Comments on: A few minor matters

By: Jay

Jay — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:23:12 +0000

And I gather that the value of a good catching prospect in a trade is as great or greater than a prospect at any other position — player or pitcher. So there’s nothing wrong with having some extra, very valuable trading chips.

By: Jay

Jay — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 03:28:33 +0000

I think it’s fantastic for the Yankees that they have a lot of good catching prospects given the very high rate of catchers that wind up not being able to cut it behind the plate and the fact that you never know what you have for ANY prospect.

Then again, maybe somebody should tell the Yankees that the catcher doesn’t affect their pitchers’ ERAs. If that’s true, they don’t have to worry about their prospects’ skills behind the plate. In fact, they can just put their best hitting prospects there shortly before they’re ready to hit major league pitching.

I would never have guessed as much. Here I was thinking that catcher was a key defensive position and that catching skills were a very important determinant of whether a catching prospect could make it to the majors….

(I’m VERY much looking forward to seeing what Venditte can do at higher levels, too — although I’m not necessarily for rushing him at the expense of his development. Venditte himself even pointed out in a recent article that because he’s always in very high pressure situations as a closer that it’s hard to experiment with new pitches.)

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:14:55 +0000

Venditte is a great pitcher, switch pitcher, he could dominate in Tampa.

By: 86w183

86w183 — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:25:27 +0000

I thought it was a mistake to draft a catche rin the second round with the organizational depth. Adding Sanchez on top of that seems goofy to me. The internaitonal money would be better spent on OF, SS or LHP prospects.

I don’t think Vanditte has the velocity for the upper levels, but it really serves no purpose to keep him in a situation that’s so non-competitive for him.

By: Erik Agard

Erik Agard — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:56:12 +0000

I’d love to see Pat Venditte inherit Mo’s throne. He’s one of my favourite minor leaguers (Colin Curtis is another).

By: Jones

Jones — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:19:50 +0000

I read that Montero doesn’t want to play 1st or DH, he wants to catch. That being said, there is going to be some good competition. Thats a lot of catchers. I’m sure there will be a trade. Mauer is also another big catcher. So if he could do it, then I don’t see why Montero can’t. & Cervelli has been nothing short of outstanding.

By: Brian

Brian — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:46:11 +0000

I’d think Montero’s future is at either first or DH. That being said, the Yanks still have a lot of good prospects at catcher which is certainly a good thing.

By: bebop

bebop — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:34:40 +0000

I don’t think Robertson was considered much of a prospect for a long while. Yeah Venditte should definitely get a shot at High A.

By: jpb1973

jpb1973 — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:20:23 +0000

from the blog:

Kyle Higashioka was assigned to Staten Island. He is one of the many good catching prospects the Yankees have. It’ll be interesting to see how it all shakes out with him, Francisco Cervelli, Montero, Austin Romine, J.R. Murphy and now Gary Sanchez

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Have the Yankees signed J. R. Murphy yet?

By: Kelvin Ace

Kelvin Ace — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:02:17 +0000

I want to see Pat Venditte in AA atleast, kids needs a shot.