Even with injuries mounting and a tight playoff race, Brian Cashman planned to stay quiet at last night’s waiver deadline.
Cashman did most of his scouting during the offseason. And the last position player to make the Yankees is making a strong argument to have been the best of the general manager’s signings.
Marcus Thames, who had six homers in last five games. was batting .368 (21-for-57) for August before last night’s late game. He’s been teeing off against right- and left-handers.
“We went on his track record alone, his career and what he did against left-handers,” manager Joe Girardi said of Thames, who struggled immensely during spring training.
“And how he had so much success off of them is really what helped us make the decision. You believe in your scouting system, and what your people tell you.”
Home runs have come in bunches for the power hitter. Thames’ latest blast was a three-run shot off Oakland reliever Henry Rodriguez in a Yanks’ rout on Monday. In Chicago, Thames connected off Gavin Floyd and John Danks, and last week in Toronto, he went deep against Brett Cecil.
“That’s what guys with power do sometimes,” Thames said. “We hit one for a month or for two to three weeks but then we start hitting them in bunches. But I’m not going up there trying to hit a home run. I’m going up there trying to hit the ball in play and hit it hard somewhere.”
