Cameron To the Yanks? Seems like a Melky situation.
-Dexter Sports
12:15 PM
Dexter-Sports Inbox
Only a couple days after the Milwaukee Brewers announced they have exercised the option of center fielder Mike Cameron, the rumors have started to swirl.
According to the New York Post, The Yankees have major interest in Cameron, and would be willing to trade young, switch hitting center fielder Melky Cabrera, plus pitching the Brewers way, in exchange for Cameron.
How would this benefit the Brewers? It's simple. Cabrera adds his switch hitting ability to a weak left side lineup. He is younger, and cheaper. The Brewers would also be able to add some pitching to their system. This sounds like a Doug Melvin deal already. One thing is certain. Melky Cabrera isn't going to be the slugger Cameron has been all of his career. But I contend that he would get on base just as much. Simply put, Cameron struck out nearly as many times last season (142), as Cabrera has in his three year career (187). Cabrera could give Milwaukee that lead-off type hitter they have been looking for. He will still take a lot of work. He is a free swinger, and doesn't get on base as well as he should. His junior campaign was a bit upsetting, only hitting .249 on the season. But did Cameron do that much better? In nine less games, Cameron hit .243. He also didn't create many oppurtunities for his teammates to drive him in.
Taking a look at innings where both lead off, it is quite clear that both hitters struggled in the lead-off position in 2008. Melky led off an inning 98 times in 2008, reaching base 31 times and producing only 19 runs. Meanwhile, in 36 more innings leading off (134 total), Cameron reached base 41 times, producing thirty runs (a pretty good clip). I would argue though, that Cameron got "lucky." In 444 at bats, he only put the ball in play 306 times. 108 were hits. Meanwhile Cabrera put the ball in play 363 times in 414 at bats. He was only to reach 103 times on hits. 260 of the balls he put in play were either caught or someone made a play on them. Many would argue that this suggest a pretty even split. But lets add strikeouts.
With Balls put in play, Cameron hits a magnificent .358 average. Add strikeouts, and he 198 outs jump to 340 missed oppurtunities to reach base. For Cabrera, he caused 260 outs while putting the ball in play. With Strikeouts, Cabrera tallies 318 oppurtunites failed. He is even 20+ oppurtunities up on Cameron, even though he put the ball in play without success 62 more times.
Tack on these facts:
OTHER NOTES:
12:15 PM
Dexter-Sports Inbox
Only a couple days after the Milwaukee Brewers announced they have exercised the option of center fielder Mike Cameron, the rumors have started to swirl.
According to the New York Post, The Yankees have major interest in Cameron, and would be willing to trade young, switch hitting center fielder Melky Cabrera, plus pitching the Brewers way, in exchange for Cameron.
How would this benefit the Brewers? It's simple. Cabrera adds his switch hitting ability to a weak left side lineup. He is younger, and cheaper. The Brewers would also be able to add some pitching to their system. This sounds like a Doug Melvin deal already. One thing is certain. Melky Cabrera isn't going to be the slugger Cameron has been all of his career. But I contend that he would get on base just as much. Simply put, Cameron struck out nearly as many times last season (142), as Cabrera has in his three year career (187). Cabrera could give Milwaukee that lead-off type hitter they have been looking for. He will still take a lot of work. He is a free swinger, and doesn't get on base as well as he should. His junior campaign was a bit upsetting, only hitting .249 on the season. But did Cameron do that much better? In nine less games, Cameron hit .243. He also didn't create many oppurtunities for his teammates to drive him in.
Taking a look at innings where both lead off, it is quite clear that both hitters struggled in the lead-off position in 2008. Melky led off an inning 98 times in 2008, reaching base 31 times and producing only 19 runs. Meanwhile, in 36 more innings leading off (134 total), Cameron reached base 41 times, producing thirty runs (a pretty good clip). I would argue though, that Cameron got "lucky." In 444 at bats, he only put the ball in play 306 times. 108 were hits. Meanwhile Cabrera put the ball in play 363 times in 414 at bats. He was only to reach 103 times on hits. 260 of the balls he put in play were either caught or someone made a play on them. Many would argue that this suggest a pretty even split. But lets add strikeouts.
With Balls put in play, Cameron hits a magnificent .358 average. Add strikeouts, and he 198 outs jump to 340 missed oppurtunities to reach base. For Cabrera, he caused 260 outs while putting the ball in play. With Strikeouts, Cabrera tallies 318 oppurtunites failed. He is even 20+ oppurtunities up on Cameron, even though he put the ball in play without success 62 more times.
Tack on these facts:
- Cabrera is a switch hitter.
- He is younger.
- He will listen to constructional criticism
- You get to add pitching
- Cabrera is a better fielder.
OTHER NOTES:
- The new president could be throwing out the first pitch in Chicago this summer. White Sox GM Kenny Williams has already offered Barack Obama the honors against Kansas City.
- Later Today: Potential Closers in the 2009 Draft
