In the midst of the Yankees’ slow start, one player in particular has endured an extreme amount of venom from fans and the media alike. That player is Bobby Abreu. Bobby gave himself the negative spotlight by enduring one of the worst stretches of all-time for a player of his caliber. There were times in April and May that Bobby looked as if he had never swung a bat before in his life. He carried his troubles into the field, looking like a Little League outfielder at times. It did not help matters that the man the Yankees traded to make room for Abreu in rightfield, Gary Sheffield, is swinging a hot bat in Detroit. Now that his slump appears to be behind him, fans can assess Abreu more rationally. It is time to debunk some myths that arose about Abreu during his cold stretch.
He can’t handle the pressure of playing in New York.
He hit .330 with the Yankees last season. If he could not handle the intensity of New York, would that not be more likely to show in the heat of a pennant race than in May? Philadelphia, where Bobby played from 1998 to 2006, is not exactly the easiest town in which to play. Fans are incredibly demanding in that city, perhaps moreso than in New York. Abreu still put up staggering numbers during his time in the City of Brotherly Love.
He is afraid of the big spot.
This must be the reason that he hit .500 last season in the Yankees’ five game sweep of Boston that all but clinched the division. He also drew seven walks in the series. Boston had no answer for him. A five game August series in Fenway Park with the division lead riding in the balance seems like a pretty big spot. Bobby was a lethal offensive force then. He also hit .333 in the ALDS against Detroit. That made him the only Yankee not named Posada or Jeter to be a tough out for the Tigers pitching staff.
He doesn’t care.
Many have drawn this conclusion about Bobby. He is not a guy who openly seeks the media. He seldom displays outward emotion on the field. His swing and running form are so free and easy that he does not appear to be using much effort at all when playing. People mistake these attributes for a lack of intensity. The fact of the matter is that not everybody is like Paul O’Neill. Some people do not express themselves in front of the camera. Some do not appear reckless on the field. That does not mean they do not care. Take Bernie Williams as an example. Few men have burned to succeed as badly as Bernie did. He simply internalized his competitive drive. Curtis Martin is another example of this in football. These guys never sought the limelight. They were on personal missions. Abreu is the same. People around the team comment on his work ethic and drive. Because Bobby has not openly tried to get his name in the news constantly unlike his predecessor, Sheffield, the media has failed to convey the real Bobby Abreu to the public. Bobby’s personality makes him a strange case like Bernie and Martin. Even though all three men played in major markets for their entire careers, none has received the respect they deserve. Their personas kept people from realizing just how great they are.
The Yankees were stupid to trade Sheffield and keep Abreu.
This would only true if somebody has a time machine. We would have to know then what we know now. We also would need to know that the current trend will continue, which does not appear likely. This was what the Yankees knew at the time about the two players.
Abreu: 32 years old, hit .330 with the Yankees, fit in well in the clubhouse, gave the offense balance
Sheffield: 37 years old, coming off a major wrist injury, demanded a new contract despite this, at the center of baseball’s steroids controversy, openly criticized his teammates and manager, chronic complainer
Ignore all the intangibles for a second. Who was more likely to produce? Was it the guy five years older coming off a major injury or the guy five years younger coming off a productive season? If we see into the future, we would all be geniuses. The fact of the matter is that there was nothing to suggest that Sheffield would be better this season. When both are at the top of their respective games, Abreu is better. As it looks more and more like Bobby’s long slump was a fluke, the trading of Sheffield will look more and more palatable.
The fact that the Phillies were so desperate to trade him and took so little in return shows that there must be something wrong with him.
Why would anybody ever use the Phillies’ decision-making as a reference point? That franchise has been a case study in inept management. Despite consistently having one of the game’s highest payrolls, the Phils have not been to the postseason since 1993. The fact that they thought so little of Bobby’s considerable talents says more about them than it does about Abreu.
Abreu is a throwback to the dynasty teams. He is not worried about getting attention. All he wants to do is go to work and do his job. There is no ego on him. He is not worried about becoming a star. He just wants to win. He is not a one-dimensional player. He is a grinder. He wears pitchers down with his excellent approach at the plate. Do not be fooled by a few bad weeks. The Yankees are lucky to have Bobby Abreu. He is a great fit.
