2012 Justin Maxwell Performance Thread

[Battingly]

If we keep Ibanez and cut bait with Maxwell, that would be a terrible mistake.

For one thing, Ibanez is cooked ... no bat speed ... its over.

For another thing, Maxwell is out of options, they said it on YES last night, so he makes the team out of ST or he's gone, another team will pick him up if he's waived, they know this kid can play.

Lastly, we don't need a LHH OF on the bench, all three of our starters hit left-handed, and if you must have a lefty DH (I like Jones as a full-time DH verses lefties and righties), you can always use Chavez in that role, so I would carry Maxwell as our forth OF off the bench.

This kid has been terrific all spring and he deserves to make this team.

[Yankee Fan in Boston]

If we keep Ibanez and cut bait with Maxwell, that would be a terrible mistake.

For one thing, Ibanez is cooked ... no bat speed ... its over.

For another thing, Maxwell is out of options, they said it on YES last night, so he makes the team out of ST or he's gone, another team will pick him up if he's waived, they know this kid can play.

Lastly, we don't need a LHH OF on the bench, all three of our starters hit left-handed, and if you must have a lefty DH (I like Jones as a full-time DH verses lefties and righties), you can always use Chavez in that role, so I would carry Maxwell as our forth OF off the bench.

This kid has been terrific all spring and he deserves to make this team.

Chavez had a sub .700 OPS last year, even against RHs, and Jones has shown some pretty bad splits in recent years. I don't think this is a reason to keep Ibanez if he doesn't experience a miraculous resurrection, but I think Jones as a full-time DH might be a stopgap till they can acquire a lefty bat.

[Battingly]

GET SMART

Keep Maxwell

[nnysiny]

i dont get the recent Maxwell obsession. im not sure what he has to do with Ibanez to boot, since Maxwell is a RHH

[Yankee Tripper]

i dont get the recent Maxwell obsession. im not sure what he has to do with Ibanez to boot, since Maxwell is a RHH

It isn't that recent. Maxwell has flaws to be sure, notably his low contact rate. But he's 28 years old, theoretically entering him prime and has several years of team control left and the Yanks aren't exactly deep in the OF going forward, nor do they have much in the way of upper level MiLB OF prospect.

Add to that he was a former hot prospect who was OPSing over 900 at Scranton last year when injuries derailed him and twice has stolen more than 30 bags in a minor league season, he's intriuging if only because he offers the hope of potential. Sort of like hoping he can shake the AAAA label.

On the other hand Ibanez is on the wrong side of 40 and offers nothing beyond what he might produce this year.

If Ibanez wasn't having a horrific spring his 20 bombs last year and past history of sucess would be enough to get him an opening day spot.

And if Maxwell could be sent to AAA without risk of losing him, he'd be down there despite the .400+ spring he's having.

[False1]

I thought someone posted yesterday that the Nats had applied for and been granted another option that covers this season? I could be wrong on that, and I'm not real crisp on how options work.

EDIT: Found it... but if I'm reading it properly now this was for the '11 season, not the '12 season?

http://forums.nyyfans.com/showthread...=1#post7464581

[Yankee Tripper]

I thought someone posted yesterday that the Nats had applied for and been granted another option that covers this season? I could be wrong on that, and I'm not real crisp on how options work.

He's listed as "out of options" on mlbtraderumors. not that that's the last word on these things, but I've found them to be pretty good with that kind of stuff.

He's also listed as having 5 years of MiLB service on his B-R page.

here is the full list for all teams

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/0...ions-2012.html

[NelsonMuntz]

I would be very surprised if they released Ibanez. Maxwell's best chance of making the team might be if Swisher's groin injury continues to linger.

[False1]

i dont get the recent Maxwell obsession. im not sure what he has to do with Ibanez to boot, since Maxwell is a RHH

I don't think it's all that recent, and it's probably not an obsession.

Maxwell is a 5 tool talent that was actually discussed about as a trade target I think as far back as '10 given that he was falling out of favor with the Nats. Understandably so, since he has a massive flaw in his game in terms of his tendency to swing and miss, and may never amount to much more than an AAAA guy. But his ability is tantalizing and if he improves his contact skills he could be a valuable player with huge upside.

And most here were displeased with the Ibanez signing, only avoiding defcon 1 levels due to the terms of the deal. He has looked worse than could possibly be imagined, so I think folks are just proposing that Cashman cut the dead weight and keep the guy with the upside even though they'd really fill two different hypothetical needs on this 25 man roster.

[nnysiny]

Maxwell is a 5 tool talent...

...he has a massive flaw in his game in terms of his tendency to swing and miss

in other words, he isnt a 5-tool talent

[False1]

in other words, he isnt a 5-tool talent

He swings and misses way too frequently, but recently in the mL he has hit for a decent average, very good power, runs well, throws well and defends well. I wasn't going for precision there.

[SatchelPaigeYankee]

He swings and misses way too frequently, but recently in the mL he has hit for a decent average, very good power, runs well, throws well and defends well. I wasn't going for precision there.

I thought the tool was defined as being able to make good contact, not necessarily hitting for high average.

Also, from what I've seen, his defense leaves something to be desired. Has seemed kinda lackadaisical out there to me.

[Yankee Tripper]

I thought the tool was defined as being able to make good contact, not necessarily hitting for high average.

Also, from what I've seen, his defense leaves something to be desired. Has seemed kinda lackadaisical out there to me.

I thought the 5 tools were
Hits for average
Hits for power
Feilds well
Runs well
Throws well

Maxwell had the potenial to be a 4 tool guy - it is unlikely he will ever hit for average. Potential often flames out though.

At this point though Ibanez looks like he has the potential to be 1 tool guy this season, and that's only if he somehow finds his power stroke.

[awy]

the 5 tool thing is so antiquated and rooted in the cognitive biases of scouting that it is not that productive to talk about. rather, think of him as an athlete with great power upside, but is a bad hitter. although he did show sign of figuring out the hitting thing.

the biggest thing with maxwell is looking at the amount of practice/learning that really raw athletes often need to apply their physical skills to baseball.

[SatchelPaigeYankee]

the biggest thing with maxwell is looking at the amount of practice/learning that really raw athletes often need to apply their physical skills to baseball.

seriously. look at Curtis

guys that can just get on the field and crush the ball are literally geniuses. their brains do all the work for them, but unconsciously.

in a tangential thought, apparently Hank Aaron grew up hitting cross-handed (the top and bottom hands switched on the bat).

[hardrain]

GET SMART

Keep Maxwell

well done....well done

[Battingly]

I can definitely see the Red Sox picking up Maxwell if the Yankees cut him loose, and I can see him emerging as a huge power threat in Boston.

The idea that we might lose this kid for one year of Ibanez, who probably doesn't even stick all year because he looks every bit his age, is really short-sighted and foolish.

JMO

[Alan Slocum]

I can definitely see the Red Sox picking up Maxwell if the Yankees cut him loose, and I can see him emerging as a huge power threat in Boston.

The idea that we might lose this kid for one year of Ibanez, who probably doesn't even stick all year because he looks every bit his age, is really short-sighted and foolish.

JMO

Why would Cash be adamant that Pineda, Nova, Hughes do not have a guaranteed spot, yet promise a spot to a relic like Ibanez? Cash is too smart for dim-witted moves like that. The baseball brainstrust will evaluate the situation in early April and do the right thing. Welcome to New York Justin

[Mr. Mxylsplk]

Yes, Justin Maxwell clearly has a future as a huge power threat.

[awy]

actually his raw power is huge

[Battingly]

actually his raw power is huge

Humongous

[Battingly]

I wish this player was not out of options

[longtimeyankeefan]

Would someone please explain to me what exactly Justin Maxwell has done in his career to warrant this level of can't miss status?

For one thing, the guy is 28 years old and has been in the minors for six years, as well as parts of three seasons in the majors.

His career major league line is .201/.319/.379 - about the only thing that can be said about that line is that he can take a walk.

His career minor league line is .261/.357/.457 - not exactly can't miss numbers.

[philleotardo]

Would someone please explain to me what exactly Justin Maxwell has done in his career to warrant this level of can't miss status?

Nothing.


Oh, and he strikes out a ton.

[longtimeyankeefan]

Nothing.


Oh, and he strikes out a ton.

Stop being kind - 83K in 260PA isn't a ton - it's a metric tonne.