So Long Shelley Duncan?

[steve rogers]

I know he's very popular with the fans, but I think it's time for him to go. He's had only 56 at bats, but he's hitting .164 with one home run and 2 doubles. He's made 3 errors and I know 2 of them were costly. He just looks completly out of place. Maybe he deserves a little more time, but I just don't see him contributing anything. I guess there's kind of a line for players that should be sent away like Betemet, Ensberg, Olendorf and "It is High It Is Far" Hawkins. I think Shelley should be added to that list. I'm wondering what you guys think should be done with Duncan.

Scott

[thegame4219]

Shelly is the least of the concerns. He is more useful than Wilson at this point...so nothing should be done with him, he is fine where he is at. Bullpen is WAY WAY more of an concern. He is fine, he is someone who needs to adjust to his role so you got to give him time to do that, you can send a guy down to AAA where he plays everyday then call him back up to be an once a week player and pinch hitter and expect his bat or his glove to be there if he continues this through the all star break and then to trade deadline then you look to do something like send him down for good or another move

[White Knight]

I know he's very popular with the fans, but I think it's time for him to go. He's had only 56 at bats, but he's hitting .164 with one home run and 2 doubles. He's made 3 errors and I know 2 of them were costly. He just looks completly out of place. Maybe he deserves a little more time, but I just don't see him contributing anything. I guess there's kind of a line for players that should be sent away like Betemet, Ensberg, Olendorf and "It is High It Is Far" Hawkins. I think Shelley should be added to that list. I'm wondering what you guys think should be done with Duncan.

Scott

Is he popular with fans? I personally can't stand him, and want him down in the minors ASAP.

[Pinstripes]

I feel like Shelley is constantly trying to do too much. It's not entirely his fault, though, as first off he should never be used in the field. He should only appear in games as a DH or PH. That would take a lot of the stress of playing the field off his mind, as that part of his game is clearly in his head.

I'd personally send him back down to the minors where he can regroup and they can maybe figure out if he's capable of playing 1B or the OF on a defensively sound basis. If not, you let him play some more down there just to get his feel for hitting back. It's incredibly hard to get in any kind of rhythm once you've started to slump and are only playing 1 or 2 times a week.

I really like Shelley. I like that he's hungry, I like that he's a fighter, and I like the intensity. It never hurts to have a guy with that kind of passion. The problem is that he's not hitting a lick, and he can't field at all. DH him, PH, or send him back to the minors.

[White Knight]

I feel like Shelley is constantly trying to do too much. It's not entirely his fault, though, as first off he should never be used in the field. He should only appear in games as a DH or PH. That would take a lot of the stress of playing the field off his mind, as that part of his game is clearly in his head.

I'd personally send him back down to the minors where he can regroup and they can maybe figure out if he's capable of playing 1B or the OF on a defensively sound basis. If not, you let him play some more down there just to get his feel for hitting back. It's incredibly hard to get in any kind of rhythm once you've started to slump and are only playing 1 or 2 times a week.

I really like Shelley. I like that he's hungry, I like that he's a fighter, and I like the intensity. It never hurts to have a guy with that kind of passion. The problem is that he's not hitting a lick, and he can't field at all. DH him, PH, or send him back to the minors.

When I first saw Shelly, I had hoped he would be a Marc McGwire clone. You know, he's 6'5 like Mac, and I assumed while perhaps he would not be the best 1st basesman, he could hit .265 with potentially lots of power. It still may be possible. I take back my earlier statement where I said I couldn't stand him. Bad choice of words. I just think he needs another season in the minors to groom him.

[DoubleX]

Duncan to me seemed destined to be the next in the Kevin Maas/Shane Spencer line, but right now, he's not even living up to that standard. I was thinking, best case scenario, Duncan could hit maybe 20 homeruns, but hit for low BA and strike out a lot.

He's only recently started to get ABs with some regularity, so I'd give it a few more games to see if he comes around. If not, then yeah, something should be done. The problem is, the Yankees really don't have many really attractive alternatives in the minors right now. Ben Broussard has been hitting well since coming to Scranton, but he's not shown particularly much in the Majors, especially in the last couple of years. Brett Gardner I think would actually help the team given his speed and OF defense, but the team seems set on keeping him down. Jason Lane has shown power at AAA but he's hitting just .249. I don't really see him as a better alternative. Juan Miranda has been hitting decently, but he's probably not ready yet and wouldn't probably waste a way on the bench with the Yankees.

Plus, before Duncan goes, Morgan Ensberg should go, so there is already a line.

Anyway, this all really illustrates the team's failing at addressing developing positional players. Other than maybe Gardner, who the team just ignores, the team has produced virtually nothing in the draft this decade in terms of positional talent. It's a ridiculously poor track record and someone should be held accountable. They've come up with a few guys through international scouting, like Cabrera and Cano, but I'm not yet convinced that Cabrera is a long-term answer, and the team was just lucky with Cano that the Diamondbacks didn't take him for Randy Johnson, because he was their's for the taking.

When I first saw Shelly, I had hoped he would be a Marc McGwire clone. You know, he's 6'5 like Mac, and I assumed while perhaps he would not be the best 1st basesman, he could hit .265 with potentially lots of power. It still may be possible. I take back my earlier statement where I said I couldn't stand him. Bad choice of words. I just think he needs another season in the minors to groom him.

Those were lofty aspirations. McGwire burst onto the scene in 1987 with 49 homeruns as a 23 year old rookie. That was tied for the most in a season between 1977 and 1990. McGwire was also a decent fielder early in his career, actually winning a Gold Glove. Duncan, on the other hand, plodded through the minor leagues for almost 7 years, before coming up at 27 and showing some power, but nothing McGwireseque. McGwire will of course be remembered and tainted because of steroids, but his early career showed that he had very rare power. I know I'm going off on a tangent here, but I actually believe if McGwire had not used steroids, he may have ended up with the same amount of career homeruns anyway, as he would have been healthier, thus playing more often, and his career could have been longer.

[Mission 27]

Shelly is the least of the concerns. He is more useful than Wilson at this point...so nothing should be done with him, he is fine where he is at. Bullpen is WAY WAY more of an concern. He is fine, he is someone who needs to adjust to his role so you got to give him time to do that, you can send a guy down to AAA where he plays everyday then call him back up to be an once a week player and pinch hitter and expect his bat or his glove to be there if he continues this through the all star break and then to trade deadline then you look to do something like send him down for good or another move

More useful than Betemit? How do you figure that?? Duncan hasn't hit at all and is playing poor defense. Betemit is going to play solid defense at multiple positions and isn't a bad hitter. He pinch hit for Duncan last night cause Duncan can only hit against lefties, making him even less useful.. The only reason he's even getting this playing time is cause he hit a bunch of homers right when he got called up ala Scott Brocious

[Urbanshocker13]

More useful than Betemit? How do you figure that?? Duncan hasn't hit at all and is playing poor defense. Betemit is going to play solid defense at multiple positions and isn't a bad hitter. He pinch hit for Duncan last night cause Duncan can only hit against lefties, making him even less useful.. The only reason he's even getting this playing time is cause he hit a bunch of homers right when he got called up ala Scott Brocious

What Betemit have you seen? He hasn't been that great at any position, and his hitting has also been bad. Brocious? Don't you mean Spencer!? Brocious was a solid 3rd baseman through the championship years, came over to the Yanks from the A's. Spencer is the one who came up and hit homeruns.

Duncan does seem to have the same fate as Shane Spencer, Kevin Maas ect. A flash in the pan, that might get to go to old timers day to be one of the first ones called out with Kay saying "he was a fan favorite" before he comes out. But who knows he might surprise us. The Yanks don't have even a decent defensive 1rst baseman this year, Giambi is horrible and Duncan & Betemit haven't been any better we'll see what happens when the season plays out.

[thegame4219]

More useful than Betemit? How do you figure that?? Duncan hasn't hit at all and is playing poor defense. Betemit is going to play solid defense at multiple positions and isn't a bad hitter. He pinch hit for Duncan last night cause Duncan can only hit against lefties, making him even less useful.. The only reason he's even getting this playing time is cause he hit a bunch of homers right when he got called up ala Scott Brocious

you must be related to Wilson or he is paying you... Betemit is a Strike Out Machine:
Here is the proof:
---Betemit (2007-08) 49 Games; 118 At Bats; 42 Strike Outs (33 in 2007); .246 Batting Avg.
---Duncan (2007-08) 55 Games; 130 At Bats; 33 Strike Outs (20 in 2007); .209 Batting Avg.
It took Duncan 130 At Bats to match what Betemit did in 84 at bats in terms of strike outs.

And as far as fielding goes: 2007-08:
Duncan: .980 Fielding Percentage; 3 Errors; .986 1B Fielding Percentage; 3 Errors
Betemit: .969 Fielding Percentage; 3 Errors; 1.000 1B Fielding Percentage; 0 Errors

Yes, cause Scott Brosius was just a useless power hitter, are you crazy???

The only reason Wilson is any bit useful is because he saves us a position player spot and his only use is now to fill in for Cano and Jeter and that is only because Alberto may not be ready yet but i can almost guarantee you that Wilson will not be resigned after this year.

[DoubleX]

Betemit has proven to be a bad fielder at multiple positions this year, but he's actually a pretty decent hitter for a utility player. If you're comparing him straight to Duncan, other than Ks, he bests Duncan in every other category. His strikeout rate has also dropped since that first stint to the DL when he had eye problems. Betemit has good raw tools, and if put in the right situation, meaning a team that can be patient as he develops on the job, I think he could become a decent hitter, with decent average, getting on base a little bit, and maybe 20+ homeruns - he did hit 18 homeruns in 373 ABs in 2006 and 14 in 240 last year, so he has pretty good pop for a utility player.

But he's in the wrong situation in NY, and I still don't get trading Proctor for him when the bullpen was a mess and Cairo was doing an adequate job anyway.

Back to Duncan - I'd be happy right now if he could live up to Shane Spencer. Spencer was actually a fairly decent player for a few years, but had injury problems and never really got a regular shot.

[clipper]

Agree. I really like Shelley as a teamate and his enthusiam BUT he is pressing and needs to go back to minors. ASAP. We are not helping him sitting on the bench. He needs work to correct his hitting. It appears he can only hit the fastball. I was hoping Shelley would be 1B and Giambi as DH early. Giambi is much better at 1B and Shelley is doing worst than last year.

I am not a fan of Betemit or Giambi at 1B.

Clipper

[brave80]

I guess Shelly's "Baltimore Orioles-head-groundskeeper girlfriend" is really doing a number on him. She used to be the head groundskeeper for the Trenton Thunder when he was there.