Wednesday, January 28, 2004
More 3B Trouble In The Post-Brosius Era
Two posts in one day-what a great way to waste a snow day at UConn. Be sure to check out the new message board, let me know what you think.
How much money would it take to stop Aaron Boone from playing basketball? Apparently more than $5.75 million. Boone may have torn his ACL playing basketball. If the injury is as serious as it is believed to be, Boone will likely miss the 2004 season. If this is the case, a clause in Boone's contract would allow the Yankees to terminate his contract, paying him under $1 million. This could be bad news for the Yankees.
I have called Boone the weak link in the Yankee lineup (see last week's post) and disagreed with the Yankees trade to acquire him. I did not feel Boone was a significant upgrade from Robin Ventura, and Brandon Claussen was the Yankees top pitching prospect. So why do I consider this bad news? Because Aaron Boone has established himself as about an average major leaguer who is capable of above average production. I do not believe he's a legitimate all-star, but I also think he's better then how he played with the Yankees last year. Plus, he ended the Red Sox season, which has to count for something.
At the time of Boone's injury, there were several players that could be replacements in the Yankee organization: Enrique Wilson, Miguel Cairo, Erick Almonte, and Drew Henson. None of those four are very appealing, unless you're Theo Epstein. A quick look at the stats of this fearsome foursome:
Almonte (2003-NYY) - .260 BA, .321 OBA, .350 SLG, .671 OPS, -3 RCAA
Almonte (2003- AA) - .240 BA, .310 OBA, .380 SLG, .690 OPS, 46 K, 17 BB
Cairo (2003) - .245 BA, .289 OBA, .375 SLG, .665 OPS, -10 RCAA
Cairo (career) - .269 BA, .317 OBA, .361 SLG, .678 OPS
Henson (2003-AAA) - .234 BA, .291 OBA, .412 SLG, .703 OPS, 14 HR, 122 K, 32 BB
Wilson (2003) - .230 BA, .276 OBA, .363 SLG, .639 OPS, -7 RCAA
Wilson (career) - .253 BA, .296 OBA, .358 SLG, .653 OPS
Where's Scott Brosius when you need him?
Henson is not really an option either. Besides his terrible minor league track record, he is reportedly working out at QB, in preparation of being traded of drafted again by an NFL team in the coming months.
Upon seeing these options, I suggested the Yankees sign Tyler Houston, who the Phillies released last year around the time of one of Larry Bowa's tirades. Two days after my suggestion, the Yankees have reportedly signed Houston to a minor league contract.
Houston is far from an elite player, but he may represent an upgrade over Almonte/Cairo/Wilson. In fact, he could play about as well as Boone if he has a good year. In 54 games with the Phillies last hear, Houston's offensive numbers were: .278 BA, .320 OBA, .402 SLG, .722 OPS, -2 RCAA. Nothing great, I know. The previous two season were 4 RCAA/.815 OPS and 0 RCAA/.751 OPS, which means he is capable of about average production. His career OPS is .735, .42 below average, and he has -49 career RCAA. But he has been better in the last few seasons, including 30 HR over 519 ABs during the 2000-2001 seasons. His Offensive Winning Percentage is .512 since 2001. This means a lineup of all Tyler Houstons would win 51.2% of their games with an average pitching staff. He is not a patient hitter, which worries me. But if he hits for a high enough average to keep his OBA respectable and provides some pop at the bottom of the lineup, I think the rest of the Yankee lineup can overcome any lack of production at 3B.
There is one more interesting option within the Yankee organization that only a true fan with too much free time would know about. This player tore up AA last year with the Trenton Thunder. His rate stats are impressive: .306 BA, .447 OBA, .525 SLG, .972 OPS. He combined excellen patience (107 BB) with decent power (31 2B, 18 HR, 8 3B, 78 RBI). So why don't more people know about Brian Myrow? Well, because at 27, he's older than nearly all AA players. At 27, most players are entering the prime of their major league careers, not playing AA. Myrow has never even made it to AAA. But still, you can't totally discount his production last year. Even with Houston, Myrow seems like he deserves at least some chance of making the major league roster. I don't expect him to make much of an impact. At least there's not proof he'll be a mediocre major leaguer. The same can't be said for Enrique Wilson and Miguel Cairo.
I do admit however, that George Steinbrenner can't be pleased with the current possibilites at 3B. There are rumors that the Yankees are interested in re-acquiring Ventura. I would be fine with this move. At least they know what they're getting, and it's unlikely that he would completely bottom out. I just hope no knee-jerk reaction is made. I am pleased with the Yankees offseason (read below), and believe they can overcome Boone's injury.
And besides, the Yankees 2004 3B is probably just keeping the hot corner warm until Eric Chavez becomes a free agent. Just imagine Jason Giambi, Alfonso Soriano, Derek Jeter, and Chavez in the same infield. Now that, I can live with.
Two posts in one day-what a great way to waste a snow day at UConn. Be sure to check out the new message board, let me know what you think.
How much money would it take to stop Aaron Boone from playing basketball? Apparently more than $5.75 million. Boone may have torn his ACL playing basketball. If the injury is as serious as it is believed to be, Boone will likely miss the 2004 season. If this is the case, a clause in Boone's contract would allow the Yankees to terminate his contract, paying him under $1 million. This could be bad news for the Yankees.
I have called Boone the weak link in the Yankee lineup (see last week's post) and disagreed with the Yankees trade to acquire him. I did not feel Boone was a significant upgrade from Robin Ventura, and Brandon Claussen was the Yankees top pitching prospect. So why do I consider this bad news? Because Aaron Boone has established himself as about an average major leaguer who is capable of above average production. I do not believe he's a legitimate all-star, but I also think he's better then how he played with the Yankees last year. Plus, he ended the Red Sox season, which has to count for something.
At the time of Boone's injury, there were several players that could be replacements in the Yankee organization: Enrique Wilson, Miguel Cairo, Erick Almonte, and Drew Henson. None of those four are very appealing, unless you're Theo Epstein. A quick look at the stats of this fearsome foursome:
Almonte (2003-NYY) - .260 BA, .321 OBA, .350 SLG, .671 OPS, -3 RCAA
Almonte (2003- AA) - .240 BA, .310 OBA, .380 SLG, .690 OPS, 46 K, 17 BB
Cairo (2003) - .245 BA, .289 OBA, .375 SLG, .665 OPS, -10 RCAA
Cairo (career) - .269 BA, .317 OBA, .361 SLG, .678 OPS
Henson (2003-AAA) - .234 BA, .291 OBA, .412 SLG, .703 OPS, 14 HR, 122 K, 32 BB
Wilson (2003) - .230 BA, .276 OBA, .363 SLG, .639 OPS, -7 RCAA
Wilson (career) - .253 BA, .296 OBA, .358 SLG, .653 OPS
Where's Scott Brosius when you need him?
Henson is not really an option either. Besides his terrible minor league track record, he is reportedly working out at QB, in preparation of being traded of drafted again by an NFL team in the coming months.
Upon seeing these options, I suggested the Yankees sign Tyler Houston, who the Phillies released last year around the time of one of Larry Bowa's tirades. Two days after my suggestion, the Yankees have reportedly signed Houston to a minor league contract.
Houston is far from an elite player, but he may represent an upgrade over Almonte/Cairo/Wilson. In fact, he could play about as well as Boone if he has a good year. In 54 games with the Phillies last hear, Houston's offensive numbers were: .278 BA, .320 OBA, .402 SLG, .722 OPS, -2 RCAA. Nothing great, I know. The previous two season were 4 RCAA/.815 OPS and 0 RCAA/.751 OPS, which means he is capable of about average production. His career OPS is .735, .42 below average, and he has -49 career RCAA. But he has been better in the last few seasons, including 30 HR over 519 ABs during the 2000-2001 seasons. His Offensive Winning Percentage is .512 since 2001. This means a lineup of all Tyler Houstons would win 51.2% of their games with an average pitching staff. He is not a patient hitter, which worries me. But if he hits for a high enough average to keep his OBA respectable and provides some pop at the bottom of the lineup, I think the rest of the Yankee lineup can overcome any lack of production at 3B.
There is one more interesting option within the Yankee organization that only a true fan with too much free time would know about. This player tore up AA last year with the Trenton Thunder. His rate stats are impressive: .306 BA, .447 OBA, .525 SLG, .972 OPS. He combined excellen patience (107 BB) with decent power (31 2B, 18 HR, 8 3B, 78 RBI). So why don't more people know about Brian Myrow? Well, because at 27, he's older than nearly all AA players. At 27, most players are entering the prime of their major league careers, not playing AA. Myrow has never even made it to AAA. But still, you can't totally discount his production last year. Even with Houston, Myrow seems like he deserves at least some chance of making the major league roster. I don't expect him to make much of an impact. At least there's not proof he'll be a mediocre major leaguer. The same can't be said for Enrique Wilson and Miguel Cairo.
I do admit however, that George Steinbrenner can't be pleased with the current possibilites at 3B. There are rumors that the Yankees are interested in re-acquiring Ventura. I would be fine with this move. At least they know what they're getting, and it's unlikely that he would completely bottom out. I just hope no knee-jerk reaction is made. I am pleased with the Yankees offseason (read below), and believe they can overcome Boone's injury.
And besides, the Yankees 2004 3B is probably just keeping the hot corner warm until Eric Chavez becomes a free agent. Just imagine Jason Giambi, Alfonso Soriano, Derek Jeter, and Chavez in the same infield. Now that, I can live with.
