Is Cashman downplaying expectations for newcomer Headley?
Mark Bonifacio/ New York Daily NewsYankees GM Brian Cashman during pre game action between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx June 28, 2014. (Mark Bonifacio/New York Daily News)Despite Chase Headley’s 31-homer campaign in 2012, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman stressed that he doesn’t view the third baseman as a power bat, looking a him instead as “a professional hitter and a switch-hitter that can spray it all over the place.”
“I think he can certainly deliver a long ball and this ballpark is certainly more conductive to that than where he’s coming from,” Cashman said. “But no, I think he’s a guy that can impact you on the offensive side by his plate discipline as well as his batting average. I don’t think we’re getting a big thumper … but I do think we’re getting an upgrade and a professional at-bat. He’s going to give you a good at-bat.”
The GM’s comments about his new player smelled of downplaying expectations, as he also shot down the idea that Headley is a stellar third baseman as advanced defensive metrics suggest.
“I think there’s some confusion on the metrics about what he really is,” Cashman said. “Our scouts have him as an average third baseman.”
After watching Headley make a leaping catch of Rougned Odor’s line drive in the 10th – then collect the game-winning hit in the 14th, Cashman might have some different words to say about his newest acquisition.
SD Yankee Report 