Can You Bench A Bench?
Posted by Steve L. on May 27th, 2008 · Comments (10)
How bad has the Yankees bench been this season? Check this out:
Via the Complete Baseball Encyclopedia, Yankees batting seasons, since 1973, ranked by worst OWP – min. 60 PA – with 2008 being to-date:
Player YEAR PA OWP Joel Skinner 1987 154 .036 Wil Nieves 2007 66 .042 Dale Sveum 1998 64 .051 Dennis Werth 1981 71 .066 Butch Hobson 1982 60 .068 Bucky Dent 1982 173 .075 Johnny Callison 1973 142 .077 Jesse Barfield 1992 105 .080 Cla.Washington 1990 83 .083 Jim Mason 1975 251 .089 John Flaherty 2005 138 .091 Brad Gulden 1979 105 .091 Wayne Tolleson 1990 83 .092 Andre Robertson 1984 152 .097 Gerald Williams 1993 71 .099 Luis Sojo 2001 84 .111 Johnny Oates 1980 67 .114 Morgan Ensberg 2008 80 .125 Ed Brinkman 1975 68 .125 Clay Bellinger 2001 88 .132 Lou Piniella 1975 221 .138 Mike Fischlin 1986 116 .139 Brian Doyle 1980 81 .142 Jose Molina 2008 102 .143 Jim Mason 1976 236 .155 Todd Greene 2001 100 .159 Luis Sojo 1998 153 .159 Paul Blair 1978 136 .162 Enrique Wilson 2002 119 .166 Fred Stanley 1979 110 .167 Henry Cotto 1986 83 .168 Shelley Duncan 2008 62 .180 Hal Lanier 1973 90 .182 Joe Girardi 1999 229 .182 Omar Moreno 1985 68 .185 Andy Fox 1996 219 .195 Wayne Tolleson 1989 160 .201 Jim Spencer 1981 72 .202 Jose Cruz 1988 88 .202 Bobby Meacham 1986 185 .204
What offensive value have Shelley Duncan, Jose Molina, and Morgan Ensberg added, so far, this season? None. They’ve been terrible with the bat. Considering that the Yankees are carrying 12 pitchers, this is worse news – since their bench then consists of just four players: Molina (when Posada returns), Duncan, Ensberg and Wilson Betemit.
Granted, the Yankees bench should not have to be called upon all that much. But, they still do have to play in some games. And, when Molina, Duncan and Ensberg do play, they’re killing the team offensively.
I think you can give Molina a pass. He’s better than many starters in every non-offensive category at a position that is hard to fill. There’s no excuse for the rest of them.
On the other hand, Luis Sojo is on your list and he has four rings.
What year was it that he tripped over his feet in the playoffs. I think it was against the A’s. A tense time, but after that, I was doubled over in laughter.
2000, game 5, Pettitte on the mound. The look on his face was great. Have they done a Yankeeography on Luis yet? His highlight reel would play like a Buster Keaton flick. The ground ball grand slam when he was with Seattle is worth a show all to itself.
Granted, the Yankees bench should not have to be called upon all that much.
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Really? With six regulars over 30?
Yeah, the Sox have the same situation, but they actually have guys that don’t make you cringe when they are in the lineup:
Sean Casey, who may not slug much but is pretty much guaranteed to get his hits, and can still pick ‘em around first base.
Alex Cora, who excels defensively, has excellent situational hitting skills and can lash a double when you need it.
Crisp would be a starter elsewhere if Theo wasn’t so happy to have him in the mix and weren’t demanding so much for a trade.
Cash admittedly isn’t much with the bat but he’s done well so far and no one criticizes his performance as Wakefield’s caddy.
Were the Red Sox mentioned in this entry?
Really? With six regulars over 30?
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Given their durability, yes, the Yankees bench shouldn’t see much time in the field.
No, but Red Sox fans can’t help themselves. If they get asked a question, any question about baseball the response has something to do with the Red Sox. Read Gammons’ blog or hear him on the radio and you will get the picture.
The Yankees bench has stunk in a year that it looked pretty good on paper coming in. That’s just paper, now Cashman has to make moves if possible. I would like to see more promotions like past years. Gardner would be a start, the team could use some speed and some competition for Melky and Damon. I would bet he could hit .203 like Ensberg…
Durability of the starters, that is…
I talked about the Red Sox bench in anticipation of the standard Yankee response “we’re not so old – the Red Sox are just as old as us!”.
My original point stands:
Any team with that many old starters ought to try to put together a more impressive bench than the crap that is currently there.
And durability of the starters?
Damon, Matsui, Giambi have all missed time or sucked in recent years, and if you couldn’t imagine a chance that Posada at 36 might get hurt, you weren’t thinking ahead.
And durability of the starters?
Damon, Matsui, Giambi have all missed time or sucked in recent years, and if you couldn’t imagine a chance that Posada at 36 might get hurt, you weren’t thinking ahead.
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Giambi’s always been hurt. The Yanks have several options if he goes down, as has been the case for so many years.
Matsui & Damon have been fairly durable, it’s not unreasonable to expect them to play 140-150 games. Especially considering that those two & Cabrera can and will be rotated in and out on occasion.
Posada may be hurt, hell, he already is. Yanks have Molina & Moeller to pick up the slack. With an offensive catcher like Posada, you’re going to have a considerable dropoff to your backups.