NFT: Yankees Clint Frazier

if Ellsbury, Gardner and Hicks are all healthy. The decision will likely be mooted. Also, Frazier would come up again on 9/1, so it would probably be a very brief demotion.

If they send this kid down. Send Jake out to pasture if Hicks comes back and is the Hicks of the early season.

Ellsbury and Gardner are healthy right now and Joe has talked to Ellsbury that he is going to go with the hot hand. So if the kid is still raking when Hicks comes back something's got to give. Hicks will not be as sharp as he was when he went on the DL. He'll need time to get back in the groove. Someones got to go.

They aren't getting rid of Ellsbury, Gardner, Judge or Hicks. It's not going to help us in the short term, but he will be back up in less than a month. It's unfortunately our only option without trading Ellsbury or Gardner.

He still gives you a good AB in a big spot, and I like having a veteran in the middle of the lineup with the Baby Bombers, but his production has fallen off a cliff in recent weeks. Opening up the DH spot might be the best way to clear the logjam in the outfield. Judge, Frazier and Gardy can share DH duties.

Gardy
Hicks
Judge
Sanchez
Clint
Didi

That's an excellent 1-6. If Castro and dare I say Bird come back later the lineup can be eight deep, with Headley and Todd Frazier platooning at third. Not bad at all.

Hicks isn't ready to come back and I'm sure when he does they will put him on a rehab stint. But still in the heat of a pennant race when every win is of the utmost importance you have to go with the hot hand.

guy has no value at this point he's a highly paid pinch runner

You can tell he'll be one of those "heart and soul" type guys on a good team, like an O'Neill/Posada/Pedroia type. Always getting big hits, always getting his uniform dirty - probably starting a few fights, too.

For the time being I'd put Headley back at third and play Cooper at first. Headley is hot again and Cooper has picked it up recently. Besides Frazier was stinking it up in Chicago and I guess the only the trade got done was for the Yankees to take him off their hands, I hope they aren't playing him out of respect for his tenure. They aren't doing that with Ellsbury so they shouldn't treat this situation any differently either.

guy is gritty AF you need firestarters like that on your team. Watchin Ellsbury on the other hand is about as inspiring as watching paint dry.

When he returns he should be handed a first baseman glove if he wants to play. Not sold on Hicks. He got off to a terrific start but has not played in two months. Has he legitimately improved as a hitter - not sure.

Frazier needs to play LF for the remainder of the season with Judge in RF. That is our future. Gardner in CF can split time with Hicks if Hicks can't play 1B. And Ellsbury will be the highest paid pinch runner ever conceived of until Yanks can somehow dump him.

He reminds a little like Josh Donaldson. He looks like him but I don't think he's as big. But down the road as he continues to fill out he'll get stronger he's going to be a pain the ass in that lineup.

Gardner needs to be in the lineup everyday too. He's like our Pedroia. Hard to strike out and just a royal pain in the ass. He's a leader and I hope he retires as a Yankee.

They just made a trade to bolster the bullpen for the stretch run, and they'll probably add a starter this week, too. Cashman clearly thinks this team has a chance to make the playoffs and make some noise when they get there. In a tight race, your best players have to play.

As much as I hate him.

The fact that a healthy Jacoby has been riding the pine the last few games speaks volumes. Even if Cash forces the issue, it will be short lived. Hicks is not due back until mid-August, and the roster expands from 25 to 40 on Sep-1.

In comment 13537520 blueblood'11 said:

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Gardner needs to be in the lineup everyday too. He's like our Pedroia. Hard to strike out and just a royal pain in the ass. He's a leader and I hope he retires as a Yankee.

True Gardner is a gritty gamer, but someone who can hit better than .250 to .260 should be leading off.

and said his preference right now is a Frazier/Gardy/Judge outfield alignment, and that's what he's been getting. I don't think anyone wants to see Ellsbury on the field.

batting average at leadoff is meaningless. 350 isn't great but it's pretty good when combined with 17 HRs. At this point Gardner is by far the best option to lead off. As far as Clint Frazier goes if he keeps playing like this he's not going back to AAA even when Hicks comes back. They'll figure something else out.

For Frazier, Ellsbury ,wade and another high prospect

In comment 13537545 Beer Man said:

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In comment 13537520 blueblood'11 said: Quote: Gardner needs to be in the lineup everyday too. He's like our Pedroia. Hard to strike out and just a royal pain in the ass. He's a leader and I hope he retires as a Yankee. True Gardner is a gritty gamer, but someone who can hit better than .250 to .260 should be leading off.

His OBP is 350 or so and he's near the top in baseball in pitches per plate appearance. He's a fine leadoff hitter.

In comment 13537565 32_Razor said:

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For Frazier, Ellsbury ,wade and another high prospect

Where the hell are you hearing this?

Put me down as a skeptic.

.

Involving Stanton to Yankees on his fanrag. Nj.com has a link

In comment 13537568 Danny Kanell said:

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Where the hell are you hearing this?

He's been talking to George Steinbrenner's baseball people.

In comment 13537581 32_Razor said:

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Involving Stanton to Yankees on his fanrag. Nj.com has a link

He wrote "Yanks have checked in" on Stanton, which there was a thread about.

That's a far cry from "Yanks are close". Brutal.

when a team is for sale. I'd guess negative.

has since come out and said they're not trading the core pieces, but that should always be taken with a grain of salt. I think our focus is starting pitching.

Conseco monsters at one time. Lot of HR's and strikeouts

In 2 years will Cleveland wish they had Frazier instead of Miller?

In comment 13537568 Danny Kanell said:

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In comment 13537565 32_Razor said: Quote: For Frazier, Ellsbury ,wade and another high prospect Where the hell are you hearing this?

There may be some teeth to this rumor. This was posted on NJ.com today. It doesn't name players, but it does discuss that there have multiple phone calls between the teams.
NJ.com - ( New Window )

In comment 13537652 Beer Man said:

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There may be some teeth to this rumor. This was posted on NJ.com today. It doesn't name players, but it does discuss that there have multiple phone calls between the teams. NJ.com - ( New Window )

From the article:

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It isn't believed the Yankees' talk with the Marlins went far beyond an initial phone call, and that apparently came weeks ago, and there's no evidence any Stanton talks are ongoing with the Yankees at this time. Marlins people have said that Stanton isn't "out there" on the trade market, but that hasn't stopped at least "four or five" teams from checking in while the Marlins shop several other players. Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria is trying to sell the team, and the baseball people are selling some of their players - though everyone involved says there's practically no chance for a Stanton deal at a time the whole franchise is in flux.

It states that the A's are now scouting the Yank's class-A Riverdogs. I know it has been the Yankees way in the past, but hopefully, Cash is not going to drain the farm for Gray. The youngsters have made the Yankees exciting again, and I hope Cash sticks to the youth movement.

A's have been all over our farm system lately and Cashman probably thinks we're one starter short of being a legit contender. Brace yourselves.

In comment 13537673 bceagle05 said:

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A's have been all over our farm system lately and Cashman probably thinks we're one starter short of being a legit contender. Brace yourselves.

Perhaps. I just don't think that starter is Sonny Gray.

I just do not want to see us go crazy to get him. If it can be for a few mid level prospects that helps us with the 40 man problem I say go for it. If they are looking at top-tier guys I would say move on.

and while "getting rid of Ellsbury" sounds nice, leaving the money out of it for a moment, we are going to need depth in the OF. I don't think he goes and I think he ends up the highest paid pinch runner in league history the rest of the way.

In comment 13537706 RasputinPrime said:

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and while "getting rid of Ellsbury" sounds nice, leaving the money out of it for a moment, we are going to need depth in the OF. I don't think he goes and I think he ends up the highest paid pinch runner in league history the rest of the way.

At least he has some value as a pinch runner, since he doesn't have to get on base himself.

he was having a nice season but just like year's past here he got hurt and stayed in neutral even after coming back from injury. The guy gets hurt a lot but worse, he doesn't hit when he gets healthy again.

Worry about Clint being sent down when it happens. It hasn't yet.

In comment 13537732 BigBlueShock said:

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In comment 13537706 RasputinPrime said: Quote: and while "getting rid of Ellsbury" sounds nice, leaving the money out of it for a moment, we are going to need depth in the OF. I don't think he goes and I think he ends up the highest paid pinch runner in league history the rest of the way. At least he has some value as a pinch runner, since he doesn't have to get on base himself.

Until September when the rosters expand, at which time Mateo becomes the primary pinch runner (assuming Mateo is not traded)

1) There was a NY Post article yesterday talking about the incredible depth of the Yankee farm system--not the top end, the back end. Suggested that there are close to 50 players who would make the top 30 of a typical team. This is what gives the Yankees flexibility to make trades that most other teams wouldn't without depleting their systems.

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“It takes some time to kind of stack the systems against each other,” Jim Callis, a prospect expert with MLB Pipeline, said by phone. “I still think there’s no question the Yankees have a top-three farm system in baseball, along with the Braves and White Sox, whatever order you want to put them. “I don’t think there’s even question the Yankees definitely have the deepest farm system. I do our Yankees top-30 prospect list, and I’m not saying this with any sense of hyperbole: I can easily rank 40 or 45 Yankees who belong on most top-30 lists. Their farm system is ridiculous. If you stretch the definition to include guys I kind of like and can see them making the top-30 list some day, you might be able to pull that number up to 50 or 60.”

http://nypost.com/2017/07/22/where-does-yankees-ridiculous-farm-system-rank-now/

2) Article in the NY times today, linked below, about the prior flaw in Frazier's swing, that the Yankee coaches have fixed. He knew he was jumping at the ball didn't know how to stop. Hitting coach Cockrell taught him a trick to stop it--point your left hip pocket at the pitcher--showed films of Bautista and Adam Jones doing the same thing.

My point is that if it indeed took some time to fix the flaw, and he's still batting .295 with an OPS of .908, he isn't going anywhere. His upside right now is enough to keep him playing. Ellsebury sits, and when Hicks returns, why not use one out of the top 4-5 outfielders at DH some days, since Holliday appears to be fading? Since returning, he is hitting .114 with an OPS of .354. Maybe it's still the aftermath of the virus, but how long do they give him to find out?



Link - ( New Window )

Why isn't Jake Cave considered a top prospect? Right now, he is just about the hottest player in the minor leagues. Batting .380 with 10 homers in 35 games, including tonight. 25 RBIs in 35 games. 1.082 OPS.

You could make a list of players given away the past 5 or so years that are playing in MLB and out performing guys the Yankees have signed to large contracts during that same time.

Quintana
Gamel
Solarte
Swarzak
Pirela

I'm probably missing a few. But you get the idea.

for Duda

In comment 13537947 spike said:

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for Duda

What? Why?

Are you taking drugs tonight?

In comment 13537949 B in ALB said:

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In comment 13537947 spike said: Quote: for Duda What? Why? Are you taking drugs tonight?

spike is a Mets fan. Can you blame him for being an 8 Ball deep?

In comment 13537951 BigBlueShock said:

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In comment 13537949 B in ALB said: Quote: In comment 13537947 spike said: Quote: for Duda What? Why? Are you taking drugs tonight? spike is a Mets fan. Can you blame him for being an 8 Ball deep?

Its 9:30 PM...they are typically further along than that.

In comment 13537942 arniefez said:

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You could make a list of players given away the past 5 or so years that are playing in MLB and out performing guys the Yankees have signed to large contracts during that same time. Quintana Gamel Solarte Swarzak Pirela I'm probably missing a few. But you get the idea.

Am I wrong, or wasn't Cave taken in the Rule V draft at least once, but never made the drafting team? If so, he is either just now hitting his stride, or is an AAAA talent.

In comment 13537942 arniefez said:

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You could make a list of players given away the past 5 or so years that are playing in MLB and out performing guys the Yankees have signed to large contracts during that same time. Quintana Gamel Solarte Swarzak Pirela I'm probably missing a few. But you get the idea.

Amazing. You do not even know how dumb you made yourself look with that post. The ONLY player on that list who is more than a starter on a bad team is Quintana- not a SINGLE one of the others would be anything more than bench/bullpen depth on a contender- and it is the YANKEES who do not know how to evaluate talent.

You were a joke under your old poster name and are no different now Randall.

In comment 13537938 manh george said:

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Why isn't Jake Cave considered a top prospect? Right now, he is just about the hottest player in the minor leagues. Batting .380 with 10 homers in 35 games, including tonight. 25 RBIs in 35 games. 1.082 OPS.

Until this year, wasn't considered enough of a power bat to be an MLB regular in the corner OF. He probably isn't a CF, injuries sapped some of his speed. But if this power surge is enduring he's absolutely a top prospect. Breakout guy of the high minors for us this year for sure.

spouting his nonsense again? Good lord. Just disappear.

just not for power. And now he's doing that. I suspect he'll be in any trade they make this week.