Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Some quick notes as the Yankees recover from the 3-9 beating they took on their just-completed romp through the heartland:
Rey Sanchez has two bulging disks in his neck and may land on the DL prior to the Pirates series. Should that happen, the Yanks are expected to call up Felix Escalona, following the logic that Sanchez is a back-up infielder and thus should be replaced by one. This is, of course, nonsense. Tony Womack should be sent to the bench, where he can back-up Cano at second. Alex Rodriguez can back-up Jeter at short, and Russ Johnson can back-up Rodriguez at third. There is no need for an extra infielder on this team.
By that logic, it would seem there's no need for Sanchez on this team, which is something I've been saying since spring training. Upon closer examination, however, Sanchez could be useful as a spot-starter at second against lefties (Cano vs L: 3/29, 1 HR, 1 BB--.122 GPA; Sanchez vs L since 2002: .285/.328/.369--.240). That is unless you believe this season is a lost cause and the Yankees would be better off exposing Cano to lefties now in the hopes that he can learn to hit them, making him a more complete player for next year and beyond. With the Yanks two games under .500 less than a month from the All-Star Game but just six back in the AL East in mid-June, I change my mind about this several times a day.
As for Escalona's ability at the plate, his .308/.371/.431 (.275 GPA) as the Clippers' starting shortstop last year was head and shoulders above anything he'd done outside of A-ball. This year, at age 26, he's hitting .279/.364/.413 (.267), a solid-follow up to his break-out 2004 campaign. But solid at triple-A is not reason enough to put a guy on the major league roster. Crushing at triple-A is. For that, we turn to Andy Phillips, who is hitting .340/.389/.670 (.343) with Columbus on the heels of a .318/.388/.569 (.317) performance with the Clippers in 2004. I know Andy fell into a rut when he was here previously, but with Tino 3 for his last 35 with a double and just three walks (.088/.158/.114) and a roster spot opening up, I think it's time for Phillips to get his second shot to nab the starting job at first base. Besides which, Phillips, like Russ Johnson, can play several infield positions and is serviceable as a back-up outfielder. This team is better with those two men in the Bronx and Andy Phillips could make this team better in the future as well.
Speaking of Tony Womack (I did mention him back there somewhere), according to The New York Times Joe Torre is thinking about moving him into center field, which would allow Hideki Matsui to stay put in left, where he's a much better defender than he is in center. Meanwhile, Womack (who of course shouldn't be starting at all, but we'll get to that shortly) has the potential to improve on Matsui's defense center thanks to his speed (something I had suggested when initial move of Womack to the outfield was made in early May). There are also rumblings that Womack is rumbling about playing the outfield, telling the press (when asked) that he still considers himself a second baseman. There are also rumblings that there are rumblings that could result in a more significant roster moves than Escalona-for-Sanchez-due-to-injury. Sez Brian Cashman, "I've got a lot of things going on behind the scenes." This after he was seen talking with Womack twice on Sunday.
Could Womack, whose $2 million salary and stellar reputation combined with complete lack of production makes him a top trade candidate, be on the move? We can only hope. In the mean time, Womack could be seen in centerfield during the upcoming home stand, even as soon as tomorrow's game against the Pirates.
In a related story, Hideki Matsui celebrated his 31st birthday yesterday with a clutch hit and a sprained ankle (he slipped while making a play in right field, where he was starting in place of the resting Gary Sheffield). That puts both his consecutive games streak and Tony Womack's centerfield debut in jeopardy, as there have been no further rumblings about Bernie Williams playing left field. That suggests that Womack moving to center and being shopped could mean that the Yankees are indeed in the market for a real-life centerfielder (oh pleasepleasepleaseplease).
As for Matsui's prognosis, despite leaning on Gene Monahan when coming off the field yesterday, wasn't limping noticeably once back in the dugout, and will likely keep his streak intact, even if it comes via a DH start or a pinch-hitting appearance.
And thus concludes another post that would have been largely unnecessary had the Yankees ponied up for Carlos Beltran.
Just wondering.
Bye, Wang.
Bye, Duncan...
...it was nice knowing you (not you, Duncan) for a little while, at least; and to wonder what could have been had you not been packaged for...Kenny Lofton.
You don't think it could happen? Then you don't know these Yankees.
Let's add this to the (LONG) list of "could have, should have" moves, or in this case, "shouldn't have". It would be nice to have Lofton right now, especially given his stellar 2005 so far.
Also, please note that I've reposted the above post as of 11:30pm. Due to some issues with our server an unfinished draft had previously been posted.
Is it possible that some of the problems we have had with pitchers coming in is that Jorge calls a bad game? I know we have won WS with him and have had some fanastic pitchers put up good numbers with him as the main catcher, but we have also had our share of problems.
Is there any way to compare the pitchers performances with both Jorge and Flattery or is the sample size just too small to properly evaluate? It seems Mel always gets called out, yet I rarely hear of any blame for Posada's ability behind the plate. (all this despite the offense being the problem right now)
A quick warning before we go shaking up the catching situation: Flattery will get you nowhere.
my brain hurts now. thanks, hank.
I agree 100% and a nice pun on my poor spelling. It's more a question about Posada than a positive statement about Flaherty who I realize stinks.
As for the Clippers, with Cano and Wang already in pinstripes, there isn't much left down there. Andy Phillips should be up here. Mitch Jones might be worth a look in the outfield (though I wouldn't expect much from him). Jason Anderson has been doing well out of the pen, and could be useful if the Yanks can use Quantrill, Stanton or Groom in a trade. 31-year-old Wayne Franklin and Royals cast-off Kris Wilson are both pitching well, but those guys are major league vets who failed to stick in the bigs. Also encouraging are the performances by Jorge DePaula (off Tommy John surgery) and Sean Henn (up from Trenton and off getting rocked in Tampa earlier this year). Both could get a look in September, but I wouldn't really expect (or want) to see either one sooner without their promotion being motivated by an injury to the major league staff.
As for Jorge, I seem to recall David Wells praising Posada's game calling to the high heavens in his book. I also remember Jorge fighting with Contreras and there being one game in which Jorge said "don't shake me off" in which Contreras was unusually effective. I thing there's a lot of truth in what JohnnyC says, however, as far as Jorge blocking balls and snatching at pitches.
As for Posada, that "snatching" business has always bothered me -- how many times do you see a strike called a ball because of it -- and it must bother the pitchers a lot too. Nonetheless, he still gives you so much more at bat than the average catcher we would be crazy to replace him. I hated those Posada trade rumors.
The thing is, Johnson WAS a better deal than a 34 year old Pedro. Let us not forget that Mr. Martinez is feasting on National league lineups, which if you don't think are inferior, take a lot at Gammons' recent article about American League East pitchers and their eras against this league. Its insane! Now I say was because this is all dependant on Johnson regaining his form, which I think will happen.
Thing about Posada is, we have no choice, and we won't have a choice for a long time. In trading away Navarro, we now have no plan b what so ever. I suppose we are doomed to middle aged veterans for a long while, unless somehow we can pull a trade like when the Sox got the Tek. Unlikely...
I was thinking along similar lines, although it seems like the Padres would not be too keen on trading a 26 year old CF for a terrible, 36 year old 2B. But then again, I keep hearing how Womack might help out an NL team (haven't seen the supporting evidence of how he would do that though). Anybody have thoughts on who else would need to be included for a trade to happen? Wouldn't the Padres be more interested in Cano, or is he to rough for any team but these Yankees?
What is the story on Xavier Nady? He seems old for a prospect; does he have much upside? Defense? From his limited career stats it looks like he strikes out a lot and doesn't walk much. But his .731 career OPS is a definite improvement over Womack.
.303/.367/.412 (.779)
But his averages for the last three years are:
.321/.382/.457 (.839)
If the Padres are thinking about replacing Loretta with Womack (even if they are in severe need of a 2B) they're even dumber than the Yankees for signing Womack in the first place. It'd be great to get Nady for Womack, but I'm not too hopeful this will happen.
Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.