Melky Cabrera

[Tinyballer]

Hey what do you guys think this guy will become. Do you guys think he will become a guy who can hit 20-30 homeruns a year or a good contact hitter or what do you guys project him to be. I think he is a look like a nother Cabrera we all know in miguel. I feel he will be a guy who can hit .300 yet also give us like 30 home runs what do you guys think

[Blackout]

he's the next Babe Ruth

[Mariano_Rivera]

I think he can be a great contact hitter with a little bit of pop in his bat

[Alibi Ike]

If he can get on base 40% of the time and hit 15-20 homers and 30+ doubles a year, I would be fine with that.

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

A good contact hitter. That's what we need.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

A couple of Nats fans think he's overrated.

[Bronxbombers]

I hope he can blossom into a superstar, but his talent set doesnt predict him to be a major star. Id expect him to be a .300 hitter who barely cracks double digits each year and gets about 10-15 sbs

[Blackout]

A couple of Nats fans think he's overrated.

what do they have to back their opinions up with?

[DoubleX]

I'm starting to grow more and more impressed with Cabrera. He's great at making contact and putting the ball in play, he can take walks, has good speed, a good arm, and his fielding is improving. The only thing I'd like at this point is for him to flash some more power, but at 21, he's looked pretty darn good, especially lately.

[TonyStarks]

I'm starting to grow more and more impressed with Cabrera. He's great at making contact and putting the ball in play, he can take walks, has good speed, a good arm, and his fielding is improving. The only thing I'd like at this point is for him to flash some more power, but at 21, he's looked pretty darn good, especially lately.

Power @ 21? That's pretty rare.
The kid has show flashes with 20+ doubles the last two seasons. He did hit 10 Hrs also last season. Power could be coming along.

I think he'll be a fine RF..with more work of course.
I can see him average in the .290-.320 & 15-25HR range.

BTW...I'd much rather see Cabrera in RF than have George give Sheffield another 2-3 yr deal at $15M per. Wouldn't you?

[Mattingly]

Power @ 21? That's pretty rare.
The kid has show flashes with 20+ doubles the last two seasons. He did hit 10 Hrs also last season. Power could be coming along.

I think he'll be a fine RF..with more work of course.
I can see him average in the .290-.320 & 15-25HR range.

BTW...I'd much rather see Cabrera in RF than have George give Sheffield another 2-3 yr deal at $15M per. Wouldn't you?

I think that the Yanks will have to do like other teams and be patient. I believe that the reason Cashman isn't doling out the big buck$ is because the Yanks wanted to see what other options were available to them.

I'm hearing that Melky isn't having his defensive meltdowns in overrunnings balls nonstop, so if he's good defensively, can hit reasonably well, he could be our guy in RF. However, to separate him from Shane Spencer, he must remain injury-free or heal quickly if a minor sprain. He should also hit well against lefties and righties.

Time will tell. As I'd mentioned here somewhere in another thread, I see Cashman opting out of Sheffield's 2007 option, but giving him about $8-10m to DH. I'm not sure how much the buyout is, but if they're only saving $1m, the option may be more cost-worthy in the end.

Either case, if Melky gets a shot, then the youth movement will prevail. If he goes via trade, that would send a really bad message to the young guys in the farm.

Between Matsui's wrist, Damon's right foot and Gary's so-so fielding, I can't see Melky going anywhere for awhile.

Now then, who names their kid "Melky"? It's his real name, not a nickname, and no middle name either:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/cabreme01.shtml

[mikesty]

My dad and I joked that his folks must have been real boozed up

I like him a lot. Extra bases and power are coming around, but i'm in no hurry for that stuff. Honestly, I'll take him hitting .320 and drawing walks over that. He is a good piece to the Yankee puzzle I like Melky, he reminds me of Bernie in some ways.

[VIBaseball]

So many of you guys are wishing for him to be the perfect leadoff man. Sure, it would be nice if Melky turned out that way, but how many of them are there at any given time in the majors? They don't grow on trees.

[farmsystem]

Melky Cabrera looks like one of the good young Cleveland Indians players. I'd bet the Indians would like to have Melky in their outfield since he fits the profile. He looks to be a decent hitter for average and not much power. I think he'll do well as long as he's on a team with other power hitters.

[Mariano_Rivera]

Personally I`m more impressed with his plate disciplince. That is very rare in a young player. His arm is impressive as well. He drops a lot of flyball but those are just rookie mistakes. He`ll fix those over time.

[Authentic]

After that catch he made to rob Manny Ramirez of a game tying home run, That kid just earned his pinstripes. What a turn around from last season when he turned a line drive from Trot Nixon into an inside the park homer. Or when he was 1st called up this season and dropped that fly ball in right. I like his entusiasm for the game. he always has a smile in his face. This kid is having fun. Well, then again who wouldn't be? He is living every Yankees fan dream. He is not just on the team, he is also contributing.

I am now somewhat thankful for some of the injuries that have occurred this season. If not for Sheffield and Matsui going down melki would have been nothing but trade bait. It's about time to let these young players develop ala Mattingly, Pettite, Jeter, Williams, etc. The Yankees have the best farm system in baseball which is always being depleted for big names that can't cut it in the Bronx.

George needs to stop paying for the likes of guys like Randy "gopher ball" Johnson and E-Rod. They will never be true Yankees. Just guns for hire.

[farmsystem]

That was a great catch by Melky. What great timing. He bailed out Farns who is kind of shaky in those spots. Hopefully Melky will continue to play well as the Yankees need him to with all the injuries. The thing I like is that the young players are just playing their game and not doing too much.

[TonyStarks]

That was a great catch by Melky. What great timing. He bailed out Farns who is kind of shaky in those spots. Hopefully Melky will continue to play well as the Yankees need him to with all the injuries. The thing I like is that the young players are just playing their game and not doing too much.

Farns should have given him like $500K for the catch.
It might have prevented his ERA from going over the 5.00 Mark!!!

[Yankee Legend]

I honestly think we should keep melky in right and put sheff in dh next year.

[TonyStarks]

I honestly think we should keep melky in right and put sheff in dh next year.

For that to happen, Sheff will probably command $12M per.
Would you shell that out for an aging DH who spends lots of time on DL??

[mikesty]

Let's look at how things are for our team right now:

Q. Are we winning?

A. Yes. 8-2 = L10

Q. Why?

A. Pitching has been sharp and the hitting has been productive. A strong shift to different players has lead to a decrease in the whole "3-r HR" mantra we peddle around here.

Q. What would benefit our team the most?

A. Probably a stronger pitching staff (another starter?), and a better backup catcher

Q. What can we trade?

A. Sheffield?

[TonyStarks]

Let's look at how things are for our team right now:

Q. What would benefit our team the most?

A. Probably a stronger pitching staff (another starter?), and a better backup catcher

Q. What can we trade?

A. Sheffield?

No one will take Sheff's contract, his attitude and his health issues without the Yanks eating about 60% of the salary.
Do you really want to keep eating contracts for players playing against the Yanks?

The Pitching HAS to come around.
Randy Johnson is untradeable. He's our major problem.
Chacon is due back soon and so is Dotel.

I wonder who's going to be sent away when Dotel comes back?

[mikesty]

Erickson, for sure!

[TonyStarks]

Erickson, for sure!

LOL....not worth it.
But I'd gladly take some cotton candy for him.

No one would in their 'right' mind would trade for Erickson...a smart GM would just wait until Cashman releases him.

[mikesty]

I meant they would demote him