The 2006 Bench

[27IsNext]

One area that is often overlooked but is nonetheless very important is the bench. In recent years, we have some pretty useless benches. It's time to change that.

The recent approach is that Cashman is trying to cut payroll. As a result, he announced today that Phillips will be backing up Giambi. It looks to me like he'll be looking to the farm for cheap, young players who have the potential to get better when filling up the reserves.

Personally, I would like to see Kevin Thompson be given the role of being a pinch runner, and someone who provides some late-inning defense. Unlike Crosby, Thompson apparantly has good skills on the basepaths. Also, what is the opinion on letting Felix Escalona be the backup IFer?

We still need a good bat off the bench, and a backup catcher who can hit and play decent defense. My vote is Eduardo Perez. As for the catcher, any suggestions?

[Rich]

Phillips is an excellent start.

I don't see Thompson being on the team after his awful stint at Columbus.

I don't want Escalona either.

[brosiusbuddy]

Personally, I would like to see Kevin Thompson be given the role of being a pinch runner, ?

This won't happen unless Womack is off the team.

[ppa79]

I would like to get Pratt and Cairo to be on our bench.

[Steph19]

The return of Miguel Cairo?

I wouldn't mind it. He's better then Escalona.

He also said he likes working with Don Mattingly so maybe he could improve... have a year somewhere between his 2004 and 2005.

[brosiusbuddy]

The return of Miguel Cairo?

I wouldn't mind it. He's better then Escalona.

He also said he likes working with Don Mattingly so maybe he could improve... have a year somewhere between his 2004 and 2005.

Would he still demand more money than he's worth like he did before we let him go?

[gamesix1977]

So Tino is gone then?

[ppa79]

Would he still demand more money than he's worth like he did before we let him go?

He made 900k last year with the Mets. How much more would he ask for? 1.4M-1.5M? I don't think thats bad.

[brosiusbuddy]

He made 900k last year with the Mets. How much more would he ask for? 1.4M-1.5M? I don't think thats bad.

Well he asked for about that much or maybe a little more after his '04 yanks season and we didn't give it to him..

and in response to the other poster's comments, Tino's option was not picked up and I believe his contract was bought out for 250k

[yankees76]

That reminds me ... not sure that dissing Miggy last offseason and turning around and quickly signing Womack was Cash's finest moment, given how each played in 2005. But, at least it resulted in the promotion of Cano. Would be nice to have Miggy back, though. He's a solid glove. Not sure how good his bat will be if he doesn't play much, but my selective memory is that he is at least a good bunter, with some speed on the basepaths. Would be good off the bench.

[ppa79]

That reminds me ... not sure that dissing Miggy last offseason and turning around and quickly signing Womack was Cash's finest moment, given how each played in 2005. But, at least it resulted in the promotion of Cano. Would be nice to have Miggy back, though. He's a solid glove. Not sure how good his bat will be if he doesn't play much, but my selective memory is that he is at least a good bunter, with some speed on the basepaths. Would be good off the bench.

I read that getting Womack was Emslie's idea and he pushed for it.

[ppa79]

Well he asked for about that much or maybe a little more after his '04 yanks season and we didn't give it to him..

and in response to the other poster's comments, Tino's option was not picked up and I believe his contract was bought out for 250k

I can't believe that the Yankees were balking about giving Cairo a couple more hundred thousand, but had no problem giving Wright, Womack, and Pavano outrageous contracts.

[YankeePride1967]

While our CF and bullpen may be Exhibit A of improvement needed, the bench needs help as well. I want to see a bench of players that can defend a position more so than a PH like Sierra. We need flexible players that can do some hitting and some fielding.

[Mark19]

My IDEAL Bench for 2006 would be:

C: Gary Bennett, Todd Greene or Paul Bako
1B: Travis Lee
IF: Miguel Cairo
IF/OF: Rob Mackowiak
OF: Bubba Crosby

[yankees76]

I read that getting Womack was Emslie's idea and he pushed for it.

Well, our newly man-sized Cashman will now squash ideas like that from Tampa.

[YankeePride1967]

If used right, Womack could have a role on the team. As a pinch-runner.

[ppa79]

My Bench:

C: Todd Pratt
1B/OF: Travis Lee or a good cheap Left handed bat
1B/3B: Andy Phillips
3rd/SS/2nd: Miguel Cairo
CF/RF/LF: Kevin Thompson

[yankees76]

If used right, Womack could have a role on the team. As a pinch-runner.

I'm sure Womack wants a fulltime job at 2B back in the NL. And even if he didn't, I bet he gets moved this offseason.

[nyg02005]

we need somebody who can play the OF and IF like figgins, freel and co. Mabry have a good yr with St. Louis and he can play 3rd base and OF, if only he can play a little bit of 2nd base or shortstop. How about willie harris of the white sox?

[JeterRodriguezSheff]

guys cairo wanted to sign with the Yankees, and the yankees made a good offer but his agent didnt tell cairo and he signed with the mets without even knowing the yankees made an offer. As you can guess cairo fired his agent.

[YankeePride1967]

I'm sure Womack wants a fulltime job at 2B back in the NL. And even if he didn't, I bet he gets moved this offseason.

If the Yanks choose to use him in this manner, Womack doesn't have a say, he's under contract through the 2006 season.

[yankees76]

If the Yanks choose to use him in this manner, Womack doesn't have a say, he's under contract through the 2006 season.

I can't see any sense in paying a guy $2.0 million to be our pichrunner next year. We must have a dozen guys in the Minors who are faster than an aging Tony Wo.

[YankeePride1967]

I can't see any sense in paying a guy $2.0 million to be our pichrunner next year. We must have a dozen guys in the Minors who are faster than an aging Tony Wo.

And eat the $2 million? He certainly can't be traded.

[longtimeyankeefan]

I can't believe that the Yankees were balking about giving Cairo a couple more hundred thousand, but had no problem giving Wright, Womack, and Pavano outrageous contracts.

I thought I read somewhere that the Yankees gave Cairo's agent an offer that he (the agent) rejected without ever taking it to Miquel, so the Yankees went with Womack instead. As a result, the agent was fired - at least this situation is what I recall from last offseason.

Of course, Alzheimer's could be setting in too.

=====

As far as the bench goes, I can stand Phillips as the backup corner IFer. I would also hand him an OFers glove during spring training so that he could be prepared to backup, in an emergency, a corner OF position.

At catcher, I think we need to accept the fact that Posada is staying on this team and acquire someone like Alberto Castillo. I don't see players like Molina or Diaz signing with the Yankees when Posada is still around for the next couple of years, so we have to, instead, look for the more classic backup catcher. Todd Pratt would be another good idea.

We need to move Womack - he honestly can't defensively backup any position, so he needs to be gone.

To replace him and act as the middle IF backup, what about Canoabo Cosme?

To backup the OF, I think we see Crosby back. I would also bring up Thompson.

Last, I would bring back Bernie as a DH/PH.

[I Love Wang]

I would keep Crosby as the reserve outfielder, because he's better defensively than Thompson, and just hang on to Womack and use him as the backup middle infielder and pinch running specialist. Phillips backs up at 1st and 3rd, so all you need now is a lefty outfield bat and a backup catcher.