The great OF debate

[jacksonianmarch]

What a problem to have. 4 OFers, 3 spots and a DH slot. Neither can play the most important position, CF, very well. So, what do we do?

 

Do we deal Nady? I have seen this on a lot of yankee sites. Every yankee fan and his brother is calling for a Nady swap with someone. The problem is, who? Who will take a guy who until 2007 was a righty portion of a platoon? And if so, will it be worth a deal, especially since Nady seems to be getting a lot better?

 

Do we deal Matsui or Damon? I really hope not. Both are on the last legs of a deal. Damon is absolutely necessary for this team as the leadoff man and I dont want him gone. Matsui, when he is healthy, is a formidable offensive player capable of having serious power and patience. When he is unhealthy, he is useless to us. Since he was not healthy last yr, we will likely get nothing of value in return.

 

Do we just flip flop Swisher and Damon between the CF and COF spots? This sounds like the best idea. Swish has a cannon arm, but not good range. Damon has good range but the worst arm in the business. Keep a guy like Gardner on the bench as PR and pinch defender and you are in business.

[Cocos Disciples]

I'd keep everyone.

[a700hitter]

After all of the moves made by the Yankees, they have not made any marked improvement in the middle of the field. they still have a statue playing SS, no CFer and a catcher coming off arm surgery. Defense will continue to be a weakness for their team.

[TheKilo]

Teixeira improves their IF defense considerably.

 

The logjam will resolve itself, and since the Sox will continue to cry poverty the Yankees will land Jason Bay and Matt Holliday in 2010.

[jacksonianmarch]

Tex and Cano on the right side is a good defensive combo. If we truly wanted to improve the D, Jeter to 3B and Arod to SS would make one hell of a defensive IF. Regardless, we have the best pitching and the best offense. Defense can be allowed to lapse a little bit. Granted, adding a GG 1B can only help

[a700hitter]

Tex and Cano on the right side is a good defensive combo. If we truly wanted to improve the D' date=' Jeter to 3B and Arod to SS would make one hell of a defensive IF. Regardless, we have the best pitching and the best offense. Defense can be allowed to lapse a little bit. Granted, adding a GG 1B can only help[/quote']The entire OF defense is sub-standard and the defense is particularly weak up the middle. A GG first basemen is nice to have, but it doesn't address the other needs.

[pinstripezac]

 

Do we just flip flop Swisher and Damon between the CF and COF spots? This sounds like the best idea. Swish has a cannon arm, but not good range. Damon has good range but the worst arm in the business. Keep a guy like Gardner on the bench as PR and pinch defender and you are in business.

 

 

 

I don't see either damon or swisher spending much time in CF

 

I'm thinking, as of now our CF will be fought out this spring by gardner and melky

 

unless they do as you alluded to and trade nady with one of the

 

arms / kids in the minors for a CF

 

or maybe wait to see what matusi can even do before making a move

 

I have NP with gardner batting 9th to start the yr

[pinstripezac]

The entire OF defense is sub-standard and the defense is particularly weak up the middle. A GG first basemen is nice to have' date=' but it doesn't address the other needs.[/quote']

 

actually I think johnny is above average in LF

 

nothing wrong with gardner in CF either

[ARod2212]

I'd deal with Melky or Gardener in center with the lineup we currently have. Maybe they can produce something offensively, but at the very least they play excellent defense.

[diony]

Seems they don't want neither Swish or Damon to play CF.

 

They'll try to trade Matsui, DH Damon, and play Gardner/Swish/Nady in the OF. They need to clear that DH spot for Posada anyway (just in case).

[Dipre]

Tex and Cano on the right side is a good defensive combo. If we truly wanted to improve the D' date=' Jeter to 3B and Arod to SS would make one hell of a defensive IF. Regardless, we have the best pitching and the best offense. Defense can be allowed to lapse a little bit. Granted, adding a GG 1B can only help[/quote']

 

Rodriguez last played SS in 2003, and he has bulked up to the point where he could no longer be a regular contributor at the position, also, moving Jeter to a corner IF spot is a no-no, since it essentially takes away all his value as an offensive player, so the fact is, you're all stuck with that alignment until a better option comes along.

 

Also, defense cannot be allowed to "lapse" as you say, and i assure you the effects will be seen early next season, when the Yankees make personnel moves (either within or outside the organization), to fix their defensive problems.

[pinstripezac]

=DipreG;375316;]Rodriguez last played SS in 2003, and he has bulked up to the point where he could no longer be a regular contributor at the position,

.

 

 

 

 

agreed, I never understood that line of thinking, usually it comes from RSN

 

why switch 2 players around when both players have lost range since 03

 

 

 

also, moving Jeter to a corner IF spot is a no-no, since it essentially takes away all his value as an offensive player, so the fact is, you're all stuck with that alignment until a better option comes along

 

 

talking about jeter's D is like talking about the 3rd rail in yankeeland

 

I see him ending his career in LF

[Dipre]

.talking about jeter's D is like talking about the 3rd rail in yankeeland

 

I see him ending his career in LF

 

Again, anything involving a corner is a no-no for Jeter, it's either CF, 2B or bust.

[pinstripezac]

Again' date=' anything involving a corner is a no-no for Jeter, it's either CF, 2B or bust.[/quote']

 

 

 

I said LF

 

 

 

don't make me call hank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii262/pinstripezac/hankdog.jpg

[Dipre]

I said LF

 

 

 

 

Yes, because God-forbid people actually believe LF-RF are OUTFIELD corners, because they're soooooo not.........

 

More like, Outfield semi-center fields, or, outfield guys who play the other two positions that are not center, or wait wait, even better, outfield curve position playing dudes........

 

Yea, you're definitely the brightest light in the christmas tree.......

[riverside sluggers]

I guess they would put Holliday in right, Bay in left