The Good
Granderson had a couple hits with a homerun, and Jeter got 3 hits including a double. Hughes pitched one of his better games of the year, though admittedly that's not saying much. It is however a step in the right direction, and if we can get Hughes pitching decently, we become a much better team.
The Bad
Pretty much everything else. The Yankees scored the one run off of Granderson's homerun, and did nothing else. The first 3 Yankee hitters combined for 7 hits, and the the last 6 hitters combined for 0 hits.
The Ugly
A misplayed ball by Nunez in the outfield led to a couple unearned run. Eventually you gotta wonder if it makes sense to have a utility player who can't play defense.
Not in Vain
At least the heroic efforts of Curtis Granderson gave a silver linning to last night. $2 more for the children at the Children's Health Fund!
Raul Ibanez 3hr = $6
Nick Swisher 6hr = $12
Andruw Jones 3hr = $6
Derek Jeter 4hr = $8
Curtis Granderson 9hr = $18
Alex Rodriguez 4hr = $8
Robinson Cano 1hr = $2
Mark Teixeira 3hr = $6
Eric Chavez 3hr = $6
Russell Martin 2hr = $4
Total 38hr = $76
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4 comments:
Nunez is the kind of player the Yankees trade away as one of three prospects in a deal for a veteran. However he's not a prospect anymore and it's obvious he's not a good hitter or fielder, so I suppose no one would want him.
Assuming he has no trade value, why are the Yankees playing him? Possible answers:
1. They are hoping he will break out and become a useful player. Nothing on the MLB level suggests that will happen. If Ibanez is really going to get more time in the OF (which is another bizarre decision), giving Nunez a long-term tryout there is negligent.
2. He is cheap and not arbitration eligible until 2014. This shouldn't be relevant. The Yankees must have someone in the minors who can field multiple positions with some competence. Why not use that person instead? It's not like Nunez makes up for his bad fielding with good offense. Unless ...
3. There is no one better in the minors. This is a scary thought, considering Nunez is a replacement level player. If the Yankees do not have a single minor leaguer who can contribute better defensive value than Nunez, there is a problem with the Yankees' farm system.
I realize Nunez is only in the OF because both Gardner and Swisher are hurt. But the Yankees have frequently shuttled expendable OF guys - who can't hit much but can field - to and from the majors in such cases (the Kevin Russos of the world). Now the Yankees seem content with both Ibanez and Nunez in the OF and I can't understand it.
I think the Yankees beleive in Nunez's bat, and that what they're investing in. He's not a terrible hitter, but the point of a utility player is their utility. The ability to play several different positions competently. If you ask me Ramiro Pena is a better infielder, and I'm positive there's a number of better outfield replacements out there, but if you ask me, they're holding onto Nunez as an insurance policy on Jeter. They think he could be an every day shortstop.
Fernando I think that's a fair assessment of the Yankees' thought process. Nunez is only 24 so there is time for improvement. He just seems so far from being an acceptable/competent fielder that I don't get why he's in MLB, unless there's really no one better available in the minors.
I expect Chavez will go on the DL from the possible concussion he got last night, and Swisher will probably join him, so Nunez isn't going anywhere and we might end up seeing Pena too. A real shame considering that the decline in offense from Chavez to a Pena type will be huge.
Its true. Chavez to Pena is almost as bad as 2011 Pujols to 2012 Pujols. Zing!
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