Today in The Journal News
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Today in the Journal News on Mar 31, 2010 
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Joe Girardi had been excited all spring to see Pat Venditte, and on Tuesday he got his chance. The only switch pitcher in baseball was called up for the day and created quite a stir in the Yankees clubhouse when he faced the Braves.
CC Sabathia got the start against Atlanta. It was his last spring start before Opening Day, and although he struggled in Florida, the Yankees seem unconcerned about their ace. The notebook also has items on Mark Teixeira, Alfredo Aceves and the latest cuts from big league camp.
You can always check out pictures in our daily Yankees gallery.
Player A: 620 AB vs. LHP, .256 BA, .329 OBP, .516 SLG
Player B: 420 AB vs. LHP, .313 BA, .392 OBP, .500 SLG
Which would you rather have on the roster as the “right handed bat off the bench”
If you guessed that Player A is Marcus Thames you would be correct – Player B? Well that’s the recently waived Ryan Garko.
My point? As teams start to shake out their rosters it’s possible that there will be some challenges to Marcus Thames’ roster spot.
i did mention garko in a early thread
i take garko
Random Predictions:
AL East – Yankees
AL Central – White Sox
AL West – Texas
AL WC – Boston
AL MVP – Tex
AL CY Young – King Felix
NL East – Philly
NL Central – Cards
NL West – Giants
NL WC – Marlins
NL MVP – Pujols
NL CY Young – Josh Johnson
WS: Yankees over Giants
Just seeing if I can post from new phone
Can someone critique my fantasy roster (we had 12 people in the manual draft yesterday):
C – Bengie Molina
1B – Adrian Gonzalez
2B – Chase Utley
3B – Chipper Jones
SS – Ben Zobrist
IF – Nick Johnson
OF – Carl Crawford
OF – Adam Lind
OF – Manny Ramirez
OF – Denard Span
Util – Vernon Wells
BN – Marco Scutaro
SP – Johan Santana
SP – Cliff Lee
SP – Chad Billingsley
SP – John Lackey
RP – Jose Valverde
RP – Ryan Franklin
P – Jair Jurrjens
BN – Phil Hughes
BN – J.A. Happ
BN – Justin Duchscherer
BN – Brad Lidge
problem with comparing stats like that is they don’t tell the whole story.
Garko compiled those numbers playing more regularly than Thames.
Some guys can hit playing more infrquently than others.
That’s the advantage Thames carries over a lot of guys. He has shown he can hit coming off the bench and playing infrquently in his career.
Thought I’d pass this along in case anyone besides me cares about these types of things: Minka Kelly is going to be on next week’s episode of Parenthood. I’ve read that Derek was on set when she was there filming, but somehow I doubt we’ll be getting a cameo from the captain.
Russell –
Lots of potential injuries on that roster: Johnson, Chipper, Lee, Johan, Duchscherer.
A couple of guys who may not repeat their breakout years (Zobrist, Lind, Franklin, Scutaro)
You’re going to get nothing out of Vernon Wells
Adrian Gonzalez and Chase are good players though.
SJ,
Right, playing off the bench is a different skill than playing every day. Not everyone can be successful at it. Thames has a track record of hitting Lh pitching and being able to do it with limited PT. That’s what the Yankees are looking for and he’s cheap.
SJ – Very true – and we’ve seen before that some guys just can’t perform in spot duty which is what makes guys like Luis Sojo so valuable when you find them.
Thanks Chip, I was playing the Call of Duty map pack when I rushed and picked Vernon Wells lol. I will look to free agency for a replacement on him. Zobrist I liked because of his ability to fill multiple positions… plus the SS market is usually very thin. I loaded up the bench on pitchers aware of Johan and Lee, however my other choices at the time were a little less appealing
Reading back through the quotes from last night, I really don’t see the point of reciting quotes from over two years ago. Opinions are allowed to change if the facts that lead to the opinion also change.
From the NYDN.
“It appears the Yankees are about to engage in a bidding war for another highly touted Latin free agent, this one 15-year-old Mexican pitcher Luis Heredia. Heredia, a 6-4, 190-pound righthander reputed to have four plus pitches — fastball, slider, curve and changeup — drew a rash of scouts recently, including the evaluators from Yankees, Dodgers, Rangers, Mariners and Blue Jays, who most recently posted the winning bid for Cuban defector Adeiny Hechevarria for what sources said was $6.5 million for the shortstop. The bidding for Heredia will be a little different in that his rights are owned by the Veracruz team in the Mexican League. A signing date of July 2, which is within the required 45 days of Heredia’s 16th birthday, has been set.”
I have my draft tonight
If they’re available as FA some guys I would take a look at for your fantasy league are:
Jason Heyward
CJ Wilson
Jonathan Sanchez
Juan Pierre (Ozzie is going to play him everyday and let him run wild)
Adrian Beltre
Gordon Beckham
Russell,
I think a little more highly of your team then Chip.
Especially considering a 12 team is a pretty deep league. Good power, a couple of speed and average guys.
3 pretty solid starters and saves can always be found later on waivers.
Buy website hosting and domain names from hostrays.com the great web host, & help a jobless.
A 6’4″ 15 year old?
Give that boy some cigarettes.
GB-
“From the NYDN.
“It appears the Yankees are about to engage in a bidding war for another highly touted Latin free agent, this one 15-year-old Mexican pitcher Luis Heredia. Heredia, a 6-4, 190-pound righthander reputed to have four plus pitches — fastball, slider, curve and changeup — drew a rash of scouts recently, including the evaluators from Yankees, Dodgers, Rangers, Mariners and Blue Jays, who most recently posted the winning bid for Cuban defector Adeiny Hechevarria for what sources said was $6.5 million for the shortstop. The bidding for Heredia will be a little different in that his rights are owned by the Veracruz team in the Mexican League. A signing date of July 2, which is within the required 45 days of Heredia’s 16th birthday, has been set.”
Sounds like a bigger right-handed version of banuelos ?
It’s crazy that there could be a bidding war over a 16-year old kid.
6’4″ at 15? Me thinks someone is using some funny math on a birth certificate.
I am looking to replace Vernon Wells, here are my choices. Which one do you like?
Marlon Byrd
Scott Posednik
Milton Bradley – leaning towards
Cameron Maybin
I am also thinking about replacing Scutaro SS with JJ Hardy SS.
MTU (aka GBURL)
March 31st, 2010 at 8:58 am
GB-
“From the NYDN.
“It appears the Yankees are about to engage in a bidding war for another highly touted Latin free agent, this one 15-year-old Mexican pitcher Luis Heredia. Heredia, a 6-4, 190-pound righthander reputed to have four plus pitches — fastball, slider, curve and changeup — drew a rash of scouts recently, including the evaluators from Yankees, Dodgers, Rangers, Mariners and Blue Jays, who most recently posted the winning bid for Cuban defector Adeiny Hechevarria for what sources said was $6.5 million for the shortstop. The bidding for Heredia will be a little different in that his rights are owned by the Veracruz team in the Mexican League. A signing date of July 2, which is within the required 45 days of Heredia’s 16th birthday, has been set.”
Sounds like a bigger right-handed version of banuelos ?
————————————————————
At least Banuelos would have somebody to pal around with after his last high school class of the day.
I also have the option for Juan Pierre, as Chip indicated above (over vernon wells)
Blake,
I answered Patrick’s comment re: Joba in the other thread.
Fact is, both guys have gone in opposite directions fitness-wise, as outlined in the other thread.
Perhaps that’s another reason why the Yankees are engaging in what seems to be a tough love approach with Joba.
Some guys get too comfortable when they get to the majors and forget what it takes to stay there.
Read Joel Sherman’s column on Posada this AM to see an example of a guy who hasn’t forgotten what it takes.
GB-
“At least Banuelos would have somebody to pal around with after his last high school class of the day.”
Both incredibly young !
Three cheers for the Mexican scout.
Russell: of those. Marlon Byrd
Thanks Vinny!
did everyone see the analysis Frankie (at MLB Fanhouse) did on Slade Heathclott?
if not, i will post it
I’m sure Sigman, the Yankees scout in Mexico is all over this kid.
I didn’t see it vinny, please post
Russell: only take it as an opinion
Cuz Fantasy Football is my forte
MTU (aka GBURL)
March 31st, 2010 at 9:05 am
GB-
“At least Banuelos would have somebody to pal around with after his last high school class of the day.”
Both incredibly young !
Three cheers for the Mexican scout.
————————————————————
There’s still 3 months before he can sign. I assume that the contract will have to be purchased from Veracruz and then they have to come to terms with the youngster. Something to at least keep an eye on.
Erin-
Do you watch Ugly Betty?
In last week’s episode they did what Betty’s life would have been if she was born with perfect teeth. She was dating Derek Jeter and cheating on him. LOL.
There was a fake New York Post headline with a picture of her and it said “Jeter Cheater”. It was very cute
enjoy everyone: (compliments of Frankie Piliere at MLB Fanhouse)
Heathcott a Showstopper
There’s little doubt that Heathcott is the player to watch in the lower rungs of the Yankees farm system this spring. He has looked superb in all facets of the game, but particularly at the plate. On top of his skills, Yankee fans are going to fall in love with the ferocity with which he plays the game.
The left-handed swinging Heathcott boasts plus bat speed, and he has extra quick hands through the zone. He’s going to punish the fastball on his way up the ladder, but he still looks to be making adjustments on soft stuff on the outer half. There haven’t been many fastballs getting by him on the inside part of the plate here in his first professional spring training, though.
The big question with toolsy players like Heathcott is how those tools will develop and what type of player he’ll one day become. At this stage, he is looking more and more like a top-of-the-order-type hitter with gap-to-gap power. He does have excellent bat speed and a loud bat, but his swing is not built for a lot of lift. So, is he a 35-homer type bat? Probably not, but a high average and 20-homer production seems to be a reasonable expectation.
He has the pop to drive the ball to both gaps, and the plus speed — especially going first to third — to rack up doubles and triples. There’s a lot to like about his swing mechanics as well. Without a lot of moving parts and with good hands, he’s going to be able to make adjustments against better pitching as he moves up. Take those skills at the plate with his plus speed and outstanding range in the outfield, and Heathcott profiles a a plus defender in center field that could bat anywhere in the top three in the lineup depending on the development of his power.
He is a very complete player, especially considering his age. He’s still far from the majors, but if the early returns are any indication, he looks like a far more complete and safe commodity at this early stage than past top high school position player picks made by the Yankees lately, like C.J. Henry. He has the mechanics and raw physical abilities to produce big offensively, and the speed and intensity to contribute in all aspects of the game.
GB-
“Something to at least keep an eye on.”
Both eyes.
Hope they get de Paula as well.
Keep the line moving, so to speak.
Thanks for posting that.
MTU (aka GBURL)
March 31st, 2010 at 9:13 am
GB-
“Something to at least keep an eye on.”
Both eyes.
Hope they get de Paula as well.
Keep the line moving, so to speak.
Thanks for posting that.
————————————————————
My pleasure, MTU. Maybe the next talent the NYYs go after will be a decent catcher for the system…..or an outfielder.
MTU: i like the fact you always give that scout credit. After Aceves and Banuelos, he needs to receive his due
If Heathcott develops as expected, it will make the loss of Gerrit Cole a little easier to take. Anyone know how JR Murphy is progessing this Spring?
Erica – always OPPC – Sesame Street Mafia and GTLU supporter
March 31st, 2010 at 9:12 am
Erin-
Do you watch Ugly Betty?
In last week’s episode they did what Betty’s life would have been if she was born with perfect teeth. She was dating Derek Jeter and cheating on him. LOL.
There was a fake New York Post headline with a picture of her and it said “Jeter Cheater”. It was very cute
***************************
Erica, I don’t, but that sounds hilarious. Although I can’t imagine anyone cheating on Jeter!
Wow, rarely do I read a player profile with as much “plus” as that.
Vinny-
” i like the fact you always give that scout credit. After Aceves and Banuelos, he needs to receive his due”
Don’t forget about “El Nino”.
And yeah. He seems like a winner deserving of some praise.
Maybe a promotion is in the offing ?
New Post: Lineup vs. Twins
Heathcott’s nickname:
“slade the Blade”
Slice em’ and dice em’ kid.
Thames can play a passable outfield — I somewhat doubt that Garko can do the same, but I could be wrong.
Is Pena okay? I heard the catcher threw the ball at his head?
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