Certainly, the Yankees would prefer to have their superstar third baseman ready and available to play come Opening Day on April 6, the torn labrum in his right hip carefully coached onto the field. But should that not occur, Ransom is the front-runner to help New York patch its lineup.
"Cody is a professional player," Girardi said on Thursday. "He has experience all over the infield, he has pop in his bat. Cody is one of those guys that gets dirty all the time and plays extremely hard. He has a great attitude."
"Right now, that's probably what we'd have to think about," Girardi said. "There's a lot that can change in the next four or five weeks, but Cody has a lot of experience playing on that side of the infield. He's shown that he's got pop in his bat. He's a very good defender. We'll have to wait and see."Here's what Ransom had to say about the situation:
"I'm not going to change the way I approach the spring or getting ready for the season. I've got to go about my business the way I would, whether I was trying to get ready to be a utility guy or a third baseman. You hate to have something happen, especially to a guy who is such a big part of the team."
Besides Ransom, the only internal option is Angel Berroa. They're not going to throw Nady there, he's played the position three times in his career, and there's no point in moving Teixeira across the diamond. He hasn't played third since his rookie year."As a team, we can pick up the slack a little bit. Everybody is in Spring Training, going about their business the way that they would had he not been injured.
"I know personally, I'm going about it the same way, trying to get ready for Opening Day and hopefully be on the team, and see where it goes from there."
Outside the organization there are some other options. Mark Grudzielanek, a career .290/.332/.395 hitter, is one and probably the most likely as he's a free agent.
I've also heard some people mention Mark Teahen, Bobby Crosby, Melvin Mora, Mark Loretta, Bill Hall, Chone Figgins, and even former Yankee Aaron Boone. My preference would be Figgins, but he's the least likely to be added. Not only would he cost an arm and a leg, but I doubt the Angels have any interest in trading him. Besides Figgins, I think Grudzielanek would be a nice addition.
UPDATE: Peter Abraham had a few more suggestions; Scott Rolen, Brandon Inge, Hank Blalock, Garrett Atkins, and Chad Tracy.
He also says that he spoke with Dr. Robert Buly of the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan who is an orthopedic surgeon that specializes in hips, and that he says that at some point A-Rod will "have to bite the bullet and have the surgery. It’s going to get progressively worse and for the patient, it’s pretty miserable.”
21 Comments:
I don't know why a lot of people don't think Ransom is a good option. He hit 4 home runs in 33 games last year.
So about an average of 4 home runs every month, for 6 months: 24 home runs. Half of what A-Rod hits every year.
I know baseball's not about math, but still, he can hit 20 home runs I think.
Sorry, let me refrase that:
I know baseball's not about math, but I think he can hit 20 home runs.
I think all the homers he hit last year were a product of a bunch of September fastball. But I could still see him hitting 15 homers if he played a full season.
You're right Greg, that's more reasonable.
I actually like the idea of Teahan/Ransom platoon. Teahan has a lot of upside and if he plays like he has been he still makes an okay platoon partner. That guy has so much potential.
It would be very cool to have Boone back.
Yeah, imagine he hits a walk-off homer to christen the new stadium!?
That would be sick.
If Nady wants to play regularly in his walk year, he best start oiling his infielder's glove.
I say throw him down there for the next two weeks and see what he's got.
There's a reason why, at age 32, Cody Ransom has never had more than 68 AB's in a season.
Some third basemen are spectacular fielders and there's also a handful of butchers, but most are somewhere in the middle.
You really want Molina and Ransom at the bottom of this line-up?
It would.I still want Hamley Ramirez.
Liam,
I think we all would love Hanley to be a Yankee, but he would cost way too much. You're talking about Joba, Hughes, and then some.
another option; Hank Blalock. I would probably rather just use Ransom. We need a righty in there, and Blalock is always hurt. If Ransom plays 4 months I can definetly see him hit .250-.260 with 10-12 Hr's and 50 RBI's. not too bad... he may really cherish this opportunity, put up good numbers and get a nice little contract after this year.
with that update a guy I like is Brandon Inge. He's a gritty player that can also catch. Atkins would be great if he doesnt cost alot.
Dan,
I just added his name to the post along with some others that Peter Abraham mentioned.
And I agree with you, they don't need to bring in an injury-prone player, and they also could use a right-handed bat.
That's the problem, all the best options will cost a ton.
3 more I just thought of:
Brendan Harris, Clint Barmes, and one that most likely wont happen Nomar Garciaparra( once again injury concern, would he play 3rd?).
Glory, how did the Yankees miss this if he's had the problem since last year? What kind of screening do they do in the winter? (or don't do). I would have thought they would have these guys going through the inspector 12 treatment.
Will,
Here's a little bit of Tyler Kepner's article from tonight:
"Cashman said Rodriguez had always had stiff hips, and there was no need to examine him after the season. The condition was so minor, Cashman said, that Rodriguez did not seek treatment from team trainers last season.
'That’s why I termed it as an incidental finding,' Cashman said. 'If you took an M.R.I. right now of everybody in our clubhouse, you are going to find in many of them — 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent — the same finding. Just because they have it doesn’t mean it’s a problem. Just because you have it doesn’t mean you need surgery.
'So that’s why you put it in the file,' he said. 'You treat the patient, not the symptom. You don’t treat the M.R.I. You treat the patient.'"
Is that the best excuse? No. But that's what he's going with.
Mark Teahan would be the perfect fit he has no place to play in KC they are looking to dump him. Teahan is in the last year in his deal and after 4 months when A-Rod comes back he can be on the bench. Bill Hall is injured and has a 3 year deal. Mark Grudzielank hasn't played third since 1995.
Teahan/Ransom platoon would be a good choice until A-Rod comes back.
I think you guys might hate this idea but I think we should sign Bonds and teach him how to play third. Then when A-Rod comes back, have Bonds and Matsui take turns at DH. You have to atmit he can hit, and short right field he can hit homeruns like crazy.
If Bonds can crush 50 home runs and smack in 150 RBIs, hell ya!
But, you want a whole other A-Rod saga? What if the day after the Yanks sign him evidince comes out that he took steroids? That wouldn't be pretty at all.
Bonds couldn't play third, and even if he could they're not bringing in another roid head to become another distraction.
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