Baseball Toaster: Bronx Banter : Doin' Alright

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25-man Roster:

Infielders:
J. Giambi BR BP E MLB
R. Cano BR BP E MLB
D. Jeter BR BP E MLB
A. Rodriguez BR BP E MLB
W. Betemit BR BP E MLB mi
C. Ransom BR BP E MLB mi

Outfielders:
B. Abreu BR BP E MLB
J. Damon BR BP E MLB
X. Nady BR BP E MLB
H. Matsui BR BP E MLB mi
B. Gardner BR E MLB mi
M. Cabrera BR BP E MLB mi

Catchers:
I. Rodriguez BR BP E MLB
J. Molina BR BP E MLB
C. Moeller BR BP E MLB mi

Starting Pitchers:
M. Mussina BR BP BC E
A. Pettitte (L) BR BP BC E
S. Ponson BR BP BC E mi
D. Rasner BR BP BC E mi
C. Pavano BR BP BC E mi

Relief Pitchers:
M. Rivera BR BP BC E
J. Chamberlain BR BP BC E
D. Marte (L) BR BP BC E
J. Veras BR BP BC E mi
E. Ramirez BR BP BC E mi
B. Bruney BR BP BC E mi
D. Giese BR BP BC E mi
C. Britton BR BP BC E mi
A. Aceves BR E mi
P. Coke (L) BR BC E mi

15-day DL:
C. Wang BR BP BC E
60-day DL:
J. Posada BR BP E MLB
J. Albaladejo BR BP BC E mi
A. Brackman BC
H. Sanchez BC mi

Coaches:
J. Girardi (Mgr) BR BP BC
R. Thomson (Bench) BC
Kevin Long (Hit) BR
D. Eiland (Pitch) BR BP BC
B. Meacham (3B) BR BP BC
T. Peña (1B) BR BP BC
M. Harkey (Pen) BR BP BC

40-man Roster:
AAA
S. Duncan BR BP E MLB mi
J. Miranda BR BC mi
J. Christian BR BP E MLB mi
P. Hughes BR BP BC E mi
I. Kennedy BR BP BC E mi
C. Wright (L) BR BP BC E mi
D. Robertson BR BC E mi
S. Patterson BR BC mi
AA
F. Cervelli BR BC mi
J. Marquez BR BC mi DL

Designated for Assignment:
B. Traber (L) BR BP BC E mi

Select Minor Leaguers:

AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees:
B. Castro BR mi DL
C. Basak BR BP BC E MLB mi
E. Duncan BC mi
N. Green BR mi
B. Broussard BR mi
M. Carson BC mi
C. Stewart BR BP E MLB mi
J. Brown BC mi DL
K. Igawa (L) BR BP BC E JB mi
M. Melancon BC mi
J.B. Cox BC mi
S. Strickland BR BC mi
S. Jackson BC mi
E. Milton BR BC mi DL
V. Zambrano BR BC mi DL

AA Trenton Thunder:
K. Russo BR mi
R. Peña BC mi DL
C. Malec BC mi
M. Vechionacci BC mi DL
A. Jackson BC mi
C. Curtis BC mi
E. Gonzalez BR mi
P.J. Pilittere BC mi
J. Jones BC mi
G. Kontos BC mi
J. Nuñez BC mi
B. Smith BC mi DL
A. Claggett BC mi
O. Perez BR BC mi
M. Gardner BC mi
K. Whelan BC mi
W. Arias (L) BC mi

A Tampa Yankees:
E. Nuñez BC mi
C.J. Henry BC mi DL
T. Battle BC mi
K. Anson BC mi
J. Gil BC mi
A. Horne BC mi DL
Z. McAllister BC mi
W. De La Rosa (L) BC mi
C. Garcia BC mi

Low-A Charleston RiverDogs:
J. Snyder BC mi
M. Cusick BC mi
B. Suttle BC mi
A. Romine BC mi
J. Montero BC mi
D. Betances BC mi
J. Heredia BC mi
J. Ortiz BC mi
C. Heyer BC mi

Low-A Staten Island Yankees:
D. Adams mi
P. Venditte mi

Rookie Gulf Coast Yankees:
C. Joseph mi
C. Smith mi
K. Higashioka mi

Key:
BR = Baseball-Reference
BP = Baseball Prospectus
BC = Baseball Cube (past mL stats)
mi = MiLB.com (current mL stats)
E = ESPN (current splits, game logs)
MLB = MLB.com hit charts
JB = Japanese Baseball.com

The Recently Departed

2008 Yankees:
R. Sexson BR BP E MLB
M. Ensberg BR BP E MLB
A. Gonzalez BR BP E MLB mi
K. Farnsworth BR BP BC E
L. Hawkins BR BP BC E

Nady/Marte Trade:
J. Tabata BC mi
R. Ohlendorf BR BP BC E
D. McCutchen BC mi
J. Karstens BR BP BC E mi

2008 Campers/mLers:
C. Woodward BR BP BC E MLB PHI mL
J. Lane BR mi BOS mL
G. Porter BC mi WAS mL
J.D. Closser BR mi SD mL
S. Henn (L) BR BP BC E mi SD
H. Phillips (L) BR BC mi TB mL
S. White BR BC mi

2007 Yankees:
J. Torre (Mgr) BR BP BC LAD
D. Mientkiewicz BR BP BC E MLB PIT mL
A. Phillips BR BP BC E MLB mi CIN mL
J. Phelps BR BP BC E MLB STL mL
M. Cairo BR BP BC E MLB SEA
K. Thompson BR BP BC E MLB mi PIT
B. Sardinha BC mi SEA mL
W. Nieves BR BP BC E MLB WAS mL
R. Clemens BR BP BC E mi
T. Clippard BR BP BC E mi WAS
L. Vizcaino BR BP BC E COL $7.5m/2yrs
M. DeSalvo BR BP BC E mi ATL mL
M. Myers (L) BR BP BC E LAD mL
R. Villone (L) BR BP BC E mi STL mL
S. Proctor BR BP BC E LAD
J. Brower BR BP BC E mi CIN mL
C. Bean BR BP BC E mi ATL mL

2007 Campers and mLers:
E. Durazo BR BP BC E MLB mi
A. Cannizaro BR BP BC E MLB mi TB mL
A. Chavez BR BP BC E MLB mi LAD mL
K. Reese BR BP BC E MLB mi
R. Chavez BR BP BC E MLB mi PIT mL
O. Santos BC mi BAL mL
T. Pratt BR BP BC E MLB
T.J. Beam BR BP BC E mi PIT mL
B. Kozlowski (L) BR BP BC E mi Japan

Molina Trade:
J. Kennard BC mi

Abreu Trade
M. Smith (L) BR BP BC E mi PHI
C. Monasterios BC mi PHI
J. Sanchez mi PHI

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Doin' Alright

2005-08-29 09:56

by Alex Belth

Derek Jeter's fielding improved last year, so much so that he was awarded the Gold Glove for American League shortstops. Now, he may not have been the best defensive shortstop in the league, but he had one of his best seasons with the leather. According to Steve Lombardi, Jeter's fielding has remained at the top of the league again this year:

Is he a terrible SS? No. A terrible SS would have been moved off SS by now. Tony Batista was moved. Chipper Jones was moved. Mike Lansing was moved. Mark Lewis was moved. Jose Offerman was moved. Wil Cordero was moved. Julio Franco was moved. In the big leagues, if you truly are a terrible SS, you will eventually be moved. Even a stupid team figures it out after a while. Jeter has not been moved, because he is not terrible with the glove at SS.

While Jeter's power numbers have dipped (he hit 23 homers and 44 doubles in 2004, and he has 14,and 21 respectively so far this year), Jeter has walked 60 times so far in 2005, up from 46 all of last year. He has six sacrifices this year, down from a ridiculously high 16 in 2004 (that spike was a direct result of Jeter's early season slump, and it was a habit he did not break out of all year, even after he starting hitting). Jeter scored his 100th run of the season yesterday and his line of .315/.393/.456 makes for another impressive year, don't you think?

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Comments

2005-08-29 10:19:21

1. rsmith51

I think Jeter is an OK SS, but I think he could be an outstanding CF. In addition, the Yanks already have a better SS on the team. It's not going to happen, but putting him in CF would make the team much better. Maybe next year.

2005-08-29 11:29:17

2. Shaun P

I've said that before myself, but sometimes I wonder if its better to leave well-enough alone. A-Rod is a fantastic 3B - the best the Yanks have ever had, which is saying a lot - and with some luck, we'll have good in-house options for CF in a year or two (hello, Melky).

I also wonder if the possibility for injury goes up if Jeter moves to CF, given that he'll be 32 (his 2006 baseball-age), in which case I say don't do it. I'm not saying he's not a good enough athlete to do it - but I'm guessing that being a CF requires a comfort zone that I imagine takes some time to get.

Still, it is an interesting idea . . .

2005-08-29 11:30:14

3. Alex Belth

For two or three years now the Robin Yount comp has come up with Jeter time and again. I still think it holds, though I agree, I don't think Jeter is going to move from SS. Without a viable CF out there on the free agent market it certainly is something to consider. But my guess is that moving Jeter to the OF is a longshot.

Regardless, he's a competent shortstop.

2005-08-29 12:20:10

4. JeremyM

Did Melky get sent down to AA? I looked for his stats on the Clippers site and I found nothing. Wouldn't it have made more sense to put him back with Columbus?

2005-08-29 12:24:20

5. yankee fan in Hollywood

Just an OK SS ???? Maybe im blind but I have never thought Jeter was just an OK SS...He'll make mistakes once in a while but he's still one of the greatest at the end of the day. Or maybe I love the yanks so much i'm not able to see what's wrong with Jeter...so now i turn to ask you guys..what is wrong with Jeter @ SS ???

2005-08-29 12:47:49

6. Jen

JeremyM, I believe Melky went back to Columbus but Kevin Thompson has won the CF job there. Melky appears to be in Trenton right now.

There was a good article in the Star Ledger about Mark Newman's report on the farm system. (via Off the Façade)

http://tinyurl.com/brgt7

2005-08-29 12:51:23

7. JeremyM

Great link, thanks Jen. Hope Cabrera wasn't crushed by failing in the show on his first brief go-around.

2005-08-29 13:05:24

8. yankz

Jeter's a Yankee for life, so where's he going to play towards the end of his contract? The thought of a 39 year old SS is scary, and I'm the biggest DJ fan alive.

2005-08-29 13:24:17

9. Cliff Corcoran

Jeter has a fantastic arm, is extremely reliable on the routine plays and is capable of making difficult plays with consistancy when charging the ball or going to his right. He's also fantastic on pop-ups. Where he falls short is his range, primarily to his left.

I don't think it is a coincidence that Jeter's fielding stats have improved since Rodriguez joined the team. With a legitimate Gold Glove SS playing third base to his right, and Jeter's strength being going to his right, he can play closer to second, thus closing the gap up the middle (to his left), which is where the hole in his range existed. We're all far too familiar with announcers saying "base hit up the middle" and "past a diving Jeter," but with Rodriguez covering more ground around third and Jeter moving over a tad, that's been less of a problem this season and last.

This all points to the shortcomings of fielding stats. Fielding territory overlaps and ones defensive stats can be skewed by the ability of one's defensive neighbors. I'm not completely convinced that Jeter is playing a better shortstop than he was in 2003, just that he's in better position to make use of his particular abilities at the position.

Now, all of that said, I don't know for sure that Jeter actually is positioning himself closer to the bag. I'd love for someone with press access to ask him about it, or for someone to compare some video on where he played a given batter in 2003 compared to '04 and this year.

Also, Jeter has played beside many strong defensive third basemen (Boggs, Brosius, Ventura, Boone), all of whom have posted higher Range Factors while playing next to Jeter than Rodriguez did last year. So maybe everything I just said was bunk. Then again, it seems far too plausable, doesn't it?

2005-08-29 13:42:06

10. JVarghese81

Jen,
I'm surprised that they didn't include Tyler Clippard in that article. Maybe it's because he's still in Tampa (trenton next year, I hope). http://tinyurl.com/7t8zu

Same thing with Cox. He'll be pushed up next year though for now, I'd just shut that guy down - with the CWS, he's got a good amount of mileage on his arm. http://tinyurl.com/bmk5x

Also, with Duncan, it'll be interesting ot see what he does in the AFL in a different park. Keep in mind that the kid is only 19 and in AA. He's still damn good - wait & see.

2005-08-29 14:05:51

11. Dan M

Cliff, don't forget Sterling's "up the middle and through."

I've been advocating the Yount-switch for 2 years, but Shaun P makes a great point (Jeter would be 32) considering that Yount did it when he was 29.

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