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New York Yankee’s Latest Hero: Marcus Thames

Posted by on 16 August 2010, 12:04 am

New York Yankees Marcus Thames has been the talk of the town lately—and for good reason.

Thames has come up big for the Yankees as he led the team in victory over the Texas Rangers Cliff Lee, this past Wednesday night.

The switch-hitter went 3-5 with two hits, a homer, and two RBI. Thames had the game-winning single in the top of the ninth inning that put the Yankees on top.

In 2001, Thames caught the Yankees attention after being named to the Baseball America minor leagues All-Star team after hitting .321, with 97 RBI and 31 homers in AA.

Thames started his pro career in pinstripes on June 10th, 2002. In his first at-bat, Thames hit a homer off Arizona Diamondbacks Randy Johnson and received a monstrous curtain call from a packed house at Yankee Stadium.

One year later, Thames was traded to the Texas Rangers for Rubin Sierra, but free-agency landed him with the Detroit Tigers three months later.

Thames remained a Tiger through 2009, playing mainly in left field but also used as a DH and first baseman.

In 2008, Thames hit eight home runs in eight games, making a new Tigers record.

Thames’ solid hitting in the clutch, along with proving success against left-handed pitching, appealed to the Yankees.

GM Brian Cashman signed Thames to a minor-league contract with nothing promised but the possibility of a good match.

Thames fought in Spring Training and made the 2010 Opening Day roaster as an outfielder competing with Brett Gardner and Randy Winn for playing time.

After spending most of June on the DL, Thames’ return has been been a difference maker for the Yankees. His reliable hitting has gained the trust of Yankee fans.

Since rejoining the Yankees, Thames, in 116 at-bats, has had 37 hits, five doubles, four home runs, 16 RBI and has a .319 batting average.

Yankee fans everywhere are happy to welcome back Marcus Thames.

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Grading The Champs

Posted by on 17 March 2010, 9:24 am

As baseball season begins, all eyes are on the Yankees attempting to answer the ageless question.

Are the defending champs strong enough to repeat?

Let’s take a look:

Line-up:

The Yankees lead the league in both home-runs, with 244 and runs scored with 900 in 2009. Even with Matsui and Damon’s bats gone, the Yanks bats are still the best.

Reasons being that Granderson will smash it at home at least facing righties; Arod is available all season; Cano will hit behind the Captain in the two spot; Johnson will fare well enough as a regular DH; and the mainstays are back again. This is still just as frightening a line-up to face.

Winn and Granderson love to steal bases, an improvement in overall speed

Defense:

Granderson is a real upgrade in the outfield. He is young, and his spirit will display right when mixed with the older guys. Gardner is better defensively than Damon, and he is fast as they come. Gardner will have to be accomplished all the time as Randy Winn, Jamie Hoffman and a recently signed Marcus Thames will be glad to take the responsibility for their own if Gardner slips. This kind-of competition, that keeps players fresh through the long-term. It made Gardner better last season.

The Yankee infield is Jeter, Arod, Tex, Cano and Posada/Cervelli. Need I say more?

GRADE: A

Pitching:

CC, AJ and Andy are not the question, as the three can stand their own. The point is Javier Vazquez, who in 2009 dominated playing on a struggling Braves team, otherwise might have been the NL Cy Young winner. Vazquez’s last stint in pinstripes, in 2004 is one Yankee fans do not want to be reminded off. He will be third or fourth in the rotation, so less weight on his shoulders, to aide for a successful round two.

Rivera is the best closer still, and either Hughes or Joba will be celebrated in the eighth.

GRADE: A

Bench:

The Yanks can lack here, and they do. The depth off the counter is not impressive but if the starters are healthy, each will play 150+ games. This is not a perfect world, so banking on no injuries is uncertain.

Pena is not as reliable as Harriston Jr. in the utility role. Pena is young, and spring training is the time to iron out his kinks.

GRADE: B-

Coaches:

Girardi and company, stay the same staff as 2009, which seems to work. Girardi has gradually relaxed, a crash that should stay. If only Joe could not refer to his trusty binder in the dugout and leave it in the locker room, he might prevent any over managing. Middle-inning, musical chairs in the post-season are particularly unsettling to witness.

Hopefully, these rumored ‘Hughes Rules’ are untrue, as let the boys pitch.

GRADE: B


 

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New York Yankees: Champions On The Cheap

Posted by on 31 January 2010, 3:45 am

Damned if you do, and damned if you don’t. – Eleanor Roosevelt

This week’s message clearly given to the Yankees from the sports world.

It is no surprise, that Yankee fans seem to be leading some of the charge.

How do I know this? It’s because I am one of those fans; an admitted spoiled brat. ‘Show me the money’ to where is money is not making me feel like a more deserving fan.

By no means is this easy to buy or is it any way questioning Mr. Steinbrenner’s real goodness for his beloved Yankees. Just please do not suffer embarrassing yourselves. Not for even a moment, in thinking that Yanks fans will be more realistic.

Buying monster-name players does not guarantee winning, nor is it capable of automatic comradeship but it worked last year. Yankee fans spend serious money on tickets to see super-stars play and win championships.

For once, the budgeting threats came true. Talk about ‘yanking’ in the reins, after the free-for-all in the 2008. Being frugal is chic and suitable, but that does not mean that the reduction was spent well.

The 96′ Yankees did not make many changes or down-grade in the following two seasons, because the formula worked.

For example, letting the MVP of the World Series, who had that kind-of effect just seems nuts to me. When David Ortiz (big pappy) became a Red Sox, the curse finally reversed…twice. Any baseball fan can attest that without Big Pappy there might still be a burden in Boston.

Everyone has acknowledged the designated hitter significance in the American League, with all the attention the media finally gave it last season. To spend on a top clutch hitter, with 28 home-runs compared to an inconsistent, eight homer, musical-team playing guy is not pay well spent.

Fact is Nick Johnson and Randy Winn cost the Bombers $7.5 million that could go towards an offer to Matsui of somewhere between $7-10 million. This is a fact that is hard to swallow.

Hint-hint: Loading the contracts with meaningful incentives makes it a lose-lose/win-win environment for everybody.

Damon, via Agent Scott Boras needs to take less money to keep, but not a derogatory $2 million dollars. Looking at the state since Winn, it would be a good idea to get Damon. Yanks will spend more than $2 million grabbing a player in June or July, or announcements regard, “Welcome back Gary Sheffield” or “Bonds instantly out-of-retirement” will be Yankee reality.

Hopefully, both sides can join in the realistic middle. With Damon showing his love for New York, the franchise sticking to ‘winning now’ formula and a common respect for the game of baseball itself. OK, it is time to wake-up now.

 

Something in human nature causes us to start slacking off at our moment of greatest accomplishment.  As you become successful, you will need a great deal of self-discipline not to lose your sense of balance, humility, and commitment.  ~Ross Perot

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Do The Yankees Still Want To Winn?

Posted by on 29 January 2010, 1:33 pm

The Yankees latest bargain pick-up is San Francisco Giants OF Randy Winn.

Pending only a physical, 35-year-old Winn will be a Yankee for one-season, earning $2 million dollars.

Winn’s 2009 season was one of his worst, hitting only two home-runs, 51 RBI, with 93 strike-outs and a .263 batting average in his 538 at bats for the Giants.

Acquiring Winn does nothing for the Yankees in terms of adding talent, other that he can play in all three OF slots. Cashman and Girardi can use Winn to tease Swisher and Garner in fighting for their spots on the field.

My question is why not just keep Melky? Why not support Matsui? Continue reading ‘Do The Yankees Still Want To Winn?’ »

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