Two Sides Of Melk Products
Last season, Melky Cabrera had an OPS+ of 68. And, that’s beyond bad – it’s terrible. However, this season, to date, Melky Cabrera has an OPS+ of 105. And, while that’s an OPS just a few ticks above average, it’s a huge improvement over last season for “Leche.”
Driving into the game on Friday night, I heard Brian Cashman interviewed by Michael Kay (on ESPN Radio) and he was asked about the Melk-man.
Now, when Cashman talks, he usually goes on and on without really saying anything. It’s like an endless loop of clichés. And, while Cashman did prattle on a bit when asked about Melky – going down paths muttering about having your name on T-Shirts and such – he did offer more meat than usual. Boiling it down, what the Yankees G.M. said, about Cabrera, was that he got full of himself last year, started taking things for granted, stopped working hard, and needed to get some sense slapped into him.
It was pretty surprising to hear this – considering Cashman’s usual tap dance when asked to comment on one of his own players.
Back to point, meaning Melky Cabrera, it leaves me torn. Half of me wants to credit Leche for getting with it and becoming a decent player again and the other half of me is somewhat pissed for him mailing it in last year – because his lack of offense (combined with Cano’s terrible start and Jose Molina getting so many plate appearances) really hurt the Yankees last season.
How about you? We’re do you sit on the Melky Cabrera fence? Are you happy for this year’s Leche? Still ticked over last year’s sour Melk? Or, sitting on the fence, between both, like me?
wonder what he would have said about Cano…
I’ll be honest, i’m likin me some melky. He’s fun to watch, even if he’s not really all that good when it comes down to it.
Kinda makes me wonder if the same happened with Cano last year as well. Overall, I’m happy that he’s doing better this year.
2008 was a perfect storm of injuries and ineffectiveness for the team, I suppose I could be annoyed @ Melky, but to be honest with you, I wasn’t expecting much of a contribution from him. But even with my tempered expectations, I wasn’t expecting him to do as bad as he did last year.
I’m a little miffed about last year, but have been very proud with this clutchness this year. Friday’s hit “Missed it by that much.”
Are you happy for this year’s Leche? Still ticked over last year’s sour Melk?
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I’m over last year. With so much good in Yankeeland these days, I really don’t spend any time thinking about last year.
If Cashman’s theory is correct — that Melky mailed it in last year — that’s a shame but it’s nice to see that he learned from that experience. Isn’t that what you’d want to see? Learning from failure and previous mistakes?
Melky and Cano acted their age. They were both too immature. It’s a shame Bowa was gone. He was great at kicking Cano’s rear, and probably would’ve taken care of Melky, too.
Sending Melky down woke them both up. Too bad it had to be done but I’m glad it worked.
I agree with redbug. Melky was a major league regular at the age of 21. The maturing that should have taken place in the minors had to take place in the majors.
I’m very glad that we never traded Melky. At worst he is a better than average defensive bench player who switch hits. At best he is young, cheap, controllable, and plays any outfield position adequately, filling holes as needed. If he surprises us by hitting .300 at some point, so much the better. I’m not confident we’d ever get value in a trade for Melky anyway.
If I wasted time being irked about last year there would be a lot more to grind my teeth about than Melky, and I’d have no time to enjoy this season’s improvements in a lot of Yankees, from Girardi to Melky. No, I’m definitely on the glass-half-full side today.