[新聞] Gardner wins Yanks' center-field job

[kevinloo (Estrana)]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090329&content_id=4086682&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

03/29/09 7:20 PM ET

Gardner wins Yanks' center-field job
Speedster beats out Cabrera in Spring Training competition
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com


中外野手確定將由快腿Gardner先發
spring成績 .385 3HR 6RBI 5SB
Girardi: Gardner有耐心(按指Cabrera球來就打?) 打出很多line-drive

Girardi暫時將Cabrera定為外野候補 負責守備+帶跑的工作
至於Cabrera的下一步 BN? minors? trade? 沒有明確的答案


TAMPA, Fla. -- The Yankees have officially announced that Brett Gardner has
won a starting job to open the 2009 season, likely making him the first
player to patrol center field at the new Yankee Stadium.


Gardner, a 25-year-old rookie, beat out Melky Cabrera in a Spring Training
competition, which manager Joe Girardi had declared to be relatively even
leading into the final week of camp. Girardi informed both players of his
decision early on Sunday.

"Both of them played great," Girardi said. "Melky had a tough year last year,
but he came into camp and was ready to go and played very well. Gardy
finished up strong and had a great camp. We're just going to go with Gardy."

Gardner hit .385 (20-for-52) with three home runs, six RBIs and five stolen
bases in 22 spring games for the Yankees, impressing the coaching staff by
continuing to showcase plus speed in the outfield and on the bases.

The 24-year-old Cabrera skipped an opportunity to play in the World Baseball
Classic in hopes of securing a job, putting up a good fight. Through 21
spring games, Cabrera batted .340 (18-for-53) with one home run, nine RBIs
and two stolen bases.

Speaking highly of what Gardner had done to win the job, Girardi also
repeatedly complimented Cabrera's work.

"The thing about Melky is, Melky is still a young player," Girardi said.
"He's only 24 years old. If he continues on what he did this spring and the
work that he put in, Melky can be a force, too."

Girardi said that the Yankees plan to carry Cabrera as a reserve outfielder
to open the regular season, playing all three positions in backing up Johnny
Damon, Gardner and Xavier Nady. Cabrera is out of options, so he would need
to be exposed to waivers in order to be sent to the Minor Leagues.

"Melky is going to have a lot of important things for us," Girardi said.
"There's a lot of things Melky can do. He's a switch-hitter, we can put him
anywhere in the outfield and he can run. What happens April 6 doesn't
necessarily mean that's what's going to happen June 1st."

Gardner made a positive impression with the Yankees in his second stint last
season, promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre when the slumping
Cabrera was optioned to the Minor Leagues. Gardner hit .294 (20-for-68) after
being promoted for the second time, including four doubles, two triples and
eight steals.

"He continued what he did the last three weeks, where he was patient and saw
a lot of pitches," Girardi said. "He hit a lot of hard line drives and was
productive for us the last three weeks of the season. He just carried it
over."

Gardner left George M. Steinbrenner Field before the Yankees' 9-8 victory
over the Pirates was complete on Sunday. But he addressed his spring in a
group interview with reporters on Friday, saying that he had shown enough to
prove he could play every day in the Major Leagues.

"I feel like I can," Gardner said. "Obviously, a lot of people don't take
Spring Training too seriously because a lot of times you're not facing top
guys every day. I think it's a time for everybody to get ready and show
they're ready for the season to start."

As strong as his spring was, Gardner said that it could have been even
better.

"I think there's things that I could have done and probably should have done,
some at-bats that I gave away," Gardner said. "For the most part, it's gone
well and it's been a good learning experience for me, and I've continued to
make strides at the plate."

According to Girardi, Gardner did not show much emotion when informed that he
would begin the season as the Yankees' center fielder. Of Cabrera's reaction,
Girardi said: "Any player is going to be upset with that decision."

Speaking through an interpreter, Cabrera said he would be ready for defensive
duty or pinch-running assignments when needed.

"That's the manager's decision," Cabrera said. "I'm going to be ready for
whatever they need me for. I'm just going to be part of this team."

The Yankees will likely use Gardner as the No. 9 hitter in their order on
April 6 at Baltimore, which would allow them to use Derek Jeter to break up
the lefty combination of Gardner and Damon to counteract late-inning bullpen
moves.

Girardi said that there would not be any additional demands on Gardner with
the high-profile assignment.

"Just do your part -- that's all we're asking guys to do," Girardi said.
"Play good defense, be smart on defense, have tough at-bats. [It's] no more
than we're asking any other guy."


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推 sxxs: 該來的還是來了 XD
推 PoisonM:Gardner加油吧...(其實我比較想看Swisher啊啊啊!!!)
推 ckbaboon:Gardner加油!!!期待阿~
→ OoyaoO:Melky能交易就交易吧 又不能下放 25人名單裡面放兩個4th等
→ OoyaoO:級的OF實在沒意思
推 yuyubuy:Gardner加油!
推 JulioCruz:比較想看Swisher  ~~><~~
推 Tzylu:Melky要代跑也沒腿阿   口連