Perspectives: Hoping Rather Than Planning Well

by Paul Semendinger

June 15, 2023

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Last week I ran a photo article showing the 12 different players the Yankees have had as outfielders in 2023 (thus far).

It's been a parade of sub-replacement level players. Besides Aaron Judge, almost every single player the Yankees have put in the outfield this year has been a below average Major League hitter.

In order to patrol the outfield, the Yankees have tried one long-shot player pulled off the scrap heap after the next. Rather then building a quality team for 2023, the Yankees have hoped upon hope that one or more of these players would outperform their recent (or career) norms.

In other words, the Yankees went into the 2023 season dreaming on longshot hopes rather than using their resources to put together a good (note, I'm not even saying great) Major League outfield.

The other day I went through these statistics on the Start Spreading the News Podcast, but, sometimes it is easier to see the data directly.

Other than Aaron Judge, the following are the players the Yankees, the once mighty Yankees, have used as outfielders in 2023.

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NOTE - an OPS+ of 100 signifies an average MLB hitter. An OPS+ under 100 is a player who is below average.

SECOND NOTE - I wrote this article on June 13. The stats were accurate and up-to-date at that time, some stats might have changed in minor ways since Tuesday.

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OSWALDO CABRERA

- an infielder throughout his entire minor league career

- lifetime minor league batting average: .263

- lifetime minor league on-base percentage: .317

- lifetime minor league slugging percentage: .412

ISIAH KINER-FALEFA

- an infielder throughout his entire Major League career (534 games dating back to 2018)

- lifetime MLB batting average: .262

- lifetime MLB OBP: .313

- lifetime MLB SLG: .348

- lifetime MLB OPS+: 81 (he has never had a season where his OPS+ was 100)

HARISON BADER

- since 2019, he has not played in 31.5% of all his team's games

- lifetime MLB batting average: .246

- lifetime MLB OBP: .316

- lifetime MLB SLG: . 411

- lifetime MLB OPS+: 98

AARON HICKS

- a player who has not played in 49.7% of his team's games since 2019

- lifetime MLB batting average: .231

- lifetime MLB OBP: .330

- lifetime MLB SLG: .386

- lifetime MLB OPS+: 96

JAKE BAUERS

- since 2018, he has played for Tampa Bay, Cleveland, and Seattle

- did not play in the Major Leagues in 2019 or 2022

- lifetime MLB batting average: .213

- lifetime MLB OBP: .308

- lifetime MLB SLG: .358

- lifetime MLB OPS+: 81 (he has never had a season where his OPS+ was 100)

FRANCHY CORDERO

- since 2017, he has played for San Diego, Kansas City, and Boston

- lifetime MLB batting average: .215

- lifetime MLB OBP: .282

- lifetime MLB SLG: .386

- lifetime MLB OPS+: 81

WILLIE CALHOUN

- now with his fourth organization

- lifetime MLB batting average: .240

- lifetime MLB OBP: .300

- lifetime MLB SLG: .406

- lifetime MLB OPS+: 87

GREG ALLEN

- now with his fifth organization (second time with Yankees)

- lifetime MLB batting average: .231

- lifetime MLB OBP: .299

- lifetime MLB SLG: .340

- lifetime MLB OPS+: 73

BILLY MCKINNEY

- now with his seventh organization (second time with Yankees)

- lifetime MLB batting average: .208

- lifetime MLB OBP: .277

- lifetime MLB SLG: .395

- lifetime MLB OPS+: 81

ESTEVAN FLORIAL

- played 1 game in the MLB in 2020

- played 11 games in the MLB in 2021

- played 17 games in the MLB in 2022

- lifetime MLB batting average: .185

- lifetime MLB OPS+: 65

GIANCARLO STANTON

- a player who has not played in 46.9% of his team's games since 2019

- batted .211 in 2022