New York Yankees News & Notes - 12/02/2011

by 3460kuri on Dec 2, 2011 6:00 AM EST in New York Yankees News

Has it really been that long?

Bernie Williams is on the Hall of Fame ballot

Of course, I don't really think that Bernie is a Hall of Famer. Whatever measure you prefer to use - WAR, MVP Awards, how much he was "feared" - he doesn't make the cut. But, today's Hall of Fame voting seems to exist in some alternate universe, where Jack Morris gets more votes than Jeff Bagwell, and since Bernie played for the Yankees, and (as far as we know) didn't use steroids, you never know....

A lot has been said about Mark Teixeira's struggles from the left side of the plate season (here, for example). What I wonder is at one point does a switch-hitter STOP being a switch-hitter and simply bat from the same side of the plate all the time? Has there ever been one? Tex is still a fine ballplayer, he's still above average from the left side, but like a lot of things, I'd love to see a team get creative and try this with a player at some point.
In the event that Jorge Posada does play in the majors next season, don't worry about his Yankees legacy:

Yogi Berra didn’t harm won hair of his legacy when he became a Mets player-coach in 1965, and subsequently the team’s manager. Babe Ruth was still the most beloved Yankee of his time despite going to the Boston Braves in 1935. At the time of his death, Thurman Munson was campaigning to be traded to the Cleveland Indians.

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Won hair..

is a phrase that probably has never been associated with Yogi before today.

by Big Sky Yankee on Dec 2, 2011 7:22 AM EST reply actions

I think that what gives Tex that 'edge'

is that he’s a switch hitter, I don’t think he would be considered ‘elite’ without being a switch hitter. Its the same thing with Posada last year or any time a switch hitter struggles from one side. If they stop, they’re no longer unique. People put too much value in handedness (for pitchers and hitters) that they could be giving up higher quality production for marginally better in certain situations.

by jetanumba2 on Dec 2, 2011 7:38 AM EST reply actions

not sure i see it

you don’t think he would be considered “elite” if he had the same production #’s and a much higher average than he did, say, this past year (when he still somehow managed an MVP vote! lol)… ??? also, i think sone folks would beg to differ about your characterization of the difference between righty tex and lefty tex as “marginal”…

by sing_or_die_1818 on Dec 3, 2011 10:35 PM EST up reply actions

I don't blame Posada for trying to keep playing...

but it is a little sad to see him going around begging a team to sign him.

Still, being anywhere on a baseball roster is still a better life than 99.9% of anything else you can do, and I wouldn’t want to give it up before I absolutely had to either.

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Dec 2, 2011 8:44 AM EST reply actions

Bernie Williams carried the Yankees in the '90s, but he's not a Hall of Famer.

He’s perfect for the “Team Hall of Eternal Distinction” or whatever they call it, or the Hall of the Very Very Good, and he IS famous, but not a Hall of Famer. The guitar playing does not get him over the hump. He ranks like Mattingly, and he will certainly get a respectable number of votes.

by designatedquitter on Dec 2, 2011 9:26 AM EST reply actions

Similar to Mattingly...

He was a hall-of-famer in his prime, but his prime didn’t last long enough.

Bernie does have the distinction of being the best player on one of the best teams of all time. Unfortunately for him, the late 90’s Yankees were sean as the ultimate “team” and being the best individual player didn’t earn him all that much distinction. Also his quiet personality was overshadowed by the flashier Jeter.

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Dec 2, 2011 12:18 PM EST up reply actions

Bernie's peak was quite longer than Donnie's

And he put up more value.
Bernie’s top ten seasons: 45.2 bWAR
Donnie’s top ten seasons: 38.0 bWAR

Mattingly’s top four seasons were better than Bernie’s (25.3 bWAR vs 22.9 bWAR), but Bernie routs him in the next six (22.3 vs 12.7 – almost double).

by cookiedabookie on Dec 3, 2011 12:42 AM EST up reply actions

re: switch hitters switching to not switch-hitting

I can’t think of it happening in the majors – if a guy’s good enough from both sides of the plate to make it through the minors, he’s probably unlikely to switch when he’s in the majors. But I’ve heard of guys who were switch-hitters in hihg school or college who were told to knock it off and focus on their good side in the minor leagues.

by long time listener on Dec 2, 2011 10:30 AM EST reply actions

Bernie was very good ...

is he a Hall of Famer? The Yankee in me says yes, the baseball fan says no. Considering some of the iffy players voted in, he probably has a chance. Side note: When Bernie first came up, he was less than stellar from the left side. I remember somebody in the Yankee universe saying he should stick to the right side. Glad he didn’t take that advice.

by ogrover on Dec 2, 2011 10:30 AM EST reply actions

Bernie Belongs, with a capital B!
The hall is about Fame, yes, but it is also about accomplishments. Even f you don’t include his regular season stats, he belongs simply for his post-season accomplishments.
And as far as switch hitters, I believe Roy White gave up switch hitting toward the end of his career. I’m sure there must be others as well.

by Hernan on Dec 2, 2011 1:23 PM EST reply actions

Bernie stole my dad's old jeans.

by MichaelGGBGrabow on Dec 2, 2011 3:18 PM EST reply actions

that old story

by long time listener on Dec 2, 2011 8:25 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

The Yankees will retire Bernie's number

Not a bad consolation prize.

"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 Dec 2, 2011 4:01 PM EST reply actions