Melky Cabrera OF, NYY gets the call....

by rhodehead on Jul 7, 2005 1:21 PM EDT

http://www.trentonthunder.com/release/zRelease.asp#Latest

Reported on the Trenton Thunder (Yankees AA team) site, OF Melky Cabrera will be called up and be in the starting lineup tonight against Cleveland.

He was just last week promoted from AA to AAA following the Yankee pow-wow in Tampa. In a very small sample size (9 games), he tore up AAA - hitting .324/425/647 with 2 doubles, 3 HR, 11 RBI and 6 Runs.

He will likely be playing centerfield for the Yankees. Possible showcase for a trade? Or do they see what the 20 year old can do before deciding whether to make a trade or stick with what they have?

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wow

I think they're thinking two things:

"Cano and Wang are playing well on the field, and it might be good in the clubhouse to have youngsters who want it badly, too. Calling those guys up worked; let's call up whoever else we have."
"We have no real CF on this team."

Both arguments have some merit, but yeesh, I really am not sure Melky is even ready to produce at a Tony Womack level at this point.

and boom goes the dynamite.

by dcarrano on Jul 7, 2005 1:50 PM EDT reply actions

interesting

Cabrera has talent, but this is a real leap on the part of the Yankees. I've got to think that his .310/.413 line in 300 AB at Trenton is a much more accurate gauge of where he is right now than his hot streak in 34 AB in Columbus.

Maybe they're hoping he can pull a Cano and hit for enough power and play good enough defense that he's a relative asset, whatever his OBP turns out to be. Of course, "relative asset" is a pretty low standard when what you're relative to is Tony Womack.

by Joltin Joe Orsulak on Jul 7, 2005 2:02 PM EDT reply actions

Angles

The first post pretty much got it right. Cabrera is better than Womack and Bernie with the glove and there's about no way he can be worse than Womack with the bat, so he's promoted.

...NJASDJDH...

by Fabian on Jul 7, 2005 2:07 PM EDT reply actions

womack is suX0r

Exactly. Melky isn't a great CF from what I've read, but he knows his way around the outfield, and since Womack, as I've read online somewhere (too lazy to look it up), is the worst OF in the past 99 years (may be a slight exaggeration, but not by much), giving Melky a chance is a Good Thing.

I really hope that Cano & Wang have really opened up George's eyes about building from within, though I hope he doesn't hope that every player he brings up will be as good as Cano & Wang have been.

by sabernar on Jul 7, 2005 3:34 PM EDT reply actions

Madness

I've got all 3 of these young guys in a sim league. While I don't find myself rooting for the Yankees I do find myself rooting for individual Yankee Players.

Anyway this is total madness. Wang deserved the call. Cano you could even make a case for. But brining up Cabrera is just sheer madness.

I don't know what to attribute his incredibly hot week in columbus to. Anything to get Tony Womack out of this lineup is a +. However, there are a ton of decent OF bats practically for free. Ben Grieve comes to mind.

I'll be watching tonight. Hopefully Cabrera is a hitting prodigy. His AA stats are completely acceptable for his age. But promoting him to the big leagues??? Madness!!!

Good luck Melky!

by RMF on Jul 7, 2005 3:55 PM EDT reply actions

Grieve can't play CF

And that's what the Yanks need right now. Someone to cover the OF. He's gonna bat 9th, so not a lot of offense is really expected from him, though i don't see how he could possibly be worse than Womack with the bat.

by sabernar on Jul 7, 2005 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Question

would we have even heard about this guy had he played in Seattle or KC? I think not.

He's a half to full season away.

by So Cal Bob on Jul 7, 2005 4:01 PM EDT reply actions

Melky

I don't think Melky's defensive advantage is going to make up for the fact that he won't be able to hit MLB pitching consistently.

Is he really an upgrade over Bernie (A player who is looking horrible out there)

I'm not so sure that he is. Perhaps a showcase for a trade? Perhaps but George S might be falling in love with the minor leagues all over again... Yeah right!

by RMF on Jul 7, 2005 6:13 PM EDT reply actions