Only guys named "Chuck" benefitted from "The Name Game." Man, that never got old.

Only guys named "Chuck" benefitted from "The Name Game."

"Bonanna fanna fo-farles"...

According to Pete Abe, Sexson is costing the Yankees $161K for the rest of the season.

Taking a flyer on him is no biggie, and it's certainly not worth a column.

This year, in 65 at bats, Sexson has a fine .338/.429/.600 line against lefties. Last year, though, in 105 at bats, he hit .238/.333/.419, and the year before, in 137 at bats, he hit .204/.325/.438. Even if you arbitrarily ignore the hundreds and hundreds of at bats in which Sexson has conclusively showed that he can't hit right-handers anymore, there is still no real reason to think he can hit left-handers at all. Either one has to believe that 65 at bats against lefties this year are more telling than everything else he's done over a period of years; or one has to admit that his line against them this year is statistical noise.

Tim, if you're going to use recent history to show what he has done, you may want to list that in 2005 he OPSed 1116 against lefties.

Then I guess you should list 2004 with 773. And 2003 1005.

Career 878 compared to 842 vs. righties. The entire difference basically being walks.

But I can think of worse uses of $161K for the yankees.

According to Pete Abe, Sexson is costing the Yankees $161K for the rest of the season.

Taking a flyer on him is no biggie, and it's certainly not worth a column.

The problem with Sexson isn't the money, it's that he's taking a roster slot that could be filled with a useful player. Sexson is below average as a hitter AND a defender. So why keep him around?

As long as Yankee fans don't nickname him "The Sexecutioner," I think it'll be okay.

Who is Sexson keeping away from the bigs?

Juan Miranda? Eric Duncan? Alberto Gonzalez?

Justin Christian and Brett Gardner are both with the big club, and neither has distinguished himself (Christian will probably go down when Damon is back. Gardner will probably remain up as long as Matsui is out).

To the extent the Yankees will have an issue on their hands, it will be when Bruney is ready to come back, at which time they should DFA Hawkins (as opposed to sending down Robertson).

The problem with Sexson isn't the money, it's that he's taking a roster slot that could be filled with a useful player.

Well, who? To put Sexson on the roster the Yankees sent down Billy Traber, who retires lefties at about the same pace I would.

And if this mythic good player appears on the Yankees' doorstep, it is about the money, because they can cut Richie at no loss.

To the extent the Yankees will have an issue on their hands, it will be when Bruney is ready to come back, at which time they should DFA Hawkins (as opposed to sending down Robertson).

I think they'll cut Hawkins, he's been acknowledged as useless for a while now. Man, the bullpen is going to be stacked when Bruney gets back, assuming he comes back in good form.

Well, who? To put Sexson on the roster the Yankees sent down Billy Traber, who retires lefties at about the same pace I would.

And if this mythic good player appears on the Yankees' doorstep, it is about the money, because they can cut Richie at no loss.

Heck, I don't know who in particular. However, if the Yankees are under the delusion that Sexson is valuable and it prevents them from even looking for somebody else to fill this role, whether through trade, free talent acquisition, etc., then it's hurting the team.

Sure, they can cut him loose for nothing. But first they have to realize that it's wise to cut him loose. Unless you're really convinced that Sexson is the best possible person to be filling that slot for the Yanks right now.

Unless you're really convinced that Sexson is the best possible person to be filling that slot for the Yanks right now.

All Sexson needs to do to be useful is hit lefties better than Wilson Betemit. He's very capable of that. He's free. He's not a real threat to steal PAs from anyone good. I don't get it, he doesn't have to be the best at what he does to have a role on the team.

Eric Duncan?

The last ray of hope for Duncan was in 2006, he'd been demoted to AA after being overmatched in AAA, he put up a .248/.355/.485 line in half a season in the EL at age 21, decent numbers (low average though) for the El, 21 is a good age for AA...

Of course he's followed that up with consecutive seasons of .241/.323/.389 and .245/.306/.405, he'll probably have a power surge 2-3 year from now in AAA, and might have Shelley Duncan's "career"...

I've followed Duncan ever since the only two Yankee fans I know personally who have any familiarity with prospects/minor leaguers, INSISTED he was going to be the Yankee's answer to David Wright... back around 2004 that was not as ludicrous as it sounds now- Duncan was heavily hyped and his #s at 18 & 19 were in Wright's neighborhood

Heck, I don't know who in particular. However, if the Yankees are under the delusion that Sexson is valuable and it prevents them from even looking for somebody else to fill this role, whether through trade, free talent acquisition, etc., then it's hurting the team.

Sure, they can cut him loose for nothing. But first they have to realize that it's wise to cut him loose. Unless you're really convinced that Sexson is the best possible person to be filling that slot for the Yanks right now.

I'm sorry, but this is grasping for straws.

The Yankees surely are looking at trades that will benefit the team (there's too much money to be lost if they don't). I don't think for a second that the Yankees have stopped looking for help because they added Sexson.

Knowing how Cashman operates, I would not be surprised if he talks up Sexson in order to make the Yankees seem less desperate in trade negotiations, but that's a very different argument.

In summation, Sexson is costing next to nothing and is not keeping anybody from the bigs who really needs to be there.

Like I said in comment 3, taking a flyer on him is no biggie.

if the Yankees are under the delusion that Sexson is valuable and it prevents them from even looking for somebody else to fill this role, whether through trade, free talent acquisition, etc., then it's hurting the team.

That was the way I was thinking, until I read JRVJ's theory (#13) about Cashman's strategy.

In any case, he is one dimensional in a way that makes him a lousy bench player. Now if the Yanks want a switch-hitter who can play multiple infield positions, do we have a deal for you!

Heck, I don't know who in particular. However, if the Yankees are under the delusion that Sexson is valuable and it prevents them from even looking for somebody else to fill this role, whether through trade, free talent acquisition, etc., then it's hurting the team.

I spoke to Cashman last night, and he said he figured this signing would allow him to take the rest of the season off. So you are correct.

The Yankees surely are looking at trades that will benefit the team (there's too much money to be lost if they don't). I don't think for a second that the Yankees have stopped looking for help because they added Sexson.

No, you HOPE the Yankees are doing this. For all we know, they think Sexson is a solution. Finding a guy who can hit lefties better than Wilson Betemit and play an average 1B is an awfully low bar to clear, but considering Sexson's defensive failings, I'm not sure Cashman pulled it off. There really aren't any 28 year old AAAA filler 1Bs available?

Anyway, the Sexson thing isn't a huge deal, but for a team that's a longshot to make the postseason, you'd think every edge you can get would be important. Pissing away playing time on Richie Sexson isn't helpful.

Good face, you made a number of assumptions in post 10 about what the Yankees are doing and what they think of Sexson.

Now you are complaining when someone points out something which has basis in fact (best example of Cashman talking someone up to try to gain leverage: see Crosby, Bubba, future NYY CF, 2005-2006 off-season), and which is a lot more reasonable than thinking that the Yankees are starstruck by the glory that is Richie Sexson.

Again, Marchman's article and your line of reasoning is gasping for straws.

Good face, you made a number of assumptions in post 10 about what the Yankees are doing and what they think of Sexson.

We don't know what the Yankees think, which is why I used the word "if" in post 10. All we can do is look at what they're actually doing. And what they're doing is starting Sexson against LHP and using him as a defensive replacement (gag). And I think that's suboptimal.

As strange as it seems, Sexson has hit well against lefties this year (yes, it's a small sample, but it is nevertheless there).

In his first game with the Yankees, Sexson went to the plate 4 times, and got on base twice (1 single, 1 walk).

In his second game with the Yankees, Sexson went to the plate 2 times, and got on base once (1 walk).

You have every right to think it's sub-optimal, but (1) Sexson is only costing $161K;

(2) Sexson is not blocking anyone from the minors;

(3) Sexson has hit lefties well this year;

(4) Sexson has not screwed up as of yet with the Yankees (in a minuscule sample).

And for the record, I also gave you an example of something Cashman DID (talk up Bubba Crosby in 2005-2006).

There really aren't any 28 year old AAAA filler 1Bs available?

Off the top of my head Val Pascucci fits that bill, I'm sure there are others,
Jason Dubois?
Nelson Cruz?
Dallas McPherson?
Brian Myrow?

the funny thing is, the need for a lefty-masher seems less urgent now than any time during the season. They REALLY needed someone in late-May, when ARod and Posada were both out and Jeter was sucking up a storm (and probably playing through injury). Now, with Posada still unable to catch regularly, I think it's time to start using him at first. He's said he doesn't like it, but hey, he wasn't going to be a catcher forever, and in his few starts at first he's held his own. So why not take the chance?

that said, there's nothing wrong with taking a flyer on Sexson. You give him a couple of starts and pinch-hitting appearances - if he sucks, he'll be gone by August 5.

Personally, I would rather see Shelley Duncan on the roster than Sexson.

Rusty, I can only assume that you are not a fan of the New York Yankees....I would rather have Shelley Winters on the roster than Shelley Duncan...

Well, who?

Bonds.

*ducks*