~~~ OFFICIAL YANKEES 2007 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS OR BUST THREAD ~~~

[Triumph36]

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Andy Phillips placed on waivers... seems like Josh Phelps (rule 5 draftee) has won the other half of the first base platoon

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thank god - Phelps can't possibly be worse than Andy Phillips was last year. The guy had one decent month and one HORRIBLE month. How the Yankees succeed with so many -VORP guys as backups..

[sylar]

phelps was rule 5, so he couldn't be placed on waivers, because he would have to be returned to baltimore even if he cleared them.

this way there's hope that phillips would clear waivers and return to AAA.

[g-bebe]

I never liked Phelps, personally, especially when he was on the Jays (who are the team I follow the most after the Yanks). Reminded me of a thinner Jim Thome with a lot less power.

Pavano should be okay... all he needs is to get up there and throw strikes... doesn't need to fan the side every inning to impress fans; Wang sure didn't do that, and he got support pretty quickly by just pitching average, letting the field get the outs and let the bats win games. No team can compare with the Yankees on paper in terms of offensive capability. Having a healthy Matsui and having Abreu year-round, this team should be batting in over 1000 runs this year.

[sylar]

phelps essentially spent his rookie and sophomore season in TOR, age 24 and 25, after posting some freaky good numbers in AAA. while better players probably already grew into their frame at that age, there's a lot of good players who are still developing and somewhat sputter in the majors.

i wouldn't hold that against phelps. sure, he did not have the isolated power like thome, but there aren't that many players who do.

this season phelps is probably going to post a >100 OPS+, and hopefully a SLG of >.500. this will be a very good bench contribution for the yankees, and he'll be pinch-hitting for doug mitxczxyxwz a lot.

[Triumph36]

Pavano will be league average or worse - of that I have no doubt, especially with how poor the Yankees are at fielding.

Anyway, Phelps's PECOTA is a a 773 OPS, which isn't good - but it's better than Andy Phillips. If he posts an SLG over .500, it'll likely be because he's only facing left handers.

Giambi should be playing first base.

[sylar]

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Giambi should be playing first base.

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lol. giambi shouldn't be anywhere near first base. he should have DH tatooed on his forehead.

[Triumph36]

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Giambi should be playing first base.

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lol. giambi shouldn't be anywhere near first base. he should have DH tatooed on his forehead.

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he hits better as a 1st baseman. Mientkewicz's best defensive days are behind him, and he is an out in the Yankee lineup. Watch him hit .210 with no power and tell me who should play 1B.

This would also get Melky in LF and Matsui as a DH, which is a far better arrangement offensively.

[sylar]

the yankees don't rely on their 1B for power production. they have plenty of power in many other positions. besides, phelps will be platooning first.

as for giambi hitting better, sure he has work to stay focused on the game as a DH. but watch him play 1B 3 times a week, and he'll miss august and sptember with a bum knee.

[Rubeskies]

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the yankees don't rely on their 1B for power production. they have plenty of power in many other positions. besides, phelps will be platooning first.

as for giambi hitting better, sure he has work to stay focused on the game as a DH. but watch him play 1B 3 times a week, and he'll miss august and sptember with a bum knee.

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Exactly. A healthly Giambi hitting .260 with 35 bombs and a .450 OBP is better than an injured Giambi down the stretch with better first half numbers.

[THAY3R]

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he hits better as a 1st baseman.

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WTF does this even mean?