Can the Yankees keep this up?
Anybody else having trouble recognizing this Yankees team? At the break, and even before, it was easy to identify a few spots where the Yankees had room for significant improvement without even changing the roster. Obviously they could get better by making a trade, but there were also players who were clearly underperforming. Let's see what a few guys who didn't have great first halfs have been doing of late:
Robinson Cano: Huge, huge upswing. Pre-All-Star, he was hitting .246 with a .285 OBP (ouch) and a .358 SLG
Since the break, he's batting .519 with a .519 OBP and .815 SLG.
Bobby Abreu: Pre-All-Star, batting .274, .345 OBP, .436 SLG
After All-Star, batting .292, .393 OBP, .500 SLG
Derek Jeter: Pre-All-Star, batting .284, .345 OBP, .395 SLG
After All-Star: batting .296, .367 OBP, .519 SLG
Melky Cabrera: Pre-All-Star, batting .241, .301 OBP, .347 SLG
Post All-Star, batting .333, .360 OBP, .375 SLG
So all four starters who had been playing beneath their carreer averages have played better since the break. Now the question is, can they keep that up. With Abreu, Jeter and Cabrera, those numbers are improved but not off the charts. So it wouldn't be ridiculous to think they could approximate their recent performances for the rest of the season.
As far as Cano goes, he's obviously not going to hit .519 for the rest of the year. However, he has been hitting at a decent clip for a long time now. It just took a while to wipe out his .151 April. In June, he was OK, batting .287 with a .302 OBP and .416 slugging. In July, he's hitting .366 with a .392 OBP and .535 slugging.
If these guys can continue to play near the level they've been at recently, the Yankees' hopes of making the playoffs get a whole lot better.
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Comments (12)
Rumor out of LA *and NY* has the Yankees and Dodgers discussing a trade of young stars. The Dodgers are willing to send Matt Kemp (and Derek Lowe) to the Yankees for Robinson Cano.
Kemp would play LF for the remainder of this year and then take over for Bobby Abreu next season (and for the forseable future) in RF. The Yankees are not sure they want to part with Cano but feel that if they did, Alberto Gonzalez could fill the position for the remainder of the season or they could trade for Mark Grudzielanek (and Miguel Olivo) of the Royals and then attempt to sign Orlando Hudson as a FA this winter.
yuk, cano is carrying this team offensively.
thats not enough for cano, he is better than kemp
Leave Cano alone just let him play in his own world. We are a beter team for it.
Cano ain't going anywhere especially for Kemp who has SO 108 times in 366 ABs.If NY pulls the trigger on a trade like that Cashman is dumber than dumb.
ruse - Kemp has more strikeouts, but also a higher on base percentage, higher slugging percentage, and fills a need for now and the future of the Yankees.
The Yankees would actually have an easier time replacing Cano both this year and next year than finding an outfielder to play now and take over for Abreu next year. Free Agent 2nd Basemen include: Orlando Hudson, Mark Ellis, To Iguchi, and Felipe Lopez - they could also try to sign Rafael Furcal and move him to 2nd - not to mention in house options like Alberto Gonzalez who, if nothing else, can provide steady D at that spot.
As for why the Dodgers would do it. They have Andre Ethier, they can't unload Juan Pierre or Andruw Jones, Jeff Kent is retiring at the end of this season, Bowa and Torre love Cano, so it makes a lot of sense from their standpoint as well.
You mention baggage coming with Lowe...what baggage? He's never done anything. We know he won't melt in a playoff push in the AL East and he's a FA at the end of the year.
I hope to god this isn't true.
I know that loving Cano is like being in an abusive relationship...
"I love you"
"You're hurting me"
"I love you you"
"You swung at the first pitch after the guy threw 8 consecutive balls inning ending double play etc..."
But what really would hurt is loosing his utterly under-rated athleticism.
Athleticism...
1. The kids swing is one of most gorgeous in all of baseball and when he's "right" ala "Post All star Break" he can hit literally any ball thrown at him. Up down in out in the zone out of the zone etc...
Anyone else notice that in the last 8 or so games it seems he's swinging at balls that look like they'd be unhittable and stupid to even try to hit yet he's driving them to all fields?? Bad ball hitter? I don't know what that is but Robby when in his current "zone" can hit any pitch and any pitcher. He's by far the most dangerous hitter on the team right now.
2. Critics give him $hit about being lazy or "non chalant" in the field, but I'd argue this guys talent in the field is so excellent that he often looks like he exerting little to no effort because his athleticism actually permits him such a luxury. Those balls to first while charging full speed in the direction of third base are all made in a seemless motion. Maybe I'm blind to other great 2nd basemen but I just think Cano gets a very bad rap about his play in the field.
I will weep if we trade Cano...
Not literally but seriously I'd be very deeply disappointed.
Someone tell Torre he cant have his Cano and eat it too please. ;)
No No No No......
We can not replace Cano. Alberto has not proven anything at a major league level.
Kemp would be a great addition to our outfield for years to come, but not at the price of creating a hole at 2nd base.
Offensive 2nd baseman are harder to come by then outfielders.
And for Mr. Lowe......screw taking a 35 year old pitcher who was not capable of pitching under a 4 ERA in '03 and '04 for the AL Sox.
McCarthy - I would generally agree with you. But if you take a step back and look at the available players this winter it might be easier to find a second baseman than an outfielder.
Cano is going to be the next Rod Carew !
Reallly.....Who is available at 2nd that could replace Cano?