitchers.
Melky was beloved in NY, but in a folk hero sort of way
and he was probably playing above his ability last year. After spring training in 2009, Brett Gardner (GGBG) actually won the starting CF job, as Melky had shown what some described as a lack of hustle. However, that demotion seemed to light a fire under him, and he came out of the gate red hot. That combined with GGBG’s injury led to him reclaiming his starting spot.
I would say his most appealing quality as a ballplayer may fall under the heading of “intangibles,” in that he seemed to be especially clutch, hitting well with RISP, but more particularly seeming to get big hits in “big picture” situations (he was responsible for two walk-off hits, for instance, I believe… it may have been more, I forget). He became somewhat of a mascot, and was certainly partially responsible for helping the clubhouse to “loosen up” and achieve its much-documented “chemistry.” He was also Robbie Cano’s drinking buddy….
To summarize, Melky was a solid player, but his struggles are not coming as a huge surprise to me. He may (and probably will) right the ship to some extent, but his ceiling is probably around what he did for us last year. As well liked as he was, many people around here suspected even before he was traded that Gardner would win the starting CF job again (this was before we got Granderson and let Damon slip away) and that he’d be the Yankees 4th outfielder.
As far as why he may be scuffling so badly, his previous motivational issues lead me to personally believe he may be unhappy to be in Atlanta. He loved it in New York, and I’m sure he was disappointed to be traded. He’s also got the kind of makeup that could lead to things like that having a negative impact on the field. That said, he reacts well to mentoring, and positive clubhouse influences could stand to improve his game. He also plays the best when he’s having the most fun, and when everyone around him is stepping up their game. That’s just speculation, and I don’t know how any of it might translate for you guys, though…
also
I ordered a Melky autographed baseball with bonus merchandise points from the Yankee online store which arrived literally two weeks before they traded him… so… sure, ship him back this way, I’d love it (you can have Thames…)
Ok, I’ll do a deal for Robbie Cano / Javy Vazquez trade for Jason Heyward / Martin Prado / Tommy Hanson.
I believe this is the only way to get Melky right and Javy can go back to being the stellar NL pitcher that he was.
by Scooby Snacks on May 17, 2010 1:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Can we get Kawakami thrown in too?
That name is just sick.
I'm Lord Duggan and I approve this message.
Not True
GGBG’s bad start left him on the bench, well before his injury. Also, if Gardner gets off to a bad start again this season, a lot of you folks would be saying we should have kept Melky.
By the way, back in 2006, when both Matsui and Sheffield went down for most of the season, who the was one of the players who saved our bacon?
by Great Gatsby on May 17, 2010 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah,
I know GGBG’s bad start had a lot to do with him losing the starting job, but Melky also started hot, the injury just sort of sealed the deal, scuttled any possibility of a platoon. And what you say about GGBG’s good start this year coloring perceptions is true too. There was a crowd who believed Gardner was going to win the starting job regardless this year, though. I wasn’t one of them, actually, but they were there.
But yeah, Melky’s a solid player, never great, but solid, and the best part about him for us is that he played his best in the biggest spots. He’s Sojoesque….
Melky is pretty average at the dish
tended to only hit home runs in April or May, and has about average range in the outfield with a nice arm. Any performance above league average is gravy, but he was a goofy and likable guy while in New York.
I'm Lord Duggan and I approve this message.
Melky has a cool name, a flashy arm and was a young energetic player
on a team full of vets. He quickly became a fan favorite which caused most to overlook the fact that he was pretty much a replacement level player prone to unstoppable hot streaks and dumbfounding cold streaks.
Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.
How about you keep Melky
and we get Arodys Vizcaino back..aka, the real headliner in the deal?
Just keep winning
I always..
Liked Melky to an extent. I wasn’t sad to see him go at all. He had his clutch moments but he also had moments where he was mediocre, at best. He seemed like a fun guy, the Cabrera-Cano combo was fun to watch as they were “attached at the hip” as Suzyn Waldman liked to say—-all the time.
Maybe it’s that half-beard Melky grew. Ya know, the one that goes from the sideburns down and around, but no mustache. That could be affecting his game..
At least you guys can make those awesome, “Got Melky?” shirts now.
Let's cut through the crap, Vaughn. I only got one thing to say to you: "Strike this mother f*cker out."
I think
he misses the buffer of Robbie, and to a lesser degree, A-Rod. He is also adjusting to a
new league, therefore new pitchers, let’s not dump on the guy because he is no longer here. I pull for all the ex-Yanks from last years’ World Series team, unless they are playing us, of course….I will never pull for the American Idle though!
I never liked Melky...
I mean I appreciated his defense but he a tendency to become mired in horrible slumps and during those he would be a sure out.
I just never felt comfortable with him at the plate in a big situation. He always was and will always be Mediocre Melky to me.
"You know as painful as it is I've had to let a few people go over the years. ..Yogi Berra, Lou Piniella, Bucky Dent, Billy Martin, Dallas Green, Billy Martin, Stump Merrill, Billy Martin, Bob Lemon, Billy Martin".
by ReprezentinNJerz on May 17, 2010 11:11 AM EDT reply actions
I guess its just a combination
of all this. 2010 has been one big slump so far but i’m sure it had something to do with missing Cano among others, adjusting to the NL and ATL. Melk Man did have a sold hit to the gap yesterday that was caught at the edge of the wall. Thats the most pop we’ve seen off his bat all year so hopefully its a sign of things to come.
Thanks for your input and congrats on last year and the 26 other times before that lol
Also, he may be twekaing something with his swing...
just a guess, but maybe thats why he is off to a slow start. You never know what goes on behind the scenes.
Section 203 Row 15 Seat 1
When he got traded, everybody here was excited for Melky because he got to mash in the NL,
ha apparently not so far..
Section 203 Row 15 Seat 1
Liked him as a roll player
for sure. He stepped his game up when we talked about trading him so maybe try that? Im sure we realized he had reached his peak when we traded him. Dont expect any more than what youre getting.
I agree
Melky was a great role player. Hit for a descent average. I think his greatest attribute is he had an above average throwing arm at least when you looked at the arms the Yankees had out there. He had no speed, and not much power.
by RollingThunder on May 17, 2010 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Melky looks fat and slow....
i don’t know if he misses Cano or what but someone needs to handcuff his big ass to a treadmill and slap some sense into him.
It’s really ashame.
"Throw the damn ball to Kevin Boss" - Andiamo708
I thought
That Melky looked a little bit heavy in the few games that I have seen him play this year.
Cervelli has become our new Melky
basically.
not even close actually...
Melky was never this good with the bat. He got HR..but usually by the end of May he got his 8 and then never got another.
Just keep winning
by FreeBradshaw on May 18, 2010 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions
maybe in single A ball
Just keep winning
by FreeBradshaw on May 18, 2010 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Um it's not exactly like Cervelli is a future all star though, his minor league numbers are nothing amazing.
So you’d expect Francisco to regress a bit in some way. The reason he is our new Melky is because he gets A TON of clutch hits, and brings a fun youthful energy to the team.
nobody is talking about HR's here.
they’re different players but they both had a very similar role at some point.
Cervelli hit .298 last year and I won't even mention his BA today.
What makes you think he’s not a potential .300 hitter in the majors? Melky is a .270 hitter based on his Yankee career. Melky is a slightly above average outfielder, Cervelli is a plus catcher. Cervelli could/should continue to improve, Melky is what he is at this point. There really isn’t any comparison between them.
by designatedquitter on May 18, 2010 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
He hit .298 last year in 98 at bats...that is a ridiculously small sample size.
Not to mention his OBP was only .309
Which is CRAP.
Look, I love Cervelli as much if not more than most people on these boards, but there’s really not a lot of evidence that says he’s a potential .300 hitter in the majors or even that he’s a better hitter than Melky.
I mean look at his minor league stats (again small sample size) but he hit .233 in 133 at bats in 2009 (rookie/AA/AAA)…
I have a feeling a lot of people are going to be disappointed when he goes into his first slump…
Not to take away from what a phenomenal job Cervelli's done as our backup catcher...
I just think we should all keep our expectations in check. There’s a reason why Cervelli was never touted as even our 2nd best catching prospect…
prospect rankings and minor league stats are irrelevant at this point...
the reason Cervelli was thought to be the #3 was his hitting. His catching skills are elite even for MLB level.
Yes, he should regress…and no one’s going to be disappointed at that cuz they’d be a idiot to think he’s a .400 hitter.
He’s now working with a Major League hitting instructor and doing work at the Major League level.
The only time the prospect rankings and minor league stats matter is when the dude is in the minor leagues and still a prospect.
Cervelli ain’t gonna hit 40 HR any time soon, but that’s not to say he can’t be an excellent defensive catcher who’s not an automatic out.
Just keep winning
by FreeBradshaw on May 18, 2010 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions
I completely agree with that...but being an excellent defensive catcher who's not an automatic out...
doesn’t really equate to him being a potential .300 hitter in the majors which is what that guy above was touting him as.
I guess we will just have to see…
well its "potentially"
but he’s shown that he knows how to make contact. Even last year you could tell that dude knows how to make contact. And its not just fastballs, its everything including bad pitches.
He’s got a short quick swing. This is a case where the sample size tells you to wait of course, but if you’re actually watching the games, you can tell he’s a pretty good hitter.
Just keep winning
by FreeBradshaw on May 18, 2010 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I half agree with that
from watching him play, I think he’s a good contact hitter with absolutely no power. As you said, his swing is short and compact, and he’s great at putting the ball in play (21 K in 159 AB) but 42 out of his 52 hits have been singles.
I think when the book comes out on him and he get’s pitched differently (he’s seen 67% Fastballs so far this year) and his BABIP comes back to earth (.453 BABIP, but an impressive 22% LD) he will regress considerably, but I’m still bullish on his overall talent, especially when you consider that he could fill out and develop some power.
And when you factor in how excellent his defense is, I think it’s inevitable that he will have a nice big league career, I’m just not so sure it’s with the Yankees given our extreme catching depth.
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