From ESPN’s Keith Law:
“Either Nady or [Reed] Johnson represent marginal improvements that may not justify the cost. Neither is really a full-time player. Johnson is strictly a platoon player, and can back up Granderson, but they have Gardner for that. Nady, even when healthy, was a platoon guy until ’08. I’m not a Gardner guy, never have been, but their offense is fine even if they put a pointed stick in left field (if the ball hits the stick, the batter is out). So why not play for defense a little with the cheap guy in-house? Eventually, some other option will emerge and there’s no reason for the Yanks to spend money on left field simply for the sake of spending money.”
While it’s not exactly a glowing endorsement of Brett Gardner, Law’s conclusion makes sense. Still, in my opinion, the Yankees would be wise to spend a few more dollars and add a right-handed outfielder like Reed Johnson, just in case. Law doesn’t seem to think that such a move is necessary, but the flexibility provided might be a justifiable cost.
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7 Responses to Law: Go with Gardner
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TIQ IQ
Here we go again. Brett is the best option we have (or can sign) for LF/CF. Even a close look at his 2009 stats shows us the truth of starting him. If one gives him the benefit that we give other players who come back to soon from injuries…his stats are even better.
Before the injury (1st 77 games) he was .282/.352/404/and OPS .747…while not a large sample, it shows me he had ok numbers for a #9 hitter. One thing I was surprised with, his splits were better against LHP .291 vs. RHP .264.
Back in 2007 I watched him play about 15/20 games, he showed me some of the things I like in a player. He will never be a star but, he can be a functional player with the Yankees in CF, more so then LF.
It’s amazing to me that Law would call Johnson and Nady platoon players, which they both are, and not even mention then obvious possibility of using them in a platoon with Gardner. Now, I’m on board with the argument that you don’t want to spend too much money on the lesser half of a platoon, but I would think that Nady would be fairly inexpensive.
You can never have enough depth. I’d be fine with the Yankees signing Hairston to play super-sub. That way you don’t have to waste a roster spot on Ramiro Pena.
Pena plays all the OF spots and INF, has a much better glove and is faster with an adequate switch hitting bat. He got some very clutch hits for us last year.
Given a chance, I would bet Gardie will produce as much as Melky.
Sign Damon.
japan ,,mexico, back to kc,, with all respect