Pena's talent held Ransom
by Glenn Giangrande
Ramiro Pena: Victim of Circumstance
It's a shame to see the youngster go after he performed so well for the Yankees this year, but as the case usually is, a non-regular kid with options will be at the front of the line to go when a roster move needs to be made. When the Yanks went out and obtained Eric Hinske from the Pirates, someone had to be sent out. There was one other realistic option that could have been made -- 33-year-old Cody Ransom could have been designated for assignment, and that would have been my decision.
The bright side is that Pena is going to go down to Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre, get regular at-bats and even play a little center field, which will make him even more valuable in the long run.
But is he more valuable to the Yankees right now than Ransom?
A well traveled player who has fought hard to carve out a place for himself in the majors,
Ransom is a utility infielder, just like Pena. Ransom is considered to have some pop, but heading into Game 2 of the Yankees' series with the Mariners, he's only hit .200 over 55 at-bats in a year that was derailed by a hamstring injury. Pena was a pleasant surprise offensively, hitting .267 over 86 at-bats. He's faster than Ransom, and heading into this year, Pena was ranked as the top defensive player in the Yankees organization by Baseball America.
Pena will certainly be back when rosters expand, if not sooner, but for now, the argument can be made that he should be one of Hinske's new teammates.
I was surprised that Pena was the player sent down. I wish him well.
Julia
http://werbiefitz.mlblogs.com/
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I was disappointed in the move. And I really feel that the Hinske trade was totally unecessary. We have great talent, build it. Don't give it away. I'd really love to see Shelley Duncan brought up, but being out of options, if they'd brought him up they'd have to keep him up. Hopefully Hinske proves me wrong and does phenominal. Perhaps his AL East experience will benefit the team.
Megan
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They sent him down so he could play every day.
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*We should of got NYJER MORGAN, (because he's an animal in the field and a Jeter-esque hitter,) - and we should of kept Pena for the infield - sent RANSOM back down. Yep... I said it. Pena over Ransom, it's a no-brainer. Pena has more hits, Pena's great on defense... I'm shaking my head at Cashman and Girardi. Not in disgust, but in utter disappointment...
Oh well. The 7 game win streak is softening the blow... and Hinske definently isn't garbage. We're good either way I suppose, but Morgan would of been a power move.
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Meg - you could be right in the long run. However, we've seen Shelley fail as a spot pinch hitter in the past before. Bringing in a veteran guy like Hinske who's had this role previously was the better move. Just a shame Pena had to go for him.
Letsgo - Yes, that is exactly why Pena went down, to play every day...but he can help the team now. It's like with Phil Hughes - the best interests of the player vs. the best interests of the Yankees
JQuist - Not sure if the Yankees talked about Morgan, but with him in the midst of a breakout year, odds are that he was more expensive than the Yanks were interested in paying. After all, he did bring pack a high-ceiling former 1st round pick, albeit a mischevious one in Lastings Milledge.
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