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According to Fangraphs.com, UZR/150 which rates a player’s defense above average, Brett Gardner was the 3rd best defensive outfielder in all of MLB among players with 500+ innings in center

1. Franklin Guitierrez – 27.1
2. Rajai Davis – 17.8
3. Brett Gardner – 15.4
4. Willy Taveras – 14.1

Numbers are numbers and Russ will say “I know what I saw” but I think Garnder covered more ground than Melky and is a solid defender.

Maybe I’ve been inside too long.  Anyway, Nick Swisher had a career year last year.  We probably won’t see anything close to that in 2010.  And he is a total butcher out there in right field.  Frenchie is much better defensively.  And… Frenchie one year hit 29 HRs and drove in 103 runs about as well as Swish did last year.  True, Swish has better OBP, but batting average does still count for something.  But Didi Conn (who played Frenchie in the movie “Grease” plays better defense).  If Granderson does not return to form, this outfield collectively hits .240!  All of them.  And… I’ve seen Brett Gardener play centerfield (I can’t comment on Granderson only to say that the Tigers were disappointed with his defense last year).  Anyway, Gardener is an average centerfielder at best.  Just because the guy is fast doesn’t mean he can play centerfield defense.  I saw him last year and let’s just say… he’s better than Johnny Damon.  Furthermore, in the post season last year, when Gardener got on base, it was like he was afraid to steal.  At least Damon, butcher in the field he may be, but he made a baserunning play that will be remembered for a long time.  I don’t know… I’ve seen enough of Brett Gardener.  Our only hope is that Granderson returns to form.  But he did hit .240 last year.  Francouer is what old time baseball guys would call “Ham and Eggs.”   Like a ham and eggs breakfast, he’s nothing special but he gets the job done.  Granderson has a higher ceiling, if he can play like he used to.  Swisher, well all I can say is he had a good year and he keeps the team loose.  But let’s be honest….  if he doesn’t have another year like last year, I can hire Tim Raines or Luis Sojo as a coach and keep the team loose that way. 

Nope there’s no argument, unless Granderson comes back to life, this is the second worst outfield defense I will ever see, only to be surpassed by last year’s.

Russ.  I think you were out in the snow too long and the cold limited your ability to think and reason.  Do we have anyone better than Jeff Francoeur?  Yes.  All three of the “starting” outfielders are better than Jeff Francouer, both historically and based on last season’s numbers.

2009 Season

 162 Game Averages 

Granderson and Gardner are superior defenders (Gardner by some metrics was the best centerfielder defensively last year) and all three project as better offensive threats than Jeff Francouer.   Most of Gardner’s offense comes from his legs.  Assuming he can get on base at the .345 clip he did last year, he will be a terror on the basepaths.  Maybe you and the Snowman should just chill, enjoy the championship offseason and put a little faith in Cashman.

Saying this year’s outfield is better than last year’s ain’t saying much.  The truth is… it’s been bad the past few years and there has been no priority to really fix it.  We used to be able to handle it because we were better offensively at catcher.  With Jorge getting up there, we don’t have that advantage anymore.  Last season, I complained about the outfield every night until the final out in game six.  It looks like this year will be no different.  I’m not asking for an all-star, but do we even have someone as good as Jeff Francouer?  I’m not even sure we have someone as good as the snowman I made in my front yard today – and he’s eventually going to melt in a few weeks!

Last year’s outfield was worse defensively than this year’s projects to be…and last year they won the World Series.

Russ, would you be worried if they re-signed Damon? Defensively speaking, anyone short of Nick Johnson can’t be as bad in left field as Damon was last year…and again….they won the World Series.

These are smart calculated moves by Cashman. Cashman is being frugal this year because, quite honestly, he didn’t like any of the options available to him.  And….he has a plan.  He will open the coffers next year for a certain Tampa Bay left fielder.

It’s all part of a plan. These aren’t the Yankees of old that spend for the sake of spending. And last year proves…they’re not afraid to spend.

John, your observation about Gardener is precisely why I’m worried.  He can’t hit.  So we have Gardener, Winn, Granderson, Swisher, Thames, Greg Golson, Hensley Muellens, Henry Cotto, Ken Phelps, did I forget anyone??????? 

This outfield is an outrage!  They have had plenty of time to work on this.  Oh yeah, that’s right, the Yankees don’t have the money we have a budget…… WHAT?!!!!!!!!!!!   Oh yeah, that’s right we’re waiting for next off season when the really good free agents come out.   WHAT?!!!!!!!!!  We can’t get one outfielder.  One tiny, measley, tincy, wincy, little old outfielder?  Oh yeah, that’s right —–  THAT’S WHAT WE HAVE!  

As Arnold (the Governor of California) would say. “What a little puny, weak offensive outfield.  The mighty Yankees need to pump it up!” 

Forget the fact that it will still be one of the worst defensive outfields I’ve seen only surpassed by last year’s outfield.   Hey, maybe we could get a machine to go underneath the outfield grass that could pop up whenever Gardener has to throw the ball back to infield.  He could drop it on the machine and the robot could fire the relay in!  Oh yeah that’s right, it’s not in the budget.   With the resources of this organization…….

This is sad.  And it’s not just another spoiled Yankee fan wanting an All-Star at every position.  This outfield has actually been a problem for a while now.  There’s been time and opporunity to address it to the point where there’s someone out there.  Maybe after seeing Granderson play my fears will be quieted.  But right now, on paper, on a snowy day in February…  I’m wishing for Mel Hall, Claudell Washington and Hensley Muellens.

They signed Thames to an un-guaranteed minor league deal.  It’s peanuts. And an inexpensive outfield option with major league experience and power is a good thing.

And Gardner is not a lock to start in the outfield this year. He STILL has to prove he can hit.  Offensively, speed is worthless if you can’t get on base. He hits, he plays. He doesn’t hit, he pinch runs late in games and goes in for defensive purposes…..OR….

Girardi likes Gardner, but remember this, he also liked Cody Ransom. Cody couldn’t dream of  making contact with a baseball, and what happened to him????

I thought this odd as well. I know competition is good and you can supposedly never have too many players, but this is a bit much. I think I would be happiest if they just gave the job to Gardner. Higher average with blazing, distracting speed. We don’t need more low average power.

The Yankees signed Marcus Thames?  Ok… what are we doing?  Collecting mediocre outfielders?  What do we have.. Gardener, Granderson, Wynn, Swisher and Thames?  Am I forgetting anybody?  At least he’s perhaps better than Wynn.  And, I guess Granderson isn’t mediocre.

We need to have a special Roundtable day before the season starts so that we all get a chance to slap Russ around.

Russ, pitchers and catchers didn’t report yet and although your post is tongue in cheek, you’re giving the Yankees the “Mal Occhio”  (evil eye).  If they start badly, I’m blaming you.