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Melky Cabrera baffles experts

11
Vote

by Munsoned

 Melky Cabrera has the stat. gurus scratching their heads. Playing the game with joy and enthusiasm can't be quantified, extrapolated or projected. Anyone witnessing the Yank's reincarnation can testify that it was sparked by the emergence of the kid in center.

Last year, I watched an interview with a representative of Baseball America. He was asked why the Yankee farm system continued to be ranked so low, considering the emergence of :Wang, Cano and Cabrera. He responded by reciting the scouting reports for each. He postulated that Melky would end up: "No better than a #4 outfielder." I'm sure that the respected analyst had all the reports to back up his opinion. I wonder if he ever watched him play the game. (Sorry, I'm old-school.) The analysis was skewed because baseball is more than mere numbers.

Joe Torre has consistently said that:"Melky gives us energy." Anyone doubting that can witness it every time Cabrera takes the field.

 

This article is from my blog: Baseball Hot Corner


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KelsdadAll-Star
834 days ago
Score 3+-
If Damon hadn't been injured most of the season, who would be the Yankees fourth outfielder? Sounds to me the scouting reports are dead on. Every bench player in ML history plays "with energy." They are so excited to get off the bench once a week it appears they are this way all the time, when in reality there's a reason why they are riding the pine the other six days...they ain't that good. Cabrera is no different.
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Silencer76AAA-er
834 days ago
Score 1+-
Especially when you take into consideration how much Abreu stunk in April and May (.253, 1, 13 in April, .208, 1, 9 in May.) Matsui only played 10 games the first month of the year, and as Kelsdad said, Damon has been banged up and has been in the DH role. Cabrera is nothing special, he is serviceable, but lacks the pop to be a solid, everyday starting OF.
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Ea34Div-I Stud
834 days ago
Score 1+-
Melky has the best gig in baseball! Melky Cabrera is an average-to-above-average player who receives a lot of credit for "providing a spark" when the Yanks are winning. When they're losing, everyone's so busy ripping A-Ron, Abreu, Damon, Giambi, Clemens, etc, that Melky flies under the radar.
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Ea34Div-I Stud
834 days ago
Score 0+-
But the fact is, the Yankees are not going to win or lose with Melky Cabrera. He's a role player at best.
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MetsJetsDevilsDraft Pick
834 days ago
Score -2+-
Hey, no team is better at pretending that mediocre outfielders are all-stars. Just look at Bernie Williams.
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MetsJetsDevilsDraft Pick
833 days ago
Score 0+-
Ah, we are back to the anonymous negatives instead of actually articulating why I am wrong? Pathetic.
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I am a cpcpMajor Leaguer
834 days ago
Score 0+-
Melky baffles me in that he looks like a barely-in-shape third baseman but covers the outfield and gets obvious stolen bases against the Indians so well.
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Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer
834 days ago
Score 0+-
Anyone wanna guess why Melky is not considered "scrappy"?
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Ea34Div-I Stud
834 days ago
Score 0+-
he's not white, a la David Eckstein?
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I am a cpcpMajor Leaguer
834 days ago
Score -1+-
I had to laugh when I was watching the game on Sunday and the announcer mentioned that in NY Melky is call the Melk Man. I think that really speaks to the creativity of Yankee fans.
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ChachiOSUDraft Pick
834 days ago
Score 0+-
Yes, because the ED-DIE chants when Eddie Murray was in Cleveland were so creative.
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Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer
834 days ago
Score -1+-
"The Melk Man Always Strikes Out Twice"
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I am a cpcpMajor Leaguer
834 days ago
Score 0+-
That had been going on with Murray for what, 15 years, before he got to Cleveland? And it continued with Murray afterwards. NY had the responsibility of creating something new.
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IbeargRed-Shirting
834 days ago
Score 1+-
Melky has 12 outfield assists this year including one tonight that nearly saved rivera from a blown save. Melky also has a 18 game hitting streak and is hitting over 300 on the season. He has more than won the center field even from a relatively healthy Damon. Since winning the job in April/May he's continued to get better every month. No one is saying he is an all-star, but he's been a very valuable part of this Yankee team.
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KelsdadAll-Star
834 days ago
Score 1+-
I disagree, Ibearg. Melky has these numbers only because Damon hasn't been healthy. If he had been, and had been performing as he did last year, Cabrera would have less than 200 AB's for the season. I'm not discounting his contributions this year, but the truth remains Cabrera is a utility outfielder at best, and this year is a career year, not a sign of a future star.
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IbeargRed-Shirting
834 days ago
Score 1+-
a career year at what 23? there's no reason to believe he won't be as good if not better in years to come. It's not like he's 28 and had his one big season. Yes if Damon had been healthy Cabrera would not have gotten all these AB's, but then Gehrig also wouldn't have played if not for the injury to Wally Pip. Not to say Melky is in the same universe as Gehrig, but it doesn't matter how you get the opportunity just that you take advantage of it, and Melky has.
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KelsdadAll-Star
834 days ago
Score 0+-
The offseason will tell. Assuming the Yankees don't try and resign Abreu, will they try and get another (cheaper) outfielder, or will they give Cabrera a job? There's a couple decent options out there, so we'll see how it plays out.
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RomiezzoLegend
834 days ago
Score 0+-
In my opinion, they should not re-sign Abreu and get another young outfielder. Sooner or later, Hideki Matsui is going to go downhill. I'll give him 3 more years. He's 33 years old right now. Damon is going to be 34 years old. If the Yankees sign a younger outfielder, and get rid of Abreu, who is going downhill believe it or not (33 years old, his OBP has dropped .062 compared to last season, and his batting average has dropped .015, he's getting slower, and is lacking an amount of defense that is needed) the Yankees will be good for a couple more years. My advice: Don't re-sign Abreu, get one outfielder, and focus on the pitching during the offseason...
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InsanMajor Leaguer
834 days ago
Score 0+-
Got Melky?
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