Melky’s power a product of his new home?
July 2, 2009, 5:00 pmOn the season, Melky Cabrera is hitting .286/.346/.454 with 8 homers, which ties his career high (set in 2007 and 2008). Melky’s power is much more pronounced this season as he’s on track to hit nearly 20 homers. Howevever, when you take a closer look at his numbers, you can’t help but to notice that 7 of his 8 jacks were hit at the new Yankee Stadium (surprise!). On the road, Melky has a meager .372 SLG yet at home his SLG skyrockets to .517 and he hits like Carlos Lee.
So, while I’m at the game tonight, I ask, what should the Yankees do with the Melk-Man? If a team is willing to part with a solid reliever in exchange for Melky, should the Yankees consider it given the home-away splits or should they just ride out Melky’s homer-hitting ways when in the Bronx? What do you think?
Whenever you think of Melky just repeat over and over, “I wish I was in Kansas”,”I wish I…! Scratch that….repeat “How old is he?”,”How old is he?”
:)
Maybe platoon Gardner and Melky. Melky plays at home, Gardner plays on the road?
bradley, i’ve thought about that and it could work. but if gardner is better on the road i feel like it just shows that gardner is a better cf in general. if that’s the case, why even opt for the platoon? i guess if melky is inherently more powerful than gardner and that power shows up at yankee stadium, then it makes some sense to platoon them.
The problem is that other teams can look at those home-away splits, and based on that why would they give up anything for him? I personally like the Melky/Gardner platoon. Maybe start Gardner and then pinch hit Melky if we’re tied or down a run or two in late innings when we need someone to be clutch..
And TJ are you kidding me? The guy looks like he’s 18 and the age of Dominican players is more documented and less of a ‘take your word for it’ kind of thing these days
Gardner probably is the better CF all things considered (he is better defensively, better on the basepaths, better patience at the plate, and Melky’s offensive #’s this season are predicated on a bunch of HR at CoorsEast)
But if Melky is going to keep hitting HR in NYS, you might as well keep playing him there. Maybe try to rest players at home so Melky gets his starts in NYS, and have a Damon/Gardner/Swisher OF as much as possible on the road.
They should also try to get Hinske as many of his ABs as possible in NYS, since he is a lefty with pop and should be able to take advantage. Maybe rest or DH ARod at home as much as possible.
NDYANKEE,
I wasn’t questioning his age…he’s only 24….my point was that he came up very early and is still developing. People forget how young he is because he has been around a while……many other pros have not fully matured until later in their twenties.
Other than ARod of course.
Oh, ok gotcha. Or late in their 30’s like Barry Bonds..