They both aren't hitting,
Duncan - .164, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .497 OPS
Ensberg - .203, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .506 OPS
I understand you need that right-handed option for first base, which is why they should keep ONE of them, but to continue to waste a roster spot on both of these guys is pointless.
Drop one of them and call up Brett Gardner. Plus with the way Melky has been hitting, maybe a little competition for the CF spot would do him some good.
And as I've mentioned before I think Gardner is the type of player this roster needs; a speedy, on base guy, who can play stellar defense.
If it were up to me I'd probably send Duncan down, he still has options left, and Gardner can replace him as the 5th outfielder.
What would you do?
9 Comments:
This is a tough decision... on the one hand, Duncan is one of my favorite players (my father agrees) because of his intensity and ability to hit the long ball. Unfortunately, Duncan just doesn't have what it takes to succeed at this level right now. He is unable to hit even when he starts games, and his defense at 1st base leaves more than a little to be desired.
Ensberg is a pretty typical backup player and has better numbers at the plate. Defensively, I think he performs better than Duncan. But -- and this is a big but -- Ensberg simply lacks the intensity that Duncan possesses. Ensberg isn't the kind of player you'd ever bring in to pinch hit, and he isn't the type of player to add any charisma to a lineup.
The other issue is who you'd want to bring up if you did in fact send either Ensberg or Duncan down. Do you bring up Gardner? We already have 4 solid outfielders available, and unless one becomes injured I don't think we need another on the roster. Obviously Brett Gardner would be the easy answer to the next outfielder to make the roster but I think he is just not needed at this time, with four healthy outfielders available.
I say they pull the switch on Shelly Duncan. Sure he has fire in his veins, but what good is he other than having a long wingspan that can catch Jeter's bad throws? He's basically just a younger version of Richie Sexon. Maybe he can stick around as the team mascot. No mas Shelly Duncan. Por Favor.
They need to take care of inning 7 and 8. Duncan/Ensberg is not the priority issue and the Yanks don't need another outfielder or an unproven player at this point.
I couldn't understand why Girardi wasn't playing "The Scarecrow" earlier in the season, especially as he would have brought better balance to the batting order among all our lefties. I think I understand now. Instead of trying to get on base, he wants to hit the ball out of the park every time. The result is that he always seems to be off-balance. I'm a British Yankees fan and they feature regularly in my blog http://sportsbusters.blogspot.com/
I say let em both pack up and bring up gardner and jason lane. This bench needs a serious overhaul.
Although yankee-red sox trades are very rare...I found it hard to come up with a reason that a guy like Coco Crisp wouldn't help the Yankees tremendously. Not labeling him a savior, his speed is what attracts me the most. Maybe Gardner needs more time in the minors to tighten up a few things, maybe not. What's obvious is the yankees need speed in 1-2 more spots in there lineup. Crisp who was pushed aside twice for better hitting CF's (Sizemore and now Ellsbury) can't be very confortable in his place in Boston.
In our lineup, he would be our fastest player and our best defensive outfielder by far.
It prolly wont happen, I just wanted to bring it up and see what people thought of it.
They will eventually call up one of these guys: Cox, Robertson, Melancon, Patterson, etc. to fill the 7th-8th inning spot.
But until they're ready I like the idea of adding Gardner's speed to this roster. And the way Melky has been hitting he could you a little competition.
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Duncan is lost at the plate, and you're right Bruce, all he does it try to hit the ball out of the yard.
BTW I just added your blog to my blog roll.
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As for trading for Crisp I'm sure the Sox would ask for too much from the Yanks, and I feel they would be better off calling up Gardner because he wouldn't cost anything.
Crisp would help, but like I said he'd cost too much and I doubt he'd be happy here either because he'd probably play even less than he does with Boston.
If he was a FA I'd take him in a second.
Thanks Greg ... I'm trying to build a fan base!
No problem at all, I know how it is.
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