Getting paid a fortune to do what exactly? You can get a young player making very little that could do better or the same as what Ellsbury gives them.
^^^other than being fast enough to chase down fly balls in the OF, he really doesn't bring much to the table.
The thing is, as bad as the contract is if this guy was coming close to what he did with Boston the Yanks would at least have a very good offensive player at the top of the lineup. Ellsbury-- even if we exclude his 2011 career year, ...before he came to the Yanks he was a .290 career hitter, with a .756 OPS and lead the league in SB three times out of six seasons. He actually lead the league with 52 SB in his last year with Boston! As a Yankee: .271/.747 - 39 SB .257/.663 - 21 SB .267/.694 - 17 SB If Hal is letting Cashman off the hook, he should at least "approach" Ellsbury, kinda. I think Ellsbury just might be dogging it and has lost his competitive edge. Surprising.
OBP has been a problem for a long time now...when you sometimes have 3 starters with and OBP under .300 it's kinda hard to maintain a solid offense or sustain a rally. ...with RISP the Yanx are dead last (.307) in the AL in OBP by a wide margin. (league average is .337)
Yeah. Keep batting him 1st or 2nd! Some table setter! Bat him low in the order. The guy needs a wake up call.............why? I do not have a clue. Maybe the money is not enough motivation.
...gotta believe that either Ellsbury or Gardner will be traded this off-season...and since his remaining contract is closer to "market value", Gardner would be the more logical choice.
there's still hope, perhaps: Jacoby to Miami??? http://bronxpinstripes.com/featured-column/arod-not-south-beach-ellsbury/
