Random Thoughts

-Emil Brown is on my s@*t list. No wonder the ROYALS didn’t want him.

-Brandon Moss…who?

-Is anybody going to read Canseco’s new book? Read something educational instead.

-How can an 85-year old woman working at Radio Shack know more about electronics and technologies than I do?

-Memo to Yankees: Get Harden! (has to be better than Pavano, Igawa, and Wright…right?) But don’t give up Kennedy.

-Papelbon is overrated

-So is Huston Street

-If you are in a fantasy league, don’t draft Rasmus or Maybin (unless it is a keeper league).

-Baseball Tonight needs Harold Reynolds back…I don’t care if he did do it.

-Trade Igawa and every other lefthander in the organization. Traber too…you just wait.

-Note to Jonathon Roy: If you want to be like your father, why don’t you try and stop pucks first instead of dropping your gloves for no apparent reason.

-How can No Country For Old Men win ‘Best Picture?’

OF: Too Many? or It’s About Time!

If you were told a few years ago that the Yanks would have an outfield of Damon, Matsui, and Abreu, you would be pretty excited right?  That certainly isn’t the case anymore.

Johnny Damon used to be one of the best CF’s in all of baseball and now he is relegated to LF duty because he can’t hack it in CF anymore.  What the heck happened?  I am still wondering that myself.  He had a down year last year and with the emergence of Melky Cabrera as the everyday CF, Damon took a back seat for the time being and I commend him for his positive attitude.  The plan is to have Damon play most games in LF, as he is the better defensive player between the two, thus leaving Matsui to DH most of the time.  If Matsui does DH the majority of the time, Giambi or Duncan will have to sit out.  Both players can still really rake, but their defensive skills have deteriorated drastically.   Damon usually has some nagging injuries during the season and Matsui had some freak injuries and minor surgeries.  These could be a factor once again in 2008.  However, I still think both can get the job done on an everyday basis, regardless who is in LF.  In terms of offensive production, Damon could be an unknown, but Matsui will give you his typical .280-25-100.  With the rotation of Matsui and Damon, both should remain relatively healthy throughout the season.

Melky Cabrera will be the CF for the time being.  Girardi had stated that there is a battle for the CF spot between Gardner and Cabrera.  I would be very surprised to see Gardner roaming CF come opening day, despite his productive spring training.  Melky was one of our young players that was thought to be on his way out of NY via trade during this offseason.  Things fell apart between the Twins and the Yankees and Melky will be the everyday CF for at least another year.  Gardner is considered by many publications to be a top 10 prospect in the Yankees organization.  I personally think that he has the potential to start, but he is best suited as a 4th outfielder.  His speed and his ability to make contact at the plate make him a great defensive replacement and/or pinch runner late in a crucial game.  He runs out every ball and I don’t care if he stumbles out of the gate, I want to see that in every player.  Cabrera has more pop and probably plays better defense, but ultimately his experience will make him the go to guy most of the season. But don’t count out Gardner.  If Cabrera falters early, he will be the first in line to be his replacement.

Bobby Abreu, like Damon, regressed in the last few years.  But unlike Damon, he usually remains relatively healthy.  Abreu has always been a rather underrated player throughout his career, but his production says otherwise.  Abreu is also getting older, much like our LF, but you know what you are going to get.  He is just a stop gap until the Yankees finally unveil Tabata.  Austin Jackson might be ready for full time duty in CF as early as 2009.  Both have tons of potential and are expected to anchor the outfield for years to come.