Yankees invite 20 non-roster players
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Feb 08, 2010 
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For those who don’t know the term, a non-roster player in spring training is anyone not on the 40-man, so this list includes both organizational minor leaguers and new players signed to minor league deals. Every player on the 40-man will also be in big league camp. Here’s the press release, with no huge surprises.
The New York Yankees today announced they have signed outfielder Marcus Thames to a minor league contract with an invitation to Major League spring training. In total, the club invited 20 non-roster players to 2010 Spring Training in Tampa, Fla. The list includes 10 pitchers, five catchers and five outfielders. The total number of players now scheduled to report is 60.
Thames, 32, was originally selected by the Yankees in the 30th round of the 1996 First-Year Player Draft. He owns a .243 career batting average with 75 doubles, 101 home runs and 261 RBI in 522 Major League games over parts of eight seasons with the Yankees, Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers. Since 2006, he has averaged one home run every 14.52 at-bats, marking the fourth-lowest ratio in the American League over the stretch (min. 1,100 AB). Thames batted .252 with 11 doubles, 13 home runs and 36 RBI in 87 games with the Tigers in 2009, missing nearly two months (April 19-June 7) on the disabled list with a left rib cage strain.
LHP Wilkins Arias, 29, spent the 2009 season with Double-A Trenton, going 5-4 with a 3.65 ERA in 48 appearances (two starts) and holding left-handed batters to a .183 (20-for-109) batting average with one home run. Arias was originally signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent in June 2005.
LHP Jeremy Bleich, 22, combined to go 9-10 with a 4.86 ERA in 27 starts with Single-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton in 2009. Bleich enters the 2010 season ranked by Baseball America as the organization’s ninth-best prospect after recording the fifth-most strikeouts (116) among all Yankees minor leaguers in 2009. The Louisiana native was originally selected by the Yankees in Compensation Round A (44th overall) of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft.
OF Colin Curtis, 24, appeared in 126 games with Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2009, combining to bat .250 with seven home runs, 48 RBI and a career-high 24 doubles. Curtis was originally selected by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft out of Arizona State University.
RHP Grant Duff, 27, combined to go 4-3 with two saves and a 3.52 ERA in 45 appearances (one start) with Single-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton in 2009. The right-hander was selected by the Yankees in the 31st round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft out of the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, Calif.
OF Reid Gorecki, 29, saw his first Major League action in 2009, batting .200 in 31 games with Atlanta. Also spent time with Triple-A Gwinnett, batting .286 with 27 doubles, nine home runs and 49 RBI in 106 games, setting a career high in doubles. Gorecki was originally selected by St. Louis in the 13th round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft.
C Kyle Higashioka, 19, batted .253 with 11 doubles, two home runs and 32 RBI in 60 games with short-season Single-A Staten Island in 2009, leading all New York-Penn League catchers in games caught (57), total chances (497) and putouts (451). His 25.3 percent caught stealing rate (19-for-75) ranked fifth in the league. Originally selected by the Yankees in the seventh round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, Higashioka will be the youngest player in the team’s spring training camp.
RHP Jason Hirsh, 27, owns an 8-11 career record with a 5.32 ERA in 32 appearances (29 starts) over parts of three Major League seasons with Houston (2006) and Colorado (2007-08). In 2009, he combined to go 10-7 with a 5.55 ERA in 26 appearances (22 starts) with Triple-A Colorado Springs and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Following a mid-season trade to the Yankees on July 29, 2009, he went undefeated in six starts with Scranton/WB, going 4-0 with a 1.35 ERA. Hirsh was originally selected by Houston in the second round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft.
LHP Kei Igawa, 30, led Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in both wins and games started, going 10-8 with a 4.15 ERA in 26 starts. With 29 career wins at the Triple-A level, the lefthander now holds the record for most victories in Scranton/WB history. Igawa was originally acquired by the Yankees through the Japanese posting process in November 2007 and owns a 2-4 record with a 6.66 ERA in 16 Major League games (13 starts).
RHP Zach McAllister, 22, went 7-5 with an Eastern League-leading 2.23 ERA in 22 starts with Double-A Trenton in 2009, ranking second among Yankees minor leaguers in ERA. Originally selected by the Yankees in the third round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, he enters 2010 ranked by Baseball America as the Yankees’ fifth-best prospect and as having the “Best Control” in the organization.
C Jesus Montero, 20, combined to bat .337 with 45 runs, 25 doubles, 17 home runs and 70 RBI in 92 games with Single-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton in 2009, ranking fourth among all Yankees minor leaguers in home runs. Named to the midseason All-Star teams with both Tampa and Trenton, he had his season cut short when he was hit by a pitch while behind the plate on 8/1, fracturing his middle finger. Originally signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent in October 2006, the Venezuela native, played for the World Team in the 2009 All-Star Futures Game at St. Louis’ Busch Stadium. He enters the 2010 season ranked by Baseball America as the Yankees’ top prospect and the fifth-best prospect in all of Baseball (top catcher).
C P.J. Pilittere, 28, combined to hit .220 with one home run and 17 RBI in 55 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Double-A Trenton in 2009. Originally selected by the Yankees in the 13th round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Pilittere will be making his fourth straight spring training appearance after receiving non-roster invitations each year since 2007.
LHP Royce Ring, 29, spent the 2009 season with Triple-A Memphis, going 5-2 with four saves and a 3.04 ERA in 51 relief outings. In 94 relief appearances, he owns a 3-3 record with a 4.93 ERA over parts of four Major League seasons with the Mets (2005-06), San Diego (2007) and Atlanta (2007-08), holding left-handed batters to a .229 (30-for-131) batting average. Ring was originally selected by Chicago-AL as the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft.
C Mike Rivera, 33, owns a .244 (129-for-528) career batting average with 13 home runs and 69 RBI in 181 Major League games over parts of seven seasons with Detroit (2001-02), San Diego (2003) and Milwaukee (2006-09). He hit .228 with two home runs and 14 RBI in 41 games with the Brewers in 2009, making 31 starts at catcher. Rivera was originally signed by the Detroit Tigers as a non-drafted free agent in 1997.
C Austin Romine, 21, was selected by the Yankees in the second round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of El Toro High School in California and will be making his third consecutive appearance as a spring training non-roster invitee. He batted .276 with 61 runs, 28 doubles, 13 home runs and 72 RBI in 118 games with Single-A Tampa in 2009, tying his career high in hits and establishing career highs in doubles and RBI. Following the season, Romine was tabbed by Baseball America as the second-best prospect in the Yankees organization. He was selected by the Yankees in the second round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.
RHP Amaury Sanit, 30, went 1-5 with 10 saves and a 3.16 ERA in 44 combined relief outings with Single-A Tampa, Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2009. Sanit was originally signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent in August 2008.
RHP Zack Segovia, 26, went 1-0 with a 7.84 ERA in eight relief appearances with the Washington Nationals in 2009. He also saw time at the minor league level, combining to go 3-5 with six saves and a 3.24 ERA in 51 appearances (three starts) with Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse. Segovia was originally selected by the Phillies in the second round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft.
OF Jon Weber, 31, hit .302 with 14 home runs and 69 RBI in 117 games with Triple-A Durham in 2009, leading the team in hits (136) and doubles (46) and ranking third in runs scored (63) and RBI. Originally signed by Cincinnati as a non-drafted free agent in 1999, Weber spent the last two seasons in the Tampa Bay Rays organization.
RHP Kevin Whelan, 26, combined to go 4-0 with three saves and a 2.67 ERA in 44 relief appearances with Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2009, allowing just one home run in 67.1 IP. Whelan was acquired by the Yankees with RHPs Humberto Sanchez and Anthony Claggett from Detroit in exchange for OF Gary Sheffield in November 2006. He was originally drafted by the Tigers in the fourth round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft.
OF David Winfree, 24, batted .273 with 48 runs, 14 home runs, 61 RBI and a career-high-tying 31 doubles in 116 games with Triple-A Rochester in 2009, leading the team in doubles, ranking second in home runs and RBI and third in hits. Winfree was originally selected by the Twins in the 13th round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft.
Lots of chaff on the non-roster list.
was hoping NYY would take a flier on Rocco Baldelli
perhaps Baldelli is holding out for a guaranteed contract with another team…
I like the Thames signing. He battled injuries in 2009. In 2008 he raked against lefties. He’s a good platoon hitter for the 30% of games the Yanks face a lefty.
What other RH bench bat do they have? Hoffman is a defensive player – great D, questionable bat.
is Golson missing or is he on the roster?
Golson’s on the 40-man roster. He goes automatically.
The list of non-roster invitees is a little surprising. Not in who was invited, but, in who wasn’t. I would have thought they might bring in the other catchers, if for no other reason than catching all of the pitchers, but, also to get some hands on instruction from Pena, Girardi and Posada. Not bringing in Brandon Laird and even Daniel Brewer just to look at their swings and give them some fielding instruction. I’m aware that they will be AA players this year, but, these two kids can hit, and need just a little fine tuning to really come on.
The mL camp opens before the ML camp so some of the early arriving big leaguers and coaches will be working out with the mLers till ML camp opens.
Im very excited for ST. Can’t wait to see montero, romine, z-mac and bleich especially.
When do you guys think montero will last to in major league camp?
the list actually makes a ton of sense when you look at the jobs that are less than set in stone:
1. Third string catcher behind Cervelli. It will likely be Rivera who gets a call up if Posada or Cervelli gets hurt, but PJ could push ahead of him (or at the very least put together a strong enough showing to get a little interest from another team in a trade). I’m surprised about Higashoika, but I don’t anticipate him staying in camp all that long.
2. Pen – Obviously there are early favorites, but given Marte’s see-saw season taking a long hard look at Royce Ring makes a ton of sense.
3. LF – Gardner and Winn are the likely candidates, but a poor showing by them and a spring training tour d’force by a young up and comer like Winfree could make things interesting.
If I had to guess – guys like Hirsch, PJ, and Curtis are being brought in to give other teams a chance to get a good look at them for late spring deals.
the list actually makes a ton of sense when you look at the jobs that are less than set in stone:
1. Third string catcher behind Cervelli. It will likely be Rivera who gets a call up if Posada or Cervelli gets hurt, but PJ could push ahead of him (or at the very least put together a strong enough showing to get a little interest from another team in a trade). I’m surprised about Higashoika, but I don’t anticipate him staying in camp all that long.
2. Pen – Obviously there are early favorites, but given Marte’s see-saw season taking a long hard look at Royce Ring makes a ton of sense.
3. LF – Gardner and Winn are the likely candidates, but a poor showing by them and a spring training tour d’force by a young up and comer like Winfree could make things interesting.
If I had to guess – guys like Hirsch, PJ, and Curtis are being brought in to give other teams a chance to get a good look at them for late spring deals.
RalphieD (OPPC)
February 8th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
Im very excited for ST. Can’t wait to see montero, romine, z-mac and bleich especially.
————————————————————
Don’t be overly shocked if Bleich doesn’t end up on Dr. Andrews’ operating table within the year. He had issues at Stanford and that’s one reason NYY got him.
Bleich ***does*** end up on Dr. Andrews’ operating table
I hate to post links in comments guys, but I could use a little help here. I started this website called Heart it Hate it where you can vote about whether you like a topic or don’t, and one of the first posts I made was The New York Yankees. I’m a die-hard Yankees fan, and right now 64% of people are voting that they hate the Yankees. I could use a little backup in swaying the vote the Yankee way if possible.
http://heartithateit.com/sport.....k-yankees/
If this violates a term of service or anything like that, just delete/ignore my post. I just figured you guys might be able/want to help in this quest
If Jason Hirsh finally stays healthy, he’s a good emergency call-up and still young at 27. He’s not a bad pitcher now that he’s out of the mountains.
Kei Igawa!?!
hahahahhaahhaahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhaahhahhaahahahhahahahaahahhahahahhahhahaahhahahahahhahhahahhahhhahahahahhahhhahahaahhahha
Interesting list, it should be fun to watch these guys this spring
How about inviting Johnny Damon
I agree that hirsh isn’t a bad guy to have around.
Interesting that KH is getting an invite. Guess the brass really like what they have seen so far.
Curtis isn’t being brought in to give other teams a look, but more likely so the ML guys can see the progress he’s made.
Can’t wait to play GTYODR (Guess the Yankees Opening Day Roster)
Coming soon to LoHud
Erica – always OPPC – Wishes Damon would fire Boras and COME HOME!
February 8th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
How about inviting Johnny Damon
————————————————–
I’m guessing he would decline.
For anyone who cares-
Minka Kelly has landed a CBS pilot.
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/20.....-love-cbs/
Erica
Damon spoiled my Christmas idea for my wife. I was going to get her a Damon jersey because she liked him but had to pass because he wouldn’t sign in time.
Also, to anyone who knocked the Who last night-
Entertainment Weekly gave them a favorable review
http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/0.....-show-who/
MaineYankee
February 8th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Erica
Damon spoiled my Christmas idea for my wife. I was going to get her a Damon jersey because she liked him but had to pass because he wouldn’t sign in time.
****************
I wasn’t aware we were married
Erica – always OPPC – Wishes Damon would fire Boras and COME HOME!
February 8th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
For anyone who cares-
Minka Kelly has landed a CBS pilot.
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/20…..-love-cbs/
***************************
Good for Minka!!
Erica – always OPPC – Wishes Damon would fire Boras and COME HOME!
February 8th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Also, to anyone who knocked the Who last night-
************************
People were knocking The Who??? I thought they did a great job.
For Erica:
Lineup:
Jeter
NJ
Tex
A-Rod
Posada
Cano
Granderson
Swish
Thames/Winn/Gardner/Hoffman
Bench:
Cervelli
Pena
2 of: T/W/G/H
Rotation:
CC
AJ
Javy
Andy
Joba/Phil
Pen:
Mo
Joba/Phil “loser”
Robertson
Ace
Marte
Gaudin
Logan
Erica
Full of yourself tonight I guess.
Joe Girardi can’t possibly give adequate playing time to all the invitees. Many will be gone with the 1st wave of cuts after 2 weeks of exhibition games.
Extra catchers are always needed to handle all the extra pitchers in camp but Jesus Montero, Austin Romine, and Mike Rivera will be around until the last wave of cuts in late March.
Igawa is a token invitee in case (by fortune), some team has interest.
If Royce Ring impresses Girardi and Dave Eiland enough, he could make it a difficult choice during the last week in March between him and Boone Logan as another lefty out of the bullpen.
The opinion of the Who’s performance last night seems to be on one extreme or the other. Not many people I have heard or read fall in the middle.
I personally thought it was horrific. IMO it was painful to watch Daltrey try to hit the notes like he used to.
Interesting list.
LHP: Boone Logan should have competition from Royce Ring and Kei Igawa.
RHP: Mark Melancon should have competition from Kevin Whelan ad Zach McAllister
I’m pulling for Igawa and Melancon though. Yes, I said it, Kei Igawa!
When you wish upon a star…!
MaineYankee
February 8th, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Erica
Full of yourself tonight I guess.
***********
I just couldn’t resist that one
2 names that stood out on that list.
Igawa-Why? Why? Why?
Rivera-Does Jeter have to hide his gloves?
Grant Duff. I can’t wait to see em.
My bullpen preference:
Mariano Rivera
Joba Chamberlain
Damaso Marte – LHP
Dave Robertson
Alfredo Aceves
Mark Melancon
Kei Igawa – LHP
I thought the Who was dreadful last night as well. The only good part was the first 5 seconds of Baba Oreily because I thought for a split second that Paul oneil was coming up to bat.
Looks like I’m alone in liking The Who’s performance last night.
s.o.s, how are you holding up???
Dasaint,
I like your pen.
Erin
Thanks for the explanation. So the more you hate Peyton the better Tom gets? Now it makes sense!
It’s hard to watch bands of my generation try to continue to perform when time has clearly caught up with them.
I really hope Igawa wins the spot as the 2nd lefty in the BP to at least get some value out of that contract.
He has a chance. In the minors his FIP against lefties is 2.54 and they have only hit .200 off him.
Erin
February 8th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
Looks like I’m alone in liking The Who’s performance last night.
******************
I loved it-
I have seen them twice in concert. Love them
I would like to see Igawa start out in the Yankee pen as well.
He’s left handed and has a pulse so he has to have some value right? Don’t answer that..
lets go yankees
February 8th, 2010 at 7:31 pm
I really hope Igawa wins the spot as the 2nd lefty in the BP to at least get some value out of that contract.
He has a chance. In the minors his FIP against lefties is 2.54 and they have only hit .200 off him.
———————————————————–
LGY,
I’m thinking the same thing. Just don’t know if his salary on the ML level is treated differently than the mL level, but would like to see him be productive with one turn of the batting order.
If not him, then Royce Ring. Anybody but Boone Logan!
pat
February 8th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Erin
Thanks for the explanation. So the more you hate Peyton the better Tom gets? Now it makes sense!
***********************
No problem. I thought I’d spare you my Colts/Peyton adoration, and give you an unbiased version.
(1) Back to the last thread. Say what you want about Curt Schilling, but he did own the founder of this blog today. A smackdown, if you ask me. I wonder how our blog founder will get along with Josh Beckett now (who must have read that)?
(2) Free Kei..or freaky? Have a good spring, O sunglassed star of SWB, so the Yanks can get trade value out of you. Pigs will fly around the Empire State Building before you get a spot on the 40 man.
(3) The Who looked old…very old. They did not age well. Sometimes it works when you’re in your 60s–look at Springsteen last year. Sometimes it doesn’t.
(4) Marcus Thames and Randy Winn for 1/3 of Damon’s purported offer? I’ll take it. Cashmoney is right on target here.
(5) The big question for 2010? It’s time for Phil and Joba to become John Lester and/or Johnathan Papelbon, as much as I hate to say it. They do it, and Yankees dominate the next 3-4 years. It becomes the 1950s all over again. They don’t, and Yankees contend, and piece together WS wins like in 2009. My vote is for the former.
Some thought Igawa could be on the team going north last year until he started his usual thing of throwing high in the strike zone and getting hammered.
The same should be expected this spring. The last 2 weeks of the exhibition schedule sees better pitchers facing better hitters.
Erica – always OPPC – Wishes Damon would fire Boras and COME HOME!
February 8th, 2010 at 7:33 pm
Erin
February 8th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
Looks like I’m alone in liking The Who’s performance last night.
******************
I loved it-
I have seen them twice in concert. Love them
*************************
I’m so jealous!! I would love to see them in concert
PYF,
Link for the Schilling smackdown?
The Yankees keep giving Igawa chances. It’s time he produces if only as the secondary lefty out of the pen. Would love to see him as a specialist swing-and-miss guy with Marte.
I don’t see Gaudin or Mitre on this team beyond ST. Gaudin is a decent back-end of the rotation starter, and has value. The team doesn’t have enough holes to fill with that value, but he does have value as a part of a trade package for later. Mitre could be released prior to the final cut in ST. Doubt he’ll take an assignment to Scranton. Teams need cheap ‘experienced’ pitching.
Erica
Was it a long concert with long breaks after each song so they could catch their breath?
PittYankeeFan – Overrall, I agree with you. Though I still think Joba is going to make a fight of it to be 5th starter.
On another note, from previous post – I think one of the reasons Cash traded Brian Bruney is that Girardi and Eiland grew tired of having to get in his face about his trying to throw thru brick walls, with the resultant lack of control. One of Eiland’s trips to the mound, after he walked to leadoff man yet again, particularly comes to mind; Eiland had a very displeased look on his face, and had a short, and very one-way, conversation. When Bruney did get out of the inning, neither Eiland nor Girardi came over to shake his hand.
Just a thought.
I can see them keeping Gaudin as a long man/spot starter. Mitre is going to have to really bring his A-game to make the team.
DaSaint
McCallister is not in any way competition for Melancon as Zach McCal is a starter not a reliever….
Whelan on the other hand could be but he’s gotta cut down on his walks. When he does that he’s money as his slider is rated best in the org and his fastball is 93-96…He’s kinda like Joba-lite
As far as the catchers and Kyle getting the nod over guys like Murphy,Sanchez and Farnham it makes sense as he has more time in the organization and is much more advanced in his defensive game than any of them including Romine and Jesus.
I’m excited about the mL outfielders that were invited. Really want to see some of the tools these guys possess.
Erica – always OPPC – Wishes Damon would fire Boras and COME HOME! February 8th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Also, to anyone who knocked the Who last night-
Entertainment Weekly gave them a favorable review
========================================================
My problem wasn’t with their stage performance, rather it was with their relevancy.
At some point songs from 1968, that we’ve all heard countless times, lose their immediate appeal. At this point, they’ve even moved passed their natural nostalgia window and into historical curiosity. For example, last summer was the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. I watched a VH1 documentary that was fabulous, but only from a historical perspective, as I’ve already heard Grace Slick and the Airplane a million times.
“(1) Back to the last thread. Say what you want about Curt Schilling, but he did own the founder of this blog today. A smackdown, if you ask me. I wonder how our blog founder will get along with Josh Beckett now (who must have read that)?”
—————————-
I thought Pete was dead on. Schilling’s article was one of the dumbest things I have ever read. Schilling also came off as childish and immature for his response to Pete.
This is Pete’s response by the way:
“I guess he was trying to insult me. My point was that in Curt’s original nine-paragraph post, he devoted seven graphs to the idea that Beckett should be re-signed because he tries really hard and really wants to win.
Beckett’s makeup is a factor. But his health, performance, salary demands and the readiness of other starters in the organization will probably be far bigger factors. Given what we know about Theo Epstein and Co., that seems fairly evident. It’s not what he did in the past, it’s what he can do in the future.
Sorry to get you upset, Curt. Keep on blogging. Next time, give us a link.”
Joe from Long Island
Not telling them his arm was bothering him after being on the DL probably didn’t help either.
Thames, Hoffman, and Winn are replacement level outfielders. If only it were possible to combine 3 replacement level players into one decent player….
The Yanks have committed to Granderson hitting lefties. And, a full-time outfielder position is Gardner’s to lose. I’m rooting for them both, but I’m not happy that any Plan B would represent a big dropoff.
Means more to me today than it EVER did.
We’ll be fighting in the streets
With our children at our feet
And the morals that they worship will be gone
And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgment of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the song
I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
And I’ll get on my knees and pray
We don’t get fooled again
Don’t get fooled again
Change it had to come
We knew it all along
We were liberated from the fall that’s all
But the world looks just the same
And history ain’t changed
‘Cause the banners, they all flown in the last war
I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
And I’ll get on my knees and pray
We don’t get fooled again
Don’t get fooled again
No, no!
I’ll move myself and my family aside
If we happen to be left half alive
I’ll get all my papers and smile at the sky
For I know that the hypnotized never lie
Do ya?
There’s nothing in the street
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Is now the parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight
I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I’ll get on my knees and pray
We don’t get fooled again
Don’t get fooled again
No, no!
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss
I’m not interested in seeing either Phil or Joba become Paplebon in 2010 – IMO, they are starters and they have potential to be terrific starters. I think Phil will be stuck in the pen again and, if he has a good year, I’ll bet there will be a hue and cry for him to be groomed as Mo’s heir. It would be a tremendous waste of potential – I hope the Yankees don’t go down that path.
Schilling’s article
http://38pitches.com/2010/02/0.....ett-today/
MaineYankee February 8th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Erica
Was it a long concert with long breaks after each song so they could catch their breath?
=======================================
well, Pete Townsend’s Belly/gut almost caused another “wardrobe malfunction” — the buttons just POPPPED off.
http://cache.daylife.com/image.....5/610x.jpg
I like Gaudin quite a bit. Igawa? A giant no thank you – he’s awful. He loves Scranton so much? Let him stay there until his contract runs out then send him on his way
Uncle Ellsworth, get a haircut.
If/when the Yankees make a trade, the likelihood is pretty high that it will be for a LH reliever.
Evan
February 8th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Uncle Ellsworth, get a haircut.
Touche.
“I’m not interested in seeing either Phil or Joba become Paplebon in 2010 ”
Well yeah, Betsy. That would mean that Mariano got hurt………
So many comments I want to respond to, so little time
Sorry LoHudders, but I am opting to leave work and try to make it to Trader Joe’s before closing instead.
Catch y’all later!
lets go yankees February 8th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
I thought Pete was dead on. Schilling’s article was one of the dumbest things I have ever read. Schilling also came off as childish and immature for his response to Pete.
=================================================
Man, this is a tough one. PeteAbe vs 38 beetches. Who to root against.
Winn and now maybe Thames in LF? Really? They’re both toast. Well, Thames never was much to begin with. Is this just to prove they can operate on a budget?
MILWAUKEE — The Brewers are erecting a statue of baseball commissioner Bud Selig outside Miller Park and will unveil it on Aug. 24.
Selig headed a group that bought the Seattle Pilots in bankruptcy court in 1970, moved the franchise to Milwaukee and renamed it the Brewers. He became acting commissioner in 1992 and took the job full-time six years later, turning control of the team over to his daughter, Wendy Selig-Prieb. The Selig family sold the team to a group headed by Mark Attanasio in 2005.
- – - – - – - – - – -
It would be appropriate to have an inscription on the statue reading, “The Spineless Pinata”.
“The Brewers are erecting a statue of baseball commissioner Bud Selig outside Miller Park and will unveil it on Aug. 24.”
I assume that it will have feet of clay.
I wasnt really around for the Who but watching them struggle up there still made me sad.
Uncle E -
Well, that just made me cry.
champ809
February 8th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
DaSaint
McCallister is not in any way competition for Melancon as Zach McCal is a starter not a reliever….
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Champ,
I hear what you’re saying. But who’s McAllister competition for? Joba or Phil as starters? Certainly not CC or AJ nor Javy or Pettitte. If not any of the above, then…?
And Rich, I agree that the Yankees could be likely to trade for a LHP to replace Logan, but only if he, and Rocye Ring and Kei Igawa fail. Not impossible, but evidently not happening anytime soon.
I would have preferred to sell high on Marte trading him this offseason, and picked up Mike Gonzalez instead, but they are similar pitchers with similar salaries, so it was really pointless for them to do so. I’m just unsure which Marte shows up this year.
Z-Mac won’t be anybody’s competition. Just like Curtis, he’s gotten an invite to see his progress and see how he fares against a higher level of competition.
Also, at the start of ST games, they need a lot of arms since most guys are only going 2-4 innings in the first 2 weeks.
Let’s Go
It’s not really whether Schilling or Pete are right or wrong.
How often does a player (or ex-player) call out a blogger/sportswriter like Schilling did? I agree that it’s immature and petty, but it is Curt Schilling we’re talking about here.
Pete’s reply back certainly won’t make him many friends in Boston, who revere Mr. Bloody Sock for 2004. I wonder how the current Boston players will react, if at all?
DaSaint
There is nothing that suggests that the Yankees will get anything other than the Marte of late 2009. He pitched hurt most of 2009. The guy’s been solid most of his career, unlike Kyle Farnsworth, for example.
DaSaint007
I don’t know enough about Logan, but Ring and Igawa are basically replacement level at best.
Gonzalez was a Type A FA. So he wasn’t really an option.
I think Randy Winn will outproduce Gardner and win the starting spot. He’s getting 2 mil because they think he can start. If he was supposed to be merely a replacement level player they would’ve saved the 2 mil and signed Thames as the replacment level guy-so you can’t really lump him in there with Thames and Hoffman unless you think the Yankees are stupid.
I also think Thames will be needed for righty pop off the bench.
Either Hoffman or Gardner won’t be on the team after ST. The only way I see Hoffman going is if he fails in spring training but it will be interesting to see how the Yankees react if he excels. If Winn is the starter, Thames earns a spot with his power and Hoffman impresses, the Yankees can deal Gardner for a nice reliever while maintaining OF depth.
Gardner is on a 1 year leash regardless since his game is a poor man’s Carl Crawford’s game and Crawford will be a Yankee by this time next year.
Gardner for bullpen help?
I think it’s definitely an option.
“I think Randy Winn will outproduce Gardner and win the starting spot. He’s getting 2 mil because they think he can start”
He’s “only” guaranteed $1.1m.
I think Cash and Girardi have called Gardner potentially one of the best CF in MLB for a reason: they want him to start in CF.
Gardner has options left, so the idea of him starting the season in AAA isn’t out of the question if the other 3 outplay him in ST.
I’m not how much a player benefits from being in the mLs in his age 26 season.
I want to add that I think the most likely scenario is that Randy Winn wins the starting spot, Thames wins a bench role and Gardner gets the 4th OF spot after Hoffman fails.
Rich,
I don’t think he benefits from being in AAA again, but having options does offer roster flexibility.
I love how everyone thinks Hoffman is sure to fail. He’s got speed, decent pop, a good glove and a good arm. With those tools, I fail to see how he’s going to wash out of ST.
I think Cash and Girardi have called Gardner potentially one of the best CF in MLB for a reason: they want him to start in CF.
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That’s one possibility but they also might be hyping him and pulling the old pump and dump scam ala hedge funds and Goldman Sach’s.
I distinctly remember them raving about Ian Kennedy after Winter Ball this offseason right before the Curtis Granderson trade. Cashman also boasted of Dunn’s potential after removing him from the original Granderson proposal. He was dealt a couple weeks after that.
So I really don’t know if they’re married to Gardner especially with Crawford on the horizon. Ideally, they’d like to see him win the spot so they can sell higher on him next offseason. But if Winn nails down LF, Thames earns a PH role and Hoffman shocks them, Gardner is easier to part with if the right bullpen arm is offered.
But again, I see Hoffman failing and Gardner winning the 4th OF spot.
If he starts, that’s great because he’ll have even more trade value at the deadline or in the offseason before Crawford arrives.
Gardner’s not going back to AAA.
Winn is the perfect safety net for all 3 positions.
Hoffmann is a test-case. No harm, no foul if he’s outperformed.
Yankees are stokpiling young trade pieces. Only areas of ‘need’ long-term are LF, RF, and bullpen IMO, and bullpen no longer gets long-term help. That’s year by year. So, while the common thought is that the Yankees will get a FA for either LF or RF or both, I’m not so sure they’ll wait for that should the need arise.
“So I really don’t know if they’re married to Gardner especially with Crawford on the horizon. Ideally, they’d like to see him win the spot so they can sell higher on him next offseason.”
You could be right about the puffery, but I was confining my comments to what I believe their plans are for Gardner this season. Obviously, he could fall on his face at the plate and remove himself as an option.
Rich,
While I know it’s ‘against policy’ to trade for a player in their FA year, do you think it’s possible that Cashman tries to trade for Crawford before the end of the season?
Unless Tampa falls way out of the race and contract talks take a drastic turn, no way they deal Crawford, especially considering Cash isn’t the type to sell the farm for a 2-3 month rental.
DaSaint007
I think TB would charge an intra-division premium, so no, I don’t think that will happen.
I didn’t either. But thx.
No way the Yankees trade a 60 stolen base potential guy for a situational relief pitcher.
It will come down to Thames v Hoffman, assuming no injuries. Thames isn’t even on the 40-man so the Yanks can stash him in Scranton and wait for an injury or Hoffman failure.
What the heck!?!!? How could they not bring in Jorge Vazquez!!!!! When healthy last year he was the best hitter in the Yankees minor lg system, hitting for a high avg and major power plus his age(27). Why did they bring him to instructs and mini-camp and work on catching and OF if they arent even going to bring him in. He is a hitting machine. He out hit Montero in Trenton. I hope he will be added to the list soon!!!! Even just to show him for other teams for trade. With any other team he would be in camp fighting for a starting spot. Crazy!!