Minor league deal, not bad all things considered. It's the year of welcoming back old names apparently (Johnson, Vazquez, and now Thames). He can mash lefties.
"The Yankees have signed outfielder Marcus Thames to a non-roster contract, league sources tell SI.com. Thames should compete with Randy Winn and Brett Gardner for playing time"
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...hames.yankees/
"I just won you the pennant. I got you Steve Trout."
-- George Steinbrenner to Lou Piniella after trading for Trout from the Cubs, 1987.
I don't know if this is the place to point it out, but from a diversity point of view, this year the Yankees have a larger contingent of African-Americans: CC, Granderson, Winn, and now Thames. Of course, Jeter is bi-racial. I always like having a more diverse team!
"You don't play the games on paper....you have to play the games."
--Derek Jeter
http://riveraveblues.com/2010/02/yan...-thames-23560/
Update (3:44pm): Joel Sherman confirms that it is in fact a minor league deal, adding that Thames will make $900,000 if he makes the team. He pulled down $2.275M last season.
Bring tea for the Tillerman; Steak for the son; Wine for the woman who made the rain come; Seagulls sing your hearts away; 'Cause while the sinners sin, the children play ...
More important than the fact that Thames is black, he hits LHP really well, and can even play a passable outfield corner!
Let's welcome Granderson's hitting caddy. When a team reaches for that LOOGY late in the game, Thames will be reaching for his bat, while Winn finds his glove.Originally Posted by I'm A Wenner!
Just a thought- since he's non-roster, I think this might grease the skids to get one of Mitre and Gaudin out of town (to clear a roster spot).
If they dump Gaudin and keep Mitre, they're idiots. In either case, Mitre would be useful in AAA, at the very least.
remember that mitre has those girardi pictures
It will strike more fear into the hearts of RSN.
Stella said, "Daddy when you gonna put me in a song?"
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Either one is the 7th SP, so no loss.
THe battle between Joba and Hughes will decide the 5th SP- the loser would be the next option is someone went down. I think that even if the Yanks needed yet another SP, it isn't automatic that they go to Mitre or Gaudin- the Yanks could go with Aceves, especially if it is only for a start or two.
Well done.
Roster casualty= Hoffmann.
When asked if the Red Sox would've beaten Tampa Bay in the ALCS had Manny not gotten his wish and been traded, Ortiz replied: "Probably. I'm not gonna lie to you."
I'll always remember that first pitch HR off Randy. (I'm sure everyone else does as well)
Defending World Series Champions
I was at that game. Jeter homered and Shane Spencer hit a grand slam that day too.
LMAO I was at that game too
Due to the nature of the split, it's obviously a small sample, but Thames is a career .327/.431/.636 hitter as a PH, and a career .264/.374/.527 hitter as a sub.
Thames' contract is minor contract. The Yankees can let him play in AAA, then call him up in the mid-season and prepare for the play off. He is this year Yankees' Hinske.
Watching it on national TV now pales in comparison.
Diplomacy is the ability to tell a man to go to hell so that he looks forward to making the trip
I think I like this pick-up better than Hoffman/Winn/Golson combined.
Why would he not break camp with the Yanks?
Diplomacy is the ability to tell a man to go to hell so that he looks forward to making the trip
Hoffman plays better
I'm pronouncing his name the way it's spelled. I don't give a shi*.
Calmer than you are.
I don't think ST will make much, if any difference.
Diplomacy is the ability to tell a man to go to hell so that he looks forward to making the trip
Too bad Randy Johnson retired....it would have made for a great rematch.
Let the kids play.
I was at that game too! We all thought his next time up Johnson was gonna knock him down!
That's probably how they're going to decide who makes the roster out of Thames and Hoffmann. That's what teams usually do when they have a positional battle.
3-year OPS vs. lefties is .867. I'd say you're right.
Let the kids play.
Because the Yankees may carry 13 pitchers.
CC
AJ
Pettitte
Vazquez
Hughes
Joba
Mo
Marte
Robertson
Gaudin
Aceves
Logan
Melancon
The first 11 is a lock. Logan will likely make the team as he is the only LHP besides Marte. So if the Yankees want to keep Melancon, there are only 12 spots for positional players.
http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/1...who-has-no-28/“I think New York’s fan base is probably one of the most knowledgeable about tradition and the team,” he (Granderson) said. “Case in point, when I was walking around with Marcus Thames one time, an armed police officer pointed him out and said, ‘Hey, that’s Marcus Thames, first at-bat home run against Randy Johnson.’ And it just amazed me that we’re walking down the street in Manhattan, there’s a ton of people walking around, and this guy picked him out, out of uniform, and remembered that bit about him."
Thames and Curtis were buds back in Detroit
SI: Do you have a secret ambition?
Igawa: That's secret.
"They should just practice during the regular season and show up for the playoffs -Ichiro on the Yankees
Thames plays a specific role on this team and is a proven vet with a consistent track record. IMO there's no competition between him and an unproven rookie whose skills are somewhat redundant.
Diplomacy is the ability to tell a man to go to hell so that he looks forward to making the trip
I prefer a completely homogeneous team consisting solely of very good to great baseball players.
I like this move - we needed an OF that could hit LHP well, and Thames certainly fits that role.
That said, this makes Hoffmann pretty worthless to us. I can't see him sticking with us all year long, or even the first month or so.
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Their roles are totally different. There shouldn't be any positional battle. It all depends on how many pitchers the Yankees want to carry to start the season.
i hope thames and granderson don't form their own clique and mess with the clubhouse chemistry
The season starts at Fenway, I'm sure they'll be staying close for other reasons
SI: Do you have a secret ambition?
Igawa: That's secret.
"They should just practice during the regular season and show up for the playoffs -Ichiro on the Yankees
bible study?
100 hr's in 1500 ab's.
1 hr every 15 ab's is not bad, and he's had 25 twice while never reaching 350 ab's in any season.
Sounds like a right handed platoon parther.
WARNING! This post may be offensive to little girly men or women with soft feelings.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.
1) The Yankees are not going to have 6 OFers on the roster. There is not room with 6 IFers, including NJ, and 2 catchers. This means that Thames and Hoffman both will not be on the team, unless there is an injury.
2) Thames obviously has a better resume and a role as a pinch hitter against a lefty, perhaps even for Granderson as well as Gardner. But Hoffman is younger and presumably has more upside. If he impresses in spring training, would the Yankees really want to send him back to the Dodgers? Thames can be sent down for awhile in case something happens. He is insurance. I don't think Thames making the team is certain.
on a team where sergio mitre has a roster spot, anything is possible
This offseason has been the interesting. 3 of the 5 players we picked up were once on the Yankees. (Vasqueze, Johnson, and now Thames)
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Yeah! We can just have him PH for Granderson against lefties and the other team won't know!
A fool and his money can throw one heck of a party!
Thames is low-risk, high-reward. Good signing by Cashman.
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yea, he's proven journeyman platoon player. I'll acknowledge that he has the edge in a competition between him and Hoffmann, but I don't think it's anything that a good spring training for Hoffmann couldn't change. I'm not so sure they would play so different roles if they make the team.
I sure do long for the days of Earl Weaver and 9-10 man pitching staffs--now there is no way to build a bench.
I heard this today...Did Coltrane actually exist? This is like being blind for 50 years, regaining sight, and then peering directly at the sun.
This will all sort itself out fine.
I see Thames as the caddy to Granderson, and occasional righty DH. Winn serves as the guy who comes in defensively if Thames PH for Granderson (or Gardner). Hoffman really has no role here, and is highly unproven. Maybe the Yanks can trade Mitre to the Dodgers for his rights? (Dodgers need another SP who is cheap- they have no money).
So, it looks like a bench of Cervelli, Pena, Winn, Thames while the Yanks will use 12 pitchers early in the season. When they eventually go to 11 pitchers (with 4 SP who go deep into games, a seven person bullpen isn't necessary), they should probably have someone who can play 3B to spell ARod available to call up (probably someone who will sign a minor league deal too).
I like having a winning team. If I wanted diversity, I would root for The U.N.
I think the list is a little redundant. With 4 SP who go deep into games (CC, AJ, Pettitte, Vasquez), there is not a great need for 7 arms in the pen.
Furthermore, with 4 strong SP, having 2 guys who are really long men (Aceves and Gaudin) is unnecessary redundancy. You only need one.
I would suggest that in April, and maybe early May, when the SP are still working their way to 7 IP, the bullpen might be:
Mo, Joba/Hughes (I think Joba), Marte, Aceves, Robertson, Melancon and Logan. When the SP are "stretched out," I think that Logan is the most likely to be moved out, though if one of the young pitchers struggles, that could be the call too.
You don't root for the UN? Their goal is world peace!
Fire Isiah Thomas.
The way Girardi LOVES to burn through his bullpen, using his best middle reliever for one out late in tie games, 13 is barely enough.
A fool and his money can throw one heck of a party!
Will this group of OFers set a K record.
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