Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
February 15, 2004
What's the Player's Name at Second?

There has been speculation in the A-Rod trade post about who will play 2nd base for the Yankees. Of course, the Yankees have a MLB second baseman under a minor league contract, Homer Bush! This would be great for HR record fans. A-Rod would chase Hammerin' Hank, while Homer Bush chases Homer Summa!


Posted by David Pinto at 09:21 AM | Management | TrackBack (0)
Comments

Know who's got to hate this deal? Troy Glaus and Eric Chavez. So much for grabbing Yankee dough in 2005.

Posted by: Dan M at February 15, 2004 12:27 PM

I still say the Yankees should invite the presently-unemployed Knoblauch to camp. The invitation alone could quite possibly cure his mental game (which seemed tied to basically feeling inadequate, which caused him to BE inadequate on the field).

If it doesn't work out, the Yankees aren't out anything... they bumped their salary $25M for A-Rod, even if they sign Knoblauch to a minor-league deal, they're not out any significant cash...

Posted by: Derek at February 15, 2004 01:56 PM

Knoblauch is a terrible idea. His yips probably aren't cured and the Yankee fans will boo him mercilessly.

And they the Yankees didn't bump their salary by $25M since the Rangers are in for his salary about $9M per year or so, and Soriano's salary this season is $5.4M (and probalby higher in subsequent years), they only bumped their salary up about $10M or so, and if they get out of Boone's contract, that's another $5M off the books. So technically, the Yanks didn't bump their salary up by much at all.

Posted by: sabernar at February 15, 2004 02:28 PM

Oh yeah, not to mention Knoblauch can't hit his way out of a paper bag - better to use a good-field/no-hit second baseman like Cairo who is already on the roster, or to trade for someone like Junior Spivey on the Brewers.

Posted by: sabernar at February 15, 2004 02:29 PM

You're misunderstanding me... bring him to camp. If he isn't cured, send him home (or, if needs be, to a low-cost AAA contract). Certainly don't bring him back to the Bronx if he isn't up to snuff.

I'm betting that "being invited to camp in the first place" will work wonders for his ... problems.

Posted by: Derek at February 15, 2004 05:22 PM

Anyone can play 2B for this team, but who's going to be the #5 starter?

Posted by: steve at February 15, 2004 06:31 PM

Dan (post #1),

Not necessarily. I don't know what the Yanks' current plan for 2B is, but I imagine Wilson or Cairo will get the nod.

However, the possibility remains that the Yanks may move A-Rod to SS next year, with Jeter going either to 2B or CF (or, of course, 3B; unless the Boss chooses to go after Glaus/Chavez).

I don't think we can assume that the two big-name FA-to-be third basemen are off the Yanks' scope just because of this acquisition. Moving Jeter to 2B or CF, signing one of those two, and moving A-Rod back to SS will make their IF defense at least average.

Posted by: Joe at February 15, 2004 06:34 PM

I like Homer Bush. If you use UZR, he's heads above everyone else at 2B defense and the only one that's positive. None of them can hit, he can play the best D.

Posted by: Jeremy Heit at February 15, 2004 11:07 PM

What? No obligatory Simpson's references. yet?

Posted by: mark at February 16, 2004 09:57 AM