Generally, IKF caught what came his way, though he later claimed responsibility for a blooper that fell into short center. (Actually, Aaron Hicks flubbed it, keeping intact his spring highlight reel of botcheries.) In taking the blame, I believe The Hyphen sought to spare Hicks from the boos that have become his walk-up music. At 27, IKF is a solid MLB citizen facing a midlife crisis. Everybody appreciates his hustle. The question is whether he can play CF every day, and the answer is - well - probably, no.
IKF's last shot with the Yankees - and maybe anywhere - will be as an all-purpose utility player: IF/OF-even C, a notion that seemed ludicrous last month, before injuries decimated that position.
Isiah's CF competition is 25-year-old Estevan Florial, a former top prospect who is so statistically remindful of Joey Gallo that we should run. Florial strikes out nearly every other at bat. He cannot lay off curves that seem destined for the Australian outback. He swings at them lustily, the way Chris Christie launches for a slice of pepperoni.
In the hallowed territory of Joe D, Mickey, Bernie and - uh - Earl Combs? we have a slap hitter with no MLB experience vs. a guy who covers ground but cannot put balls into play.
For a contending team, neither option works.
The question is, can either hold CF until Harrison Bader returns - and when exactly will that be? (Current estimates say mid-May, but the Yankee Iron Rule of Injuries is to add an extra month to whatever the franchise claims. There's no nice way to put this: They feel no compulsion to tell the truth.)
There is no fallback here. (Yes, Aaron Judge could play CF, and maybe Oswaldo Cabrera. Both have significant downsides.) Florial has no more minor league options: If cut, he goes in free agency and we likely get squat. IKF won't bring much in a trade, and - by the way - who out there is knock-kneed with jubilation over the prospect of Cooperstown Cashman cutting deals? That ship of hope sailed last August.
Florial does offer two marketable skills: defensive CF and base-stealer. (I believe he is slightly faster than IKF, but I lost my stopwatch.) Late in a game, which would we want coming up? Actually, we'd prefer Rafael Ortega or Willie Calhoun, but they play LF (and Calhoun can barely do that.) Left field is an entirely different ongoing mess.
And - yikes - here's a new addition to the billowing Yankee derailment fire: Domingo German. Yesterday, The Germ gave up seven earned runs and four HRs in 2.2 innings. He's our No. 4 starter. These games mean, gulp, nothing. But... yikes.
Two months ago, the Yankees looked like favorites in the AL East - a loaded rotation and a veteran lineup. Right now, they are one more piece of bad news from a meltdown.
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11 comments:
IKF's measured throwing speed is somewhere around 83 mph. And he's in the outfield. Yanks are always desperate to show that they didn't blunder a trade...
I'd like to see Florial succeed, but his strikeout rate is 42%. He's Gallo without the home runs. Unless he can cut down on his K's by half, there's no place in the majors for a speed demon who can't get his bat to touch a baseball. IKF is a good fielder who can cover a lot of turf. But as Ranger_lp pointed out, he doesn't have the arm.
Elsewhere, Hicks continues to prove he doesn't care about his day job. He'll get paid even if he's DFA'd. Yankees should oblige the minute Bader is back. Judge remains the best center fielder who isn't injured. But it would devastate the lineup if he gets hurt. After Judge, Cabrera is the next best option, however green he may be at the job.
Yankees should trade IKF for an outfielder.
I think the Yankees can get more for IKF than most imagine. He's only 2 years removed from being a Gold Glove third baseman. He's not a power hitter but he can play decent defense, put the bat on the ball and steal bases. He's a great option for a contending team that needs a good backup who plays 75-85 games/250 AB a year. And he's reasonably priced at 6 million. Could be more of a bargain if the Yankees eat 2 million.
Couple of thoughts…
Why is everyone shrieking in panic at the thought of Judge in CF? It seems to be some vague notion that running a few extra yards will cause a 31 year old top athlete to what? Blow out a knee? Have a nervous breakdown? That be the case, why not Stanton-ize him and make him the full time DH and tell him he doesn’t have to run hard? Judge is the best outfielder on the team and should be the every day CF, period. Not a fan of Bader, I said at the time of the trade it was a mis-fire (I know, I know, we can say that about every Cashman trade when it happens) Bader is a good defensive CF whose career shows a slightly below hitter with a serious injury history. Here’s one cliche that rings true: The best ability is availability.
Florial is a a talented athlete whose inability to command the strike zone has doomed him at the major league level. Too bad…but let’s face it, most prospects don’t pan out. Let’s hope we’re not saying that about our Big Three in a couple of years. IKF in center? No thanks! I appreciate his hustle, his team first approach, but cashman/boone have got to stop sticking available players wherever. Instead, how about constructing a solid roster that allows the team to position players according to the best of their abilities?
Overall, I don’t know why there was so much optimism over this team. El Duque (who I respect) seems surprised at this Spring’s turn of events. Off-season, they added another injury ridden pitcher and nothing else. Everyone is a year older. They are adamant about not adding any more salary. Maybe that’s why we’re all so focused on the prospects. Deep down inside we know we need them. NEED them!
There is nothing I’d enjoy more than celebrating a World Series Championship with the members of this beknighted blog As always, thanks for for this forum and hope you all enjoy the weekend!
El Duque, you left out the great CF from our younger days--- Bobby Mercer.
I still remember the kerfluffel when Elliot Maddox was moved in and Bobby was sent to RF.
Love to have that problem today!!
I wonder if IKFcould bring a CF or RP minor leaguer from a contending team from the NL?
Seems to be showcasing him for other scouts and maybe SD, St.L or even Rockies might need somebody of his ability.
I have never been as down on him as others here seem to be. He is extremely serviceable. He is simply not a star.
It's not his fault that Yanks would not sign an All-Star SS when they could have. I will not take that mistake out on him.
1. BTR, I'm completely your camp. Judge is the Captain, the offensive leader, an excellent defender and a natural center fielder. He's the heir to Joe D and the Mick.
There aren't any dangerous drains in CF that can destroy his legs. He's fine. All this stuff about not letting a great player in his prime play his prime position is pretty silly. It's like not letting Stanton play the outfield because they're worried he could get injured. Who the fuck cares? He gets injured getting out of bed. Let these guys play and stop being such nervous Nellies.
2. "I'd like to see Florial succeed, but his strikeout rate is 42%. He's Gallo without the home runs."
Doctor T, I had to laugh, because the first thought that entered my mind was "Gallo is Gallo without the home runs."
Our outfield is so easy. Oswaldo in left, Judge in center, Stanton in right, until injury forces us to something different. Or give Stanton left, whatever. Oswaldo can play anywhere, obviously, so left, right, doesn't matter.
I really do not understand the way baseball decisions are made these days. So bizarre.
Duque:
The question gives you something to write about. It should not be a question. Bader has been injury prone his entire career. He has never had 400 at bats in a saeson. Check it out. He could turn into another MR. Softee Ellsbury. And The Genius is paid millions to be inept.
Hear, hear, guys!
I've been saying Bader was a bad pick-up since last August. I've been saying this team won't win more than 77 games since...April, 2022.
Okay, so I was wrong about that. But they didn't improve themselves in any way, and now years of Cashmanic incompetence and HALovian cheapness are coming back to bite us in the ass.
Makes me want to wet my pants.
So if Florial was a bust, shouldn't they have known that at least two or three years ago and moved him out? Even now, if they believe he sucks, shouldn't they trade him for a low level minor league prospect?
So IKF will almost certainly get CF to start 2023. What a joke! They desperately wanted to keep Volpe down in the minors and start IKF at SS. Now that Bader is hurt again, and Volpe playing great, they're trying to force IKF into CF and, very reluctantly, putting Volpe at SS. Then I suppose they'll pray that Volpe sucks at SS, so that when Bader returns, they can move IKF back to SS and Volpe back to the minors for "more seasoning".
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