To Gardner or Not to Gardner?
That is the question. Book-ending this issue are two compelling points by two very good bloggers, Pete Abraham on the not side, and Mike Sommer, whose The Sommer Frieze blog Mike turned me onto, on the Gardner side. Abraham's case is that Gardner would be better served playing every day in Scranton, while Sommer's well-argued case is that Gardner's particular skills provide the Yankees with speed and bench options that neither Lane nor Ensberg do.
This is a tough call, made all the tougher because Gardner is batting .435 this Spring, while Ensberg and Lane have been OK but not great. While somewhat enamored with Gardner's play, and enticed by his speed and skills at a young age, I ultimately have to agree with Abraham. I don't think that Mike Sommer is wrong in his case. In fact, he's right in assessing what Gardner brings to the Yankees over Ensberg and Lane, and his analogy to the variety of options that the great 1998 Yankees had is apt, and certainly not lost on someone like me, who will forever tout the multifaceted greatness of the 1998 Yankees. My case focuses on the long-haul for Gardner and the Yankees, and on the team as constructed. The unfortunate fact, given how the Yankees are currently constructed, is that Gardner might not even be the fourth outfielder. Shelley Duncan will likely procure more playing time because of his power and ability to play both outfield and first base. Also, while Sommer is certainly right to probe the possibilities Gardner might bring, not the least of which may include stealing bases and pinch-running, the Yankees have plenty of starting players who can run now--Damon (27/30 in SBs) and Abreu (25/33) in the outfield, Jeter (15/23) and A-Rod (24/28) among infielders. Substituting Giambi with Gardner in a pinch wouldn't be bad, since Duncan or Ensberg could enter at first but, given Geoff from Bleeding Pinstripes and his searing analysis of this occuring in superfluous situations only to cost the Yankees late in games, the Gardner-for-Giambi subbing has some, but limited, value. The question becomes whether subbing Gardner for Giambi to take an extra base in some fashion outweighs the power that Giambi's bat wields. Given the speed that the above-mentioned starters bring, Giambi, or Duncan, would really be the only pinch-running option as the Yankees exist now.
Also, Matsui is currently ahead of Gardner and, while an inferior outfielder, carries a superior bat. Before getting hurt last year, Matsui was tearing it up, shouldering much of the offensive load as the Yankees furiously surged back into the AL East hunt. He can do that again and, unlike Giambi, doesn't seem affected by DHing. Matsui has to be the option now, primarily because of his prodigious offensive output. This is crucial. It should be remembered that the Yankees had only a few players carry them the first couple months of 2007. Matsui started slowly, but deserves a chance to show he can still produce, for his numbers are excellent when he does. But it was A-Rod, Jeter, and Posada for the most part, with Giambi good for a month before getting hurt. Essentially, the Yankees need players to produce some power in order not to rely too heavily on A-Rod, which was certainly the case for much of last year. Gardner's skills set does not, and likely never will, include power. Plus, let's face it, the Yankees of the past several years have shown that the big-money guys who are supposed to play and produce at least play regularly. Until Matsui is moved, or Abreu is not re-signed [and Abreu is still going strong], there seems to be little room in the organization for young talent unless, like Cano, there is a clear chance to replace an unproductive player.
Sommer is not only right to wonder about what Gardner may bring. He's right to assess what Gardner has done right now, this Spring. The kid can play. If Gardner were battling for a starting spot, or would play more under Girardi than he likely would have under Torre, I say keep the kid up and play him. Who knows, that might happen--Girardi utilizing an aggressive rotation that lessens the time Matsui and Damon spend in the outfield while inserting them into 130-145 games as DH or LF. Yet the likelier scenario, and the one I ultimately prefer given the bevy of outfielders, is that Gardner is allowed to develop in Scranton, keeping his skills and batting eye sharp in ways that most likely wouldn't occur in The Bronx. At the same time, I'd publicize Gardner's impressive Spring as tacit motivation for Melky, who is quite good but not someone the Yanks seem permanently sold on as their center fielder. A little competition never hurt anyone and, should Melky falter, Gardner is always a call-up away.
While I come down on the other side of the Gardner case from Sommer, readers here would serve themselves well by skipping down to the link to his site and regularly visiting there. He writes very well and discusses a variety of sports. It's an excellent blog.
well s you know i was all for sending gardner down to SWB until i was convinced otherwise today by mike sommer.
now you know what would happen if joe torre was manager; remember chris basak? did he EVER get an at-bat? why was he even sitting on the bench at all? torre only "trusted" cairo. i'm sure that girardi will be very different. i can foresee guys playing a lot of different positions throughout the year. you're going to see a lot of shelley at first but also in the outfield, i think damon matsui and melky will move around a bit. betemit will get his share of various positions. i'm now convinced that gardner should stay with the team; he might well be able to make a difference late in games.
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I don't blame you for being swayed by Mike, Mike. He makes a good case, no question. I think in part that our respective cases vary because of where we're looking--Mike and you at the bench, with which I agree, and I at the lineup. I'm all for playing kids now and then, and agree that it was a fault of Torre's not to have done so later on. Agreed. But the issue is whether it would be worth keeping Gardner up for really restricted playing time, since it's quite likely that Damon (who is healthy) and Abreu (also healthy) will put up big numbers. Matsui may do the same as DH. Will the Yankees be better served keeping up Gardner for spot duty and limited pinch-running instead of allowing Gardner to play? I'm not so sure. If, a big if, Girardi actually implements an aggressive outfield rotation, and Gardner justifies it with good play and productivity, that's fine. But I don't see outfield as an upgrade spot. That's pitching. Fifth outfielders just don't play much and the Yankees, as currently constructed, are just not a team requiring a lot of substitutions unless players aren't healthy.
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so then you would take ensberg over him? lane? woodward? surely not green?
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If Girardi and the Yankees are not going to commit to a full-fledged rotation involving Gardner in a youth movement, keep Ensberg, send Lane to Scranton with Gardner and Woodward. Ensberg is insurance in the event Shelley doesn't produce. Plus he can play third to let A-Rod DH if need be. Ensberg and Betemit would be the back-up infielders, and Shelley and Matsui the extra outfielders.
Sommer does have a good point about Ensberg, especially since his power tapered off dramatically from the stadium-inflated numbers in Houston. Plus, Gardner is a short call-up away. I'd just rather see him develop, and he likely won't have that chance in New York yet.
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but develop into what? that is exactly why he convinced me. he is never likely to be one of our regular outfielders, so why not use what he has to offer now?
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I'm not sure he can't develop into a regular player and, unless Cashman is merely blowing smoke to push Melky, the organization seems to think he has some value. If the team really thinks that his value is only as a pinch-runner, then that's fine. That also pins a lot of hope on Shelley who, while impressive this Spring, still hasn't played a ton in the majors and himself has been a career minor-leaguer. That may change, but Ensberg can provide some righty power, as can Lane. This is something, especially as the team is currently constructed, to consider. Much of the power comes from lefties, and the bench--which was a weakness for the first half of last year--would lack righty options with only Shelley, and Molina spelling Jorge.
I won't cry if Gardner makes the team. I'm also not willing to surrender my mid-March maxim--it's still Spring Training.
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Yankees just went up 2-0 on a bases-loaded, ground-rule double from Matsui plated two. He went the other way very well on a pitch that tailed back over the plate.
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Cano just singled to left to score two more. A poor throw from left ensured Matsui scored. 4-0, good to see.
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Betemit just worked over Colon, hitting foul balls at 3-2, then working a walk. Outstanding, and Francona pulled Colon after 42 pitches through 2/3. I suspect Colon was on a pitch count anyway, but this can't help his confidence, or Boston's in him.
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Cano just made a terrific play going to his left to snag a grounder from Youkilis.
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Now Giambi flashed a gem, scooping out Betemit's throw. Giambi also looks thinner.
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when i saw booby come to bat- i just knew he was going to hit it out of there. too bad i wasn't in vegas
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Mike, I would have sent you with cash to the dice table.
Abreu just crushed that one. Then Big G laced a double, moved to third on a grounder, and Matsui plated him with a sharp single up the middle, 7-0 Yankees after the extra point.
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it was nice of the sox to drive all the way up from ft myers to throw batting practice.
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LOL, Mike. How nice of them.
I have a solid cross-post going at Sommer Frieze, BTW. That's one heck of a blog. Thanks for turning me onto it.
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he's a very smart guy, he's a frequent guest on this internet radio show i listen to on sundays. the yankee fan club radio. i'll actually e mail you about them...maybe you could give them a shout out to give them some publicity.
anyway johnny damon- school for the blind...
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Damon just lost the ball in the sun, second and third with no outs. I guess the Yankees really did make the stadium as much like Yankee Stadium as possible.
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I see the accidental copying in the HDLR has started already...
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yes indeed
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So much for Jeter being the worst SS in the majors. One down, runs scores, 7-1 Yankees.
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BTW when i first saw youkilis at bat, i don't know...he just repulses me.
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I'd be more than happy to do some plugging for Yankee Fan Club Radio. I love Internet radio, and I'd be happy to help them out.
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yeah he looked good just now
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Bad passed ball from Jorge on that, 7-2 Yankees.
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Is it Youkilis's Shrek-like appearance, or him as a player?
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i'll mail you some info...they are three great guys- ty, the yankee guy hildenbrandt and his uncle joe colarusso and uncle joe's son tony.
posada, passed ball. his achilles heel
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everything about "youk" makes me cringe. he tries to play the tough guy, when actually he's a whiner.
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the little munchkin gets picked off!
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Pettite has looked very good against Ortiz, fanning him on a breaking ball down for the second time. Pettite actually looked psyched about it, not a bad sign.
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yeah he looked great. it would have been scoreless except for miss keller playing in left field today and a blooper from jorge
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Sideshow Bob Tavares set 'em down 1-2-3, though Jeter's ball was hard hit on a line. Your boy Youkilis is coming up in the 4th.
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BARF
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i just HATE that guy
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Ouch, Youkilis homered on a deep liner to left, 7-3. Pettite left that up a bit.
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You're killing me, Mike.
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Pettite is out now, not a bad outing all in all.
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ok damon makes that play...he must have had his prescription changed. you know i'm just kidding around. i love JD.
even though he gave up the homer , i like the fact that he felt good enough to come out and pitch another inning
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youukilis is the perfect replacement for kevin millar as the guy you really hate on the sox...same position too
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Phillips is getting touched up on cue.
I love JD too, and think the guy has a big year coming. I agree about Pettite. I think it was more about wanting it to end positively for Pettite, and to just work him back into form. Pettite was good. No worries here at The Heartland.
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heath phillips pitching his way straight to scranton...
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maybe scranton is a bit optimistic...trenton?
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7-4 Yankees, with Phillips struggling.
BTW, I just read a post at Sommer Frieze from Ty of Yankees Fan Club Radio, and he asked me to e-mail him about possibly appearing on the show. I'm honored, and really didn't expect such a thing.
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Abreu is just killing the ball. He, Cano, and JD are keys to this team.
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bobby and big G on fire this year. just think what the lineup will be like if G stays healthy
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Giambi singles to right, another guy hitting well. The Yankees have the potential to turn this into a softball game.
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Jorge's DP scores a run, 8-4 Yankees, but Jorge needs to get on track. Still, it's Spring Training.
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Mike, I have to split for a big St. Patrick's Day dinner. I'll touch base soon. Enjoy the rest of the game.
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Ty seems like a great guy, he basically runs the show ( uncle joe gets a bit excited)
it'd be just awesome if you appeared as a guest. i'll check out what's going on at sommer's blog
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