New Stadium a launching pad no more
Posted by: Sam Borden - Posted in Misc on May 06, 2010 
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While enjoying my breakfast this morning, I read an interesting story by our good buddies at USA Today on the number of home runs hit at Yankee Stadium so far this year. Not surprisingly, the totals are down from their astronomical heights of a year ago, and the Stadium ranks eighth among all parks in home run output.
I wrote last year that I never quite got the uproar over the amount of homers – after all, home runs are, you know, a part of baseball – but theorizing over why the numbers are down to this point raises a number of possibilities: Some think the tearing down of the old Stadium has affected the wind-tunnel quality of the new park, while others might point to the loss of Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon, two guys who certainly contributed their share.
It’s worth noting, too, that Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez – typically two cogs in the home run hitting machine – have a grand total of four combined, but whatever the reason there’s no denying that Yankee Stadium has less of a pinball-feel so far this season.
Is that a good thing? Anyone out there miss the constant blasts?
“Rust from little appearances, scouting reports growing on him, just a slump?”
Going to do something rare for me, and provide some shade instead of sunlight, but one of the reason he was so effective last year was that (and he and the Yankees would be first to admit), he had an uptick in velocity that came somewhat outta nowhere.
If that’s not there this year, he’s going to have to adjust back to using the curve more frequently and REALLY have to exhibit better control with the fastball.
We saw plenty yesterday. Which is fine, my kids love to see the long ball.
How about having some really good pitching besides Javy and Robertson this season. Last year, most of our pitchers were out of sorts in April/May, but not so this season which might be one of the reasons why homers are down.
I don’t miss the blasts………but the stats anyway are skewed. The Yankees have hardly been home at all, so it would be nearly impossible to be ranked higher in terms of HR allowed.
Speaking of homeruns, if Jeter wants to crush the 1st pitch beckett throws tomorrow over the wall again, I’m certaintly not going to object
Let me start off by saying that the new Yankee stadium (small “s”) will prove to be a huge mistake. When people wake up to the fact that the most historic Stadium in the world was destroyed because of greed and ignorance, the Yankee organization is going to look very, very bad. On top of all this, the design of the New stadium is terrible. One of the most striking features in all of sports was the huge overhang of the upper deck. No other stadium had such a beautiful feature. The new stadium is a generic and souless monument to greed.
Last year was unusually windy in April and May in NYC.
There were days the wind was blowing out like a gale to RF.
Too many people in the media, like Buster Olney, decided to draw the conclusion the place was a launching pad. He almost made it a personal mission to question anybody who didn’t reach his conclusion the place was a launching pad.
When a national columnist does that, it goes viral and sooner or later, everyone parroted that point. Perception became reality.
The Yankees insisted everyone take a deep breath and let the entire season play out before drawing conclusions. That was met with, “they are spinning” from factions of the media and fan base.
Guess what? They were right. Nary a word from Olney now about the “unfairness” of the new Yankee Stadium.
The place plays fair.
RF is a short porch, always has been in all 3 versions of Yankee Stadium.
The rest of the place is laid out to be a pretty fair ballpark.
Can’t ask for much more than that.
repost
While you guys are talking about a Yankee 3b prospect, it reminds me of one that was here in Columbus for 2 years. He may have endured the most booing of any minor leaguer ever. You had to be very alert sitting behind the first base bag when the ball was hit to him. The booing had nothing to do with his baseball skills though. Any idea who it was?
SJ: Good points all of them. My thing is, even if it was a home-run haven, so what? Homers are a part of baseball. As long as the fence distances are in or around the major league norms, why should the Yankees be worried about anything else?
NYY626 – Get Well Soon Andy! May 6th, 2010 at 10:21 am
Speaking of homeruns, if Jeter wants to crush the 1st pitch beckett throws tomorrow over the wall again, I?m certaintly not going to object
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You won’t hear any complaints from me either.
Drew Henson?
Sam,
The Yankee organization wasn’t worried about it, but you can’t say the same thing about the media which was screaming bloody murder like Olney, XM radio and some MLB channel personalities.
“Anyone out there miss the constant blasts?”
Everyone but the opposition.
Sam, I agree – but people just want to kill the Yankees no matter what they do.
Betsy,
He’s talking about Eric Duncan.
Betsy: The numbers were based on similar sample sizes. In the article, it talks about how there were 26 home runs through seven games last year and, in 12 this year there have been only 30. The rate per game is down significantly, too.
Craw: It wasn’t just the media — if my email inbox didn’t have size restrictions, I’d have saved the litany of emails from fans and readers of the blog who were complaining about the “bandbox” and how it was “un-Yankee-like” and a “disgrace.” No doubt there were many alarmists in the media — as I wrote in the post, I wasn’t one of them (this time!) — but it certainly wasn’t only the writers who were talking about it.
PC,
Eric Duncan’s issues as far as progressing had to have been as much a physical issue as mental. with a chronic back problem, he just had no flexibility. He couldn’t bend or twist. A real pity, because he could have been a really good power source.
Bleich and Trenton about to get underway.
Mosely and Scranton in an hour.
At least something to follow on the off day.
So per Joe and Evan, Alex is not the same player he used to be? Because he’s in a slump? Overreaction is priceless.
True about the weather being much milder this Spring in NY compared to last year. A brutal Summer headed our way? Con-Ed’s gonna own part of my soul by August.
But I will admit to be being semi-preoccupied with ARod’s apparent absence of power. So far though, 2010 has been “The Year Of The Pitcher” As a guy who could never really hit I kinda like it.
Of course homeruns are down. They moved in the fences.
Sam,
I completely agree.
I too never understand why there was so much animous toward the place being a “launching pad”.
I spent MANY a hot, steamy day in the old place and saw balls fly out of there to RF on those summer days.
I’ve been to Philadelphia and see balls fly out of Citizens Park and nobody ripped that place as they did the new Stadium. Same for Fenway.
I just think there is a segment in the media that hates everything about the NY Yankees.
So, when they have a chance to take a shot, whether its accurate or not, they take it.
They also know since a large segment of the baseball fan base also hates the Yankees, the more columns they write ripping them, the more eyeballs to their columns they get.
Its why I never get caught up with the haters.
Between loving the Yankees and hating the Yankees, MLB has a LOT of eyeballs drawn to its sport.
Without the Yankees, MUCH fewer eyeballs.
In other words, baseball becomes soccer in this country. Nice sport, nobody watches it.
wow, Lawrence Taylor Arrested For Rape In New York
SJ: Sigh … soccer. My true love. Can’t wait for the World Cup, even though it only reminds me how great it would be to live in England. I actually used to wonder if there was some way to work some sort of exchange program where I could go cover Arsenal for a year and the writer for The Guardian would come cover the Yankees …. But I digress.
One thing is for sure: The Yankees are a fuse on any subject for baseball fans. Certainly I can’t hate on that — it’s the reason this blog is so successful!
Sam,
The reason why you heard it from the fans is because members of your industry alarmed them into thinking that way. Last year at this time, whether in print, on the radio or on television, somebody was talking about the new Yankee Stadium being a launching pad.
You know as well as I do that much of the fanbase believes whatever the media is telling them for the moment. For the most part, knowledgeable baseball fans are more independent thinking when it comes to their thought process and conclusions.
Home runs are down everywhere, with the exception of the usual number of freak hot starters. Only in Chicago are the totals abnormally high.
I’m no physics major but my gut tells me that the old Stadium coming down is a big factor. it makes sense to me that the new Stadium standing on its own should play pretty similar to the old one considering the dimensions are supposedly identical. True the SP for the NYY and the pen for that matter have been much better to start the season, but what about the opposition, I don’t think they have improved as dramatically, in fact I’m sure they haven’t. It has to be the old place coming down.
Guys like Buster et al are just trying to stir crap up, what else is new??
After the initial blast of HRs, YS settled down. Even so, the Yankees hit a lot of home runs, period, so who was the media to decide that the only reason they hit HRs at YS was because it was a bandbox? Did they ever consider that the Yankees were a powerful team?
Also, the internet was flooded with articles about the new Yankee Stadium being a launching pad early last season.
Betsy
You are correct. It was funny because the first Clippers game I went too, I couldn’t figure out at first why there were some people wearing Michigan gear. Then I got to my seat and it was amazing how many people were wearing the Maize and Blue trying to get his autograph. I’m a casual Buckeye fan so I thought it was funny, some Buckeye fans didn’t think so. It was like a Red Sox fan walking into the bleachers at Yankee stadium. Needless to say as a Yankee fan I wanted to see him do well. Sorta felt sorry for him.
Soccer is for sissies than those that like watching guys prance up and down the field in skimpy shorts.
j/k, but, it is more boring that watching grass grow.
Actually, the homerun rate started declining in the second half last season before the old stadium came down. I think it’s due to weather patterns and improved pitching.
5 words.
Chicks dig the long ball.
Just waffles for breakfast – and frozen at that!?!?
Pete used to cry about how the park was a disgrace.
Buster is the same guy who thinks the 2010 Rays are the reincarnation of the 1998 Yankees (what does that make the 2010 Yankees?) and who actually criticized Cone’s perfect game because the Expos lineup was weak. How can anyone take him seriously anymore?
Ha, I was right, lol
It was ridiculous the way they talked Henson up – he was awful. That said, I recall the Yankees rushing him to AA (or was it AAA) before he was clearly ready.
Henson might have been good in either sport, but, he wasn’t the type of two-sport star that could separate the two and ended up flopping in both.
The only home run I’m waiting for is someone to go third deck. Or maybe someone to go Mantle style and blast those lights.
Betsy – Hughes rules (Pleading the Fifth) May 6th, 2010 at 10:32 am
So per Joe and Evan, Alex is not the same player he used to be? Because he?s in a slump?
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He’s not in a slump, he’s just not hitting.
Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. That’s my favorite Yogi-ism.
Not that it has anything to do with YS, but I was watching some game last week on national tv. I think it was at Citizens Bank Park. And a couple of guys hit HR. The broadcasters actually said something like, “If you get it into the jet stream, it’s not coming back.”
The way people talked about NYS last year was like if you hit it to right center field, there’s a black hole that’s going to suck up your pop fly right out of the park.
I think that was the most irritating part of the whole launching pad thing.
Buster is just a writer trying to come up with a compelling story. Sometimes he reaches too far and comes up with bogus conclusions but sometimes he has good insight.
Henson last played baseball in 2003, I thought it was a player from a couple of years ago.
The only player that might reach the upper deck would be Adam Dunn. It’s going to take a howitzer to get it up that far.
Patrick, of course. As I said earlier this year, the Yankees are flying under the radar…and I guess no one wants to read about how good the Yankees are. The Rays are apparently the little team that could.
m – That’s most likely left field in philly they were referring to.
Erin-
I have a great picture text I am trying to e-mail you and I can’t remember how to do it
Sigh … soccer. My true love. Can’t wait for the World Cup, even though it only reminds me how great it would be to live in England. I actually used to wonder if there was some way to work some sort of exchange program where I could go cover Arsenal for a year and the writer for The Guardian would come cover the Yankees …. But I digress.
@Sam – There seems to be some strange correlation between the Yankees and Arsenal – I must know at least ten people who are fans of both.
I’d definitely welcome you here to cover the Gunners – football coverage in the UK is so dull sometimes.
SJ44,
Good stuff about the value of prospects in the last thread. You got it man.
I have a question for you though about the young Yankee catchers. Being the greedy fan that I am, I don’t want to see any of them get traded but I do acknowledge that it’s probably a likely scenario. My question is, what do you think is the perfect outcome for those 3 guys (Romine, Cervelli, Montero)? If everything were to break the right way, how could we keep all 3? And do you think Montero has the capability to play RF on any sort of consistent basis? I know he has the arm but does he have the footspeed to play there/
I guessed Henson because Eric Duncan wouldn’t engender that much hatred, lol
The primary cause for so many homeruns early last year was the usual cause–bad pitching. Pitching behind in the count results in long balls. Except for Robertson it appears that is occurring with less frequency.
Robertson’s struggles should not be a great surprise notr will it be if he bounces back. Relief pitchers, with a few exceptions, are the most inconsistent of all player groups. Typically, these guys are relievers for a reason and that is they were not good enought to start. Cashman has decided to spend less on this group with no more large Farnsworth type contracts. I do believe Park will be a help. Logan would too if he could throw the ball over the *&# plate.
Whoever mentioned the overhanging upper deck, I agree. That’s probably the one thing I miss the most. It created an almost surreal feeling, I can only imagine what it felt like for the players. It’s almost as if the upper deck along the base lines “bulged” outward towards the field.
Also, is it me or does it seem like the attendance has gone to crap? I was watching highlights from the Phillies games the past few days at Citizens Bank Park. Every game is like a playoff game. That’s what the old Yankee Stadium used to be like. This new house is great but has never brought that feel to me.
Erin-
Nevermind. I got it today. Check your e-mail in a few minutes
If NYY has to recall a catcher, I figure that it will be Chad Moeller, but, they could go with the more versatile Robby Hammock who plays both corner infield and outfield spots as well as catcher.
ID,
Probably. Part of what I was trying to say is that there are other launching pads, too. But somehow the Yankees built this park with a secret wind tunnel because they’re the Yankees. And so the new park was
.
“If you don’t think teams give more leeway to talented, highly regarded prospects than they do to others then we’ll just have to disagree.”
Disagree over what? lol
Who’s arguing that point?
“I already explained that I didn’t think Gardner is that good; I’m allowed to have that opinion, just as I’m allowed to think that people gave up on Phil way too soon. I think we are just going to have to drop this because we’re not getting anywhere.”
We’re getting nowhere because you’re making no attempt to understand what I’m actually writing. How many times do I need to write, “you have EVERY right to your opinion about Brett Gardner” before you absorb it?
“I do not have any numbers in mind for Gardner…..and frankly what’s the difference?”
And finally we get to a topic that’s relevant.
My theory has long been that the perception of Brett Gardner going into this year has little, to nothing to do with his actual production, and I’ve been testing my theory by asking multiple skeptics what he’d actually need to produce over an extended period in order to people to alter their perception.
I think it’s commonplace for fans to have thumbnail numbers we’d like to see from baseball players – Tex and A-Rod 40 ish HRs, 120+ RBI. Cano and Jeter – over .310. Pettitte – 14, 15 wins… etc…
Not sure why this wouldn’t also apply to Gardner, or why it’d be some sort of secret…
To answer your last question, there is no “difference”. I watch the Yankees because I like baseball. I hang out here because I like discussing baseball. There is nothing vital to your answer, other than it makes me curious to know it.
But I’d have to ask (rhetorically, because I know you won’t answer in anything by a defiant refusal to answer), how does a player like Brett Gardner convince a skeptic they were mistaken, if the skeptic has absolutely no criteria in which he can?
Perhaps Brett Gardner can do NOTHING by Oct 1st 2010 to convince a skeptic he’s acceptable. I would, however, regard that as an unreasonable position – that he’s powerless to alter the perception.
But if he can, then asking what he needs to produce to do it, is a perfectly fair, reasonable and entirely innocuous question nowhere near worthy of the defensive position you’re taking over it.
Erica – always OPPC – Sesame Street Mafia and GTLU supporter May 6th, 2010 at 10:47 am
Erin-
I have a great picture text I am trying to e-mail you and I can?t remember how to do it
***********************
Well, I look forward to it when you figure it out!
Ones to Watch…….Hector Noesi
04/29/10 5:13 PM ET
Yankees right-hander Hector Noesi struck out a career-high 13 hitters over six innings for his Florida State League-leading fourth victory as Class A Advanced Tampa beat Dunedin, 7-4, on Thursday.
Noesi (4-1) broke his previous career high of 10 strikeouts, which he set on April 13 in a win over Clearwater. He’s fanned 32 batters in 27 innings this season.
The 23-year-old right-hander, who is a member of New York’s 40-man roster, is off to another great start in 2010 after he began the 2009 campaign with 27 2/3 scoreless innings for Class A Charleston. He’s allowed two runs or fewer in four of his five starts this season and has walked just two batters.
Noesi struck out four over the first two innings before striking out the side in the third. He fanned two in the fourth, struck out the side again in the fifth and added one final K in the sixth.
He allowed an unearned run in the sixth when Jon Del Campo reached on an error and scored on John Barron’s double. The righty gave up just two hits and did not walk a batter.
The Dominican prospect whiffed 118 batters in 117 innings last season between Charleston and Tampa, finishing the year 6-4 with a 2.92 ERA in 26 outings. Wednesday’s start was perhaps his most dominating since he struck out seven and walked one over seven hitless frames on May 13, 2009, for Charleston.
A South Atlantic League All-Star in 2009, Noesi was named the Florida State League’s Pitcher of the Week on April 19.
Signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted 17-year-old free agent on Dec. 3, 2004, Noesi spent his first two seasons in the Dominican Summer and Gulf Coast leagues before sitting out the first 50 games of 2007 for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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I’m tired of Logan and his seeming fear of throwing strikes. Someone had mentioned Royce Ring yesterday – I’m fine with seeing him get a chance.
I don’t know if Park will keep it up, but this pen needs him back.
Erica – always OPPC – Sesame Street Mafia and GTLU supporter May 6th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Erin-
Nevermind. I got it today. Check your e-mail in a few minutes
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Will do.
He’s 23 and he’s in class A? Isn’t that rather old for that level? He should be dominating……not sure what this tells us about his future prospects.
Betsy,
I don’t think Logan’s afraid to throw strikes, but with his improved velocity, he has a hard time commanding his fastball.
stuckey,
I think people in baseball can appreciate what Gardner brings to the table, despite the fact that he was not a highly touted prospect.
Even Gammons foresaw good things for the Gritster last year.
I don’t think Montero has the ability to play the OF. Although, some people in the organization think he does. He doesn’t have great foot speed and isn’t really athletic enough to play the OF, IMO.
I wouldn’t move Romine because I think he could be a really good catcher.
I see Cervelli as a career backup type of guy. I don’t say that with disrespect.
He’s a limited offensive player. Great enthusiasm and hustle, would love him on my team but, I don’t see him as a 110-120 game per season catcher.
I could see a scenario next year where if Montero hits, he is the DH, with 20 games or so behind the plate.
Adam Lind, Travis Snider and Travis Hafner are three examples of guys with big bats starting out as DH’s. The same can hold true for Montero IF he is ready.
That buys you a year to see how Romine progresses and also how Gary Sanchez progress.
Let’s say for example by mid-season next year, Montero is showing signs he could catch 50-75 games in the majors in 2011, Romine is doing the job in AAA and Sanchez is showing great progress in Charleston/Tampa, perhaps Cervelli is in play to be moved.
You just never know because there are so many moving parts in all of this.
One thing is for sure, there is no such thing as a catching glut for an organization.
The more good one’s you have, the more options you have to improve your team on a lot of different levels.
He’s 23 and he’s in class A? Isn’t that rather old for that level? He should be dominating……not sure what this tells us about his future prospects.
—
23 is indeed a bit old for A+ but if he gets moved up to AA and does well there I think we can have some more optimism about his future. Right now though, you’re right a 23 year old dominating A ball isn’t all that impressive.
“He?s 23 and he?s in class A? Isn?t that rather old for that level? He should be dominating??not sure what this tells us about his future prospects.”
Betsy,
A couple of things. He had TJS which put him behind by one year. Secondly, the FSL is made up with a lot of college players around 22-23 years old.
About 90% of the old Stadium is gone and that factors in somewhat along with the bats of Teixeira and Alex not yet ready to break out in full force. June – July – August will tell the real story. Buston Olney will look like an amateur with guesswork journalism.
Patrick,
Just to jump in with my two sense about the catcher.
I guess in an absolutely ideal world Romine is the Starter, Cervelli the back-up, and Montero plays a position that can conserve his body a bit and play up the bat (rf, 1b, dh etc.).
How this plays out who knows.
Craw, if Logan can’t handle the increase in velocity, I think he should reduce it so that he has better command. Throwing 97 when you don’t know where it’s going doesn’t help…
Everything I have read about Montero is that he lacks foot speed. The way I read into that is that it would like playing Jorge in the lineup as the everyday RF. I may be way off on that but that was my thought. No one knows if all 3 of them staying healthy and progress, but I see Romine as being the big trade chip. Montero as a part time C/DH with Jorge and Cervelli as the backup. Trade Romine this summer or in the winter in a package for a young ML starter that thier team is going to be able to sign when they hit FA. Much like the Indians have done with Lee and CC.
I would have put the odds of me typing this during the off-season @0%, but here it is:
thankfully, the Yanks have Sergio Mitre.
wow, snowballs must be flying in hell.
Yup, if Noesi makes it to AA ball sometime in June then he will make up some of that lost time.
the tix prices are crazy. the best affordable seats are the SRO or the new “drink rail” seats on the lower level, right behind the expensive lower section seats, but I think they are all sold out
Patrick, I don’t even mean to be negative about his future as he seems to have some talent. I guess if he keeps this up a promotion is in order.
Craw, thanks….plus he used drugs/steroids? I’m not thrilled to hear that…
“Craw, if Logan can?t handle the increase in velocity, I think he should reduce it so that he has better command. Throwing 97 when you don?t know where it?s going doesn?t help?”
That’s up to the coaching staff and him to figure out.
I really hope they do not trade Romine, especially if he keeps this up.
SJ44,
Good stuff, I suspected that’d be your answer for Montero wrt the outfield.
Also, don’t forget Higashoka and Murphy, both are legit prospects IMO. They could come in to play at some point. Although obviously the guys you focused on are better at this point.
As you say, this is a good problem to have but lets say Romine’s bat is for real and Montero gets better at catching. You don’t want to move either guy off the catcher position so they share time at C/DH/RF whatever. The only problem is, you still need a backup catcher if both of these guys are are in the lineup every day. But Cervelli is too good to be the 3rd string catcher on the team. I’m not sure what the answer is, maybe just trade Romine when his value peaks and get an OF prospect or a pitcher.
Erica-I got it!
John in NJ: I agree about the overhanging upper deck. The appearance is now of a less ‘intimate’ stadium. It doesn’t help that on TV, a good many of the seats in view most of the time are empty, emphasizing space. That and the noise of the stadium has diminished greatly. I remember being able to hear the Creatures and their roll call quite well in 2008, now they are there faintly, if you strain your ears to hear them.
I can understand why some feel that the aura has gone from the stadium. I guess it needs 85 years of history – if it lasts that long.
It’s kind of bittersweet what’s happening right now. There’s a very slow transition happening in the club. You’re hearing less from Jeter & Andy and more from Joba & Hughes.
The injuries are minor and happened all at once, but it’s given us a snapshot of the future. One day the core group will be gone.
Craw, obviously – and they need to figure it out.
“Craw, thanks?.plus he used drugs/steroids? I?m not thrilled to hear that?”
Probably used them during his TJS rehab. He made a mistake, no different than Andy.
“Craw, obviously ? and they need to figure it out.”
Yet, you stated he was afraid to throw strikes which is wrong in my opinion.
SJ – The other catcher scenario in a perfect world where they all develop to their potentials: Montero, Romine and Sanchez as big time starters and Cervelli as a top backup.
You can always go with one of Montero, Romine and Sanchez as the starter and the other at DH/1B (or maybe a Sanchez gets moved to another position) with Cervelli as backup.
That allows for a trade of a top, top tier catching prospect – Romine or Sanchez or Montero odd man out) to bring back a king’s ransom.
As you said the prospects are chips, to play for the team or to trade to bring back pieces for the team.
We haven’t mentioned Higashioka or Murphy who might carve out good niches for themselves as well. I think there is a young Dominican kid who is also pretty goo d, but pretty raw and young.
Betsy,
No I totally agree, your take on Noesi isn’t negative at all. His performance in A+ as a 23 year old is basically a “don’t care” for me. If he does anything in AA this season I’ll start paying attention.
For trenton, in the1st inning:
Brewer struck out
Adams grounded out
Laird flied out
Bottom of the 1st
Bleich: 1 inning, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 2 strike outs, one hit batter
Gorecki grounded out
Gonzalez struck out
Gil (catching) safe on error
Smith grounds out
No score
He’s only in High A because of all the guys in AA were ahead of him on the depth chart as last year was his 1st year back from injury….he’s pretty much the same age as Brackman and Warren who btw is on his team in Tampa….
He’s probably another bad start or two from Ryan Pope away from joining Bleich and Phelps in Tampa…
Just somebody interesting to follow and also he’s doing a tremendous job of justifying Ca$h and crews decision to add him to the 40-man this offseason when most “fans” had no idea who he was….
His performance is and will speak volumes for him.
We aren’t going to know what the Yankees have in Noesi until he gets to AA.
Frankly, if he keeps pitching like this, he should be in AA by June.
If he pitches well there? Then, you keep an eye on him.
For the FSL. he is a bit old for that league.
Plus, these days, I always add a year to any IFA. I never believe the birth certificates anymore, even if there is no proof of age issues.
You are looking at a 23-24 year old kid in the Florida State League.
My nephew plays for Bradenton and is 21. Most of the better arms on his team are 19-21.
Noesi is a bit old for that league. Which is why we need to see how he does in AA before we know what his possibilities are.
Good morning all –
To me, the most interesting story on this off day is the early season travails of the Mariners.
I really thought they would be contenders this year, what with the Angels having a lesser roster this season. But, the holes on that team – lack of backend starting pitching, lack of punch, the whole Milton Bradley saga – has got them reeling. 11-16, yeesh. But, they’re only 3 back in that division.
If they do fall out of contention by mid-season, I could see them moving Lee, and trying to get back some of the young talent they dealt for him.
I don’t think Cash would get heavily involved – why pay twice, after all – unless they have problems with the rotation, Andy and/or Vazquez. If that’s the case, Cash will do what he needs to. Otherwise, I can’t see Cash parting with high end minor league talent, just to have to pony up $$$ in the winter.
Champ makes a good point about him being on the 40 man roster which means he’s probably AA bound this season. The same would happen to Brackman, if he pitched a lot better.
The problem with Montero is that if he comes up primarily as a DH, he will have to hit enough to justify placing him in the primary DH role.
While he may be able to do that, it is unusual for a rookie, even a good one, to have enough success at the bat right away to be the primary DH. Usually they need a period of adjustment and while they are going through that process it helps if they play a position and can at least spread some of the burden that way.
If Montero comes up next year, I’d like to see him be the only #2 catcher, and DH some and perhaps more as he grows into the role.
If he can’t be the #2 catcher, then I’d like to see him stay at Scranton until he can take that role on the big club.
But none of us should expect Montero to come up and start hitting at an All-Star level, or even at an average DH level, right away.
Off day, let’s play a game.
Strangest things/Biggest surprises of the young season:
1) Barry Zito’s 5-0 record
Ok, if I’m wrong about Logan, I’m wrong. My point is that if he can’t handle the velocity increase, he should reduce it……..However, he may not even be up here for very long; we can’t afford more performances like yesterdays.
Boy, they play minor league games early. Bleich has seemingly had terrible command for his last couple of starts…
I usually don’t get too excited about any player until he reaches AA ball. Historically, it’s the most difficult jump for a minor league player.
SJ44,
Your nephew is finally being recognized as a top catching prospect. That’s gotta feel good after so many “experts” made fun of the pirates for picking him so early
Betsy,
It’s your opinion, I disagree with it and think you were wrong in thinking he’s afraid to throw strikes. Nothing more! I think all of us agree that he needs to improve his command so we really don’t have an argument.
Okay, I think I have the solution.
Romine at catcher, Montero at DH, Sanchez right behind second base where they put 10 year told girl’s softball players.
Then Crawford in rightish field and Gardner in leftish field.
Pretty much choke any grounder from ever going through the infield, trust Gardner/Crawford to chase down any outfield fly ball, learn to live with the line-drive gappers…
Who’s with me?
Wave,
Yeah you’re right, especially on a team like the Yankees. This is what I think will happen next year:
Posada catches 100 games, Montero catches 20-30 games, Cervelli catches 30-40 games. Then you let Montero and Posada share the DH spot.
Who knows though? Maybe they bring back Nick Johnson for anotehr year or something.
Bottom of the 2nd inning
For Akron
single, blooper to short right
error by 2nd baseman
DP 1-6-3, runner to 3rd
ground out to 3rd
No score after 2 innings
“Strangest things/Biggest surprises of the young season:”
Gardner’s .440 OBP.
stuckey,
Nice plan but what about Granderson?
SJ44 May 6th, 2010 at 10:33 am
I’m not sure which came 1st! The media’s hatred for the Yankees or their using it to be a whipping boy to energize comments and support.
I use to think Olney was good, but that seems like so long ago. Now if you hear anything pro Yankees it is almost spoken with reluctance. Wierd!
In reality Five Iron, all prospects never develop the way we want.
In a perfect world, they all hit their strides.
However, injuries, stalling at a level, busts, or just peaking as players, take shape and you have to make adjustments.
That’s why its so tough to make it to the majors.
Derek Jeter’s first year in the minors, he made 57 errors.
Jorge Posada was a second baseman when he was signed out of junior college.
Andy Pettitte was not considered an elite propsect.
Neither was Mariano Rivera, and up and down starting pitcher.
Francisco Cervelli was hitting under .200 in AA when he was called up out of desperation last year.
On the flip side, guys like Eric Duncan and Andrew Brackman were first round picks and haven’t shown much.
Kids like Dellin Betances and Jairo Heredia have been stalled by injuries.
Carmen Angelini was considered a “great” signing away from going to Rice. He has struggled big time.
Its a real, real tough thing to project these kids out.
Its why there is power in numbers rather in names for organization when it comes to building their farm systems.
biggest surprise so far this season to me: Brett Gardner has a .430 OBP.
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports.....z0n9d9Uc53
Well, at least Andy is sound……..and should be ok.
Cervelli loves being a Yankee and it shows. He’s helping his cause by taking ground balls at 3rd base during IF practice and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him taking flyballs as a corner OF to make himself versatile.
Romine should be at AAA in 2011 with Gary Sanchez at High A Tampa to start the season. Montero will replace Thames and Nick Johnson on the roster and share DH roles with Jorge. In affect, the team will have 3 catchers sharing time behind the plate in 2011 with none catching over 100 games.
RIP, Robin Roberts. You had a great career and one of the only pleasures the Phillies had in the 1950s. A deserving HOF pitcher.
“Nice plan but what about Granderson?
”
He returns from his groin injury, hits 30 HRs, wins the World Series MVP, and we move him to San Fran for Matt Cain, of course…
Right now, the Yankees primary DH is hitting .171 with little power.
I gotta think Montero could do that next year, as well as catch a few games.
Especially in this lineup because of all of the talent around him.
That’s why, if he is able to do it obviously, I don’t think its a big leap for him to garner DH time.
Patrick,
It will feel better when he gets to AA! lol If that happens this year, that’s when you can start seeing the opportunity to make the players in your front view, rather than rear view, mirror.
SJ44,
Cano was also never considered an elite prospect. Good prospect but not great. Now look at what he’s doing
“Randy/SJ, would you put Cervelli in the Mike Redmond category?”
gb7-
interesting comparison. i always liked redmond. he, like cervelli, also has hit better in the majors than the minors. had a really good arm. just now losing it at age 39.
cervelli could easily have a long career like redmond has had. at some point he’ll probably have a choice of moving on to get more playing time, but that’s way down the road. even girardi at one point wanted to be a starter again when posada had taken over and moved on.
i like cervelli as a back up but would not like to see cervelli starting because i think the yankees need more offense from the position than what cervelli will bring and i also think that the puppy-like high energy is overrated as far as being a benefit to the team.
i just like really good players. i really don’t care so much about the rah rah stuff. it’s why cano’s style of play never bothered me( except when he appeared hung over). anyone who appreciates hitting could tell cano was something special.
one big plus cervelli has is he can get the best out of himself ( seems to overachieve) while playing for the yankees which has always been the hallmark of really good yankee players. not everyone is cut out to be a yankee.
Speaking of Murphy, Sanchez (and let me add Heathcott) – when does EST end and assigments to the Instructional League/SS-A/and low A begin?
Where do some of you predict these three guys will end up?
I could care less about the Homeruns or wind or whatever else.
All I know is the Yankees are 19-8, 1 game off the best record in the Majors and they are far from playing their best ball, certainly on the offensive side of things.
You figure Tex, Arod will start putting up their numbers at some point. So therefore so far so good.
That the Yankees are winning is far more significant than the talking shop stuff like HR’s at Yankee Stadium.
The unpredictability of baseball prospects is one of the things that make the game so unique.
So many variables involved in getting to the big leagues and despite talent its such a mental game that that aspect is often hard to forcast.
Oh, and De Leon?
SJ44,
I have no further insight obviously but how could they not promote Tony? He’s destroying A+ right now!
By the way, I remember you talking about your nephew’s defense last year before he was drafted and I’ve read prospect reports saying he’s a great defensive catcher. My question is – how good is he really? Could his ability behind the plate cut it in the majors right now? I remember, even before Cervelli broke his wrist many people thought he was already ready defensively. He’s always been a defense-first kind of guy, is your nephew the same way?
I appreciate the answers!
Realistically, is an organization looking to develop one 1 #1 pitcher and a bunch of 2, 3 and 4′s? . I ask that because most of the SP we have in our system are considered middle/back-end of the rotation starters.
http://riveraveblues.com/2010/.....hes-27896/
Article on Gardner & Swisher’s new approaches and how that’s all working out.
1)Zito 5-0
2)Gardner .430 OBP
3)Livan Hernandez 0.99 ERA
4)Phil Hughes 1.44 ERA
“Right now, the Yankees primary DH is hitting .171 with little power.
I gotta think Montero could do that next year, as well as catch a few games.”
Uhh, no. You aren’t making any sense.
Ideally I think the Yankees would like to have Montero as the #2 catcher next season and have him catch roughly 1/3 of the games and DH the rest with Posada as the DH on days when Montero catches. Hopefully he will progress defensivy enough to make that a possibility.
Stucky,
We should have some player movement from extended spring training in late May. Some players will be placed at Charleston and some Charleston players might be demoted to SI. The short season at SI begins on June 18th so I expect the Yankees to make a few moves prior to that date.
Betsy,
Teams like the Yankees buy #1 pitchers, like CC. You don’t develop them because you are never drafting high enough to get those kind of quality arms.
Its the advantage of being a big market team.
If a guy like Hughes or, down the road Jose Ramirez, develops, that’s great.
However, look at the team since the Steinbrenners bought it in 1973. Every #1 pitcher they have had, with the exception of Ron Guidry, was purchased on the FA market.
Why am I not making any sense? You don’t think Montero could hit in the majors to that level right now? I do.
He’s not ready to play everyday in the majors. However, his bat is as close to being a sure thing at the major league level as there is any propsect in baseball at this time.
Anybody going to read Madden’s book on George?
Another big surprise – Carlos Silva
Blake, the Yankees got extraordinarily lucky with Jorge, Mo, Andy and Jeter. They adjusted to the big leagus really quickly. Well, maybe not Mo – but he was a starter at first.. Take a look at Phil. He was the #1 pitching prospect in baseball; he had the stuff, the command and the makeup. Yet, it’s taken him until now to start realizing his potential. Of course he’s had injuries to deal with, but when you start projecting prospects as major leaguers, you only think of it in terms of a straight line (no injuries, no mechanical issues, no adjustment issues, et…) – at least I did.
Top of the first inning for Scranton
Russo single
Corona struck out
Nunez flied out
Winfree singles to right
Montero singles to right, run scores
Weber doubles to left, run scores
Huffman pops out to 2nd
Score is 2-0 Scranton
Skipping ahead after reading Sam’s post.
There have also only been a grand total of 12 games at the stadium. 2 homestands. One in April and one in May so far. And our pitching staff has been better so far this year than last year at this time.
Just picked up a tennis racket for the first time in almost 20 years. Ack!!! Got 9 more lessons. Hope I can make it.
Patrick,
Ryan Doumit, the Pirates current starting catcher, told me Tony could catch and throw right now for just about every team in MLB.
His bat still needs work. He also needs more experience calling games, working with pitchers, and making adjustments.
As Doumit explained to me, its all about getting reps and AB’s at this point. The talent is there.
In a pinch, could he play 2 weeks in the majors right now and not hurt the Pirates defensively? Absolutely.
However, the business issues (starting his clock, putting him on the 40 man roster, etc) aside, its not in the best interests of his overall development as a player.
Hopefully, they follow the “Pedro Alvarez Plan” for him this year. Meaning, if he is still playing well, he will get promoted to AA sometime in June, play in the Futures Game, and finish the year in AA.
That puts him on target to begin next season in AAA.
The Pirates currently have 2, 30 year old catchers in AAA and a 28 year old starting catcher in AA. The path is certainly clear for him.
He just has to keep working hard, improve and things should get interesting in the next year or so.
SJ44,
I think Wave is saying that there’s no way the Yankees carry a DH batting .171 for very long. With Johnson it’s different, he has a track record of success. The Yanks know he’ll start hitting (just like he started yesterday). With Montero, if he hits for a month like Johnson did the Yanks would probably just put him back in AAA.
Wave, correct me if I’m wrong, I don’t mean to speak for you, just giving my own take.
Tony Sanchez seems ticketed for AA Altoona no later than July. If he’s doing what he is in the Florida State League where dimensions are major league like, he must be drawing attention from the Pirate hierarcy.
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....pid=506997
Thanks SJ44, good stuff. Sounds like Tony has a bright future ahead of him.
I miss the constant blasts!
SJ44-
You know perfectly well you aren’t making any sense.
I’ve got an idea, we have a first baseman hitting .178. Let’s save a lot of money, trade Teixeira and call up Juan Miranda. I’m sure he could hit .178 in the majors too.
People are given positions because of expectations. The Yanks aren’t going to give a DH job to someone unless they think he can hit at least average for a DH, on the Yanks better than average.
It’s a big risk that Montero can do that as a rookie. He might, but chances are he won’t. There’s a learning process.
He needs to come up as the primary back-up catcher, and then fill in some at DH as he grows into the role. But he needs to come up as a catcher, not the primary DH.
SJ, then it’s a matter of luck if big teams develop their #1s? Phil was a very highly regarded HS pitcher, but it’s harder to project a kid out of HS, so I guess that’s why he dropped? I don’t know where Lester was drafted, but obviously the Sox struck gold there. I’m not sure where Buchholz was drafted either………I believe the Yankees drafted CJ Henry over him that year.
I have no problems rooting for FA at all – to me, they are a part of the team as much as homegrown players are. That said, I think I will get more satisfaction out of Phil turning into a #1 (as an example) than I would if we just signed another FA stud. Of course I feel a special pride in the core 4…
Sam,
Just wanted to point out that the ARod/Teix HR slump of this year really doesn’t make this year different than last year. Teix only had 3 homers last April (not sure how many were at home) and ARod wasn’t playing.
R.I.P Robin Roberts. For those that remember him in the 50′s, he was as good a pitcher as the game had with not so good Phillie teams and later with the Orioles. The quintessentail innings eater / complete game pitcher.
We have a DH with a .171 BA, but a .396 OBP.
I hate Bill Madden, so I would never buy the book, but I admit that I might check it out in the bookstore.
Maybe the Yankees and the Phillies just have better offenses, maybe thats why they both seem to hit more home runs than other teams.
Wave Your Hat May 6th, 2010 at 11:06 am
I think Montero next year in the MLB is intriguing and will happen. I believe Posada will still be #1 C, Cervelli #2 & Montero #3. Montero will get considerable time at DH IMO also because he is a hitter now. Having 3 C will allow Posada to be rested & DH too and give PR a chance to spell him on the basepaths also.
Montero wowed folks in ST with his hitting ability. I also believe he will be up this Fall.
RIP Robin Roberts. I never saw him pitch, but from all accounts he was a real gentleman ; we’re losing too many of these.
“It’s worth noting, too, that Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez – typically two cogs in the home run hitting machine – have a grand total of four combined”
That’s only 1 less than the 2 had combined at this time last year.
Betsy just wondering if you make breakfast for us men out here? Upstate Kate, Doreen, and Erin are all providers of some sort of nourishment. Have not heard from any of the other female posters on this issue. Erica, Trisha, Angel, M and other please check in. I’ll be scheduling a breakfast tour in the not to distant future. Doreen I’ll schedule you for a weekend, so no worries.
Good fortune,
C
People who jumped on the yankee stadium is a disgraceful “launching pad” really did a poor job.
It usually takes at least two seasons to really determine how a ballpark will play and how the ball will carry.
The use of statistics in baseball can truly be atrocious at times. It’s amazing that people would note the phenomenon of home runs being hit over a small period of time early in the season and not stop and consider the literally hundreds of factors outside the stadium itself that could have caused that result such as say, very bad pitching by the home team’s bull pen.
When people paused and even waited for only half a season of data to accumulate and some good analysis were done adjusting for important factors, it became more and more clear that what we saw over the first few weeks was an the kind of outlier that occurs over a long baseball season. Even in those first decent analysis it became clearer that the new stadium wasn’t helping scoring and its impact on home runs didn’t look to be a big deal.
But that part of the story wasn’t real interesting I guess and didn’t get picked up.
Good to see it’s getting more attention now as it became a recurrent theme around baseball, particularly on the national television broadcasts.
How many teams develop #1 pitchers? Not many.
They are usually acquired from other teams when you are a big market team. Such as what Boston has done with their last three, Pedro, Schilling, and Beckett.
Wave,
We can agree to disagree. I believe if Montero shows he can hit ML pitching, 350 AB’s at DH and another 150 AB’s as a catcher isn’t a stretch and he would produce more than respectable numbers with that split in this lineup.
Moseley pitching for Scranton
single
walk
walk
balk, run scores
ground out
ground out
infield single, run scores
double, run scores
double 2 run scores
strikeout
5-2 Scranton losing.
Trenton leads 2-0 on Gil’s 2 run single
GreenBeret7 May 6th, 2010 at 11:17 am
RIP, Robin Roberts. You had a great career and one of the only pleasures the Phillies had in the 1950s. A deserving HOF pitcher.
Wow! I always thought he was great! I didn’t know that he wasn’t in HOF! What a shame!
I’m not too sure Montero is ready to hit in the majors. Let him succeed in AAA. I certainly have high hopes for him but a bit slower pace. Each step up the rung is harder with the last one being the biggest of them all. I haven’t seen him throw much, but he looked pretty good catching and blocking in his minimal spring training play I saw.
On a different note, I don’t like it when the Yankee top ten prospects include guys who have never played professionally, like Sanchez and Heathcott. In baseball, unlike other sports, tools guarantee you a look but certainly no assurance of success.
New Post: Keeping the pace in Boston
Robin Roberts was a fireballing right hander that had 6 straight 20 win seasons and usually lead the league in strikeouts. Much the same pitcher as Seaver. Was a yankee for two months in 1962 but never pitched for them. Finished with Houston and the Cubs.
SJ44-
OK, no problem.
But if I were the Yanks, my only goal would be that Montero be the Yanks’ full-time catcher in 2012. I would focus like a laser on that goal, and do whatever is required to achieve it. If I couldn’t get there without Montero spending substantial time in AAA next year, I’d play Montero in AAA. If I could get there playing Montero as the backup catcher in 2011 with some DH duty, I’d do that.
Wave Your Hat May 6th, 2010 at 11:34 am
They only gave NJ a 1 yr contract because Montero is coming up next year & Posada will need to DH some as well.
I don’t miss the constant HR’s. Prefer a park which plays like the old Yankee Stadium.
dating back to when i viisited Camden Yards (Baltimore) where every ball popped up in the air looks like a HR, it made me realize i prefer “pitcher’s parks” and “neutral parks”.
Comerica (Detroit), PETCO (San Diego), Royals Stadium, etc all look like perfect parks to me.
i like a lot of home runs but only when its the yankees hitting them
We will see by the end of the season, how the stadium is faring with the home runs.
Sam – when you wrote this did you consider how few games they have played at home this season? Compared to last season at this point? That is another # that is considerably down, no? Apples to apples….