WasWatching.com

Still no hint that Jeter's going on the DL, so who gets sent out to make room for the former attorney general?

gonzalez would have to turn into hanley ramirez for the yankees to ask jeter to stay away from shortstop. ironically, i don't think jeter moving to 1b will be discussed until hanley becomes a free agent

oddly enough, one commenter over at waswatching brought up an idea whereby the Yankees could trade either Matsui or Damon (maybe package them with Ian Kennedy (or another young pitcher or two for a stud), slide Melky to LF, Jeter to CF, and keep Alberto at SS.

I'm kind of on your side with this one, Steve. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to see what this kid can offer to the team...

the questions that surround him solely reside on his offensive abilities, and if he can prove he's not an automatic out, we should have the offense at the top of the lineup (evenutally, anytime now...) to allow him to sit at the bottom of the order and be able to play some small ball at times, maybe...

It's not like Betemit is a butcher. The whole point of having someone as talented as Betemit as a backup is if your starter goes down you can use him without losing TOO much. Putting Gonzalez in this already-struggling lineup (which also might be minus Posada) is a nightmare. He IS an auto-out. He hasn't hit in the minors and he's not going to hit in the majors. He'd have to become Superman out there on the field to justify his bat.

Gonzalez had a great season at winter ball, and followed it up with a nice spring training.

Not everyone has to hit .300 and be able to belt 10-15 HRs in a lineup to be able to help produce runs.

Betemit is not a middle infielder... he is primarily a corner IF, and a bat off the bench. That said, I dont have a problem with him playing a couple of games there as a stop-gap, but if it turns out to be more than a handful of games, and Jeter goes on the DL for an extended period of time, I want a true SS on the field.

This is why they got him included in the RJ trade- now lets give him a shot and see what he can do.

Betemit has played everywhere on the field save for centerfield and catcher. He has 217 big-league games at third. 67 at shortstop. He's not ONLY a corner infielder. He can play anywhere in the infield.

And really, winter ball and spring training are almost meaningless. Eric Duncan tore of the AFL (as did Brett Gardner). But so what? It's not a high level of competition. They might be facing a 45-year-old pitcher who retired ten years ago in winter ball.

And no, Gonzo doesn't have to hit .300 and hit 15 home runs to help, but the problem is that he won't even sniff a .300 OBP. Or two home runs. Or anything. He's another Wil Nieves, and we saw how that worked out.

If they bring up Gonzo, it should be as a backup. Betemit is the better player and should retain the job.

And if the MLB page I'm looking at is accurate (and MLB should know, no?), then Gonzalez went .208/.208/.208 in spring training in 24 at-bats in 2008. There are some other words other than "nice" to describe that line.

how can anyone sit there and say for certain that any player will knwoinglyperform at a given level in the major leagues until they are given the opportunity to play? to say you know otherwise is just ridiculous and ignorant...

too many unknown players have come and gone from major league rosters and had solid MLB careers to say that because Alberto Gonzalez hasnt hit .300 in the minors he cant be a productive MLB player.

sure, Betemit has played all over the field on teh defensive side of the ball, but that doesnt mean he does all of it particularly well, or else he wouldnt be sitting on the NY bench right now after being traded two or three times, being passed over for playing time for other players, and now fighting for playing time.

i'm not saying it's a given he'll produce, but lets give the guy a chance before we bury him in Scranton all year... he may just surprise us all.

Would the Yankees then dare ask Jeter, when he returns, to play first and keep Gonzalez at short?
===============================================
They won't so there's no point in even asking the question.

Gonzalez should be up on the big club right now because the team needs to fortify the bench while Jeter, Giambi, and Posada are hurt. But the moment the team is back at full strength, Gonzalez has no role on this team. It's why I won't miss Giambi when he's gone. He's always hurt and he's sucking up a roster spot with his no field/streaky hit routine. Another 100 game season for this guy?

ironically, i don't think jeter moving to 1b will be discussed until hanley becomes a free agent
___

His ZR was .786 in 2006 and 2007. Most baseball people don't think that he will remain at SS for the Marlins for very long, let alone by the time he becomes a FA.

TurnTwo, aren't you the guy who buried Hughes and wanted him traded for Santana? If I'm wrong, I apologize. But your faith in a C prospect like Gonzalez is optimistic, I'll give you that.

No one can say for sure what a player will do on the next level. But indicators and minor-league numbers and tangible ability DO mean something. I just don't see Gonzalez being an everyday big-league player.

As for Betemit... you said he was a corner infielder and I was just providing the numbers that that idea was incorrect. Also, I don't understand why you would diminish Betemit -- yeah, he might have been "traded around," but both teams that traded for him gave up significant parts to get him. He's a good player, and though he might be on the edge of everyday player/utility player, he is much more capable than Mr. Gonzalez.

Buried? nope. Advocated for a Hughes/Santana trade? Yes; and I still would.

I just think Betemit is another example of one of these tool-sy players that eventually doesnt live up to the talent they were born with.

and i'm not expecting much from Gonzo. Right now, i'm looking forward to seeing him produce some glove, and anything he provides on the offensive side is gravy...

Bailywalk,

Are 10-15 homers off the bench worth all of the 0-ffers and strikeouts Betemit racks up? I mean come on the guy is an out machine. Last two games starting 1 for 8 with 6 strikeouts. How can you advocate for that?

I'm not advocating for Alberto at all. I just don't understand where Betemit is a good player and why there are so many Betemit fans? He hasn't lived up to his talent level ever nor has he forced his way into any of the line ups he's had a chance to break in to.

and i wouldnt say the Yankees gave up significant parts to get him... they gave up Scott Proctor, which seems to be a wash at this point.

btw, Mark Feinsand is reporting Gonzalez is with the team in KC. let the Alberto era begin!

Are 10-15 homers off the bench worth all of the 0-ffers and strikeouts Betemit racks up? I mean come on the guy is an out machine. Last two games starting 1 for 8 with 6 strikeouts. How can you advocate for that?
-----------------------
Because Betemit has a track record. And it's foolish to give up on him because "Last two games starting 1 for 8 with 6 strikeouts."

Raf,

Look at what he's done over the last year. Awful. Why would you want that on your team? Look at his entire career. He has a 96 OPS+. Below average.

Look at what he's done over the last year. Awful. Why would you want that on your team? Look at his entire career. He has a 96 OPS+. Below average.
-------------
Look at his platoon splits.

Combine that with the fact that he's a supersub, and you see why he's still in the league. He's a serviceable player when used properly. He was a bench player with the Braves, the Dodgers, and currently the Yanks. Don't think anyone is asking any more than that from him.

I'll take my chances with him.