General Joe: Center Is Still Up For Grabs
Via Anthony (Don’t Fear The) Rieber:
Here’s the update on the Yankees’ centerfield race: It’s still too close to call.
Manager Joe Girardi said he’s pleased with the play of candidates Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera and expects the evaluating process to continue right up to the end of the Florida portion of spring training – if not beyond.
“They’ve both played at a very high level,” Girardi said last night before the Yankees hosted the Blue Jays at Steinbrenner Field. “I’m of the belief that we can carry both and get production out of both.”
Gardner started the exhibition season as a very hot hitter, and entering last night, he was batting .382 with three home runs and six RBIs. Cabrera, who started in centerfield against the Blue Jays, began the evening at .242-0-5. He had an RBI single in the third inning.
Girardi said he’s liked what he’s seen from Cabrera, especially how he didn’t hang his head during Gardner’s quick start.
“Melky didn’t panic,” Girardi said. “He just kept working and doing his thing. That’s a sign of maturity.”
While I would be the first one to say that Spring Training stats, to date, mean little, I think you have to look at Melky Cabrera this Spring and ask yourself “What was he doing wrong last year, that resulted in him being demoted to Triple-A, and is he showing any signs of having addressed those issues?”
Part of Leche’s problem last season was too many flyballs. Because Melky lacks power, when he hits flies, they’re usually outs. So far this Spring, Cabrera’s Ground-Out/Air-Out Ratio (GO/AO) is 1.13 – and last season his GO/AO was 1.08 (in the majors).
In 2007, Melky’s GO/AO was 1.49 – and it was 1.35 in 2006. That’s about where it needs to be for Cabrera – around 1.40-ish.
If he can do that, Melky Cabrera could be a .280 BA/.350 OBA guy – and when you combine that with his defense, well, the Yankees could live with that in CF this season. But, if it’s not happening, then it’s time to play Brett Gardner in CF and turn the page on Lechero…
I’m far from a stat expert, but that strikes me as some good analysis, Steve.
The Melky of ‘06 and ‘07 is acceptable, if eminently replaceable. The Melky of ‘08 isn’t. Spring training stats may not mean anything, but it would at least be nice to see some indication of adjustments to weaknesses. Melky hasn’t shown any, whereas Gardner has. Ergo, Gardner should start.