Oh, put me in, coach - I’m ready to play today;
Put me in, coach - I’m ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be centerfield. - John Fogarty
You can bet that Yankee outfield prospect Brett Gardner is “ready to play”. The question is, how ready? Just ask him.
Sure, when most people are asked to talk about great Yankee center fielders, they mostly mention Mantle or DiMaggio. Fans of more recent vintage might even talk about Bernie Williams. The common thread of all of these discussions is this; in addition to being Gold Glove caliber defenders, they all must also hit 30 homers every year and drive in 100 runs. Even Johnny Damon (pictured, above left / photo by P. Borriello), is thought of a speed-power guy.
Sure, when asked what would be optimal, most baseball folks would prefer that kind of special package type of player. But what’s wrong with the alternative?
Like Mickey Rivers before him, Gardner fits the profile of a speedy pest, who can distract opposing pitchers ever day, play superb defense and hit just enough to score 120 runs year.
So, yeah, Gardner might not a “prototypical Yankees center fielder”, but he could be one heckuva player. It's not like it hasn't been done before.
Growing up watching baseball in the eighties, fans saw plenty of postseason teams with speedy leadoff types that fit the Gardner profile. Names like Willie Wilson, Brett Butler, Willie McGee and Lenny Dykstra were hustle players that all ignited their ball clubs at the top of the order.
Speed was only on the menu for Detroit Tigers and White Sox All-Star Chet Lemon and surefire Hall of Fame Ricky Henderson, but so was a little bit of power, so they may not belong in this argument. But still.
The Steroid Era helped change the perception of the leadoff hitter, as the very dicey Brady Anderson hit 50 homers in 1996 leading off for the Baltimore Orioles.
Much like Lemon did in 1984, Jose Reyes hit nearly 20 homers for the Mets in the leadoff spot. Speed and on base percentage is great, but fans seem to want power as well.
Given the aforementioned, many think Gardner is ticketed to be a fringe major leaguer. According to John Manuel of Baseball America, Gardner being a top prospect is more of “an indictment of the positional depth in the upper rungs” of the Yankees system.
Gardner – and Gotham Baseball Magazine – respectfully disagree.
Well aware of the criticism of his game, Gardner believes he can be a starting CF in the majors. He is also willing to help the Yankees this season whether it be playing everyday in Triple-A Scranton or as a backup OF in New York.
When asked if he would compare his game to a Juan Pierre or Brett Butler, he indicates that those conversations are of no importance.
His physical gifts are obvious; great speed, tremendous instincts and a solid baseball acumen. Gardner has already honed the craft of base running at an early age. His 85 percent stolen base rate in the minor leagues would rank among the major's best. He constantly talks about studying the pitcher and how he could steal on “any catcher's arm” if he gets the right jump.
In just his second spring training, Gardner is hitting well over .300 with an on base percentage comfortably over forty percent. Not satisfied with his game, Gardner has worked hard on being smarter at pitch selection to cut down his strikeouts. Many times this approach could hamper a player’s aggressiveness, but Gardner discusses how it’s more about taking the right pitch in an at-bat. Knowing that he is only going to get one or two pitches to hit during a given situation, he believes knowing your pitch is the key to improving. So, Gardner might not have the luster of historic Yankees center fielders He might not even get the attention of other Yankees outfield prospects like Austin Jackson and Jose Tabata, but one thing is for sure: Do not underestimate him.
Gardner has enough physical talent and baseball intelligence to make it in this game, and it's not too difficult to see him roaming the new Yankee Stadium outfield, stealing bases to create great scoring opportunities or smiling in a winning dugout with a dirty uniform.
Put him in, coach. He's ready to play, some day. He can be Centerfield.
Oh, put me in, coach - I’m ready to play today;
