It appears we've misread Brian Cashman's intentions all along. Apparently the Yankee GM's goal for this offseason hasn't just been to improve the 2009 champs, but to reacquire every twentysomething that played for the team in 2003-2004. Any chance you can undo the Jeff Weaver deal while you're at, Cash?Kidding aside, I like the signing of former Yankee farmhand Marcus Thames to a minor league deal. I mean, what's not to like about it? It's a pittance for the hope that perhaps Thames can regain some of the form that made him a .370 wOBA player for the 2006 Tigers in 348 at-bats. That may be a lot to ask for a part-time player with a career .306 OBP, but given that all the Yanks need is for Thames to be a viable bat off the bench, it's a fine gamble. I certainly like this move better than the signing of the bastard lovechild of Alvaro Espinoza and Wil Nieves.
Additionally, as The Fowl Balls notes, Yankee fans now get to re-experience the untold pleasures of having Michael Kay and John Sterling remind us that Thames hit a home run off Randy Johnson on the very first Major League pitch he saw every single time Thames comes to the plate in 2010. So there's that, too.
Fair enough, Larry - Kay and Sterling really like that sort of stat!
ReplyDeleteBut yes, I'm pleased that the Yankees have replenished their outfield depth after trading Austin Jackson and Melky Cabrera and I like the idea that the Yankees are going to have open competitions for both LF and 5th starter - a good competitive vibe to have during spring training, when there isn't much else to be competitive about. yeah, I too am not sure I understand why they brought in Randy Winn accept for aforementioned competition; Reed Johnson would have made more sense, but I believe we in the yankees blog nation have beat that to death, so i'll let it go