Rick Ankiel makes Roger Bernadina redundant

[Lintyfresh85]

Discuss.

[hammondsnats]

I'm probably in the minority here, but I would probably rather have Ankiel, just because neither piece is part of the future, imo. 

Bernadina had a better year last season than I thought he would, I just don't think he's the answer. 

[DPMOmaha]

Discuss.

Not if he can beat out Nyjer Morgan in CF.  I think the loser of that battle will find himself searching for another opportunity or given another opportunity in a different orgainzation.

[Lintyfresh85]

Here's why.

Both are LHB.

vs. RHP
Ankiel - .257/.327/.468/.795
Bernadina - .238/.302/.357/.659

Both are plus defenders in LF
Ankiel has better arm.
Bernadina has slightly better range.

Power vs. RHP
Ankiel - career .214 ISO
Bernadina - career .119 ISO

Speed
Ankiel is functional
Bernadina is above average

[Evolution33]

Here's why.

Both are LHB.

vs. RHP
Ankiel - .257/.327/.468/.795
Bernadina - .238/.302/.357/.659

Both are plus defenders in LF.

For the real answer we need to find a scout with a good record of being right. Bernadina has upside while Ankiel is who is he going to be. Bernadina had a .400 OBP his last year in the minors mostly due to a high batting average, but his first year at the AA level was a lot like his season last year, and I still believe he was out of shape at the begining of the season and tired at the end. His bat speed was deadly at times. He got to those inside pitches just about as good as anyone and had that winding uncoiling body of many lith power hitters. Now I am no scout at all and my eyes are only trained by watching games as a fan, but to really know the answer we need a scout that can tell us what the upside of Bernadina is. Also if we can trade him and Storen for Shields then I agree with you and Ankiel is perfectly fine until Harper is in right and Werth in left. 

[Lintyfresh85]

Also, never ever play Ankiel and Nyjer against LHP at the same time.

Career vs. LHP

Ankiel - .240/.287/.404/.690
Morgan - .200/.292/.269/.561

[Baseball is Life]

Bernie has a better upside. Ankiel is insurance against Bernie AND/OR Morgan flopping but he is clearly the backup going in. And I doubt all three will be on the roster all season.

[spidernat]

Did you even watch the games last year? 

  He just called hammonds a UMD clone.

[Lintyfresh85]

  He just called hammonds a UMD clone.

I don't get the joke about UMD.

[UMDNats]

I don't get the joke about UMD.

I missed one Steelers game (and parts of others because of a heavy workload) so now apparently I never watch my teams' games.

[hammondsnats]

Bernadina is a better fielder with more speed, and also has a better arm, despite Ankiel being a former pitcher.

Did you even watch the games last year?  And did you happen to see the playoffs, when a team built around pitching, speed, and solid defense defeated the Phillies, Braves, and Rangers?

yes and i think bernadina is not the answer.  what don't you get from my previous post? 

I FEEL LIKE I'M TAKING CRAZY PILLS!

[houston-nat]

I missed one Steelers game (and parts of others because of a heavy workload) so now apparently I never watch my teams' games.

Haha, I didn't even watch my Colts in the Super Bowl last time.
Although that was because it was a friend's birthday and we were all going out to dinner.
And the joke wouldn't work on me because in England, I never DO watch my teams' games.

[Ray D]

so don't look for him to move unless Nyjer is injured, ejected, or suspended. 

Or committed.  Or otherwise incarcerated.

[spidernat]

I missed one Steelers game (and parts of others because of a heavy workload) so now apparently I never watch my teams' games.

I don't get the joke about UMD.

While his Steelers were on the gridiron he was listening to the Redskins' game on the radio because the chick he was with is a Skins fan and wanted to listen to the radio broadcast, emphasis on broad. 

[welch]

Not if he can beat out Nyjer Morgan in CF.  I think the loser of that battle will find himself searching for another opportunity or given another opportunity in a different orgainzation.

Exactly my thoughts. I'm hoping that Ankiel makes Morgan superfluous.

[Tyler Durden]

Assuming we get Lee/LaRoche, is this what we're looking at? -

Against RHP
LF: Bernie
CF: Ankiel
RF: Werth

Against LHP
LF: Bernie (maybe Maxwell?)
CF: Werth
RF: Morse

I'd hope Bernie takes advantage of the situation and shows he's more than a AAAA player.  Maybe Maxwell gets (one more) last chance to show he belongs.

[natstime]

I see nyjer having a decent year in center.  but bernadina is 4 years younger, and much cheaper, but otherwise pretty much the same player.

[natstime]

I see nyjer having a decent year in center.  but bernadina is 4 years younger, and much cheaper, but otherwise pretty much the same player.

(that is 4 years younger and cheaper than ankiel)*

[Tyler Durden]

The more I look at it, the more I want them to just make Morse a full time player for a while.  LF is probably the best spot for him - maybe with some spot starts for Ankiel against righties.  And then, just let Nyjer, Bernie, and Ankiel split time in CF.  If Maxwell shocks the world and becomes a capable platoon hitter, then great.  If not, just see what we have with Bernie and Nyjer.  Maybe one of them builds some decent trade value.

[HalfSmokes]

Did you even watch the games last year?  And did you happen to see the playoffs, when a team built around pitching, speed, and solid defense defeated the Phillies, Braves, and Rangers?

So every year a team should try to model itself after the current ws winner?

[Baseball is Life]

The more I look at it, the more I want them to just make Morse a full time player for a while.  LF is probably the best spot for him - maybe with some spot starts for Ankiel against righties.  And then, just let Nyjer, Bernie, and Ankiel split time in CF.  If Maxwell shocks the world and becomes a capable platoon hitter, then great.  If not, just see what we have with Bernie and Nyjer.  Maybe one of them builds some decent trade value.

I like Morse but I still think he needs to prove himself as a fulltimer. Frankly, I think all of our OF are unproven, except for Werth. I would split time between Bernie, Morse, and Nyjer and play the guy(s) who does best. If all do great, then that's a nice problem to have. Or maybe we can trade one of them, as you suggested.

[Baseball is Life]

So every year a team should try to model itself after the current ws winner?

Pitching and defense have been winning games for over a hundred years. Speed for about the last 30 years so. Nothing revolutionary about this.

[HalfSmokes]

Pitching and defense have been winning games for over a hundred years. Speed for about the last 30 years so. Nothing revolutionary about this.

You could also say that offense wins games. The year before last, the Yankees won with questionable defense, and next year another team will win with some combination of pitching defense and offense, and certain people (mostly employed by ESPN) will talk about how that particular combination is the new model.

[Baseball is Life]

You could also say that offense wins games. The year before last, the Yankees won with questionable defense, and next year another team will win with some combination of pitching defense and offense, and certain people (mostly employed by ESPN) will talk about how that particular combination is the new model.

As long as I'm working the cliches, how about "good pitching beats good hitting every time."

Yes, being able to pound the ball helps but to win championships, you have to have pitching and defense. As a general rule, anways. There are exceptions, of course.

[welch]

One thing I noticed as the Yankees won championshios in '77 and '78, then in the late '90s: the winning team plays good defense under the heaviest pressure.

- in '78, the Dodgers could not turn the double-play, and their shortstop, Russell, said something like, "How can you make that play when 50,000 people are screaming at you?"

- in the '90s, it was somebody like Scott Brosius making a tough play while the other team made errors.