Bench endorsement: Reed Johnson
Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 7:58 am by Vizzini
As the Yankees look to put the finishing touches on their roster for 2010, the most obvious need is a righty bat for the OF. Since both Gardner and Granderson have a sub-.630 OPS against LHPs for their MLB careers, it would be nice to give Girardi a decent platoon/pinch-hit option. The man for the job is Reed Johnson.
RJ has a career OPS vs lefties of .841 (a number which he's bested each of the last four seasons). In addition to being a fine LHP-specialist, he also may something of a left field specialist. While UZR says he eats corn the long way in center and right field, he's got the left corner on lockdown: 23.3 UZR/150 over 2666 innings.
The Yankees have a small square hole to fill, and Reed Johnson's goatee is just the right peg.
Tags: bench, reed johnson
Wouldn’t Hairston Jr. be a better, cheaper, off the bench option? Just sayin…he can play far more positions…and he fit well end of the year last year.
It depends on the kind of beard Jerry Jr. has been working on since game 6
Johnson beats up on LHP. Hairston does not.
Hairston plays 8 different positions…Johnson does not.
Who cares. So does Pena.
Even assuming a twelve-man pitching staff, the Yanks have room for a backup catcher, a super utility guy, and two other bench players. Personally, I’d prefer to plug Pena into the SU role so long as they think his OF defense is ready and use the remaining FA dollars to target Rocco Baldelli. He starts against lefties, is a legitimate bat off the bench, doesn’t have to play every day, which is important with his condition, and if he needs an extended break, Hoffman/Pena can cover for him for a short time.
Let’s not forget that in addition to everything mentioned, Johnson is accustomed to a part-time role and has proven his worth in the AL East.
Granderson is a .731 OPS hitter against LHP in his career outside of Comerica.
Read that again.
Comerica killed him. Yankee Stadium won’t.
Granderson is a full time player.
But agreed on Reed. Still, it all comes down to price. Hoffman seems to be the same type of player just without the “certainty” that RJ brings.
YOU ALREADY GAVE AWAY YOUR BEST RIGHT HANDED CHEAP OPTION! *WEEP* …. I MEAN *SMASH*
Heck, I play every position on the field; I’m just not good at any of them.
Hariston’s better than that, of course: over his career, he’s been an above-average fielder in the outfield and at second base. But when you say he can play 8 positions, you include short and third, neither of which he has played very well. Versatility should only count for so much, in my mind. I’m inclined to agree with the NoMass people and think the Yanks would be better off playing the platoon split; RJ is a better fit in that regard (Hairston’s OPS against lefties is .710). Plus, look at that goatee!
I like the idea, but Johnson may not bother to join even if offered a contract because he’d have to cut off his goatee.
If only Mariano Rivera never gets tired and can hit for average…
Where is Damon? Why are we worried about saving a few million dollars?
Zips I am with you. I am still of the opinion they are going to sign Damon. I just feel Hairston would be the best bench player they can add.
If they want a shitty defensive RH OF with some pop that can contribute off the bench Id go with Johny Gomes, plus we’d get to hear that heart attack story from Kay as a bonus with every AB.
20 Hrs 52 RBI & 541 SLG in 281 ABs last year.
Gomes, Thames, Johnson, Baldelli. They can all do the job.
The reason no one has been signed yet is b/c there are so many guys looking for a job. The prices are going to drop enough and the Yankees will grab one of those guys for next to nothing.
Although I guess the same could be said for Damon. Perhaps the Yankees are just waiting him out as well.
I really believe the Yanks are waiting Damon out. I’m thinking if he’ll take a one year 7-8 mil deal they’ll bring him back.
lol Ever since Nomaas found out that Cashman read their blog, they’ve been making posts like this, as if they have some sort of influence on who the Yankees sign. Hahaha.
Nomaas is my assistant GM.
@ Quick Analytical Blurbs
Believe it or not, lots of blogs make posts like this.
Yes, a lot of blogs break players down statistically and voice their opinions on who’s the best fit. But nobody besides the staff of QuickAnalyticalBlurbs.com makes endorsements and acts like the GM is actually listening to them LMAO.
We don’t need someone to play all 8 positions (and none particulalry well or do I have to remind everyone about the Pettitte no-hitter that Hairston hacked to pieces?). Sign Nady or Reed, both fit the need of a RH LF off the bench. I prefer Nady; he proved in limited action with the Yanks over 2 yrs that he can handle the Rivalry; he punished the Sox 2 yrs ago, and is not afraid to take his hacks. He can be had on the cheap…
QAB seems to be forgetting the fact that Cashman does in fact read the site. You think he does it for shits and giggles? If you know he looks, make yourself heard.
Really? Ca$h is reading this? No shit.
Hey Brian, get HANLEY RAMIREZ.
I like both Hairston and Johnson. Why not? They can go along w/ Cervelli and Pena. It makes for a good bench.
I just feel like it’s always good to have a MLB caliber super utility guy. Those guys sometimes end up playing a big part in a season.
We don’t need someone to play all 8 positions (and none particulalry well or do I have to remind everyone about the Pettitte no-hitter that Hairston hacked to pieces?).
I agree. Cashman should definitely make player evaluations based on a single play.
That’s what all the smart GM’s do.
QAB, jealous much?
This offseason is so boring…just in general. The Yanks have made great moves….but just around baseball in general…what an insanely boring off season.
When Matt Holliday and John Lackey signings are getting people excited…you know it’s been a boring offseason.
Holliday is exciting, but the economy is definitely causing teams to be conservative.
Boring? The Granderson trade… The Halladay/Lee trade…
Rob I said other than what the Yankees have done. The Yanks have clearly made the most out of what could have been a potentially weak off season.
With his numbers against lefties he could platoon for Granderson.
Johnson is a solid player and wouldn’t hurt to add to the bench. I prefer the younger guys like Pena for the IF but since we traded all our OF prospects Johnson makes plenty of sense for this role.
Butch, we just watched our team Win the Championship.
This is not boring. This is the good shit.
It is called Afterglow.
Besides, all we needed was an outfielder, a pitcher, and some spare parts. Done, done, and gonna be done.
You a Jets fan? ‘Cause we just rose from the dead to get into the playoffs and then Won a Road Playoff Game. Round 2 on Sunday!
Voomo I think everyone’s not getting what I am saying…the last two years in a row (including the current one)…The Yankees have destroyed every other MLB team in the offseason.
I’m just saying overall amongst the other MLB teams…it’s been very lack luster…which ultimately bodes well for the Yanks next year. I really can’t wait to see Granderson in Yankee Stadium. I agree with a lot of the posters on here who’ve been saying Comerica killed him. He will be a monster in the stadium. He’s going to become a superstar.
I’m not a Jets fan…but I do predict they will beat the Chargers.
Agreed, getting Granderson was beautiful.
His lifetime #s vs leftys are worrisome, though:
.210 .270 .344 .614
Even in his big season in 2007:
.160 .225 .269 .494
Ugh.
i would love to know what Kevin Long is planning to fix that. because they are Not going to platoon that guy.
Steve, if you think my assessment of Hairston’s defense is based on that one play (as huge as it was) then you obviously don’t watch that many games. But that’s ok, whenever we win a WS, most of the peripheral fans come out; that’s a good sign. The guy was with us 45 games (and only 76 ABs, which means he probably played about 65 innings) and I can think of no less than 5 horrendous plays (mostly in the OF) off the top of my head. Yanks need a RH hitting LF; Ramiro Pena can be our super-utility guy.
Joey, Steve, everybody….,
If the Utility guy is “Super”, that means he can get a hit now and then.
Hairston is a “savvy” veteran, which means that his ops+ freakin varies between 36 and 126, and you hope for his 85.
Pena? 23, homegrown, sounds great.
His numbers through 5 full seasons in the minors
(with only 43 at AAA):
.255 .315 .320 .635
Is Kevin Long going to make him a major league hitter?
Who knows?
Let’s be clear, if the choice is Jerry or Ramiro, we’re keeping Ramiro strictly for D. And forget that extra veteran bat off the bench who will work a 12-pitch 8th inning battle and then finally strike out and allow some announcer to talk about how gritty and valuable that player is.
Really, though, what happens if Jet or Alex gets hurt badly? Ramiro Pena? Moving Tex to 3rd isnt going to happen.
Why do we have ONLY 2 PLAYERS who can both hit and play SS/3B?
What about Miguel Tejada?
He’s not done hitting.
He’s a SS ready to move.
He can spell both Alex and Jete.
Jeter – 120 SS – 35 DH
Alex – 120 3B – 35 DH
Tejada – 40 SS, 40 3B, 40 DH, 40 bench
Posada – 110 C, 50 DH
…just so long as you bat him behind Brett Gardner, and give Garndner the green light every single fucking time he gets on, because Miggy is the worst DP offender outside of beer-league softball.
Miguel Tejada probably doesn’t fit into their “budget”. Which to me is a joke. The fact they even infer that they can only spend 3 mil more angers me so much.
Hopefully it’s just a ploy to drive Damon’s price down.
Steve, if you think my assessment of Hairston’s defense is based on that one play (as huge as it was) then you obviously don’t watch that many games.
I’m sorry, forgive me for responding to what you actually wrote. I will read your mind next time.
You claimed that Hairston can play NO position well. All of the data says otherwise. The data says he’s a plus defender at all 3 OF positions and at 2B. The data says he’s slightly below average at SS/3B. In 2009, the data says he was excellent in LF, which is where he played the bulk of his OF innings for the Yankees. SSS and all that, but if he actually made 3-4 horrible plays as a Yankee (which you said he did), the data would reflect that since the sample is so small.
In other words, you’re full of crap.
And none of this means that the Yankees should or shouldn’t bring back Hairston. That depends on his price and if it precludes them from bringing in another OF bat. But that wasn’t my point. My point is that we have a gigantic body of data that says JHJ is a very good defensive player. You claimed otherwise, but you have absolutely nothing to back it up.
So what is your point? Oh yeah, that I’m a peripheral fan. Good one.
Voomo: I think you forgot Nick Johnson.
Forgot him as what? DP offender? No
Someone who can play SS/3B? No
Oh, oh, i see. Forgot him as our DH.
Yes, i did forget that.
Hoo boy is that Snooki smoking or what?