Over the past few weeks, Melky has cooled off a lot and it has gone relatively unnoticed. He's dodging heat from the fans and media probably due to sustaining a good batting average and coming through with some timely hits, but his production is starting to slip.
Since May 22, Melky has just three extra-base hits in 17 games (and two of them came in the 15-0 game vs. the Mets). His .320 BABIP is the highest of his career and twenty points higher than league average. He's hitting groundballs on 50% of his plate appearances, so it's logical that even his average is going to slip at some point when some of them stop getting through. He's never produced above league average and it doesn't seem that this will be his breakthrough year.
His wOBA is down to .346, still above league average and better than anyone would have hoped from him, but now only two points higher than Brett Gardner and his .344 wOBA. They both strikeout at the same rate, but Gardner has shown a better ability to walk (which really is much more ability since teams are less inclined to want him on base). This is mostly due to Gardner swinging at about 5% less pitches outside of the strike zone.
Given that Gardner has been a significantly better fielder (4.6 UZR to Melky's 0.8 at CF) and his ability to steal bases, I'm ready to give Gardner some more games in CF.
Melky can still play against lefties and get some games in at RF. I could get on board with playing him and Gardner together in games when Burnett and Sabathia pitch. Both are giving up fly balls on about 40% of their BIP, so having two above average fielders in the OF will help defensively.
All stats courtesy of fangraphs.com
