The big kid is coming
Posted by: Sam Borden - Posted in Misc on Mar 11, 2010 
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Most fans at Steinbrenner Field are there to see – obviously – the Yankees. But there may well be someone else worth watching tonight.
Braves prospect Jason Heyward has gotten more hype than just about anyone this spring, and as far as I can see most of it has been deserved. Did you see this home run he hit the other day? Heyward hurt his back running into the wall on Tuesday and so he missed yesterday’s game, but is expected to travel from Orlando and play tonight.
Could he end up flaming out? Sure. Any prospect could. But this kid sure seems like the real deal and, as Darryl Strawberry said when he saw him, “If he stays focused and plays hard, he will be very special.”
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Yankees clubhouse opens around 1:30 p.m. for – weather permitting – tonight’s game. I’ll have the lineup posted as soon as it’s available.
I’m afraid Melky can not compete with that power!
Heyward looks like a monster, my braves fan buddies are giddy about him.
I just hope Phil shows all those scouts who think he’s nothing more than a #3/4 starter based on starts he’s made in spurts and coming off injuries.
It makes you wonder
Boone Logan and Javier Vasquez was traded for Melky Cabrera
With that guy in the wings? Did Cashmoney drug them?
I was at the game in Lakeland when Heyward hit the bomb… Hoping he plays tonight
it is pretty cloudy here but hopefully the wet stuff holds off
Darryl Strawberry also thinks Mejia is comparable to Mo, lol
Can one of you guys answer this question for me? What plus pitches does Hughes have besides his curve? Follow up question, what pitches will he have in his arsenal? I saw a good fastball last year once he moved to the pen (95). But i recall it hovering around 93 as a starter. Does he have a good third pitch?
“S.o.S.(no better nickname than titts magee!) March 11th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Brandon,
Iv mentioned this back when. What the hell is the difference between Gardner and Bubba? Gardner didnt tear up the minor leagues in hitting but people think he is going to do what Melky did up in the bigs. Melky had around a .330-.340 avg. when he was called up. Gardner had one season(i believe)where he batted right at .300. I understand he has flash speed. But like the saying goes. You cant steal first base. If there was ever a 10th man award in baseball, he could win it by coming off the bench for pinch running and defensive purposes.
Like someone mentioned earlier. I hope im wrong.”
I agree, I hope Gardner succeeds and becomes an everyday player but I just don’t see it. All the at bats I saw parts of last season and this Spring he just looked overmatched all the time and only hopes to reach by getting a bloop hit that barely gets out of the infield. I think he’ll be gone by the All Star Break
S.oS……Young Master Hughes best pitch is strike 1..His command is what will be the sole reason for a career that will be outstanding….He has great fastball location abilities…..The best pitch in baseball is strike 1
Boone Logan and Javier Vasquez was traded for Melky Cabrera
With that guy in the wings? Did Cashmoney drug them?
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Time to trade Kei Igawa for Bettimett, turn around and trade him to the Braves for Melky before the drug wears off!! Left field situation solved.
I live in Atlanta and people have been gushing about him for well over a year. Excited to be able to see him on a daily basis.
If the game gets rained out, will AJ have to throw a session inside or will he pitch tomorrow? I really think he should throw to live hitters, so I would prefer that he be held until tomorrow. In fact, let him go tomorrow anyway; I don’t want him getting injured on a wet, icky field.
We’ve discussed NYYFans before and their threads on Joba and Phil are so ridiculous. People are not only freaking out about velocity, but about the fact that Phil only showed great command as a reliever, not as a starter. The implication is, I suppose, that he can’t show that command as a starter. That makes no sense. Let Phil pitch a whole season and then get back to me.
Pat,
What i like about Hughes is he always seemed to improve year in and year out in the minors. I think he has a competetive drive that we dont hear about much because hes quiet kid.
Its wierd how after he got called out after the Orioles game(i believe) he has had a chip on his shoulder ever since.
I saw alot of fastballs when he was in the pen. I hope he throws that hook more often as a starter. Its beautiful to watch.
Maybe someone needs to call out Joba in public?
Hows IMO the best city in the U.S. treating you? Did you get those ridiculous winds the last couple days?
SoS Kei could PR for them.
BTW OT but WTH is up w/ the Mets PR/doctors. It was just announced Jose Reyes who is 100% healthy and has just a soar throat, needs to take 2-8 weeks off, medication needs to wear in and off.
All the at bats I saw parts of last season and this Spring he just looked overmatched all the time and only hopes to reach by getting a bloop hit that barely gets out of the infield.
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tampayank,
Thats called infield track power in my book.
Betsy, Pinpoint control has been and will continue to be Phi; Hughes’s ticket to ride….2010 is a breakout year for him, and silence his critics once and for all…..He has front of the rotation skills….Catch you all later !!!!!
Peyton (In Tampa for ST)
March 11th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
I was at the game in Lakeland when Heyward hit the bomb… Hoping he plays tonight
it is pretty cloudy here but hopefully the wet stuff holds off
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Cox said he excepts the Wunderkind to be in the lineup tonight, though coming off a sore back.
http://www.prosportsdaily.com/.....37450.html
MTU,
A little background on the players re: the organization….
The Yankees have an organizational pitching philosophy.
Goals and requirements for their pitchers at every level.
This is a top-down approach. Lots of teams do it this way now. The Red Sox, Pirates, and Rays to name a few.
Nardi’s job to to roam the minors and make sure the philosophy is being carried out at every level.
He’s not a guru. He is what his title says he is….a coordinator. He “coordinates”. He makes sure the orders are followed.
He loves to talk and give interviews to websites.
He gushes effusively about the prospects.
Fans love that but, it comes at a cost.
When a prospect struggles or just may not be as good as hyped, whichever level that propsect stalls out at, fans tend to blame that pitching coach for his failure.
The refrain being, “Nardi raved about (fill in the blank). If he is struggling, its (choose your pitching coach de jour) their fault”.
Problem is, its not only not accurate, its wrong.
The Yankees minor league teaching has risen leaps and bounds since 2005. The managers and pitching coaches at every level, from lower A Ball to AAA, are outstanding.
They are capable of doing the job.
At the major league level, Eiland has done a very good job in his two years in NY. The results speak for themselves.
As far as Joba is concerned, his problems aren’t nearly as serious as those who opine about them daily.
Its best to just let things play out over the spring and see how it all goes at the end.
(Repost)
Can someone with real baseball team knowledge answer this for me-
Prior to a game how much time does a pitcher and catcher spend going over their apporach to the lineup ahead of them that day and scouting reports???
As for the Joba shaking off catchers problem- maybe its a matter that him and the catcher need to have more discussion prior to the game
See you later, Pat M! I think so – I don’t care if it was out of the pen, Phil’s command was incredible last year. I just loved watching him put that FB exactly where he wanted it. People forget that he’s had some outstanding starts mixed in with his forgettable ones; that start in Texas last year was absolutely fantastic. That’s what he’s capable of if given the chance to start consistently.
I haven’t seen Golson play yet.What kinda player is he and does he really have a shot making the team??
Cox said he excepts the Wunderkind to be in the lineup tonight, though coming off a sore back.
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Sore back? Hmmm sounds familiar,time to trade him off for a box of big league chew gum. The kid is injury prone.
“I haven’t seen Golson play yet.What kinda player is he and does he really have a shot making the team??”
Virtually zero. No evidence to suggest he can hit at the big league level.
Cashman should call either call Texas what it would cost for David Murphy, or call Florida what it would cost for Cody Ross. Murphy would be the most intrigating one since he has no place on the team anymore.
SJ-
That was quite a primer on the Yankees.
I would of course have no clue on any of that.
“Its best to just let things play out over the spring and see how it all goes at the end.”
He is gonna have to be awfully good in the next few outings
to retain his spot.
Not convinced he can do it with the small sample left.
So I can finally sit down and watch a live spring training game and it might not even be played?
One of the advantages the Yankees saw in Joba over other young pitchers they back in 2007 was the ability to repeat his delivery.
For those who care, Boston’s playing the Mets. Trisha, Little Dusty is standing on 3rd, waving to you
.
Golston: Unless there are injuries, doubtful he makes the team out of ST.
Erica,
In ST, there are no scouting reports. When a pitcher shakes off a catcher in ST, that’s more a nervous tick than anything else. It should never be done.
There are two schools of thought re: shaking off your catcher.
One school of thought is, the pitcher has to be absolutely committed to throwing the pitch.
The other school of thought is, if you continue to shake off catchers on a steady basis, you ruin your rhythm and tip off what you like to throw best and the hitter just waits to hit that pitch.
You are correct, more time between pitcher and catcher usually clears this stuff up.
When it happens too much, as it did last year with Joba, that’s when Girardi and Eiland step in.
Overall though, managers and pitching coaches prefer to have the pitcher and catcher iron out those issues without them having to get involved.
SJ-
Are you also saying that as part of Nardi’s job he does not work directly with the minor league pitchers teaching them ?
That he is merely like an overseer for Yankee philosophy ?
If that is true.
Wow !
Just wow !
S.o.S.
March 11th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
Cox said he excepts the Wunderkind to be in the lineup tonight, though coming off a sore back.
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Sore back? Hmmm sounds familiar,time to trade him off for a box of big league chew gum. The kid is injury prone.
====
LOL. Yeah, damaged goods. Maybe we can get him on the cheap.
“Virtually zero. No evidence to suggest he can hit at the big league level.”
He hit a walk off HR yesterday and is the better fielder between him and Gardy.
Like a golf swing though, its easy for a pitcher with a lot of moving parts, like Joba, to get out of whack.
That’s why you drill, do your side work, and work on things in games in ST.
Thanks SJ44-
That answer makes sense
Brandon Awesome (B/c I’m more AWESOME than the ARod HGH mob)
March 11th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
“Virtually zero. No evidence to suggest he can hit at the big league level.”
He hit a walk off HR yesterday and is the better fielder between him and Gardy.
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Brandon, I haven’t seen enough of him, but I saw enough to like the range.
MTU, so are you rooting for Joba? I guess it’s natural that we all have our favorites – whoever loses, that pitcher’s fan base is going to be very disappointed.
Clearly I want Phil to win that spot, but keep your chin up; it’s only two outings and it’s not like Phil has been dominant.
Didn’t realize Lackey’s pitching today.
Brandon,
He hit a HR off a AA pitcher. Perspective my friend, perspective.
Golston isn’t making the team over Gardner out of ST.
Keep it
March 11th, 2010 at 10:13 am
Then your claim that “the term racism implies that one race is superior to another race” is false…
…is also false.
———————–
Incorrect. Racial superiority is sufficient to satisfy what racism is, but it is not necessary. Therefore, it does not imply, but rather could imply.
I’m rooting for the rotation of the future, and for the commitment to grow our own starters to actually be fulfilled.
I’m rooting for Hughes AND Chamberlain, rooting for the Yankees to regard them both as starting pitchers and hope this bullpen stuff is just some nightmare starring Mike Francesa.
I don’t have a problem with a pitcher shaking off a catcher, even a young pitcher, occasionally. Phil did that in his first start ever – what chutzpah,lol. I don’t mind it because it shows confidence and I think it’s important that a pitcher have confidence. The issue is if it’s happening too much, then the battery mates are not on the same page.
I really hope if one of Hughes/Joba does go to the bullpen this year that it’s not permanent; UNLESS, of course, they have thoroughly concluded that Hughes/Joba just does not have what it takes to be a successful starting pitcher.
SJ – You’ve probably posted this before, but what were the reasons that scouts gave you regarding “Phil = starter, Joba = BP”?
The potential Joba has flashed as a starting pitcher just has me in too deep that I try to avoid B-Jobber talk.
I hope that guy who we thought was the best young pitching prospect they’ve developed since Guidry emerges soon…
\Goes off to watch Joba throw 100mph on his 102nd pitch in the ‘08 sox game…cries.
Brandon, the proposal I posted before is better than Golson making the team. there’s a reason why the phillies and rangers got rid of him.
Are there any favorites between Hoffman and Thames?Both haven’t been really impressive,right?
Betsy-
I’m rooting for both.
It’s just that Phil is younger and I think he might have more time to develop and to succeed.
I really believe this year is a make or break year for Joba as a starter.
If he hits the BP again I think he stays.
I really want both of these kids to hit their cielings.
that’s all.
I wouldn’t feel any differently if I thought these were the stakes for Phil rather than Joba.
Hope that clarifies it.
I know he isn’t, but SJ lets not kid ourselves he has more power than GGBG and fields better and has a better arm. If his bat gets consistant GGBG is in for trouble.
Bodh, unfortunately they will not both be starters this year……I think every fan has a horse in the race; most are rooting for one or the other.
i live in atlanta and the fans here as simply gitty over the kid. im going to love watching him develop over the next couple of years. im also going to enjoy melky. im going to miss seeing him play for the yanks but im glad that i will get to see him play up close.
I feel the same way about this as MTU.
I want them both to be starting pitchers in 2011. I just think that Joba needs to “win” it this year for that to happen.
“He hit a walk off HR yesterday and is the better fielder between him and Gardy.”
Geez Brandon! He homered off a guy who will probably be running a landscaping business in two years time after wrapping his baseball life as a career minor leaguer.
I know you like the athleticsm, but he can’t hit. He’s a lot more athlete than he is baseball player. As for defense, he’s not as good as Gardner. Never has been.
“Brandon, the proposal I posted before is better than Golson making the team. there’s a reason why the phillies and rangers got rid of him.”
Murphy sure, but I bet the Rangers will asks for more than your willing to give. Golson’s issue has been at the plate, if he gets that right, you have something damn good.
LGY,
I havnt seen you post here before but you mention GB. Did you go by a different name?
“Are there any favorites between Hoffman and Thames?Both haven’t been really impressive,right?”
I prefer Hoffman over Thames. and right now, Thames looks like he isn’t joining the team. if torre was still managing the team, then it’s a different story.
MTU, it clarifies it – thanks. I understand what you are saying, and I feel the same about Phil. I feel like if he’s going to reach his potential, it needs to start now; another year in the pen would be a huge setback, I think. I would rail against his injuries that have delayed his development, except it would do no good.
Betsy -Romine wasn’t built in a day
March 11th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
I don’t have a problem with a pitcher shaking off a catcher, even a young pitcher, occasionally. Phil did that in his first start ever – what chutzpah,lol. I don’t mind it because it shows confidence and I think it’s important that a pitcher have confidence. The issue is if it’s happening too much, then the battery mates are not on the same page.
====
People on here talk about Joba being in love with his slider.
It’s true he has compulsively, at times, called for his slider in hitter’s counts.
But I think the emphasis is in the wrong place, here. I think Joba has just not trusted his FB. I think the diffidence we see on the mound isn’t because his pitching IQ isn’t deep or fleet enough.
I think there is some instability – be it mechanics causing it or otherwise – where Joba just does not feel secure throwing his FB. It’s like everything comes to a dead stop. And you can see when he’s thrown it – it’s not the same pitch we saw in 2008. Not in terms of location, movement, nor velocity.
Get back on track with the FB, and everything falls into place. We don’t hear the head shrinkers postulate theories of mound intelligence any more.
Go to Joba, boy!
He homered off a guy who will probably be running a landscaping business in two years time after wrapping his baseball life as a career minor leaguer.
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lol, i got this Brandon. You must have not gotten the memo. He will be doing his landscaping business in the new stadium at a discount of the price.
New Post: Lineup for today
Hobs,
I’ll post it again and take the heat when those who love Joba in the rotation don’t like reading it.
I’m just the messenger! lol
Most scouts believe Joba has trouble repeating his delivery over the long haul (too many moving parts), lacks the stamina and focus to be a consistent starting pitcher, and his injury history scares them. They don’t see him holding up for 10+ years as a starting pitcher for those reasons.
They see him as one of those adreneline guys that you give the ball to 3-4 times a week in short doses, shorten his thought process (well located fastball and sliders and that’s it) and let him let it fly, emotion and all.
In their minds, some guys just fit better in the bullpen possessing what Joba possesses.
When you bring up his outing with the Red Sox as a starter in 2008 for example, they talk about consistency.
In their opinion, anybody with Joba’s talent can have a handful of good starts. He’s that talented.
A starting pitcher however, has to be consistent and be able to take the ball 32+ starts per year.
A scouts job is to project it over the long haul and, in THEIR opinion, they don’t think he can hold up over the long haul as a starter.
Remember, I’m JUST THE MESSENGER so, hold off artillary fire! lol
Betsy -Romine wasn’t built in a day
March 11th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Bodh, unfortunately they will not both be starters this year……I think every fan has a horse in the race; most are rooting for one or the other.
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Not me.
I’m like the Daddy rooting for both his boys equally
.
“I know he isn’t, but SJ lets not kid ourselves he has more power than GGBG and fields better and has a better arm.”
Based on what evidence? That he can throw further? He’s been an error making machine as an OF in the minors.
Betsy-
Understand.
Under the Sun good people can sometimes disagree.
I try my best to respect people’s opinions.
and I hope they would respect mine.
And you are definitely good people.
“He homered off a guy who will probably be running a landscaping business in two years time after wrapping his baseball life as a career minor leaguer.
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lol, i got this Brandon. You must have not gotten the memo. He will be doing his landscaping business in the new stadium at a discount of the price.”
LOL
I only brought the he hit a walk off HR b/c of the dimensions in our stadium and I’m pretty sure he has more power than Gardner.
SJ-
I know you and I have already gone back and forth a bunch of times but I would really appreciate your answer to my question about Nardi’s specific job duties as I asked you above.
Thanks in advance.
new thread
Line up!
Bohdi-
wasn’t there an interview with Nardi Contreras on PP recently ?
Did it say anything about what Contreras actually does ?
If so, could you post it ?
Thanks.
MTU,
I outlined his job to you. He implements the organizational pitching philosophy throughout the minor leagues.
He’s not in charge of any one or two guys.
He will occasionally work with some of the younger guys but, not on an everyday basis because that’s not his job.
That’s why they have pitching coaches throughout the organization.
He compiles reports on every pitcher in the organization and does offer input on them to the baseball people.
However, he is FAR from an influencial voice in what they do with the pitchers.
You are certaintly not a child prodigy.