Yanks interested in another position player to play out of position
The lure of adding outfielder Jason Lane to an imposing first base platoon that already includes outfielder Shelley Duncan, designated hitter Jason Giambi and third baseman Wilson Betemit might be too tough for the New York Yankees to pass up.
"Why have three guys that aren't comfortable playing the position when you can have four?" asked the fiery yet confusing Hank Steinbrenner. "We picked up Betemit last year for the sole purpose of helping out at first even though he's a third baseman and that worked out awesome. Why not throw Jason Lane in there? He hit .178 last season, so putting him in an unfamiliar position defensively will likely translate into a monster year at the plate."
Steinbrenner was later overheard repeating the exact same comment Isiah Thomas used when he acquired Steve Franics saying, "this is just crazy enough that it might work."
The Yanks are also reported to have heavy interest in several other guys with little to no experience at first who, like Lane, seem to have their best playing days behind them. According to sources, those on the short list include Matt Williams, Benny Agbayani and former Bomber Shane Spencer.
Awesome, the first non-first base first basemen platoon in the history of the sport.
(try and say that three times out loud)
Posted by: Von Kaiser | January 10, 2008 at 01:30 PM
Why is it so hard to find a first baseman that actually plays first base?
I'll take Andy Philips over Jason Lane.
Posted by: Jeeves | January 10, 2008 at 05:14 PM
Jason Lane is a AAA player at best. I watched him over the course of several seasons with the Astros, and he has a few bright spots, but mostly negatives. The guy has a great glove and decent range in the outfield, but we only saw him a handful of times at first. He can absolutely crush the baseball as well, and honestly, as good or better than most of the superstar sluggers. The problem...GETTING HIM TO ACTUALLY HIT THE BALL. He strikes out ALOT. He has a HORRID batting stance that horribly prohibits him from being an excellent hitter.
My point, if you get him to change his stance and teach him some plate discipline, then you have the steal of the century. He has amazing power, just GET HIM TO UTILIZE IT!
Posted by: AstrosRock | January 10, 2008 at 06:10 PM
Actually I'd take Lane, his bat would probably be ok in that lineup, he'd see a lot of good pitches.
That picture though reeeeks confidence.
Posted by: OnePinstripe | January 10, 2008 at 08:14 PM
Actually, I am a natural first baseman and I happen to play a little outfield. Sorry to disappoint you and your lack of research.
Posted by: Shelley Duncan | January 11, 2008 at 12:51 AM
Really Shelley, a little outfield? Is that why at the University of Arizona in 1999 when you weren't eating flesh you were a Freshman 1st team All American outfielder? And in 2002, while playing outfield for the Greensboro Bats you had 10 assists from the outfield in 69 games?
Sounds like a lot of outfield to me and judging that you played it in college, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that aside from chewing on tackling dummies, the OF is your natural position.
Posted by: The Sports Hernia | January 11, 2008 at 08:30 AM
So, if the Yanks sign Cameron, too, plus Lane, they have 6 OF ready to play, excluding Shelley. And the 1B logjam includes Giambi, Lane, Shelley.
The starting OF is: Matsui, Melky, Abreu
Starting 1B: Duncan
Starting DH: Damon
That means there will be a 1B/OF/DH rotation of: Damon, Duncan, Lane, Cameron, Giambi, Matsui, Abreu.
Good luck with that, Girardi.
Posted by: jnr98 | January 11, 2008 at 11:48 AM