YankeesRedSox.com: The End of the Bench

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With the word that that Yankees have signed Raul Ibanez, the Yankees have essentially filled 12 of the 13 offensive spots. We know the defensive starters are Martin Teixeira, Cano, Jeter, A-Rod, Gardner, Granderson and Swisher and behind them we now have Nunez, Jones, Ibanez and almost certainly Cervelli. (I saw "almost certainly" because I guess Romine could win the spot, but I think the Yankees would much prefer to let him play a year at AAA) That leaves one spot and the suggestion is that Eric Chavez might get it, but should he?

Let's start with the Ibanez signing. He can't hit lefties anymore, which means he is a good pairing with Andruw Jones who can't really hit righties. Platoons can be very potent tools, but they are harder to execute in these days when teams carry small benches. The plan seems to be that the Yankees will put Jones in left when a lefty starts and give A-Rod or Jeter a half day off at DH with Nunez starting at third or short. Conversely, when a righty starts, Ibanez gets the DH spot and the rest of the regulars are normally used. The problem with this alignment is when Nunez is in the field, the Yankees don't have anyone on the bench who can play the middle infield. Furthermore, all of this is predicated on the idea that Ibanez isn't finished as a hitter, something I am not sure about. At least the contract is very expendable.

So, ideally the Yankees would give the final bench spot to someone who could cover multiple positions. That's where I wonder if they are better off just using Ramiro Pena at this point over Chavez? Sure, Pena can't hit. But, he can play anywhere in the infield and he can even play the corners in the outfield in a pinch. He also can run a little bit, something that could come in handy. Eric Chavez hit .256/.320/.356 last year for the Yankees. Against righties he put up a nearly-identical line of .255/.322/.365. That was his best season since 2007. If Chavez can't hit, what value does he add to the team that Pena doesn't?

Rather than sign Chavez and potentially throw away a million or more, why not just wait and see how camp shakes out? Maybe Bill Hall, a guy who can play multiple positions, hits enough to justify a roster spot. Maybe someone who is out of options doesn't make a big league club. The Yankees have players like Chris Dickerson and Justin Maxwell who are also out of options, maybe they could net something in a trade. The Yankees have been patient all winter, why change now?

Comments

Peter - I think the only way that Cashman has been patient is to actually wait for the AJ deal to be completed and the money to become available before he put contracts in front of Chavez and Ibanez.

My question - and you raised this earlier - is: who has been yakking so openly to the media about these deals?

Posted by: Mitchell | February 22, 2012 10:19 AM |

Mitchell

It's a mystery to me. We both remember the old days when reporters dialed George's office and if they got lucky ended up with some news and quotes for their next story. Cashman hasn't operated like that at all and I am wondering if something has changed in the past few weeks?

Pure speculation, but what if it was one of his lieutenants who seeing his boss wounded from his personal transgressions wants to add a bit of fuel to the fire to see if he can force a change in leadership? It's quite Machiavellian, but it wouldn't shock me.

Posted by: Peter | February 22, 2012 12:37 PM |

I love a conspiracy theory, I second Mitchell's theory

Posted by: blmeanie | February 22, 2012 12:43 PM |

BL - I don't have theory, just a question. Peter, on the other hand, has got a really interesting one. Ofice politics, one of the greatest sports of all time, LOL.

And yeah, Peter, George was different, any way you looked at him. Some good, some pretty bad - but always driven to win.

Posted by: Mitchell | February 22, 2012 05:25 PM |

As a long time Yankees fan, I can't help but be amazed that they have had 3 and only 3 managers over the last 20 seasons. In fact, I read somewhere that there are only five managers in baseball who have been in their job longer than Joe Girardi at this point.

This organization has really had three major changes in the last 20 or so years. First was George's suspension which kept him away and allowed guys like Gene Michael to develop a minor league system. The second was the consolidation of authority in Cashman's hands in 2005 and then there was Hal taking over for his Dad. Personally, I am thrilled with the way they operate now. Money+intelligent decision making is a pretty potent combination.

Posted by: Peter | February 22, 2012 07:28 PM |

I agree, Peter. Money plus a willingness to spend it within (admittedly high) limits is a potent combination. Add in Cashman's discipline and I'm happy too.

On a completely different note: I'm pretty amazed to read just how badly Sox ownership and the team itself are being mauled in the local papers. Wow.

Posted by: Mitchell | February 22, 2012 08:23 PM |

After that collapse last season and a pretty quiet offseason, I can understand people being a bit peeved.

Plus, Boston doesn't want to watch another New York team win, right?

Posted by: Peter | February 22, 2012 10:39 PM |

correct Peter.

btw - famous yankee hater K.O. (and baseball prospectus) has a take on the Ibanez signing : http://keitholbermann.mlblogs.com/2012/02/22/baseball-prospectus-2012/

Posted by: blmeanie | February 23, 2012 07:42 AM |

I don't disagree with him, I don't like the Ibanez signing at all.

Posted by: Peter | February 23, 2012 01:09 PM |

funny thing is he infers that they should have just kept Posada around, but the message should be that you can do better.

Posted by: blmeanie | February 23, 2012 01:54 PM |

Ibanez is pretty much disposable (cf Randy Winn), and Jorge was or would have been ridiculously over-priced for a DH. Did I like the signing? Nope, but I think BC/JG will find a replacement when/if Ibanez becomes a liability.

Posted by: Mitchell | February 23, 2012 02:32 PM |

Mitchell makes a good point, Ibanez's contract is hardly a problem and the Yankees will walk away from it if he is done. I don't agree with wasting the money in the first place, but it won't stop them from recognizing their mistake.

As for Posada, the problem with him is positional. Ibanez can play the outfield, at least in left and he could play first. Posada really can only play first at this point. In addition, I am not sure how happy Jorge would have been seeing his salary cut from $13 million to the base of $1.1 million Ibanez got. Always tougher to bring back a player at a lower salary than it is to sign a new one at that same salary.

Posted by: Peter | February 23, 2012 04:54 PM |

Well, two things are now official: Apeman Varitek is retired and Bobby Vee will now, officially, be even more embarassing in front of a microphone than Hank Steinbrenner.

Play ball !!

Posted by: Mitchell | February 29, 2012 10:02 AM |

At the press conference announcing his retirement, does Varitek leave the mask on or take it off?

Posted by: Peter | March 1, 2012 09:30 AM |

Peter,

All things considered, it's probably best for the retiring captain to leave it on. ;-)

By the way, Luke Scott has let the media goad him into stirring the Beantown pot. See here, if you haven't aready:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/luke-scott-calls-red-sox-fans-arrogant-ruthless-235857102.html

Mr. Scott will now surely get a warm and civil reception when next he's at Fenway.

Posted by: Mitchell | March 1, 2012 10:13 AM |

I hadn't seen that. That will get him a very "warm" reception in Fenway!

Posted by: Peter | March 1, 2012 12:19 PM |

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