Brett Gardner - Yankee Sleeper CF?

by fridge on Jul 12, 2007 5:04 PM EDT

http://www.trentonthunder.com/release/zRelease.asp?pYYYYMMDD=20070712#20070712

He was promoted to AAA today and has been a very good as a Yankee farmhand. Reportedly has very good defensive skill and an excellent arm and was outstanding in the NY Penn league in 2005 in this regard (1000 Fpct, 7 A, 1DP as a CF in 67 games).

Broke his hand earlier this year, came back and had a blistering June, hitting .385 with 30 hits in 22 games.

His 2007 stats .300 BA, .392 OBP, .413SLG
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/stats/player.php?id=458731
His previous stats.
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/G/Brett-Gardner.shtml

So, what thinks the community? Is he a major league starter possibility? 4th OFer at best? How does he differ from Jacoby Ellsbury, who seems statistically to be very similar, but is much more highly thought of? Certainly, you hear a lot about Ellsbury. You hear nothing about Gardner. If it's thought to be close, it would make for a great smackdown, given the Sox/Yankees angle.

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he'll struggle to hit .280

if you want to get an idea of how gardner will translate to the majors, take a look at michael bourn of the phillies. their A ball numbers were virtually identical, and if not for the minor league umpire strike, their 2nd year AA numbers would also be similar.

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by overlord on Jul 12, 2007 5:10 PM EDT reply actions

In my admittedly biased opinion

They are very similar players: elite speed, good defense in centerfield, little to no power and patient at the plate. The only major difference I have seen between the two is that Ellsbury was promoted more aggressively, and has been more highly touted because he was a first-round pick. I don't think Gardner is better than Ellsbury, but I don't see Ellsbury as a top-40 prospect as we have him here while Gardner is nowhere on the list. I'm not saying Gardner should be on there, but I think Ellsbury is overrated.

http://mvn.com/milb-yankees/

by lemonjello on Jul 12, 2007 5:12 PM EDT reply actions

Sox/Yanx

Please, stop with this obsessive bullshit. Analyze players on their own merits.

by ian on Jul 12, 2007 5:34 PM EDT reply actions

well

isn't that what he just did?

by cmaff05 on Jul 12, 2007 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Uh

No. Yankees prospects must ALWAYS be compared with Sox prospects!!

by ian on Jul 12, 2007 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions

um

is it okay if they are similar?

by playingwithfire on Jul 12, 2007 11:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Similar? They're not similar.

It is a well established fact that, in addition to being an all-around better ballplayer, Ellsbury volunteers at retirement homes, soup kitchens, and is a Big Brother. Gardner, clearly, kicks puppies and steals babies. Open and shut, really.

"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 Jul 13, 2007 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Brett Gardner

He's a faster Bubba Crosby.

by Bravesin07 on Jul 12, 2007 5:42 PM EDT reply actions

age with respect to league

Bubba never did nearly as well as Gardner.

Brett Butler is a good high end comp for the optimistis. If you look at BP's PECOTA comps, Gardner actually profiles similarly to Michael Bourn.

Gardner and Ellsbury were drafted the same year. They have similar minor league numbers and skillsets. Both have very little power, and are groundball hitters that get by on plus speed. It's a fair comparison.

Todd Frazier for President

by FrazierFan on Jul 12, 2007 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions

isn't Ellsbury number one calling card....

....his defense? If so, how does Gardner stack up defensively to Ellsbury?

by bleedjaxblue on Jul 12, 2007 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Good centerfielder

Maybe not as instinctively good as Ellsbury, but he's supposedly a little faster, so he can make up for most mistakes with his speed.

http://mvn.com/milb-yankees/

by lemonjello on Jul 12, 2007 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Gardner is a little faster?

Never seen him run, but that's a bit hard to believe. Ellsbury burns in the field...

I will admit that they seem to have similar stats thus far, but most of Ellsbury's season has been spent at AAA, whereas Gardner has been playing at approximately the same level in AA. It's worth noting.

But I think the REAL reason Ellsbury is by far the better prospect is he's younger than Gardner. By 18 days or so. Projects much better because of it.

"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 Jul 12, 2007 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions

gardner

turns in 80 times in the 60.

most scouts grade him as a 70 in usable game speed

by bmxstreetrider86 on Jul 12, 2007 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL

......

by GregJP on Jul 12, 2007 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions

BTW

Isn't the term "Yankee Sleeper" the veritable definition of an oxymoron? Mahalo

Matt

I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it.

by WayneCampbell05 on Jul 13, 2007 12:34 PM EDT reply actions

Thought the same thing myself

An excellent point.

"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 Jul 13, 2007 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions

the main difference

i went back and read the offseason BA reports on both guys last night, and i think the difference between gardner and ellsbury is that, while neither guy is a power hitter as such, ellsbury does have a better stroke and projects to hit for more gap power. i don't want to post the reports word for word, but gardner is described as having a "short" stroke, very singles hitter, the kind of guy who goes an entire season with literally 0 home runs, gathright-style. ellsbury will never be a slugger but he'll (right now) pop 5 a year, maybe 10-15 in his prime. plus a corresponding increase in doubles. that does make a difference.

by wily mo on Jul 13, 2007 2:01 PM EDT reply actions