However, the one thing that I would add/suggest…

Playing LF in Yankee Stadium is like playing CF in some other parks…so, Swisher could still be an adventure out there, maybe.

Thanks Rambis35 – I stand corrected!

Our rotation has several strikeout/groundball pitchers, so shouldn’t Swisher’s offensive upside compared to Gardner/Cabrera atone for his shortcomings in CF?
————————-

I tend to think so, although the people who complain that about how the Yankees need a superstar at every position probably feel that Melky or Gardner will “grit” their way to the playoffs for the Yanks.

~~Swisher is not a terrible outfielder. In fact, he is a very good corner outfielder.~~

Prove it to me. Under what metrics?

———————————————–

Career UZR/150 (from Fan Graphs):
Swisher
LF – +6.3
CF – -10.3
RF – +14.2

Nady
LF – -1.2
CF – -41.0 (only 45 games – seems weird though)
RF – +0.5

BP’s FRAA
Swisher
LF – +11 (109 games)
CF – -9 (101 games)
RF – +4 (201 games)

Nady
LF – -6 (100 games)
CF – -12 (45 games)
RF – -16 (401 games)

Definitely a discrepency in how the two systems rate Swisher’s RF defense, but it appears Swisher is above average at the corner spots, and below in CF. Nady is a little below average at the corners, but he was above average in 2008.

I don’t know what the best metric is, but I would put Swisher ahead of Nady defensively.

If we don’t make a deal and Gardner and Cabrera both don’t hit, would it be that awful to put Damon in LF, Swisher in CF, and Nady in RF, with Matsui at DH? Gardner/Cabrera can play defense late, and get some starts against righties (with Nady sitting) or when any of the other three get a day off? Our rotation has several strikeout/groundball pitchers, so shouldn’t Swisher’s offensive upside compared to Gardner/Cabrera atone for his shortcomings in CF?

New Guy, I agree with your assessment with Joba. Steve, thanks for retorting the spin on Swisher. Swish is a gutty, grity player who is not an A level or elite player and on a 200 million dollar team he is a nice piece to use as a fourth outfielder or to give Teix rest. Otherwise the spin regarding him is hysterical. The Yankee offensive situation got better with Teix if anything , but giving up a piece like Matsui or Nady right now isn’t that smart BECAUSE they still need all the offense they can get. Unless they get a high quality prospect (either position player or pitcher) they should do it BUT not otherwise unless they add Manram. If they add Manram, then the idea of getting rid of certain pieces will make more sense……..

They will be a lot better with Putz and Krod as a combo on the back end than without Putz.
——————–

And their back-end would be even better with Johan Santana back there pitching the 7th inning. Ever wonder why they don’t have him pitch the 7th (or didn’t have him close last year?)

…at this point Joba is nothing but potential. He has nothing to show other than that to make him a top STARTING pitcher but has much more that shows us he is a top flight 7th and 8th inning guy.
———————

Well, to be sure, his sample size for both is extremely small, although he performed excellent in both facets.

But, as a starter, these were Joba’s numbers:
2.76 ERA, 10.19 K/9

His bullpen numbers were, obviously, slightly better. But that’s because he only has to pitch one inning.

2.76 era and 10.19 k/9. Is that not enough to prove to you that he can be a top flight starter? If he has the talent to be a great bullpen arm, as you say, then why wouldn’t he have the talent to be a top flight starter? Especially if his only sample as a starter has him at 2.76 ERA and 10.19 k/9?

I really cannot believe we are still arguing about this. Joba has proven (as much as one can in a small sample size) that he can be an elite reliever AND an elite starter. THEREFORE, YOU PUT HIM IN THE ROTATION. IT’S NOT HARD TO UNDERSTAND.

As every discerning baseball fan knows, a *top* starting pitcher is worth

———————————————–
Any discerning fan would have a standard for a *top* starting pitcher…at this point Joba is nothing but potential. He has nothing to show other than that to make him a top STARTING pitcher but has much more that shows us he is a top flight 7th and 8th inning guy. Not that I think the Mets are anybody role model but…..They will be a lot better with Putz and Krod as a combo on the back end than without Putz.

My point exactly about the top starter issue..I did love the Joba/Mo combo, its just that game in Boston had me drooling over his potential. Im glad I dont have to make that decision, lol

~~And, if you deal Swisher, you really need to buy another outfielder in the offseason, which likely means Holliday, or overspending on mediocrity like Nady or Bay.

Dealing Swisher will “cost” the Yankees another $200 million dollars. I thought that was a sign of incompetence?~~

Isn’t Austin Jackson’s ETA 2010?

~~Swisher is not a terrible outfielder. In fact, he is a very good corner outfielder.~~

Prove it to me. Under what metrics?