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On the Sheff
2006-06-08 05:49
by Alex Belth

Melky Cabrera has done a nice job of late, but if the Yankees are going to be without Gary Sheffield for a long period of time, I have little doubt that they'll be in the market for another outfielder before the trading deadline. Several days ago, Will Carroll had the following to say about Sheff over at Baseball Prospectus:

The injury to Gary Sheffield is devastating. I dug and dug to get the information on what was actually going on with Sheffield, knowing that while the Yankees were not lying about the injury, they weren't giving anyone the whole story. Just as I was putting the pieces together, having two of my best advisors pointing me in what was the correct direction, Sheffield's wrist made my work moot. Sheffield's injury was not a bruise or a fracture, but a soft tissue injury. The torn ligament and translocated tendon have only an outside chance of repairing themselves without surgical intervention, but the chance that they could--along with the timetable of surgery--means it makes sense to wait. If Sheffield had surgery now, he wouldn't be back in time for the playoffs and waiting a month just pushes it a bit further into the off-season. Yes, you'll note that if he waits that will possibly affect him next season, but that's not really the Yankees' concern given his contract situation--or is there some handshake agreement that helped Sheffield stay patient on the chance he gets better? We don't know. Sheffield has a small chance of avoiding surgery, so adjust your expectations accordingly.

It'll be interesting to see what the Yankees do, huh?

Comments
2006-06-08 06:34:26
1.   Sliced Bread
As much as the Yanks miss Sheff's bat, and as much as I miss watching him brutalizing baseballs, I think there are still enough big sticks around to get by with Bubba and Melky manning the corners until Matsui returns. We'll see.

According to the Daily News, Posada is DH tonight, (Stinnett's been working well with Wright) which likely means Phillips watches with the rest of us.

Posada's really been toughing out that nagging hamstring injury. I don't even want to think about the possibility of the Yanks without him.

2006-06-08 06:48:17
2.   rsmith51
Wouldn't it be better to give Posada the day off and pinch-hit, if needed?
2006-06-08 06:59:08
3.   singledd
As much fun as Melky has been, and while I want him to stay with the team, I DONT want to go into the PS with this lineup. Melky could go cold at any time, and has little power (as yet).

I think (and hope) that Soriano is in our future.

2006-06-08 07:04:38
4.   Sliced Bread
3 I love the thought of Soriano, too, but I don't like to consider what he'd cost the Yanks if Melky goes sour this summer.

2 Good point. This way Phillips could play first tonight.

2006-06-08 07:12:22
5.   RI Yankee
I vote for Bobby "5-Tool" Abreu
2006-06-08 08:04:02
6.   Shaun P
3 Better Melky's little power/high OBP approach than Sori's "swing and a miss, strike 3, that pitch was in the dirt!" approach. Plus, Sori's numbers this year scream career year, and I'm not ready to believe the improvement will last all season. He could revert to form very quickly.

I love Soriano - I named my pet cockatiel after him - but I'm glad he's not on the Yanks.

Note too that Giambi wouldn't have been in position to work that walk on Tuesday night if Melky hadn't walked before him.

2006-06-08 08:13:24
7.   dianagramr
5

If the Yankees were a roto team, I'd love Abreu (I've always had him on my roto teams, until this year).

But the Yanks would be getting a bat that is starting to decline from the lofty perch that the general public finally noticed after the Home Run Derby performance. Abreu is now 32, and his defense is best described as "adequate". He would probably be an upgrade over anyone in their system for this season, but I fear a swift downturn in 2007.

2006-06-08 08:48:12
8.   RI Yankee
7 Unless he starts taking HGH . . .
2006-06-08 08:51:12
9.   dianagramr
7

One of my Red Sox friends calls Jason "HGHiambi"

(and I tend to agree with her)

2006-06-08 08:56:48
10.   RI Yankee
I don't know what Abreu's contract status is, but he still has an arm, some speed a lefty bat and he walks. I don't really want Sori II
2006-06-08 09:25:29
11.   Rob Gee
3 All I know is based on Sori's postseason numbers:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/soriaal01.shtml

He simply gets abused by good pitching. Not a guy I'd want a on post-season roster.

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