The Position Players
In
this our year of dwindling hopes and expectations, I thought what
better time than to take a look at whether the Yankees have actually
upgraded or downgraded with the acquisitions they’ve made. Given their
recent performance on the field, I think I know what overall conclusion
I’ll come to, but I’m hoping that I’m wrong.
Brian McCann was signed to a five-year deal and replaces Chris Stewart. Last
year Stewart was the epitome of futility at the plate (he hit .211) and
behind it (he was second in passed balls with 12).
To
date, McCann is hitting .238 with 13 home runs (Stewart had four) and
has 8 passed balls while throwing out 43% of runners attempting to steal
(Stewart had a 31% rate). Given the increase in productivity as well as the better threat to throw runners out, I’ll label this acquisition an UPGRADE.
We
started the season with Brian Roberts taking over for the richly
departed Robinson Cano. From the outset expectations were low, and
Roberts pretty much met those. He hit .237 and had a .974 fielding
percentage. That represented a significant drop in production from the
position and there was only one label that could be given: DOWNGRADE
When
Roberts’ struggles appeared to be more permanent than temporary, GM
Brian Cashman acquired Stephen Drew from the Red Sox and the Yankees
declared that Drew would be their second baseman even though he had
never played the position.
For
whatever reason, many in media considered the Drew acquisition to be a
much needed upgrade and had been calling for it from the moment the 2014
campaign began.
As a Yankee, Stephen Drew is hitting .154 and has a .947 fielding percentage at second base. Sorry, but I’m failing to see where the upgrade occurred. I’m labeling the Drew experiment a DOWNGRADE from Roberts (didn’t think that was even possible).
As a Yankee, Stephen Drew is hitting .154 and has a .947 fielding percentage at second base. Sorry, but I’m failing to see where the upgrade occurred. I’m labeling the Drew experiment a DOWNGRADE from Roberts (didn’t think that was even possible).
At
third base we started the year with a combination of Yangervis Solarte
and Kelly Johnson. They were taking the hot corner over from the
suspended Alex Rodriguez. Solarte began the season on fire, and for a
few brief weeks excitement grew over the possibility of his future in
the Bronx. Johnson, a multi-positional player, hit for a low average
and struck out once every four at-bats. Eventually Solarte cooled off
and Johnson never really got going. By the end of July both were traded
elsewhere (Johnson to the Red Sox for Drew, Solarte to the Padres). As
much as I hate to do it, I’ll label this position another DOWNGRADE from Rodriguez to the collection of players that manned the position through July of this season.
At
the end of July, the Yankees traded Solarte to the San Diego Padres for
Chase Headley. For a few years the Yankees had admired Headley from a
distance, and finally they found the right time and player to land him.
Since
coming to the Yankees, Headley has hit .250 and played a flawless third
base (he has yet to make an error in the field as a Bomber). He has
also been called upon to play first base in five games and has done it
well. As of right now, the Headley trade can be deemed a success, and
I’ll consider it an UPGRADE over Johnson/Solarte.
First,
there is Jacoby Ellsbury. The former Red Sox centerfielder was signed
in the offseason by Brian Cashman to a seven-year deal. While he takes
over at center field for Brett Gardner, he really isn’t replacing
Gardner. Instead, the addition of Ellsbury allows “Gardy” to move back
to the left field – a spot where three years ago he made himself one of
the best.
As
center fielder for the Yankees, Ellsbury has hit .278 and stolen 31
bases. In the field he has been nearly flawless (one error in 305
chances). He is hitting .296 with runners in scoring position (RISP),
leading the regulars on the team in that category. Initially slotted to
bat at the top of the order, his success coupled with Gardner’s has
allowed manager Joe Girardi to put Ellsbury in the heart of the lineup.
Even
though he has an occasional “slump” at the plate, overall Jacoby’s play
is solid and he gives the Yankees a much needed spark both in the order
and in the field. He is an UPGRADE over former Yankees star Alfonso Soriano (who played left field until Gardner could move there).
In
2013, Ichiro Suzuki was the primary right fielder for the Yankees, with
occasional starts from the likes of Vernon Wells, Lyle Overbay, Ben
Francisco et al. Overall Ichiro hit .262 and played decently in the
field, but he isn’t what he once was. This offseason Cashman signed
Carlos Beltran to a three-year deal. At 37, Beltran is not much
younger than Suzuki (he’s 40) and certainly not as durable. He has
managed to play in 85 games (of 118) and continues to be bothered by
various aches and pains. When Beltran rests, Ichiro has occupied right
field and hit .277. You’ll never have to worry about Ichiro missing
time to injury – he keeps himself prepared to play at any time.
While the potential is there for Beltran to be an upgrade on the position, to date I have to label it as yet another DOWNGRADE
as he has not lived up to expectations. Quite honestly, given his age,
he may never be what Cashman envisioned. His best days are behind him.
Overall,
the reviews are mixed as to whether GM Cashman has really upgraded this
team. From an everyday player perspective, it would appear he has
not. The slight upgrades at catcher and third base are more than
off-set by downgrades at second base alone. In our next article, we’ll
take a look at the UPGRADES/DOWNGRADES in the pitching staff.
--Steve Skinner, BYB Senior Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1
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