Melky or Kubel?

by Flynn Blake on Nov 23, 2006 1:28 PM EST

Two left fielders with very different 2006 seasons. Cabrera broke out with a nice season filling in for Matsui and showed nice plate discipline and underwhelming power. Kubel fought back from a devastating knee injury after missing all of 2005. I know Cabrera's slated to be the Yanks' fourth outfielder but I haven't heard much about Kubel. Any news on him, his knee or his prospects? Who would you prefer between these two guys and why?

Many thanks in advance, and happy holiday to you and yours.

Poll

Melky Cabrera or Jason Kubel?

Melky Cabrera

18 votes

Jason Kubel

39 votes

57 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Melky

This isn't a tough choice for me

2 years and 2 months younger, better plate discipline, better contact abilities, and better defense. The only question is power, and Kubel's ISOp wasnt any advantage over Melky in the majors, just in the minors when he was always older than Melky

by PooNani on Nov 23, 2006 1:51 PM EST reply actions

Kubel

If he comes back healthy, he's a 30hr threat. Melky's power makes him a 4th OF right now with the potential to be a regular. Kubel's a potential all-star talent.

by jhelfgott @ Minor League Ball on Nov 23, 2006 2:13 PM EST reply actions

hmm

seems like a bit of a double standard

by PooNani on Nov 23, 2006 2:41 PM EST up reply actions

How so?

Don't know as I would prefer one over the other, but where's the double standard?

"People think it must be fun to be a super genious, but they don't know how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world." - Calvin

by RVachon on Nov 23, 2006 6:26 PM EST up reply actions

asdasda

because Kubel is far from a huge HR threat and the rest of his skillset pales in comparison to Melky, yet Kubel is the 30 HR threat JUST if he gets healthy, and Melky is only a regular if he manages to develop power

by PooNani on Nov 23, 2006 8:18 PM EST up reply actions

Double standard

Really not seeing the double standard here, man.

27% of Melky's hits went for extra bases this year, and in his minor league career, his xbh% topped out at 32%. That's not enough power for a corner outfielder, even if his secondary skills are fantastic, which they are.

I think Melky's power will develop, but even with developing power, I don't see him becoming more than a leaegue average bat.

I also disagree that his contact skills are vastly superior to Kubel. Kubel was coming back from injury in 2006. In his last full season in '04, he struck out once every 9 ABs or so in the international league while sending 37% of his hits for extra bases. Cabrera's never shown that he can hit both for contact and power, and until he does, he's a fringe regular in my opinion.

Kubel's the riskier of the two, but in terms of ceiling it's not particularly close IMO.

by jhelfgott @ Minor League Ball on Nov 24, 2006 9:06 AM EST up reply actions

Melky

Melky lead all LF in assists. He made countless highlight catches. He also hit leadoff a couple times for the Yankees. Easy choice here. He'll produce like Willie Randolph did and he'll be around for a long time.

by grandslam on Nov 23, 2006 6:49 PM EST reply actions

Kubel.

Duh.

by Justin & Joe on Nov 23, 2006 7:54 PM EST reply actions

Kubel

Once Kubel gets healthy, this will be a no-brainer, but it's still pretty obvious. Kubel has Markakis-like potential. This really should have a poll up.

Hey fish, leave those kids alone!

by The Congo Hammer on Nov 23, 2006 8:23 PM EST reply actions

Difficult to compare

Melky Cabrera's upside would be a very soild lead off CF, one that will hit for good average and get on base and be a effective basestealer while still hitting for some power. something along a .300/.400/.450 line as a lead off CF with 20 swipes, that would be his upsides. wether he can play CF remains to be seen, he's arm is unquestionable, but his range/jump remains suspect at times. he is playing CF in Dominican winter ball though.

essentailly, Melky's upside would be Bernie Williams with less pop but a much better arm and probably more consistent speed.

Kubels is very different, his upside is basically a slugging corner. a fair comparason right now would be Hideki Matsui, maybe slightly better.

This is like comparing apples and orange, they are just different players, Melky's upside is a top of the order guy, Kubel's is a middle of the order guy.

by RollingWave on Nov 23, 2006 9:29 PM EST reply actions

Melky sucks @ss

He can't hit for power, he does not play CF as some suggest, he can't steal bases. Sure he has very good plate discipline. Make that excellent. But he still sucks @ss.

Kubel was very good until the knee started acting up on him. This is a serious concern and Kubel could be out of baseball leaving Melky as the better player. The age isn't such a big deal as Kubel lost a year to injury and most of this year to injury.

Health is a big concern. Melky is a decent 4th OF that can fill in as your 3rd OF when needed. Kubel projects as a solid 3rd OF with all-star potential. Not perennial all-star but maybe a season or two.

Arthur: "Look, you stupid bastard, you've got no arms left!" Black Knight: "Yes I have." Arthur: "Look!" Black Knight: "It's just a flesh wound!"

by pedrophile on Nov 24, 2006 12:42 AM EST reply actions

He is playing CF in DWL

And he played CF in the minors, you better have something we can't access to have any valdiation in saying he can't play CF when a lot of things suggest he could.

As for power, his power nubmers in the minors were comparable to Derek Jeter, yes that's not a lot of power, but that's still some power.

by RollingWave on Nov 24, 2006 1:20 AM EST up reply actions

Jeter isn't a good comparison

Jeter hitting 330 with 15 bombs + 30 SB at SS is sweet.
Melky hitting 280 with 15 bombs + 5 SB at LF = backup

Arthur: "Look, you stupid bastard, you've got no arms left!" Black Knight: "Yes I have." Arthur: "Look!" Black Knight: "It's just a flesh wound!"

by pedrophile on Nov 24, 2006 9:02 AM EST up reply actions

does not

quote: he does not play CF as some suggest

I never said he "can not". Johnny Damon is your CF so obviously Melky will be playing a different position. His value will have to be measured as a LF or RF and without power or speed I don't see him giving value other than a very solid 4th OF.

Arthur: "Look, you stupid bastard, you've got no arms left!" Black Knight: "Yes I have." Arthur: "Look!" Black Knight: "It's just a flesh wound!"

by pedrophile on Nov 25, 2006 2:17 PM EST up reply actions

haha get real

I love how Melky is incapable of developing power, since hes already topped out as a 21 year old in the majors. A perfect comparison in build and skillset is Bobby Abreu. The only difference being that Abreu had excellent speed while Melky's is very good.

by PooNani on Nov 24, 2006 10:23 AM EST up reply actions

Defense and power

Melky is the better defensive player. Kubel is the better hitter, with more power and better overall numbers, assuming he heals and gets a chance to play every day in 2007.

Someone said Kubel didn't have more power than Melky. That's just silly. Off the top of my head, in his last healthy season (2004), Kubel hit 24 HRs and 40 doubles in 480 at bats in three levels. Melky's never done anything like that. In Kubel's last healthy week (early June, 2006), he hit six homers. He's the classic corner outfielder in terms of power.

Melky's a tweaner, but if he can play center, he can be as valuable as Kubel considering the dearth of center fielders in baseball. But head to head, Kubel is the better player.

cmathewson

by cmathewson on Nov 25, 2006 12:09 PM EST reply actions