The Yankees should go with Voit until Voit proves otherwise. Meanwhile, Bird should spend significant time in the minors getting his body and mind in better shape. Look, Bird is a career .214 hitter in 659 plate appearances. How long can he get by on the "was hurt" excuse? He's struck out 173 times in 176 games. He's got a career OBP of .302. What exactly has he proven other than he is neither productive nor durable? I'm not intrigued by his spring training numbers. We've seen it before from Bird and we know how that story ends. I'm not happy that Bird is what he is. I consider Bird to be a tremendous disappoint and a significant setback in the construction of this lineup. It's tough to lose what was expected to be a solid lefty bat in the middle of the lineup, but I've seen enough of Bird at the major league level for now. Let him establish himself at the minor league level for now. Voit has earned the position and he has created an interest. I'm sure there are many Yankees fans and Yankees front office personnel who want to take a long look at Voit to see if his two months with the Yankees in 2018 were just a fluke or just the beginning of a fine Yankees career.
I agree Maple. As long as Voit has a good ST it should happen. He has shown more in those 2 months then Bird has in those 659 plate appearances. I do think Bird has talent and a good swing . I think his injuries have been a big reason for those numbers but he still has to prove himself. Nothing should be handed to him because he was here longer and hits LH.
I wonder how many MLB players this decade have been with a club for three seasons and averaged .214, been on the DL most of 2 of those three years, and are still with their club, when they had a guy in the wings who came up and did what Voit did. Now I understand they are in love with Bird, and the analytics, the scouts who found him, and Cashman himself, figure this guy is the next Don Mattingly, but honestly, I just don't see it. Voit is feeling the pressure to perform, and IMO Cashman and Boone saying he had the job, and then back peddled when Bird started to hit a bit, are just making it tougher on the guy.
I wonder what they were watching when Voit came up, and mashed like he was Mickey Mantle for a few months? I wonder if they saw the entire team on the dugout rail watching his every at bat like they were little kids, while Bird was nowhere to be found near first base. I wonder if they remember they gave Luke the shot because Bird was stinking the joint up and Luke came through. I guess I was watching something different then they were.
I hope Bird hits .350, with 10 homeruns by the end of ST, I really do, but I think if he does, he will be worn out and be back on the DL, and Luke will be mashing and raking somewhere else. If that happens I hope Cashman is held accountable for once. Sorry I sound bitter over this but ya Know what, I haven't forgotten how Birds horrible AB's, and DL stints, hurt this team and how Voit jacked this team up, and help get them into the playoffs.
The Yankees should go with Voit until Voit proves otherwise. Meanwhile, Bird should spend significant time in the minors getting his body and mind in better shape. Look, Bird is a career .214 hitter in 659 plate appearances. How long can he get by on the "was hurt" excuse? He's struck out 173 times in 176 games. He's got a career OBP of .302. What exactly has he proven other than he is neither productive nor durable? I'm not intrigued by his spring training numbers. We've seen it before from Bird and we know how that story ends. I'm not happy that Bird is what he is. I consider Bird to be a tremendous disappoint and a significant setback in the construction of this lineup. It's tough to lose what was expected to be a solid lefty bat in the middle of the lineup, but I've seen enough of Bird at the major league level for now. Let him establish himself at the minor league level for now. Voit has earned the position and he has created an interest. I'm sure there are many Yankees fans and Yankees front office personnel who want to take a long look at Voit to see if his two months with the Yankees in 2018 were just a fluke or just the beginning of a fine Yankees career.
I agree Maple. As long as Voit has a good ST it should happen. He has shown more in those 2 months then Bird has in those 659 plate appearances. I do think Bird has talent and a good swing . I think his injuries have been a big reason for those numbers but he still has to prove himself. Nothing should be handed to him because he was here longer and hits LH.
I wonder how many MLB players this decade have been with a club for three seasons and averaged .214, been on the DL most of 2 of those three years, and are still with their club, when they had a guy in the wings who came up and did what Voit did. Now I understand they are in love with Bird, and the analytics, the scouts who found him, and Cashman himself, figure this guy is the next Don Mattingly, but honestly, I just don't see it. Voit is feeling the pressure to perform, and IMO Cashman and Boone saying he had the job, and then back peddled when Bird started to hit a bit, are just making it tougher on the guy.
I wonder what they were watching when Voit came up, and mashed like he was Mickey Mantle for a few months? I wonder if they saw the entire team on the dugout rail watching his every at bat like they were little kids, while Bird was nowhere to be found near first base. I wonder if they remember they gave Luke the shot because Bird was stinking the joint up and Luke came through. I guess I was watching something different then they were.
I hope Bird hits .350, with 10 homeruns by the end of ST, I really do, but I think if he does, he will be worn out and be back on the DL, and Luke will be mashing and raking somewhere else. If that happens I hope Cashman is held accountable for once. Sorry I sound bitter over this but ya Know what, I haven't forgotten how Birds horrible AB's, and DL stints, hurt this team and how Voit jacked this team up, and help get them into the playoffs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We get it Pep...you hate Bird.
?..Pep?.. I don't hate Bird. I don't get why the Yankees are so high on the guy, other than he is left handed, that's all. I understand their infatuation with a lefty that can hit rockets to right field and right center, because he has shown his power and his ability to hit for average, but for very small sample sizes due to his constant injuries keeping him off the field. Voit's ability to hit for power, although right handed, is also a small sample size, and I get that.
But to have to choose one of the two, due to both only able to play first base or DH creates a bit of a dilemma. So to me, Bird has had 3 seasons, going on four, and has shown his weakness which is staying healthy. Voit has not had time enough to fail, or get hurt, or go in a slump and who knows what three seasons of him at first would produce. He could be a dud. I feel it can't be worse than what Bird has done, and I think he would have less trouble with injury than Bird has shown. Seeing how hard he hits the ball, and his flush contact, I seriously doubt he would be worse than what Bird has done. How does that relate to me hating him? I did not say that in my opinion of the situation? I just would rather have Voit and have said why. Sorry if you read me wrong. I rooted for Bird for two years and then sort of gave up hope. I have new hope. Voit. I have been wrong before, we will see.
I don't get why the Yankees are so high on the guy...
~~~~~~~~~
Yes...you've made that very clear. Repeatedly.
yup a skip in the record ... expecting a fair competition over the next 2 weeks or so and the best man will win.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
As I've said many times, I've been in Bird's corner all along, having watched him play since HS. No doubt he's had some tough breaks but, yeah, he has to produce, and Voit has been impressive in the short time he's been with the Yanks. I agree 100% with you...the best man should, and will, win.
That said, we can be sure that the boo birds on either side of the fence will be merciless if whoever gets the job gets off to a slow start.
I don't get why the Yankees are so high on the guy...
~~~~~~~~~
Yes...you've made that very clear. Repeatedly.
yup a skip in the record ... expecting a fair competition over the next 2 weeks or so and the best man will win.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
As I've said many times, I've been in Bird's corner all along, having watched him play since HS. No doubt he's had some tough breaks but, yeah, he has to produce, and Voit has been impressive in the short time he's been with the Yanks. I agree 100% with you...the best man should, and will, win.
That said, we can be sure that the boo birdson either side of the fence will be merciless if whoever gets the job gets off to a slow start.
because of all the bird hate, think it will be a lot louder voit doesn't make the roster. the bird fans will be more accepting if their man loses - he had his chances, didn't get it done and move on.
gonna assume the final roster will be announced either after the sunday game (3/24) or before the monday game. til then i'll be rooting for both guys ...
I don't see the Bird/Voit battle that big of deal, #1 it's good for the team, #2 it's not that far from AAA to the big team, send the one that doesn't have a better spring training down and he's a short call away...
I think there are other things as important, Tulo isn't doing much right now, I know his first hit was a HR, but he's struggled lately striking out a bunch, but again maybe he'll find his swing again.. I'd sure love to see Sanchez regain his stroke, he's made some really good defensive plays with bouncing out from behind the plate and making really strong throws, haven't seen many balls in the dirt yet.. But I sure would love for him to get his bat back from 2017, I'd even help him look for it... LOL..
The Yankees should go with Voit until Voit proves otherwise. Meanwhile, Bird should spend significant time in the minors getting his body and mind in better shape. Look, Bird is a career .214 hitter in 659 plate appearances. How long can he get by on the "was hurt" excuse? He's struck out 173 times in 176 games. He's got a career OBP of .302. What exactly has he proven other than he is neither productive nor durable? I'm not intrigued by his spring training numbers. We've seen it before from Bird and we know how that story ends. I'm not happy that Bird is what he is. I consider Bird to be a tremendous disappoint and a significant setback in the construction of this lineup. It's tough to lose what was expected to be a solid lefty bat in the middle of the lineup, but I've seen enough of Bird at the major league level for now. Let him establish himself at the minor league level for now. Voit has earned the position and he has created an interest. I'm sure there are many Yankees fans and Yankees front office personnel who want to take a long look at Voit to see if his two months with the Yankees in 2018 were just a fluke or just the beginning of a fine Yankees career.
I agree Maple. As long as Voit has a good ST it should happen. He has shown more in those 2 months then Bird has in those 659 plate appearances. I do think Bird has talent and a good swing . I think his injuries have been a big reason for those numbers but he still has to prove himself. Nothing should be handed to him because he was here longer and hits LH.
I wonder how many MLB players this decade have been with a club for three seasons and averaged .214, been on the DL most of 2 of those three years, and are still with their club, when they had a guy in the wings who came up and did what Voit did. Now I understand they are in love with Bird, and the analytics, the scouts who found him, and Cashman himself, figure this guy is the next Don Mattingly, but honestly, I just don't see it. Voit is feeling the pressure to perform, and IMO Cashman and Boone saying he had the job, and then back peddled when Bird started to hit a bit, are just making it tougher on the guy.
I wonder what they were watching when Voit came up, and mashed like he was Mickey Mantle for a few months? I wonder if they saw the entire team on the dugout rail watching his every at bat like they were little kids, while Bird was nowhere to be found near first base. I wonder if they remember they gave Luke the shot because Bird was stinking the joint up and Luke came through. I guess I was watching something different then they were.
I hope Bird hits .350, with 10 homeruns by the end of ST, I really do, but I think if he does, he will be worn out and be back on the DL, and Luke will be mashing and raking somewhere else. If that happens I hope Cashman is held accountable for once. Sorry I sound bitter over this but ya Know what, I haven't forgotten how Birds horrible AB's, and DL stints, hurt this team and how Voit jacked this team up, and help get them into the playoffs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We get it Pep...you hate Bird.
?..Pep?.. I don't hate Bird. I don't get why the Yankees are so high on the guy, other than he is left handed, that's all. I understand their infatuation with a lefty that can hit rockets to right field and right center, because he has shown his power and his ability to hit for average, but for very small sample sizes due to his constant injuries keeping him off the field. Voit's ability to hit for power, although right handed, is also a small sample size, and I get that.
But to have to choose one of the two, due to both only able to play first base or DH creates a bit of a dilemma. So to me, Bird has had 3 seasons, going on four, and has shown his weakness which is staying healthy. Voit has not had time enough to fail, or get hurt, or go in a slump and who knows what three seasons of him at first would produce. He could be a dud. I feel it can't be worse than what Bird has done, and I think he would have less trouble with injury than Bird has shown. Seeing how hard he hits the ball, and his flush contact, I seriously doubt he would be worse than what Bird has done. How does that relate to me hating him? I did not say that in my opinion of the situation? I just would rather have Voit and have said why. Sorry if you read me wrong. I rooted for Bird for two years and then sort of gave up hope. I have new hope. Voit. I have been wrong before, we will see.
He is a dud time to move on. Dud since 2015 were coming up on 5 years really now.
Bird's LH bat is largely negated by the shift. Much rather have a guy like Voit that sprays the ball all over the place with authority than a plull happy LH bat that is in love with the short porch and not likely to get on base at a high rate.
I don't get why the Yankees are so high on the guy...
~~~~~~~~~
Yes...you've made that very clear. Repeatedly.
yup a skip in the record ... expecting a fair competition over the next 2 weeks or so and the best man will win.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
As I've said many times, I've been in Bird's corner all along, having watched him play since HS. No doubt he's had some tough breaks but, yeah, he has to produce, and Voit has been impressive in the short time he's been with the Yanks. I agree 100% with you...the best man should, and will, win.
That said, we can be sure that the boo birds on either side of the fence will be merciless if whoever gets the job gets off to a slow start.
I've been a Bird supporter from the start as one cannot dismiss Voit's contributions in his attempts to make himself necessary. As with competitions, may the best player wins. Whoever wins will have to maintain their competency throughout the season as the other one is biting on his heels in AAA.
