Yankees "Tweak" Roster

The floundering New York Yankees shipped Melky Cabrera's smile to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Friday. The Melkman mired in a prolonged slump was hitting .242. Cabrera the Yankees regular center fielder for three years, defied scouting reports that labeled him "A fourth outfielder" by bringing intangibles to the diamond. "Melky Cabrera gives us energy."--Joe Torre.

While Generation Trey garnered hyped headlines, Cabrera and Cano proved young players were capable of playing everyday in the Bronx. Melky replaced a brittle, defensively deficient, highly payed Damon in center. The pitching staff smiled as Cabrera routinely gunned out base runners.

That was then, this is now. Cabrera's confidence, energy and smile waned with each flailing at bat. Change was imminent, "Melky has options and I have a young guy who's pushing his way into the mix in Brett Gardner." Cash is consistent. In spring training he was asked to predict which Yankees' prospect would have an impact on the Bombers this season, he responded, "Brett Gardner."

Who is this guy? Baseball Prospectus provides a scouting report, "Gardner has some things going for him--excellent speed, good range in the outfield, some patience and the ability to hit for a respectable average. The thing that will keep him on a major league bench as opposed to the starting lineup is a complete, total, absolute lack of power..." This will be Brett's second opportunity in pinstripes this season, his debut produced: .153BA/0HR/.227 OBP in 17 games.

The Bombers' Brass wasn't through tinkering. The Richie Sexson era in Yankees' lore is over. It seems like only yesterday I read this, "Thank goodness the Yankees signed the recently unemployed Richie Sexson, who was still the 20th-highest-paid player... despite his lack of a team. Now Sexson gets to continue his shot at becoming the first player in history to whiff 150 times without getting to 20 homers or 20 doubles."--Jayson Stark, Baseball America. First base continues to be a perpetual unsolved mystery as Sexson joins Ensberg, Lane and a dubious list too long to print.

"These are baseball decisions," Cashman said. "The shakeup has to come from the guys who are expected to perform..." Presumably, he was referring to the players.

The revamped roster took on the perennial doormat KC Royals last night at the Stadium. "It's now or never, " has replaced "the Pride and Pinstripes" as a motto. The song remained the same, another day another lackluster loss.

Photo/Cache Day Life.com