2012 Raul Ibanez Performance Thread

[Alan Slocum]

Spring training! He might be done...but lets see what happens in games that actually matter before making that judgment

I don't care that he is a left handed DH. We have tons of LH hitters. If they keep that old fart and put Justin Maxwell on waivers, they are just plain dumb. If he doesn't win the bench job in ST, it should be sayonara.

[hardrain]

I've always said that ST doesn't mean anything...but jeez Louise I don't think the guy has hit a single line drive yet...disturbing to say the least.

[hardrain]

I've always said that ST doesn't mean anything...but jeez Louise I don't think the guy has hit a single line drive yet...disturbing to say the least.

...and no sooner than I post does he hit a 2-run HR....

[b0mber]

clearly he was checking the boards on his iphone...hey he brought his average up to .053

[Alan Slocum]

clearly he was checking the boards on his iphone...hey he brought his average up to .053

Good bye Raul. You gone (or DL'ed) in 2 weeks.

[NelsonMuntz]

Anyone expecting Ibanez to be released in spring training is going to be sorely disappointed.

[awy]

performance in the thread title is painfully mocking now

[sjb23]

Anyone expecting Ibanez to be released in spring training is going to be sorely disappointed.

I know that it's tough to place a lot of value on 50 spring training ABs, but Ibanez has done absolutely nothing to give Girardi hope of having any type of production coming out of the DH spot, and the club hasn't shown any willingness to put him out on the field.

I'll root for the guy because he's a Yankee, but I think he needs to be batting 8th against righties and sitting on the bench against lefties, until he shows that he still has some pop in his bat.

I also wouldn't bat an eye if the Yanks release him, and I'm now starting to wonder if Damon is a better fit.

[Yankee Tripper]

I'll root for the guy because he's a Yankee, but I think he needs to be batting 8th and sitting against lefties, until he shows that he still has some pop in his bat.

If he' on the team I'll root for him too.
But small point, he should be on the bench against lefties. He was brought in to platoon with our designated lefty masher Andruw Jones

[NelsonMuntz]

I know that it's tough to place a lot of value on 50 spring training ABs, but Ibanez has done absolutely nothing to give Girardi hope of having any type of production coming out of the DH spot, and the club hasn't shown any willingness to put him out on the field.

I'll root for the guy because he's a Yankee, but I think he needs to be batting 8th against righties and sitting on the bench against lefties, until he shows that he still has some pop in his bat.

I also wouldn't bat an eye if the Yanks release him, and I'm now starting to wonder if Damon is a better fit.

The reason I didn't think it was likely that the Yankees would release him in ST was because I thought they were paying him $4 million but I just realized only $1.1 million is guaranteed. So I suppose it is possible that they would release him, but I still don't think it is very likely. My assumption is that they will give him a couple of months to turn it around (a la Randy Winn a few years ago) and if he still looks cooked at that point, they'll explore the trade market.

[pleasepassthesoup]

I'm fairly certain Raul will be chasing after Bonds' 73 this year.

[Mr Coffee]

i'm fairly certain raul will be chasing after bonds' 73 El Camino with a squeegee this year.

ftfy.

[mal1219]

Haven't seem much of Ibanez this spring, but his swings out there looked decent.

[Mr Coffee]

Haven't seem much of Ibanez this spring, but his swings out there looked decent.

Nice try, Raul.

[False1]

Nice try, Raul.

LOL - yeah, I didn't see today's game but unless it was a remarkable turnaround from his other games this spring his swing has NOT looked good. It has been worse than imaginable. Getting blown away by straight upper 80 / low 90 mph fastballs from guys who won't even make rosters this season. Swinging at junk outside the zone. I understand he hit a HR I didn't see, but I've probably watched about a third of his AB's this spring and haven't seen him square up on a single pitch.

I was ok with the experiment and understood it, I anticipated he would probably struggle and be released (I would have put the over/under at late May), but never imagined he was this far gone. I hope Cash cuts bait now.

[1936-1939JoeNLou]

Serves the Yankees right. I never understood their hard on for Ibanez. Hope they learn their lesson.

Im sorry Vlad, you should have been given a shot.

[SatchelPaigeYankee]

i'm fairly certain raul will be chasing after bonds' 73 El Camino with a squeegee this year.

some of your best work

[Battingly]

Perhaps Ibanez is not done after-all.

He's heating up as ST comes to a close and would have 3 HR's in his last few games if Heyward had not reached over the wall and taken one back.

[mal1219]

Perhaps Ibanez is not done after-all.

He's heating up as ST comes to a close and would have 3 HR's in his last few games if Heyward had not reached over the wall and taken one back.

I hope so, it's encouraging to see him turn on a 94MPH fastball and also hit a leftie. As much as we preferred someone else, I think this is the guy we're "stuck" with for now, so he has my support.

[secret_face]

He's actually been hitting the ball hard the last couple of days. Says he and K Long have figured out his timing. Hope it's true. Will be just in time for the regular season.

[flymick24]

another HR today

[longtimeyankeefan]

I don't care that he is a left handed DH. We have tons of LH hitters. If they keep that old fart and put Justin Maxwell on waivers, they are just plain dumb. If he doesn't win the bench job in ST, it should be sayonara.

I realize that Justin Maxwell has had a great spring and Raul Ibanez has not, but Maxwell has really never done anything either in the majors or minors to make you think that he is the next great thing.

The Yankees made a minor league trade for Maxwell and while he produced at SWB last season, he only played 48 games before a torn labrum cut his season short.

My guess is that he is designated for assignment and traded to a lower tier team that will take a shot at him at the ML level - he really has no place on the Yankees roster, frankly.

[flymick24]

People seem to forget Maxwell struck out in about a third of his plate appearances last year

[Yankee Tripper]

everybodies whipping dog with the first bomb

[longtimeyankeefan]

See ya!!!

Great start to the season after a miserable spring.