The Official New York Yankees Thread

Cliffy6745

Some people (Bill Maddon specifically) are beginning to say that Cashman may leave after this season because he wants to prove himself with a smaller budget. Have read this in a few places recently. I don't really buy it. No one is going to pay him what the Yankees will and as much as a challenge would be nice, why the fuck would you leave a team with a $210 million budget?

Cliffy6745

Interesting stuff from Cashman this morning...

He does not see Jeter staying at short for the next 4 years.
Joba's injury is worse than we were aware of and he has not been the same since. It sounds like that's the reason he's not a starter and won't be.
One starter away from being a World Series contender

And a bunch of other stuff.

Cliffy6745

Let's just start by saying, no way the guy makes the team but....

:x :x :x

intodeep

Cliffy6745 wrote:

Let's just start by saying, no way the guy makes the team but....

:x :x :x

Talking about Bartolo Colon?

Cliffy6745

intodeep wrote:

Cliffy6745 wrote:

Let's just start by saying, no way the guy makes the team but....

:x :x :x

Talking about Bartolo Colon?

Yes, let's all agree to never talk about him being associated with the Yankees again, there is no way he makes the team.

The Juggler

Cliffy6745 wrote:

intodeep wrote:

Cliffy6745 wrote:

Let's just start by saying, no way the guy makes the team but....

:x :x :x

Talking about Bartolo Colon?

Yes, let's all agree to never talk about him being associated with the Yankees again, there is no way he makes the team.

The Fixer

Cliffy6745 wrote:

intodeep wrote:

Cliffy6745 wrote:

Let's just start by saying, no way the guy makes the team but....

:x :x :x

Talking about Bartolo Colon?

Yes, let's all agree to never talk about him being associated with the Yankees again, there is no way he makes the team.

Colon looks like the Phillie Phanatic. Especially the body type

Cliffy6745

I said...I don't want to talk about it.

The Fixer

Cliffy6745 wrote:

I said...I don't want to talk about it.

here you go buddy...this should cheer you up

(from Law's Minor League Org Rankings that came out today)

9. New York Yankees
Gary Sanchez had a tremendous debut season, Dellin Betances and Andrew Brackman got healthy, and Manny Banuelos saw his stuff tick up and they're backed up with a lot of back-end starter depth. They rival Toronto for the best catching depth in the minors and took a couple of intriguing guys later in the 2010 draft, one of whom I'll discuss Friday.

Cliffy6745

The Fixer wrote:

Cliffy6745 wrote:

I said...I don't want to talk about it.

here you go buddy...this should cheer you up

(from Law's Minor League Org Rankings that came out today)

9. New York Yankees
Gary Sanchez had a tremendous debut season, Dellin Betances and Andrew Brackman got healthy, and Manny Banuelos saw his stuff tick up and they're backed up with a lot of back-end starter depth. They rival Toronto for the best catching depth in the minors and took a couple of intriguing guys later in the 2010 draft, one of whom I'll discuss Friday.

Thanks, man. I saw he released this today and that the Yanks were 9 but didn't read it since I don't have insider. Definitely good news. Also saw MLB.com had their prospect rankings out and Montero was 9th, seems a little low to me. The Angels kid was 1, Harper 2 (I believe) and Brown 3, so I took it with a grain of salt with Harper already that high after playing 1 AFL season.

The Fixer

Cliffy6745 wrote:

The Fixer wrote:

Cliffy6745 wrote:

I said...I don't want to talk about it.

here you go buddy...this should cheer you up

(from Law's Minor League Org Rankings that came out today)

9. New York Yankees
Gary Sanchez had a tremendous debut season, Dellin Betances and Andrew Brackman got healthy, and Manny Banuelos saw his stuff tick up and they're backed up with a lot of back-end starter depth. They rival Toronto for the best catching depth in the minors and took a couple of intriguing guys later in the 2010 draft, one of whom I'll discuss Friday.

Thanks, man. I saw he released this today and that the Yanks were 9 but didn't read it since I don't have insider. Definitely good news. Also saw MLB.com had their prospect rankings out and Montero was 9th, seems a little low to me. The Angels kid was 1, Harper 2 (I believe) and Brown 3, so I took it with a grain of salt with Harper already that high after playing 1 AFL season.

That kid Mike Trout for the Angels is supposed to be a monster. He's a South Jersey kid too. Apparently he has been timed as the fastest player ever to get out of the box to first...which is crazy since he hits RH.

Cliffy6745

The Fixer wrote:

That kid Mike Trout for the Angels is supposed to be a monster. He's a South Jersey kid too. Apparently he has been timed as the fastest player ever to get out of the box to first...which is crazy since he hits RH.

Yeah, that's his name, was blanking on it. Didn't realize he was from south jersey. I didn't read that but have heard he is crazy fast.

igotid88

David Cone is back in the booth. 25 games

Brock Samson

igotid88 wrote:

David Cone is back in the booth. 25 games

i wish paul o'neill called more games than he does. him, michael kay, and ken singleton are great together in the booth.

Newch91

Brock Samson wrote:

igotid88 wrote:

David Cone is back in the booth. 25 games

i wish paul o'neill called more games than he does. him, michael kay, and ken singleton are great together in the booth.

Definitely.

Does anyone know if Al Leiter is doing games also?

Cliffy6745

This makes me happy...

We can all agree on one thing about Montero: He’s going to hit. And by that, I mean he’s going to hit for average, get on base and have huge power — the type of offensive profile that plays anywhere on the field and in the lineup. Montero is a physical beast, the rare front-foot hitter who can generate big-time power, reminiscent of Frank Thomas who was, himself, also a patient and disciplined hitter.

Of course, the question on Montero since the Yankees signed him has been his ultimate position. He has the arm strength to remain a catcher, but takes way too long to get rid of the ball. He’s not a bad athlete, but his bulk has always made it hard for him to get his body moving quickly the way a catcher has to move to block balls or jump out of the crouch to throwing position. There’s also a concern about the long-term effects that catching will have on Montero’s knees. He is listed at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, and only five players in MLB history have caught 200 games at or above those numbers, three of them (Joe Mauer, Chris Snyder, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia) have had knee and/or back problems.

With a bat this potentially strong, why risk injury or give up the 20-25 games a year when your catcher has to rest? Montero could solve the Yankees’ DH problem for the next 10 years if they commit to it, a move they are unlikely to ever regret.

Cliffy6745

Newch91 wrote:

Brock Samson wrote:

igotid88 wrote:

David Cone is back in the booth. 25 games

i wish paul o'neill called more games than he does. him, michael kay, and ken singleton are great together in the booth.

Definitely.

Does anyone know if Al Leiter is doing games also?

Glad to see Cone back. Am sure Leiter will be around still.

Cliffy6745

As does this...

Banuelos was on the prospect radar last year as a competitive, strike-throwing lefthander with a good changeup and a chance to add velocity. Now he’s a 19-year-old on the cusp of the majors with a three-pitch mix where all three pitches will at least flash above-average.

Banuelos did pick up some velocity and will now work at 90-94 mph with his fastball; he commands the pitch extremely well to both sides of the plate, and its only flaw is a lack of sink. His changeup in the 78-84 range has both excellent arm speed and tremendous fade, and he showed an improved curveball with two-plane break in the upper 70s.

Banuelos’ 2010 season started in June because he had his appendix removed right before the season started, but he had little trouble with high-A hitters and finished strongly in Double-A and in the Arizona Fall League. He’ll start 2011 in Double-A, but even though he’s 19 he’s close to maxed out physically now, so he’s just a few refinements away from being able to help the big league club.

Newch91

Cliffy6745 wrote:

Newch91 wrote:

Brock Samson wrote:

i wish paul o'neill called more games than he does. him, michael kay, and ken singleton are great together in the booth.

Definitely.

Does anyone know if Al Leiter is doing games also?

Glad to see Cone back. Am sure Leiter will be around still.

I like when Leiter calls games. He always gives you a great insight into the pitchers and shows the way they throw a certain pitch.

The Fixer

Here you go fellas...my gift to you since we share our hatred of the Red Sox. And because you just signed the phillie phanatic.

Let me know if there are any other players or teams you're interested in seeing.

Rank Player
4 Jesus Montero
Age: 21 (DOB: Nov. 28, 1989)
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Position: Catcher Organization: New York Yankees
Top '10 Level: AAA (Scranton Wilkes-Barre)
2010 ranking: 10

2010 MINORS STATS


GM
123AB
453HR
21RBI
75SB
0


SO
91BB
46AVG
.289OBP
.353SLG
.517
We can all agree on one thing about Montero: He's going to hit. And by that, I mean he's going to hit for average, get on base and have huge power -- the type of offensive profile that plays anywhere on the field and in the lineup. Montero is a physical beast, the rare front-foot hitter who can generate big-time power, reminiscent of Frank Thomas who was, himself, also a patient and disciplined hitter.

Of course, the question on Montero since the Yankees signed him has been his ultimate position. He has the arm strength to remain a catcher, but takes way too long to get rid of the ball. He's not a bad athlete, but his bulk has always made it hard for him to get his body moving quickly the way a catcher has to move to block balls or jump out of the crouch to throwing position. There's also a concern about the long-term effects that catching will have on Montero's knees. He is listed at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, and only five players in MLB history have caught 200 games at or above those numbers, three of them (Joe Mauer, Chris Snyder, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia) have had knee and/or back problems.

With a bat this potentially strong, why risk injury or give up the 20-25 games a year when your catcher has to rest? Montero could solve the Yankees' DH problem for the next 10 years if they commit to it, a move they are unlikely to ever regret.



Rank Player
12 Manny Banuelos
Age: 19 (DOB: Mar. 13, 1991)
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Position: Pitcher Organization: New York Yankees
Top '10 Level: AA (Trenton)
2010 ranking: 96

2010 MINORS STATS


GM
15IP
64.2W
0L
4ERA
2.51


SO
85BB
25H
54HR
3BAA
.229
Banuelos was on the prospect radar last year as a competitive, strike-throwing lefthander with a good changeup and a chance to add velocity. Now he's a 19-year-old on the cusp of the majors with a three-pitch mix where all three pitches will at least flash above-average.

Banuelos did pick up some velocity and will now work at 90-94 mph with his fastball; he commands the pitch extremely well to both sides of the plate, and its only flaw is a lack of sink. His changeup in the 78-84 range has both excellent arm speed and tremendous fade, and he showed an improved curveball with two-plane break in the upper 70s.

Banuelos' 2010 season started in June because he had his appendix removed right before the season started, but he had little trouble with high-A hitters and finished strongly in Double-A and in the Arizona Fall League. He'll start 2011 in Double-A, but even though he's 19 he's close to maxed out physically now, so he's just a few refinements away from being able to help the big league club.



68 Gary Sanchez
Age: 18 (DOB: Dec. 2, 1992)
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Position: Catcher Organization: New York Yankees
Top '10 Level: Single-A
2010 ranking: UR

2010 MINORS STATS


GM
47AB
173HR
8RBI
43SB
2


SO
44BB
14AVG
.329OBP
.393SLG
.543
The Yankees are loaded with prospects who currently catch, and while they probably won't all pan out at the position, it's a good area in which to have a surplus. Sanchez is the furthest away, and has a chance to replace Jesus Montero at the top of the Yankees' prospect rankings soon. The two are similar overall; Sanchez has a better chance to catch with a slightly lower ceiling at the plate. He's going to be very physical, but has plenty of agility behind the plate with an above-average arm and quick release.

At the plate, his swing is loose and quick and he keeps his weight back well, giving him the potential to hit for both average and power. There's still a lot of projection involved in that evaluation, and he's barely 18 years old at the moment, but his youth and distance from the majors are the only things keeping him out of the top echelon of this list.


73 Dellin Betances
Age: 22 (DOB: Mar. 23, 1988)
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Position: Starting Pitcher Organization: New York Yankees
Top '10 Level: AA (Trenton)
2010 ranking: UR

2010 MINORS STATS


GM
17IP
85.1W
8L
1ERA
2.11


SO
108BB
22H
53HR
4BAA
.174
Betances has a big body and a big arm, but still has a lot of work to do as a pitcher. Fully recovered from Tommy John surgery, he'll hit 96-97 and pitch in the low 90s, and has a solid-average changeup with both good arm speed and fade. His curveball is wildly inconsistent; I saw it well below-average, and have talked to scouts who saw it the same and scouts who saw it as a grade 55 or better pitch. Despite his size, Betances doesn't get great extension out front and his early release point could be behind the trouble I saw him have with the curve.

He's not a great athlete or fielder. He is also only 22 with just shy of 300 innings total in three-plus years in pro ball, so time is on his side for him to improve his feel or his body control or for the Yankees to continue refining his delivery. There's No. 1 starter potential here, but the probability isn't there yet.