First base
Offense shouldn't be a problem in the Yankees' lineup. Not with mashers and batting title contender galore. But first base might be the exception.
Joe Torre has said he doesn't need his first baseman to hit a ton. Still, the Yankees do need some hits from that spot. So far this spring, Doug Mientkiewicz is just 1-for-22 (.045), though he does have five walks. A veteran with a great glove and a career .270 batting average, Mientkiewicz is not competing to make the team, simply for how much playing time he will get.
Josh Phelps and Andy Phillips are the other two in the mix at first. is having a tremendous spring, batting .400 (8-of-20) with seven RBI. He has significant major league experience (352 games with a .268 average), but spent last year exlusively at Triple-A. The Yankees picked him up from the Baltimore Orioles in the Rule V draft in December.
Then there's Phillips. He's been with the Yankees his entire career, drafted by them in 1999. He's popular with teammates and somewhat of a sentimental favorite. He missed a week this spring after his mother was in a severe car accident, and is just getting going (2-of-9 so far).
Who do you think should get the majority of the starts? Does 1st base worry you?
E-mail
Facebook
Digg
Delicious
Comments (39)
It's got to be Phelps at this point. The argument for keeping Phillips would have been that he is somewhat versatile, but after watching him at 3rd yesterday, I think it's time for a new direction. I like Phillips, he seems like a great kid, but Phelps is simply outplaying him right now.
Phillips was awful at 3rd yesterday which gave Philly the victory. He is probably pressing very hard right now.
I would not be currently satisfied with the 1st base situation...Mientkiewicz is not even hitting Double A pitching ,maybe he'll turn "it" around in weeks ahead...Phillips was playing somewhat out of position yesterday at 3rd a position he doesn't see alot of playing time at,so we should give him the benefit of the doubt since he's competing for the 1st base position...Phelps would be better suited to playing everyday w/Mientky being a late inning D replacement and occasional starter...Teixeria not as yet signing an extension intrigues me,of course it's an unlikely scenario???
Off the wall trade -Pavano and relief pitcher to Colorado.Rockies send Jeff Baker or Joe Koshansky to Texas ,Teixeria to NY...like I said it's off the wall.
Definitely not satisfied with anything about the 1st base situation -- every time I see a question about which of these should play I want to answer 'none of the above'! I keep hoping some other option is just over the horizon ...
First base does not concern me. Doug M. is a proven .270 hitter and an excellent glove. Hits do not count in Spring Training. He'll come around. As far as Phelps and Phillips, in a pure business decision, I go with Phelps .268 BA in 356 games. He has displayed his level and can be counted on to reach this level which is fine. The difference is maybe 1 hit a week for a regular to bat .250 or .300. So, if his hitting is timely then even better. Phillips is climbing a steep hill. Nice young man with some rough issues in his life the past two years.
i would platoon phelps and doug m.phillips just does not cut it.
Phelps is clearly ahead, but ST is only half over. Torre will show favoritism to Phillips, but he'll pick the better player for Opening Day. Similarly, Colter "Fatman" Bean is way ahead of Bruney or Britton. If he keeps pitching lights out thru the end of ST, he will have earned a spot. At this point Henn should beat out Myers or Villone. I don't want Molina - he's not an improvement over the guys in camp.
Phucker & BBB Teams
I was just thinking, if the other guys don't mind, we could add two more teams to our original BBB. We could add yourself and my son. You have to have an even number. Roy is already in. Do the rest of you have any problem with adding two more teams?
Zander: Bean making the team remains to be seen...both Britton and Bruney have big time heaters,Bruney more than likely has the inside track...
Doug is the Mike Myers of first base. Late innings; should stay in the game for as little as possible. As for the starter at first, I would like someone else, but we're stuck with Phelps and Phillips. Andy is a streeky player who gets hot, then hits nothing. I would go with Phelps for 3 reasons:
1)Good ST, with less then normal time, like he'd be getting in the real season
2)He has a reason to go out and play, he has the motivation
3)I dont want him going back to Baltimore and then hurting us, unlike Phillips who I'd like to pitch to anyday.
Of course the next blog entry is not open to comments.
Mussina had a nice outing: 5 innings
63 pitches
1 walk
2 strikeouts
3 hits
0 runs
Actually very nice.
It's not too early to start bashing the Red Sox, is it? In the sunday NY Times, Dan Rosenheck has an article discussing modern attempts to measure defensive ability by statistics. Money quote: Manny Ramirez is "the worst defensive left fielder in baseball, and by a comfortable margin". OK, we already knew that, but now it's confirmed.
The Boston Red Sox have in the past been known as the Bees, Rustlers, Doves, Red Caps and Beaneaters. I shall henceforth refer to that team up in New England as the Beaneaters.
Since Mussina is a vet, you have to look at what's typical for him in order to determine if there's a need for concern. Typically, Mussina doesn't do well in ST; typically, Mussina has a "free pass" in ST, knowing he has a built-in spot during the regular season (ergo, no stress, no pressure, no adrenalin); typically, ST constitutes a time for practicing, for warming up, for building strength and stamina, for staying healthy, and as a vet, Mussina knows this, so typically his performance may reflect all this. Consequently, knowledgeable Yankees fans TYPICALLY don't worry about pitching results during Spring Training, especially regarding vets like Mussina.
Yanks won 8-1. Giambino hit a grand salami; Phelps went 2 for 3 and is hitting .435. Mientky is at .043. Basak 1 for 1, a double, and is up to frickin .480!. He also replaced Jeter at SS. Is it time for Cairo to start worrying?
Zander:
Competition is a good thing. The Yankee youngters have not had opportunities in recent years. Now, they see hope with Cashman at the helm. Joe T. likes vets. So, Cairo is probably safe but on a short rope. Cairo can play many positions.
Cairo can play just about any infield or outfield position. Probably if you were to ask him he would pitch or catch.
He also steals bases, moves the runner, and hits in key situations. He is not a great hitter but for a backup he does the job better than most. He has been dependable and healthy mostly except for the hamstring last year and returned more quickly than the others with the same injury.
Backup catcher trade - Chris Coste
From the CourierPostOnline.com -
[QUOTE]http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070318/SPORTS01/703180378/1002/SPORTS
A year ago, Chris Coste was the feel-good story of spring training for the Phillies.Now he appears to be the odd-man out.
Despite batting .328 last season as a 33-year-old rookie catcher and survivor of 11 seasons in the minors, Coste has been forced to earn a spot on the Phillies' 25-man roster with another solid spring. But he has played only sparingly, leaving him uncertain of his status.[/QUOTE]
The Yankees should at least try and offer to the Phillies Colter Bean or Jose Veras - since the Phillies could use some help in the pen - to get Coste. It's a fair offer. And, I would take Coste as a back-up to Posada, sight unseen, at this point - compared to the Yankees other options. And, it's not like the Yankees cannot afford to lose Bean or Veras at this junction. New York already has more pitchers than spots in their pen.
No, "Bill," that quote was stolen, cut, and pasted from the WasWatching blog and you stole author Steve Lombardi's words as your own.
Plagerism sucks. Try to be a man and write your own words or stay off the blogs.
Why try to swing a trade? Why not just wait for them to release him? Between now and the end of spring there will be a lot of catchers who fail to catch (no pun intended) with other teams out on the market. Some better then Coste such as JD Closser and Michael Rivera in Milwaukee.
As for Kat's other post - no, Mussina's record doesn't worry me - I don't pay attention to spring numbers.
At first, I don't care what Meint hits...he's on the team for his glove, not his bat. If he can save runs with one, isn't that worth a lack of production from the other?
Yes, Chip, Mientkiewicz is on the team for his glove but I have not been so impressed by it yet. I did get to see him play a few times when he was here in Boston and played for the Sox. He was good but his hitting was awful.
I understand the thought behind getting him but I think the same could be achieved with a tandem of Phillips and Phelps at a lower cost.
I also have to say I am ready for Mientkiewicz to be on the Yankees for one overwhelming reason: I have learned to spell his name. (i before e, 2 times)
But for the record I can also spell Mark Teixeira . (e before i, 2 times)
My problem will be if the Yankees ever pick up Oakland pitcher Justin Duchscherererererererererer.
Ruse:
I'm not that impressed with "big-time heaters"; I prefer guys who, you know, get people OUT. And that's what Fatman Bean has done so far.
Larry M:
Good point - Cashman cares about the future and high ceiling young athletes. Torre has always preferrd dependable, if mediocre, vets. If Torre is truly in his last year, then he has zero incentive to prefer young prospects. I have nothing against Cairo, he's a solid backup and yes, can play all 4 IF positions. But he played one game in RF, botched a fly ball, and the Boss immediately ordered the import of some washed-up rotten personality OF. Basak has also played 2B,3B and SS. .480 is pretty good, no?
Paul:
Good catch. We know this is only a blog, but integrity still counts. Let's all use quotation marks or give attribution.
Chip:
But what if Mientky is 1 for 58 on March 31? And maybe Phelps is still at .400? You would still run Mientky out there against all RHPs? Personally I prefer to, you know, win games.
Maybe are you blind paul???
I did write on my own words
The Yankees should at least try and offer to the Phillies Colter Bean or Jose Veras - since the Phillies could use some help in the pen
Steve Lombardi wrote Phils instead of Phillies... Geez, get a glasses..
integrity on a blog board? u jocking buddy? who the hell cares whether he posted quotation marks or not. this isnt a college essay. or would u like him to reference the authors too?
If any of you had a chance to watch the game today, you saw Doug M. (sorry Paul, I haven't learned to spell it yet) make one sparkling catch where he had to dive to his right on a hard line drive of Mo. Doug made it look pretty easy. While I think 1st base defense is somewhat overrated, to me there is no question Doug is outstanding over there and he will save the infielders a lot of errors. I don't care what he's hitting, I'm certain he is going to be on the team.
Phelps looked good again.
Rick: I don't have a problem w/ adding new teams. You're the commish, I'll just defer to you since this is my first fantasy baseball experience.
Phelps, but even if Mientkiewicz gets the most time at 1B, having two defense only 1Bmen makes no sense.
If facts matter, Phelps has won the job.
Rich is right. Phelps has actually won the job over all three, at least so far.
As for integrity, if you lack the self respect to have integrity on a blog board or anywhere else in life it says a lot about you. It is not like stealing a loaf of bread to feed your children.
If you take someone else's words and portray them as your own it says that your own words are worthless.
And such is the case here.
Zander: My problem with Cairo is non-improvement of the team. Yes, he can play many positions on a part-time basis but cannot fill in long term. If, Jeter,Cano or Arod go down with an injury as prevalent as a hamstring. This canbe devastating especially offensively. Defensively, the job will can done but more offense will be needed to make up for the lack of defense provided by the starters who are injured.
I prefer a player and maybe Basak or Gonzalez is the answer. These guys must be brought up when their is an injury. Cairo should be used when their is no injury on a limited basis. The young guys improve their skills on the AAA level but are called up and played instead of Cairo in a regular part time basis. This gives hope to the young guys plus displays their talent to other teams on the big level, much motivation to produce.
Cairo knows his position wether he plays behind Jeter or Basak its no concern. This is how I would like to play it out. And if a young kid is tearing up AAA then maybe a move will be made to move Cairo.
I like Cairo but he's status quo and not moving forward.
No torre will find a reason to get ANdy in there . And if Andy sucks then torre should be fired midseason. Phelps is hot right now. andy should be given a Minor league contract.
I do beleive i said that Humberto Sanchez is Damaged goods. if that is the case the tiger pulled the wool over the eyes.
Andy can't be given a minor league contract, he's out of options. He'd have to be waived.
Andy could be waived and then signed to a new minor league contract. I don't see the world beating down our doors to get him.
Bloviator from CA had it right - would it be that off the wall to offer Pavano and one of the high-ceiling pitchers (Clippard? Ohlendorf?) to the Rangers for Teixeira?? The Yanks need to open a spot for Karstens, and sorry to say Phillips, Meint, and Phelps all stink.
Cairo is a better fielder than Basak. Basak should not make the team. Phelps should and Phillips should be released. Doug will make GG winners out of A-rod and Jeter (again) with his glove.
The Yanks don't need any more offense. "Tex" is a free agent at the end of this season I believe, so why would we give up 2 pitchers for offense we don't need in the 1st place, and may "walk away" at the end of the season?
Good point Roy. We should just wait until Teixiera is a free agent, because that is when Giambi, Abreu etc. will most likely be gone.
I guess the big competition will be the Orioles. Evidently the O's are salivating at bringing a guy to the team who grew up in Maryland and has publicly stated that he still dreams of playing for them.
Myers is not a fit on this team. Sean Henn deserves the chance. Myers throws a soft 88 MPH and decent hitters adjust to his submarine style and watch the ball come out of his hands. Peddle him at the end of spring training. This is the deepest bullpen the Yankees have had in recent years. Vizcaino and either Bruney or Britton will take innings off of Proctor, Farnsworth, and Villone. No need for Joe Torre to overuse anybody.
With less than 2 weeks to go, Phelps has earned the backup job to Mientkiewicz but Joe Torre may be loyal to a fault with Phillips. If versatility is the reason why Phillips would be kept, then it's for the wrong reason. There 3 players at AAA that can do that. Gonzalez, Cannizaro, or Basak are a phone call away. There's no reason why Giambi or Cairo can't play 1st base in the short term if the situation came up.
I go w/Phelps. He is definitely motivated and now has the seasoning behind him and is coming into his own. Phelps has a bat and even if the team doesn't really need that this year from 1B, it will worry the opposing pitcher, and add runs. Also, he is currently outplaying his other 1B teammates.