Fun With Numbers: Brett Gardner = Jacoby Ellsbury?

by Peter Bendix on Jun 30, 2008 12:31 PM EDT

The Yankees are calling up Brett Gardner.

Some numbers to mull over:

*Jacoby Ellsbury, age 23, triple-A (in 2007): .298/.360/.380 with 33 steals (39 attempts) in 87 games. 47/32 K/BB ratio, 21 extra base hits

*Brett Gardner, age 24, triple-A (in 2008): .287/.412/.429 with 34 steals (42 attempts) in 80 games. 68/61 K/BB ratio, 24 extra base hits.

*Ellsbury minor league career (250 games): .313/.389/.425 with 105 steals (132 attempts), 127/111 K/BB

*Gardner minor league career (349 games): .289/.386/.385 with 139 steals (169 attempts), 260/207 K/BB

*Ellsbury per 162 minor league games: 68 steals (86 attempts)

*Gardner per 162 minor league games: 64 steals (79 attempts)

*According to Kevin Goldstein, Gardner is "an 80 runner with outstanding defense and on-base skills."

It's unlikely that Brett Gardner will make the same impact that Jacoby Ellsbury has made so far. However, the similarities are interesting…

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Gardner has slightly less power than Ellsbury.

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 30, 2008 1:14 PM EDT reply actions

Hey, What Can You Say?

One never knows, do one?

"We praise or blame as one or the other affords more opportunity for exhibiting our power of judgment." Friedrich Nietzsche, "Human,All Too Human" (1878)

by wgarrett on Jun 30, 2008 6:43 PM EDT reply actions

but he struggled with his first taste of AAA in 07, so this is sort of a repeat year in AAA for him. I think he’s probably guy who in the long run will be better suited as a 4th OF that is a great option off the bench

www.wazzel.com (prove your sports knowledge if you can)

by NeifiChicken on Jul 1, 2008 7:38 PM EDT reply actions

I think you're right

Ellsbury is a fringe starter, and Gardner is one year older and has a slightly worse track record. Still, the comparison is interesting, especially in light of all of the hype surrounding Ellsbury and the relative anonymity of Gardner.

by Peter Bendix on Jul 1, 2008 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions

this is a well timed post.. i had no idea who gardner was until yesterday so i took a peak at his milb numbers and was surprised to see what you’ve posted here.

on a side.. ellsbury’s defense and stolen bases (as well as a winning record) has masked a relatively weak campaign this year. he’s hitting for virtually no power and not walking nearly as much as you’d like to see out of the lead-off spot.

by EWS1532 on Jul 5, 2008 12:08 PM EDT reply actions