Comments on: Yankees “quietly interested” in free agent Michael Bourn?

By: privy1014

privy1014 — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:42:39 +0000

I take it as the Yanks do not have a real interest in Michael Bourn. Did you ever think Bourn’s agent is hoping the Yanks come into play. I don’t see them making him an offer unless they move Granderson.

By: necr0philia

necr0philia — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 01:28:24 +0000

I hope he goes broke and no one picks him up. And moves into a downtown trash can and eats worms all night long for dinner and his agent is his neighbor living in an old refrigerator box.

By: anxovies

anxovies — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 01:23:50 +0000

I am quietly interested in Kate Upton. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012_swimsuit/models/kate-upton/?sct=swimhp_t3_a15

By: buffalomafia

buffalomafia — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:37:00 +0000

If george was alive he’d kill his sons! As a true blue yankee fan looks like the yankees are going back to the stankies!

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 10:06:44 +0000

kkolchak, there is no “might” be different. They are all different. As for “IF” his production falls off “dramatically” as you say. That’s true. But again there is always the flip side of that coin and if his production goes up. Besides it’s not like teams are knocking down his door right now and offering him this ridiculously large contract. As for his production falling dramatically. Short of a major injury (which could happen) I doubt that would be the case when you look at his offensive numbers. In fact, a 1 year stint with the Yankees at Yankee Stadium would probably be very beneficial to his numbers. A left handed batter in Yankee Stadium generally tends to improve his numbers. You need look no further then the 38 year old the Yankees got for the last 9 weeks of the 2012 season, Ichiro. Of course there is a risk for Bourn if he took a 1 year deal but the reward could be very substantial and it certainly wouldn’t be the first time a player opted for a 1 year deal to try and increase his value the next time in FA. Just my opinion.

By: kkolchak

kkolchak — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 02:21:22 +0000

Each player’s circumstance might be different, but I’m giving you a very good reason why Bourn would want to be paid now coming off a career season entering his 30s. If his production falls off dramatically next year, he’s hosed and will never get his payday.

By: banksatdixie

banksatdixie — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 01:49:17 +0000

This smells like an agent leaking stuff. Cashman and his front office are relatively tight lipped. I can’t see this making any sense to begin with, but I am certain if it were true we wouldn’t know about it.

By: cackalackyank

cackalackyank — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 01:02:54 +0000

Quietly interested=you are the “Mystery team”. Noisily interested= Any rumor involving the NYY. (So they can bid against themselves like in the good old days) Since this has been posted on the internet this is not “Quietly Interested”.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:26:01 +0000

kkolchak, your reply makes no sense. We can all make comparisons to make our point. For example how old was Jayson Werth when he was signed to 7 year/$126MM contract? Oh, that’s right he turned 32 in the 1st year of that contract. Each players circumstances are different.

By: kkolchak

kkolchak — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 23:30:36 +0000

Yeah–and how old was Carl Crawford the first season after he signed his big deal with the Red Sox? Oh, that would be 29. Bourn needs to get paid now before he loses a step and much of his value.

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 22:40:16 +0000

Mi Amigo, I do not think your contention is crazy, but it is Ichiro who is more likely to achieve those numbers. In the old days with the power the Yanks possessed in the infield, the aforementioned outfield would be interesting and just might work, but without the production at 3B, and questions about Cano and Texeira, one has to be concerned about RBI production.

However, at this point, the argument for Bourn is valid, cause I do not see any other options that are superior. If Granderson can be kept, to DH, maybe the power will be there.

There are problems however; very left-handed line-up, and the commitment to Bourn would have to be for a number of years, so the Yanks better secure some right-handed power, when they face tough lefties.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 22:27:21 +0000

My friend I think fans here may be underestimating the effect on the right field porch on Bourn’s power numbers if he was to be in pinstripes. Will he hit 40 HR’s I doubt it but there is no reason he can’t hit 20 to 25 like Swisher has the past 2 years.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 22:22:34 +0000

The man only turns 30 the end of this month.

By: vallewho

vallewho — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 22:21:34 +0000

The only reason Garner has never gotten the type of attention that I believe that he deserves is that he does not hold a big contract and obviously has never been a free agent.

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 22:01:25 +0000

He isn’t great, he cannot throw. He covers a lot of ground, but range is his main asset.

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 21:59:56 +0000

Regarding the SBs, one thing that should be remembered is that percentage is not the only way to judge base stealers. Some only pick certain situations, and do not force the issue. Some are more daring. It is a lot harder to steal 40 out of 50 bases than 20 out of 25. Plus the base runners who steal early in the count also benefits the team, as it doesn’t force the hitter into a pitcher count.

You can make the argument that runners shouldn’t force the issue, but maintaining an 80% success rate, kinda makes that point moot.

By: pisano

pisano — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 21:50:35 +0000

church….. I stand corrected, I didn’t realize they’re stats were that close, but Gardner is great in the field, no denying that.

By: dondada10

dondada10 — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 21:48:16 +0000

If the Dodgers think they need a pinch-runner late in games they’ll sign Bourn to 4/48.

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 21:48:01 +0000

All salient points Church, however it should be remembered that Gardner is sometimes platooned, and that tends to skew the numbers somewhat.

By: genericcommenter

genericcommenter — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 21:46:16 +0000

How is he any more of a lead-off hitter compared to Jeter or even Gardner? He doesn’t even get on base that much. He would’ve had one of the worst OBP of all Yankees regulars last season. He hits and steals similar to Gardner, and old man Jeter gets on a base and scores runs at a higher clip.

By: churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged

churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 21:41:13 +0000

Get on base(1), Gardner strikes out too much for a leadoff hitter(2). Bourn is faster and will probably steal more bases(3). Ideally Gardner is a 9 hole hitter, also he’s not real strong against left handed pitching(4).

Career Numbers:

1 – Gets on base
Gardner – .355 OBP, 11.0% walk rate
Bourn – .339 OBP, 8.8% walk rate

2 – Strikes out too much
Gardner – 16.7% K rate
Bourn – 20.2% K rate

3 – Steal more bases
Gardner – 137/167 in stolen bases for a 82% rate
Bourn – 276/340 in stolen bases for a 81% rate

4 – not real strong against LH Pitching:
Gardner – .256/.362/.335
Bourn – .249/.306/.336

Bourn has played more games than Gardner, hence the more steal opportunities, but everything you said was wrong.

By: Kevin S.

Kevin S. — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 21:31:46 +0000

Bourn has a significantly lower career OBP and a significantly higher career strikeout rate. Bourn and Gardner are also pretty comparable base stealers. There’s really not a whole hell of a lot of difference between the two, actually.

By: fhuizar

fhuizar — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 21:22:46 +0000

The Yankees on a budget

The cash is out west now

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 21:19:06 +0000

This would leave the Yanks with the outfield trio or Gardner, Ichiro, and Bourn, and while it might be the fastest outfield in MLB history, it isn’t exactly murderers row.

By: pisano

pisano — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 21:18:58 +0000

Get on base, Gardner strikes out too much for a leadoff hitter. Bourn is faster and will probably steal more bases. Ideally Gardner is a 9 hole hitter, also he’s not real strong against left handed pitching.

By: rhmurphy

rhmurphy — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 21:02:56 +0000

What does Bourn do that Gardner doesn’t do?

By: kkolchak

kkolchak — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 21:01:46 +0000

Yeah, but so would a lot of other teams…that’s the point. The man ain’t getting any younger and wants to be paid now.

By: pisano

pisano — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 20:53:04 +0000

Hopefully they are working on something to move Granderson and will replace him with Bourn.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 20:52:42 +0000

If Bourn decides to take a 1 year deal so he can become a free agent again next year the Yankees will be on him like “white on rice”.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 20:51:40 +0000

Granderson’s gone next year regardless. The Yankees can only afford to re-sign either Cano OR Granderson and have any hope of staying under the tax threshold in 2014.