My own curiosity: Non-roster invites worth seeing
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Feb 12, 2011 
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Derek Jeter and A.J. Burnett need to bounce back. Phil Hughes and Brett Gardner need to keep moving forward. CC Sabathia needs to stay healthy, Mariano Rivera needs to keep defying father time and the Yankees need to find a couple of starting pitchers from a pile of unknowns.
The spring performance of Daniel Brewer is nowhere near the list of Yankees concerns this spring. I get that.
But I can’t help myself.
I’ve always liked seeing players who were fighting to get themselves on the radar. Even if they’re fighting for nothing more than the last spot on the bench or a role in the September bullpen, the non-roster invites are an interesting lot. You might forget about them completely by this time next year, but right now, you just never know.
Eric Chavez and Mark Prior
Just trying to stay healthy
Of all the veterans invited to big league camp, it’s rotation candidates Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia who have the most important challenge ahead of them. But the most intriguing challenge might belong to Chavez and Prior, once very good big leaguers whose careers were torn apart by injuries. It’s impossible to ignore these two, even if they are fighting for bit roles on the bench and in the bullpen.
Adam Warren
A rising star
Manny Banuelos is generally considered a Top 50 minor league talent. David Phelps and D.J. Mitchell finished last season in Triple-A. It’s natural that those non-roster invites would generate some attention. What’s surprised me this offseason is how often Warren’s name has been mentioned. Not that I doubt his talent — the numbers paint a pretty compelling picture — but Warren has only 10 games of Double-A experience. Is that really enough to put himself in the mix for a big league spot?
Jesus Montero
A hitter who can catch, or a catcher who can hit?
It’s kind of ridiculous to include Montero on this list because everyone is going to be paying attention to him. He had a very real chance to be the Yankees Opening Day catcher until Russell Martin signed this winter. Instead, he’s coming to camp as something of a long shot — Francisco Cervelli probably has a leg up on the backup role — but Montero will have a chance to force the Yankees hand and convince them that another year in Triple-A would be a waste of time. It’s impossible to ignore huge talent that’s knocking on the door, and Montero might knock that door of its hinges.
Brian Anderson
Outfielder turned reliever
What’s not to like about this story? Once considered among the top center field prospects in baseball, Anderson got some time in the big leagues, couldn’t hit, and moved to the mound for the first time since high school. Now he’s trying to establish himself all over again. I have no idea whether it will work, but it will be interesting to see him try. Plus, the guy is one of Shelley Duncan’s good friends. What’s not to like?
Daniel Brewer
A prospect on the verge
Brewer reminds me a little bit of what Colin Curtis was last spring: Not on the 40-man, and not a big-name prospect, but a guy who does enough things well that he couldn’t play himself into a big league role at some point this season. Working against Brewer is the fact the 40-man is loaded with similar outfield options — Curtis, Justin Maxwell and Greg Golson — but if Brewer builds on last season and one of those three takes a step back, the Yankees could have another outfielder to consider if/when a mid-season hole presents itself.
Six more…
Jorge Vazquez — The power is real. Is everything else ready for the big leagues?
Manny Banuelos — Youngest guy in camp, and arguably the best young arm in the system.
Neal Cotts and Andy Sisco — They’ve been to the big leagues before, and lefties always have a chance to open some eyes and get another shot.
Austin Romine — How would you feel if you were one of the 10 best catching prospects in baseball and were still completely overshadowed in your own organization?
Doug Bernier — He hit .181 in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre two years ago and the Yankees still brought him back. Tells you how good he is with the glove.
wow Chad you are spoiling us w/ all these posts
Chad -
“Manny Banuelos — Youngest guy in camp, and arguably the best young arm in the system.”
Better than Hughes? Or do you mean best arm in the minors?
Russell Martin is more of an unknown than Montero at this point.
Blake, I’ve seen a good deal of Adams before he was promoted to Trenton. Good glove and he can hit.
Not big power or blazing speed but he can run, a real good gap hitter. Lots of doubles and some triples thrown in.
Doreen February 12th, 2011 at 7:11 pm
gb7
do you think the Yankees were doing someone a favor by taking a look-see at Belliard?
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Doreen, belliard is a curious minor league signing, so, it’s possible that NYYs had a reason other than thinking he could help them. It makes sense and it’s been done before. Add him to a trade if a team has an injury during ST? He’s still a decent 2nd base glove and has always hit until last year, so, he could make a trade look better.
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play......id=3577846
Brian Anderson did that.
how about this one GB
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzUfmh3G9AE
I think that this is the year that Brewer opens a lot of eyes with the things he can do. He’ll never be a home run hitter, but, he can hit, run, drives in runs and plays all 3 outfield spots well. He’s played a little first base, too. Even has a game at third base.
to all New Yorkers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkNVwV5zquM
Brewer gets on base. That’s the most important thing a hitter can do.
GB ..request
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMu24ItpJN0
Brian Anderson is very interesting given the conversion. Here’s a good article on him:
http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....nkees.html
One thing I love about the depth is that any injuries or after September call-ups, the Yankees will have an advantage over other clubs. Very deep bench for pennant stretch.
Phil-
Just curious.
Who’s your pick(s) for surprise of ST ?
If you need to, give me 2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
gb7 -
Thanks. I thought that kind of thing might be able to happen. And since the Yankees seem to have some in-house candidates for the position that he’d fill, I thought “contingency” or “favor.”
You gotta love spring training.
Everybody, it seems, has a chance. Some a first chance, some a chance at redemption. A rebirth, waiting to happen. Everybody starts out with the same stats for the season.
All you have to do is produce.
MTU, I’ll give you four. Chavez, Warren, Phelps and DJ Mitchell.
GB-
I’m going with the Catchers Cervelli and Martin.
Can certainly see yours though.
Been a big Warren fan from the beginning. Saw him as a “sleeper”. Doesn’t look it’s gonna be that way much longer.
I know you have been high on both Mitchell and Phelps.
It’s gonna be a great ST.
Doreen, not sure where Belliard would fit as a starter with another team (Mets) unless somebody gets hurt, or, if San Diego makes a utility player out of Eckstein. Still, it’s no expense and sort of a “why not?” signing, sort of like Colon was.
Montero.. goes north
Brandon Laird…..to bad the kid couldn’t play a little SS & 2ND
Joe-
Not in my case. I’m beyond redemption.
Good thing I like a hot climate.
MTU, the coaches will have their work cut out for them this spring. I don’t see many fishing trips in their immediate future. I can see more split squad games, too. 67 players in camp?
You have to love the competitive battles the Yankees create, whether it’s the catching position, bullpen, or bench. That’s what spring training is all about.
GB-
They sure will.
One of the more interesting springs in recent years.
Really looking forward to this one.
All kinds of surprises possible.
I like Mitchell, mainly because I can see him as a swingman. He’s a severe groundball pitcher and would be great to bring in and get a DP and go another inning or two. Spot start. He could also make the rotation. His size concerns me some, though (endurance). About 6’2″ and 170 pounds.
since you keep asking GB
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
Blake, SyFy aired a movie last year called Mega Shark vs. Mega Octopus; I normally don’t watch these things, but I love sharks, so I had to watch. Megaladon was a real animal and this one was like that except on steroids; it was totally cheesy.. At one point the shark leaped out of the water and grabbed a 747 in mid-air, lol. It also bit the Golden Gate bridge in half.
MTU,
I think Montero will impress. I think David Adams and Brandon Laird may surprise on the positional side and I think Banduelos, Betances and Brackman will be the talk on the pitching side.
GB-
How old is he ? Maybe he is still filling out his frame.
I think the Yankees are going back to what made them great during the Dynasty years.
The farm + strategic acquisitions.
That’s the perfect storm all over again.
The rest of of baseball should be afraid. Very afraid.
That’s also why I was asking about Nunez. The Yankees want to have all the premium positions taken care of with either homegrowns or acquisiitions.
Save money where you can and go for the throat with the savings.
Gotta love it.
My guess – Laird is a mid-season callup this season. Makes the big club out of ST next year.
Montero….because Martin is done
Laird…..because he’ll win the MVP at ST
Thanks Phil.
Just wanted to get your take.
Lot’s of eye candy this Spring. No doubt about that.
Talent galore.
GB,
Thanks, obviously he’s blocked with the Yanks but middle infielders are always in demand….
MTU, without looking, I’m thinking that Mitchell is 23 years old.
How about among the relief core ?
I’m going with 3 there.
The 2 lefties Cotts and Sisco, and Mark Prior.
GB special
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WANNqr-vcx0
# MTU February 12th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
How about among the relief core ?
I’m going with 3 there.
The 2 lefties Cotts and Sisco, and Mark Prior.
————————————————————
Prior…now thats a longshot
GB-
Then he just needs to eat some more Twinkies and Ring Dings. He’s still young.
Prior is a longshot. It’s just a gut feeling. This might be his last chance and he has his old pitching coach to work with.
Besides, it would be a real feel good story.
I’m pulling for him.
Betsy,
I think that’s the same one I.was talking about…..so cheesy its great!
# MTU February 12th, 2011 at 8:26 pm
Prior is a longshot. It’s just a gut feeling. This might be his last chance and he has his old pitching coach to work with.
Besides, it would be a real feel good story.
I’m pulling for him.
——————————————————————–
would be nice, he needs a break
another arm this spring is Andrew Sisco. He hasn’t pitched in about three years until this past season. 46 relief games in the minors an 15 starts in the Mexican Winter League. Low ho,er totals, controlled his walks and a lot of strikeouts in about 150 total innings. If he’s healthy, another big left arm. Not sure about Cotts, though. Definately would love to see Prior come in and pull a Kerry Wood, though. Lots of arms to look at.
Blake, here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....&NR=1
Joeman-
Last train to Gun Hill. I hope he’s on it.
But this is what you’re talking about (I’ve never seen this movie):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
Low ***ho,er*** totals
———————————————————————————————————————-
Low homer totals
GB-
Cots was very good at one time. He and Logan were good with the WS if memory serves.
I’m hoping for another resurrection to go with some of the others.
LOL they couldn’t even spend money on a CGI shark – they just enlarged a great white. The best was in Jaws 3, when the shark (go get them!) attacked the underwater theme park and the fake guy wasn’t even swimming (you can tell because his tail fin wasn’t moving back and forth). Boy, that was god-awful.
Here’s the Golden Gate scene – poor SF, lol:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvciIVcn33c
Anyone wanting to see excellence in film making click on the link Betsy provided.
Joe from Long Island February 12th, 2011 at 8:18 pm
My guess – Laird is a mid-season callup this season. Makes the big club out of ST next year.
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joe,
Unless something goes wrong with Chavez, that’s what I’m thinking. He struggled some after his promotion to Scranton, as he does, normally. Tends to be really streaky. Maybe three times a year, he doesn’t hit anything for about a week-10 days and then, nobody can get him out. big time power, though.
I always root for the shark in those situations…………
Prior…….
31 years old
42-29
3.51 era
657 innings
757 K’s
I mean seriously when you just take like stock shots of great whites from shark week land superimpose jet skis flying into their mouths then it really doesn’t get much better.
MTU February 12th, 2011 at 8:35 pm
GB-
Cots was very good at one time. He and Logan were good with the WS if memory serves.
I’m hoping for another resurrection to go with some of the others.
———————————————————————————————————————-
I’m hoping they all have great springs and it makes the coaching staff pull their hair out…or. in Gorardi’s case, his scalp, trying to decide who makes it. Of course, whoever it is, needs to carry it over until mid-November (last WS game of 2011).
Since I like bad puns. Let’s just say he has plenty of Prior experience.
cut & paste
Early Look at Yankees Bullpen
By Mike Silva ~ February 12th, 2011. Filed under: Mike Silva, New York Yankees.
Chamberlain to Soriano to Rivera. That could be the winning combination for the Yankees in 2011 out of the bullpen. New pitching coach Larry Rothschild believes this bullpen could be just as good as the 1990 Reds “Nasty Boys” edition that featured Rob Dibble, Norm Charlton, and Randy Myers. The difference is this bullpen is better, and deeper, than the Cincinnati edition.
The only positional battle will be the long reliever as the bullpen looks to be as follows:
Mariano Rivera
Rafael Soriano
Joba Chamberlain
David Robertson
Pedro Feliciano
Boone Logan
That is a formidable group that has balance and is full of arms that miss bats. Two lefties, something missing from last year’s edition, will allow Joe Girardi additional flexibility early in the ballgame. I could see Logan summoned before the seventh inning, while Feliciano is the late game situational lefty.
The presence of Soriano not only gives the Yankees two closers, but also pushes Chamberlain and Robertston into lower leverage situations. Their historical inconsistencies makes that a far better role for the young righties.
I wouldn’t discount the importance of a long reliever as the backend of the rotation could feature the ageless Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon. There will be nights those two could hit the showers early. Is Sergio Mitre the answer? He always seems to be a Girardi favorite. A sleeper could be Mark Prior, someone who I assumed would get a shot to crack the rotation, but more than likely will be headed to Scranton. Perhaps Prior could regain his form under his former pitching coach and gives the Yankees quality bullpen innings as the long man. Don’t forget Romulo Sanchez, who is out of options, and had a decent season in Triple-A (10-8, 3.97, 8.3 strikeouts per nine).
This collection not only could be “nasty,” but might be one of the best bullpen editions we have seen in the Bronx in quite some time.
GB-
From your mouth the Baseball God’s ears.
Like the optimism.
MTU February 12th, 2011 at 8:42 pm
Since I like bad puns. Let’s just say he has plenty of Prior experience.
———————————————————————————————————————-
You’re on the “Mark” with that one.
Thanks for that article on the bullpen. What kind if deal does Prior have? Can he opt out if he doesn’t make the roster? Can’t picture him in Scranton.
Joeman-
I agree with that article emphatically.
That BP has it all.
Power, experience, quality, finesse, versatility, and depth.
Dyn-o-mite.
# m February 12th, 2011 at 8:47 pm
Thanks for that article on the bullpen. What kind if deal does Prior have? Can he opt out if he doesn’t make the roster? Can’t picture him in Scranton.
———————————-
pitches well & is healthy, doesn’t go north with the team ( don’t know if he could a extended ST) someone will pick him up
Prior’s signed to a 1 year minor league contract
superb cinematography, half wondering where Nick was during that whole attack.
GB-
Can’t top the badness of that one. I bow to your excellence Sir.
The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix kicks offat Snight at the Izod Center in New Jersey. Its a heavyweight-heavy card that will air on Showtime Sat night and its headlined by MMA deity, Fedor Emelianenko. The main card has five heavyweight battles, so expect big punches and… just hope for the best.
MTU, bad puns are the only thing where being the worst makes you the best.
GB ….your favorite song is ?
GB-
In that case I guess It’s good to be bad at something so you can feel good about yourself.
Sounds like something Yogi would say.
ok I’ll pick it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
MTU, the start of my punny life. These are the worst of the worst.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
m,
Prior’s agreement with the Yankees will pay him a base salary of $750,000 if he makes the team and also includes another $750,000 in performance incentives based on innings pitched. He will head to spring training with the intention of being a reliever, and he is willing to go to the minor leagues if he doesn’t break camp on the 25-man roster.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH4-tOqLH94
Who can ever forget about the search for the Kerwood Derby?
# Jackson February 12th, 2011 at 9:11 pm
m,
Prior’s agreement with the Yankees will pay him a base salary of $750,000 if he makes the team and also includes another $750,000 in performance incentives based on innings pitched. He will head to spring training with the intention of being a reliever, and he is willing to go to the minor leagues if he doesn’t break camp on the 25-man roster.
——————————————————
clears it up for me….
that’s per MLBfanhouse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
GB-
Thanks. I’ll check that out when I get a chance. Not on my regular computer at the moment.
“I was looking down the bore…of the deadly 44 …of? Ringo..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
Thnx, guys. Sounds familiar. There were just too many minor league signings to keep track of.
Hope there’s enough innings for all the arms we’ll need to see, and evaluate. Nice problem. It beats the alternative.
Joe, there’s going to be about 25-30 arms in camp. Lots of split squads and minor league games to play. Should be a busy time.
michael kays wedding: cone, oneill, tino, girardi, leiter, hal steinbrenner, danny aiello, brian williams … and rudy giuliani officiating
From MLb-Rumors-R-Us:
“•Brian Anderson is in Yankees camp and trying to make the team as a reliever, writes Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News. The former outfielder and first-round pick of the White Sox was DFA’d by the Royals in December after spending 2010 in the Kansas City organization, converting to life as a hurler. Anderson, signed to a minor league deal by the Bombers, said he was told by the Yankees that he has a chance to make the team out of camp, but if he doesn’t, he will return to the minors to contine working.”
GB – I’d be shocked if Prior beats out Joba, or DRob, for a spot in the pen. I think his real competition is more likely to be Mitre, or Sanchez, for that long man spot. All the long man needs to do is about three innings, and he might be able to do that. His days as a starter seem to be gone.
Joe from Long Island February 12th, 2011 at 9:38 pm
GB – I’d be shocked if Prior beats out Joba, or DRob, for a spot in the pen. I think his real competition is more likely to be Mitre, or Sanchez, for that long man spot. All the long man needs to do is about three innings, and he might be able to do that. His days as a starter seem to be gone.
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Yeah, joe..Prior’s shot is as the 7th man in the pen, and barring a trade of sanchez or Mitre, etc., that’s his only real shot, but, stranger things have happened. He’s got to be the sentimental choice. The Yankees have finally got him signed after 13 years. of waiting.
Anderson is trying to do a reverse Ankiel.
OF’er to pitcher rather than Pitcher to OF’er.
Good thing he isn’t trying for the full Nelson yet.
He’s still got a chance.
Anderson’s still pretty young, so, it would make for another great story…Sisco, Prior and Anderson all make NYYs by this summer. Not likely but…who knows?
Definitely feel good material.
NDAT.
All right, guys, I’m done for the night. It’s been pretty busy today, not much sleep last night, so I’m done. Have a good night, all. Back at it tomorrow.
Tuesday’s the day.
Good night Joe.
Slumber time for me too soon.
Early hike time tomorrow.
Oh, Oh!!!! Looks like Mrs Joe has the good doctor by the short ones. Any bets that he left dishes in the sink after dinner and the Mrs is a touch upset. I bet he gets grounded.
One of Billy Eppler’s scouts was impressed with Anderson that he could throw strikes and not walk many batters, a plus for a converted OF’er. He wasn’t just chucking the ball.