Bring Back Andy Phillips!

[DoubleX]

It's a little thing, preferring someone like Ensberg over someone like Andy Phillips, but I think it could make a big difference and speaks volumes about poor management decisions. Ensberg is about as useless a player as I can remember in recent Yankees history, yet he was preferred over Andy Phillips. A guy who for years played well in the minors, paid his dues, but never got a fair shot either because of management's decision to bring in mediocre veterans, or the manager's decision (Torre) to play mediocre veterans. But Phillips, while not a great player, does the little things, gives you some defensive options, and he's an easy guy to root for. This year he has a .911 OPS for the Reds' AAA affiliate, and has an .876 minor league OPS. He'd certainly be an upgrade for the Yankees current mediocre and thin bench. Why Cashman would waive Phillips then stick with a guy like Ensberg is mindboggling. I know it's extremely unlikely, but I'd like to see the team trade some marginal A or AA prospect for Phillips, then waive Ensberg to create room. If for nothing else, then to right a stupid wrong the team made this offseason.

[TonyStarks]

That's funny.

I went to FI today and looked at Andy Phillips numbers. He's still on my Tracker list and I saw the same thing you saw...then thought damn I wish Cashman can take him off the Reds hands on the cheap. Hell, even give'em Ensberg!!

[Evangelion]

Ensberg was a low risk, high reward player. The risk was taken, it's proven to be a failure up to this point. I'm not sure why the team deciding to stick with Ensberg, because the possible reward of receiving a player who could reclaim his former production from 2005 going to happen. The team clearly should have DFA'ed Ensberg when the decision to activate Betemit came since Gonzalez was a superior defender, it's not like Ensberg was a better hitter, because at this point, he's not.

As for Andy Phillips, the same case could be made for many career minor leaguers. The team should have DFA'ed Ensberg and kept Gonzalez. That's my view on the matter. Andy Phillips is nothing special, not to be cruel, but there's a reason he's been a career minor league and the Yankees just let him walk, at least I believe he walked and wasn't traded to Reds' organization.

[DoubleX]

As for Andy Phillips, the same case could be made for many career minor leaguers. The team should have DFA'ed Ensberg and kept Gonzalez. That's my view on the matter. Andy Phillips is nothing special, not to be cruel, but there's a reason he's been a career minor league and the Yankees just let him walk, at least I believe he walked and wasn't traded to Reds' organization.

Phillips isn't anything special, but the reason he's been a career minor leaguer has little to do with his play, and much more to do with the Yankees complete disdain for their farm system during the first half of this decade. With most other organizations, Phillips would likely have been called up earlier and given more of a chance. He has a career .876 minor league OPS, with the majority of that coming while playing 2B. That's the kind of production that I think most other organizations would have noticed at some point. Take 2002 for example - he's 25 years old, puts up a .895 OPS in 477 ABs between AA and AAA, playing 2B, and doesn't even sniff the Majors until 2004 when he gets just 8 ABs. How many other organizations would have ignored that?

[TonyStarks]

Ensberg was a low risk, high reward player. The risk was taken, it's proven to be a failure up to this point. I'm not sure why the team deciding to stick with Ensberg, because the possible reward of receiving a player who could reclaim his former production from 2005 going to happen. The team clearly should have DFA'ed Ensberg when the decision to activate Betemit came since Gonzalez was a superior defender, it's not like Ensberg was a better hitter, because at this point, he's not.

As for Andy Phillips, the same case could be made for many career minor leaguers. The team should have DFA'ed Ensberg and kept Gonzalez. That's my view on the matter. Andy Phillips is nothing special, not to be cruel, but there's a reason he's been a career minor league and the Yankees just let him walk, at least I believe he walked and wasn't traded to Reds' organization.

He's a career Minor Leaguer because Joe Torre and the Yankees never actually gave him a shot. Last season Cashman said Phillips would be the 1B from that point on....yet 2 games later he was back on the bench. Torre just refused to get him regular ABs. I have no problems saying a player is a bust...but you cannot say Phillips wasn't ready for the MLB if he don't give him the chance...and he never got it with NY.

[nyyfan]

Ha ha. I do want him with the Yanks but hey, he is playing for my hometown Triple A team and I get to watch him a lot. So, not right now. lol

[nyyfan]

Ha ha. I do want him with the Yanks but hey, he is playing for my hometown Triple A team and I get to watch him a lot. So, not right now. lol

Well, just heard he was called up but hey anybody consider Mark Bellhorn?

[clipper]

He's a career Minor Leaguer because Joe Torre and the Yankees never actually gave him a shot. Last season Cashman said Phillips would be the 1B from that point on....yet 2 games later he was back on the bench. Torre just refused to get him regular ABs. I have no problems saying a player is a bust...but you cannot say Phillips wasn't ready for the MLB if he don't give him the chance...and he never got it with NY.

Right on. The organization and Torres NEVER had confidence in him even when he had great games. They were always looking for a replacement (Betemit) and not giving him the chance. I wish him the best. I am worried they will do this with Chad.