The Sommer Frieze

I definitely recommend reading Joel Sherman’s column today. I’ve been harping on the lack of lefties for a while (years), and his suggestion of Houston’s Ty Wigginton is dead on. (Especially Wigginton at 2B against lefties? After all, Cano is at .230/67!!! Wigginton is 30, .283-3-9 in limited play, OPS+ 116. He’d be much better than Ensberg was. Wiggy can play 1B, 2B, 3B, and both corner OF spots. Now that’s valuable!) Marte or Sherrill for Kennedy? SF’s Jonathan Sanchez, who is 25, a lefty, & 5-3, 3.70, 75 K in 75 1/3, ERA+ 113?

Sherman also discusses how Garrett Atkins could be looked at, and how the Rox need a long-term answer in CF. He states (hold onto your hat) that the Yanks could deal Melky, who has the great arm but is average (see above OPS) offensively. He quotes three scouts as saying that AAA CF Brett Gardner can play in the majors now, and his speed (23 SB…the Yanks leader is JD with 10 and Melky has only 3) would be an element sadly lacking on the current squad…in short, all I’ve been saying for two and a half months now. As for Atkins, I’m not sold. As Sherman states, the belief is that Atkins could play 1B, and he only has 16 games there. We’ve seen that experiment before with Sheff and Ensberg. Atkins is 28, .312-8-33, OPS+ 107. He drove in 111 last year and 120 the year before that. .303 career, career OPS+ 110. But two things: 1) the 1B issue. 2) will it translate outside of Colorado?

Be sure to check Sherman’s column out.

Busy, catch you mid-game or on Yankee Fan Club Radio tonight.