Thursday, January 5, 2023

Top 10 current Yankee left fielder candidates, ranked according to fan appeal

10. Aaron Hicks. Absolutely the last person anyone wants to see. (Note: Also, most likely.)

9. Wilmer Difo. Career banjo-hitting utility lug nut, fits everywhere but catcher. Why not?

8. Tyler Wade... Ryan LaMarre... Michael Beltre... the cast of Glass Onion. The Zolio Almonte wing of the universe. The scrap heap is deep. We have only begun to dig. 

8. Willie Calhoun. Ex top prospect, signed to Scranton, nearing midlife crisis. Next Cam Maybin?

7. Billy McKinney. Ex-Yank trade booty, former 1st-rounder, bigger washout than Rich McKinney, former Yank trade booty, no relation, who got burned in a Puerto Rican beach party, which you are too young to remember. (O, Death, where is thy sting?)

6. Estevan Florial. Former Eternal Yank prospect, posted decent numbers at Scranton, but has failed more times than Kevin McCarthy. (Political joke, there.)

5. Oswaldo Cabrera. Precocious Yank infield prospect, being groomed as next Marwin Gonzalez. Seemed magical, until Houston. Q: Do we need another Marwin Gonzalez? Dare we believe in the Oswalds?

4. Everson Pereira. Speedster, age 21, hit .284 at Double A Somerset. Would have to breakout in spring training. Wouldn't it be nice?

3. Anybody we get in a trade. (So long, Everson Pereira, et al.) 

Sadly, Taylor Swift's cat did not make list.

2. Jasson Dominguez. aka "The Martian." Ultimate fulfillment of Yank junior high fantasies. We made him a millionaire at age 16. Now, been dropped to #4 on team prospect rankings. (Note: More likely to be traded for a LF.)

1. Giancarlo Stanton. Q: Why are we so protective of him? Even as DH, he's a tweak magnet. He prefers the OF, says it keeps him occupied. Play him! Let the big dog run! 

18 comments:

JM said...

Sabean was brought in to play left. This whole adviser BS is just a smokescreen.

Brain's plan is to ratchet up the average age of the team because statistical analysis of the Yankee audience says that will make more advertising money, and the new Brian is just the beginning.

43 in 23!

Mattingly's Mustache said...

re: mckinney, i've always thought these freak injuries were code from team management to journalists that the players had hangovers

The Archangel said...

Oh El Duque,
Your list is so January 3rd.
Our newest LF is Rafael Ortega.

YES that Ortega!!

Celerino Sanchez said...

As long as they are signing ex #1 prospects, how about bring back Jesus Montero. He's only 33 and can still hit better than Hicksy, plus he's a home grown guy. I also think Roy White and Chad Curtis can outplay Hicksy. Curtis was always good at hitting on teenage girls too. I remember when Rich McKinny was the answer at third base. The only problem was he couldn't hit or field, otherwise he was a solid guy. A footnote, they traded Stan Bahnsen for him and he won 20 games for the WS that year. Sounds like a Ca$hman deal.

BTR999 said...

Want to know the answer?

Follow the $$$

Local Bargain Jerk said...


I couldn't agree more about playing Stanton, for what little that's worth.

The Archangel said...

Celerino,
If I remember correctly, McKinney was not a 3B, but Yanks thought they he could be one.
I think that he had 3 errors in one Inning.
The McKinney experience did not last long.

Celerino Sanchez said...

Arch, no one wanted to be the guy to have to replace Jerry Kenny

edb said...

Not a whole lot to cheer for.

Daveyhead said...

Play Stanton every day. He likes it out there. Either he will persevere or explode, but either way, let’s get our money's worth.

Publius said...

Now Minaya.

Hal must have forced Cash to bring in "consultants", the go-to move of many a failing executive suite.

Has been GMs don't count against the luxury tax, do they?

ranger_lp said...

Of course, we are waiting for Spencer Jones...I figure by 2030 we'll have a left fielder...

Doug K. said...

Duque -

Good summary.

I can name several iconic Center and Right fielders. But...

Left Field has always been a question mark. Sure we've had some good ones (especially pre 1980's) but it I can't recall a long time/true Yankee iconic one with the exception of Matsui.

Since having Matsui was the last time we won... maybe the Yankees should stop throwing fill in guys there and take the position more seriously.

Stop doing things like putting a rookie who doesn't play the outfield there. I like Cabrera and all but c'mon. Hicks? Please no.

I go back and forth on Reynolds. The hype aside... something is off there. That said, I have been notoriously wrong. I wanted to trade Paul O'Neil and I don't even remember who for.

But if Reynolds is for real then they should give up who they need to and stop treating Left Field like the place where the kid with the glasses goes. "Ira... head out to left. What? Well borrow someone's glove and get out there."





BTR999 said...

When I think of Yankee LF-ers, I always think of… that’s right, #6, Roy White!

With all the additions to the F/O, hopefully they will get around to upgrading the deteriorating product on the field.

Carl J. Weitz said...

The Martian did fairly well last year. Scouts say he has become more selective at the plate. There's no way they trade him as any part of a trade for an outfielder. At last for another 2-3 years. He's still 19 for another month. People that observed him recently say he put on weight which has cut down on his supposed elite speed. But that isn't an unusual event for a late teenager. Management says he is now on a healthy food diet and will regain his quickness. He will probably start at Somerset but I would bet that he's promoted to AAA by mid-year and called up when the roster expands.

The Archangel said...

Late to the party here, but I think of Roy White as a Yankee LFer.
Lifelong Yank and very under appreciated. .I could be wrong, but I don't believe that he played anywhere else.

The Archangel said...

And didn't Sweet Lou play a lot of LF when Reggie was in RF?
His catch in the '78 playoff game in Fenway is what is etched in people's minds, but I think that he played a lot of LF that season.

edb said...

Not a lot of exciting choices. If Cabrera hits.