The Yankees are thinking about promoting top prospect Austin Jackson from Triple-A and playing him regularly in the outfield.You guys know I've like the idea of calling up Jackson since Gardner went down. Call him up for a few weeks and play him everyday. Most days he can start in center, and two or three days a week he can play a corner outfield spot like King says above.Because the bullpen wasn't spent in last night's 6-2 win over the Rays, the Yankees will elevate an outfielder today if they can't swing a deal. They have a low-level interest in Josh Anderson, who was designated for assignment by the Tigers last week.
When Brett Gardner went on the disabled list on Sunday with a fractured left thumb, the Yankees said Jackson wasn't an option to replace Gardner because they didn't want Jackson sitting on a big-league bench.
Nevertheless, the Yankees believe they could be better served with Jackson's ability to cover more ground than Nick Swisher or Johnny Damon. Primarily a center fielder, Jackson could be used at the corners to spell Damon and Swisher.
"We have kicked around a lot of different ideas," manager Joe Girardi said.
With the White Sox starting three lefties in the four-game series that opens tonight in Chicago, Girardi mentioned a need for a right-handed bat.
Josh Anderson was traded earlier today to the Royals, so he's out of the picture. So between Corey Patterson and Jackson, right now, AJax is the best player of the three. So if you're the Yankees don't you want the best player you can get? I know I do. Plus, I think it would also be good for Jackson himself to spend a couple weeks in the majors. Even if he struggles, just seeing major league pitching will be good for the kid.
That be dumb to call him up for a couple of weeks. Why mess with his service time just for a couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteAnderson will be fine all you need is someone who can play late inning defense.
First of all, Anderson was already traded. Patterson is okay, but I do not giving up anyone from the farm, and there is no way that Jackson playing for the Yankees for a couple of weeks could hurt. It could even help. I would love to see Ajax up in the show.
ReplyDeleteDon't call him up. He's either going to play regularly and force Melky to the bench or play irregularly.
ReplyDeleteMelky's doing just fine. AJax was one of the youngest players in his AA league at the time, and now is one of the youngest in his AAA league. No need to rush him up. Melky is fine.
I like this move but I would prefer it when we're playing a crappy team and not a team we can be playing in the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteMP, are you really against Melky's playing time being cut?
ReplyDeleteGreg,
ReplyDeleteI am against that. The dude's batting .290 with his best OPS in his career by 50 points. If he received a full 600 AB season, his pace would be for over 20 homers and over 35 doubles. Why put him on the bench for a guy who's never seen a big league pitcher (thats not meant to be a knock on AJax)
Leave the 24-year-old hitting .290 in the lineup.
I like Melky's bat in the lineup right now too. Melky was struggling for a bit, but has picked it up lately. He still plays solid D and has a gun in center.
ReplyDeleteMy vote would be to pick up a speedy OF from the "Designated for Assignment" scrap heap.
Right on Turrdog. You don't sit a hot player. Melky's hot in ML. Jackson's hot in AAA. Let it be.
ReplyDeleteAnd I like the idea of a DFA scrap heap OF with a tool or two on the bench. Good fielder, good bunter, fast baserunner type guy. Remember, it's the 5th OF on the team.
What's up with this love for Melky? He's been average at best his entire career. He's not going to turn into Bernie Williams. Jackson, on the other hand, could.
ReplyDeleteYes, one day Jackson could. Greg, he's not going to come up at age 21 and be Bernie down the stretch. He'll probably never be the player Bernie was for as long.
ReplyDeleteMelky is batting .290 and he's 10 for his last 20. Above average in anyone's book. You're going to send a .290 avg and 10-for-20 stretch to the bench for a guy who's never faced a major league pitch?? Just doesn't make sense.
I am NOT saying that AJax should never be allowed to take over the spot. Just not right now. Melky may not be Bernie right now, but neither is AJax. Why so much love for a guy you've never seen??
I know he's not going to be Bernie right now, but Melky isn't anything special. He's had a good week, woo hoo!
ReplyDeleteTwo weeks of AJax will be good for him, the Yankees, and Nick Swisher and Damon cause they will get some much needed rest. The only person who loses out in this is Melky.
I've seen AJax, just not in the majors. He's already better defensively than any Yankee not named Brett Garnder. He's a solid ballplayer and I'd love to see him get some games in the majors.
Greg, the reason we have Eric Hinske is to give Damon and Swisher some rest.
ReplyDeleteMore like Melky has had a good season, not good week. He's batting .290, with good lefty/righty splits. Since the break he's at .324 with an .891 OPS.
I meant you've never seen AJax in the majors. We have no idea what he would do in the ML, now or in the future. We do know that we have a .290 batter playing an above average CF right now.
And you don't know that Melky is the only one to lose out. What would have happened if the Yanks hadn't rushed Hughes and Kennedy to the majors? Who knows. No need to rush up a 21-year-old to a first-place team in July.
I'm not going to belabor the point any longer; we can agree to disagree, but i just wanted to pass along this tidbit from peter abraham:
ReplyDelete"GOOD TIMING: Melky Cabrera is 6 of 15 with five runs scored since Brett Gardner went on the disabled list and he became the everyday center fielder. The Melkman is 9 of 19 overall with seven runs scored and three extra-base hits. The surge has taken him from .274 to .290."