I have to agree with Sean here. Knobby is a different kind of hitter than Hill and Rodriguez. At his best, or even 85 percent, he carries as much value as Hill or HRod. Will he get back to that level is the question.

I have to agree with Sean here. Knobby is a different kind of hitter than Hill and Rodriguez. At his best, or even 85 percent, he carries as much value as Hill or HRod. Will he get back to that level is the question.

I have to agree with Sean here. Knobby is a different kind of hitter than Hill and Rodriguez. At his best, or even 85 percent, he carries as much value as Hill or HRod. Will he get back to that level is the question.

I have to agree with Sean here. Knobby is a different kind of hitter than Hill and Rodriguez. At his best, or even 85 percent, he carries as much value as Hill or HRod. Will he get back to that level is the question.

Here's another point on Knoblauch being an offensive asset as a left fielder. If he played in the outfield every day, his offensive numbers would probably be better than they would be if he played second base, due to the difference in wear and tear between the positions. Generally speaking, a player who plays an up-the-middle position is going to sacrifice some offense because of the physical demands of that position. Left field, although a new territory to Knoblauch, would be physically less demanding once he made the initial adjustment.

I'll take the offense that Knoblauch--pre-2000, anyway--provides any day of the week. Shane Spencer hasn't had enough ML playing time for us to determine whether he would provide as much offense as Knoblauch.

If it turns out that Knoblauch can't play left field either, then the Yankees will move Jeter into the leadoff role and Jorge Posada into the No. 2 spot. The Yankees can still win with that combination (Jeter's OBP was well over .400 last year), but they'd rather let Posada bat lower in the order so as to have more RBI opportunities.

Here's another point on Knoblauch being an offensive asset as a left fielder. If he played in the outfield every day, his offensive numbers would probably be better than they would be if he played second base, due to the difference in wear and tear between the positions. Generally speaking, a player who plays an up-the-middle position is going to sacrifice some offense because of the physical demands of that position. Left field, although a new territory to Knoblauch, would be physically less demanding once he made the initial adjustment.

I'll take the offense that Knoblauch--pre-2000, anyway--provides any day of the week. Shane Spencer hasn't had enough ML playing time for us to determine whether he would provide as much offense as Knoblauch.

If it turns out that Knoblauch can't play left field either, then the Yankees will move Jeter into the leadoff role and Jorge Posada into the No. 2 spot. The Yankees can still win with that combination (Jeter's OBP was well over .400 last year), but they'd rather let Posada bat lower in the order so as to have more RBI opportunities.

Here's another point on Knoblauch being an offensive asset as a left fielder. If he played in the outfield every day, his offensive numbers would probably be better than they would be if he played second base, due to the difference in wear and tear between the positions. Generally speaking, a player who plays an up-the-middle position is going to sacrifice some offense because of the physical demands of that position. Left field, although a new territory to Knoblauch, would be physically less demanding once he made the initial adjustment.

I'll take the offense that Knoblauch--pre-2000, anyway--provides any day of the week. Shane Spencer hasn't had enough ML playing time for us to determine whether he would provide as much offense as Knoblauch.

If it turns out that Knoblauch can't play left field either, then the Yankees will move Jeter into the leadoff role and Jorge Posada into the No. 2 spot. The Yankees can still win with that combination (Jeter's OBP was well over .400 last year), but they'd rather let Posada bat lower in the order so as to have more RBI opportunities.

Here's another point on Knoblauch being an offensive asset as a left fielder. If he played in the outfield every day, his offensive numbers would probably be better than they would be if he played second base, due to the difference in wear and tear between the positions. Generally speaking, a player who plays an up-the-middle position is going to sacrifice some offense because of the physical demands of that position. Left field, although a new territory to Knoblauch, would be physically less demanding once he made the initial adjustment.

I'll take the offense that Knoblauch--pre-2000, anyway--provides any day of the week. Shane Spencer hasn't had enough ML playing time for us to determine whether he would provide as much offense as Knoblauch.

If it turns out that Knoblauch can't play left field either, then the Yankees will move Jeter into the leadoff role and Jorge Posada into the No. 2 spot. The Yankees can still win with that combination (Jeter's OBP was well over .400 last year), but they'd rather let Posada bat lower in the order so as to have more RBI opportunities.

One other point on this: Knoblauch is no hero by "allowing" the Yankees to move him to another position. At some point during the era of free agency, some fans and media members conceived this notion that players had to approve a shift in position, even when it became obvious that the shift was clearly in the best interest of the team. (One of the first times that I remember this becoming a really big issue was when Dave Winfield was "asked" to move from one outfield position to another in the mid-1980s.)

It's Knoblauch's job to play--and Torre's job to put him where he feels he would help the team the most. My goodness, with the patience that Joe Torre and the Yankees have shown with Knoblauch (and I am sympathetic to the mental block that he is trying to overcome and the effort that he has put forth), he should be happy that they are trying to make him fit into their lineup wherever possible.

One other point on this: Knoblauch is no hero by "allowing" the Yankees to move him to another position. At some point during the era of free agency, some fans and media members conceived this notion that players had to approve a shift in position, even when it became obvious that the shift was clearly in the best interest of the team. (One of the first times that I remember this becoming a really big issue was when Dave Winfield was "asked" to move from one outfield position to another in the mid-1980s.)

It's Knoblauch's job to play--and Torre's job to put him where he feels he would help the team the most. My goodness, with the patience that Joe Torre and the Yankees have shown with Knoblauch (and I am sympathetic to the mental block that he is trying to overcome and the effort that he has put forth), he should be happy that they are trying to make him fit into their lineup wherever possible.

One other point on this: Knoblauch is no hero by "allowing" the Yankees to move him to another position. At some point during the era of free agency, some fans and media members conceived this notion that players had to approve a shift in position, even when it became obvious that the shift was clearly in the best interest of the team. (One of the first times that I remember this becoming a really big issue was when Dave Winfield was "asked" to move from one outfield position to another in the mid-1980s.)

It's Knoblauch's job to play--and Torre's job to put him where he feels he would help the team the most. My goodness, with the patience that Joe Torre and the Yankees have shown with Knoblauch (and I am sympathetic to the mental block that he is trying to overcome and the effort that he has put forth), he should be happy that they are trying to make him fit into their lineup wherever possible.

One other point on this: Knoblauch is no hero by "allowing" the Yankees to move him to another position. At some point during the era of free agency, some fans and media members conceived this notion that players had to approve a shift in position, even when it became obvious that the shift was clearly in the best interest of the team. (One of the first times that I remember this becoming a really big issue was when Dave Winfield was "asked" to move from one outfield position to another in the mid-1980s.)

It's Knoblauch's job to play--and Torre's job to put him where he feels he would help the team the most. My goodness, with the patience that Joe Torre and the Yankees have shown with Knoblauch (and I am sympathetic to the mental block that he is trying to overcome and the effort that he has put forth), he should be happy that they are trying to make him fit into their lineup wherever possible.

I don't think we can assume that Knoblauch would make a lightning transition to LF. I suspect it might take him a month or two to get really comfortable out there.

Even if the Yanks don't lose much (or anything) on offence with Knoblauch vs Hill/Rodriguez, I'd bet there'd be at least a slight loss in outfield defence. And when the ball goes into the LF corner, it's a pretty long throw to the cut off man. From the power alley it's even longer - what's he going to do, wait until Bernie gets there ? If the guy isn't accurate throwing 60-80 feet to first base, what about throws from LF ?

I don't think we can assume that Knoblauch would make a lightning transition to LF. I suspect it might take him a month or two to get really comfortable out there.

Even if the Yanks don't lose much (or anything) on offence with Knoblauch vs Hill/Rodriguez, I'd bet there'd be at least a slight loss in outfield defence. And when the ball goes into the LF corner, it's a pretty long throw to the cut off man. From the power alley it's even longer - what's he going to do, wait until Bernie gets there ? If the guy isn't accurate throwing 60-80 feet to first base, what about throws from LF ?

I don't think we can assume that Knoblauch would make a lightning transition to LF. I suspect it might take him a month or two to get really comfortable out there.

Even if the Yanks don't lose much (or anything) on offence with Knoblauch vs Hill/Rodriguez, I'd bet there'd be at least a slight loss in outfield defence. And when the ball goes into the LF corner, it's a pretty long throw to the cut off man. From the power alley it's even longer - what's he going to do, wait until Bernie gets there ? If the guy isn't accurate throwing 60-80 feet to first base, what about throws from LF ?

I don't think we can assume that Knoblauch would make a lightning transition to LF. I suspect it might take him a month or two to get really comfortable out there.

Even if the Yanks don't lose much (or anything) on offence with Knoblauch vs Hill/Rodriguez, I'd bet there'd be at least a slight loss in outfield defence. And when the ball goes into the LF corner, it's a pretty long throw to the cut off man. From the power alley it's even longer - what's he going to do, wait until Bernie gets there ? If the guy isn't accurate throwing 60-80 feet to first base, what about throws from LF ?