The Yankees have had a first base issue throughout this season with Greg Bird’s struggles perhaps due to injury, his extended absence due to injury and Chris Carter’s inability to do enough of what he excels at (hitting homers) to overshadow what he does not (pretty much everything else).
For most of this season, the Yankees navigated around the deficiency. But as they carried the anvil of a seven-game losing streak into Wednesday night’s game against the Angels, tolerance of the worst production at first
Bill Lee Youth Jersey base in the majors now resided between excruciating and intolerable.
Brian Cashman insisted he will “not be pressured doing something” because the fans and media are currently chanting ABC — Anyone But Carter. He does not feel there is a better option readily available.
Bird had another cortisone shot in his ankle and the hope is — if all goes well — he could return in about two weeks. But Bird has yet to show he is a quick healer … or really much of a healer at all.
Tyler Austin has hit well in the minors, but his swing-and-miss rate at Triple-A is actually worse than Carter’s in the majors, which makes the Yankees concerned about hitting well in the majors.
Matt Holliday started at first base Wednesday for the seventh time this year, but Joe Girardi expressed concern that
http://www.authenticbostonredsox.com/Bill-Lee-Jersey overplaying the 37-year-old there would risk his health and, thus, his bat, which is his most valuable asset.
Cashman expressed no interest in veteran stopgaps who could be landed, such as James Loney or Chris Parmelee. And the trade season for real replacements has not galvanized yet, and it is not a market the Yankees want to jump into unless they know Bird is not coming back this year.
“Do I think right now we’re better served with Chris Carter [as the regular first baseman]? The answer to that is ‘yes,’” Cashman said. “At some point, if something obviously presents itself, then we’ll adjust
and deal with that.”
A credible argument can be made that the Yanks’ No. 1 problem during their losing streak has been the frail bridge between starter and end game. Fine. First base is then No. 1A. For it is one thing to sacrifice defense for offense or vice versa, but the scarcity of both has me wondering if Lyle Overbay is available. (By the way, I am not wondering if Lyle Overbay is available.)
But I am wondering if Chase Headley — not long ago the most booed man at Yankee Stadium (now see Carter, Chris or Clippard, Tyler) — might provide a bit of a solution. Could the Yanks use Headley at first with Carter or Austin and promote Tyler Wade to play
Authentic Ian Desmond Womens Jersey third in conjunction with Torres when Headley is at first?
Cashman said it is not a scenario that has presented itself internally. Wade does not have a ton of experience at third base, but the anticipation is with Gleyber Torres now out for the season that he will get more regular time there. The Yankees also have concerns that Wade might rush a bit too much on defense and needs more reps in the minors. Plus, he would necessitate a 40-man roster spot at a time when those are precious to the Yankees.
So for now, Carter remains the primary first baseman. But the click is clearly ticking. After Carter committed a key error Tuesday night and had another empty offensive night, Girardi, who normally will defend his players publicly even at obvious time for criticism, would only explain that Carter
http://www.authenticcoloradorockies.com/Ian-Desmond-Jersey was playing because “that’s what we have.”
Then on Wednesday Girardi cited “organizational decision” a few times to explain why Austin or someone else has not been summoned. At one point he asked for “a timeout” in why Carter is here and followed with, “I manage the players they give me. That is a question for Brian.”
For now, Cashman is sticking with Carter, who says his offensive problems are a matter of poor timing at the plate. But his timing to keep a roster spot through the travails is actually perfect. Bird is hurt, Austin is
Adeiny Hechavarria Youth Jersey swinging and missing, Holliday is baseball old.
Cashman still sees Carter as the best of a bunch of bad options as the Yanks keep hopes up that the brittle Bird soon will be back. But Carter still is running out of time. Hit or exit. Tick-tock.
