Minor league rosters coming together
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Minor League Teams on Apr 05, 2011 
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For the most part, minor league rosters aren’t finalized until the last minute. The Yankees four full-season teams get started on Thursday, so we might not have official minor league rosters until then.
But the groups are starting to come together.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
According to Donnie Collins, the Triple-A rotation is set with David Phelps, Hector Noesi, Adam Warren, D.J. Mitchell and Andrew Brackman. In that order. That’s pretty much as expected. I went into spring training thinking Warren might go back to Trenton — only because he didn’t have a lot of starts there last year — but it seemed pretty clear within a few days of camp that he was going to Scranton.
The rest of the early Scranton roster is similarly predictable. Donnie’s latest list has 27 players assigned to Triple-A, and that will be trimmed to 24 before the opener.
Trenton
Muuch like Scranton, Josh Norris reports that the Double-A rotation has been set with Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances, Graham Stoneburner, Shaeffer Hall and Steve Garrison, not necessarily in that order. Enjoy that group, Trenton. They might not be there long.
Norris also has a rough Double-A roster that will have to be tweaked before the opener. Brad Suttle is not listed, but that seems to be nothing more than a typo. Mark Newman confirmed this morning that Suttle is definitely still with the organization, and unless Suttle is hurt, Double-A is the most logical place for him.
Tampa
It seems contrary to what you might expect, but Tampa is always the last roster to go public. There’s no one who really covers that team — that I know of, anyway — so the information is slow to arrive.
Charleston
The team released an official roster, one that includes Gary Sanchez, Slade Heathcott, J.R. Murphy, Ramon Flores, Anderson Feliz and Tommy Kahnle.
The most notable players left off the Charleston roster are from last year’s draft. Third-round pick Rob Segedin is the highest pick from last year’s draft on the Charleston roster. Newman confirmed that first-round pick Cito Culver will open in extended spring, and it looks like Angelo Gumbs and Mason Williams will be in extended as well. The Yankees took a similar approach with Heathcott last season.
Released
Baseball America has the end-of-camp cuts: RHP Ryan Acosta, RHP Philip Bartleski, RHP Bryant Cotton, RHP Joel Marte, RHP Ben Watkins, LHP Sam Elam, LHP Trenton Lare, C Kyle Perkins, 1B Nick Ebert, 2B Ronnie Belliard, 2B Justin Snyder, OF Isaiah Brown
Newman said this morning that no one else has been released since minor league camp broke on Sunday.
“What I wrote was a factual assessment of Joba’s journey.”
Absent a point.
well, look who else is on Twitter:
YankeesPR Had a couple people ask; give a warm Twitter welcome to our All-Star/Gold Glove Award-winning First Baseman @teixeiramark25
lol @ Stuckey.
Man I hope Russel with the Muscle can stay healthy. Love that addition.
As I have said many times before we have developed a logjam of pitching talent at the upper levels of the minors.
And while depth is good, unless attrition takes it’s toll, many of these guys are going to have to be traded by the end of this year.
Should be interesting to see how things sort themselves out and what might come back in return.
jnorris427 Josh Norris
Talked to people this AM. Suttle is with Thunder. Reason he wasn’t on roster can be blamed on the evils of modern technology.
Was reading on the Scranton blog last night how unusual it is for AAA rotation to have 5 young, legit prospects of some level, as opposed to organizational depth and rehabbing veteran types.
Add to it the AA guys and we’ll pretty much have the results of a true high-level pitching prospect to pour over every night.
KC won’t be winning anytime soon
—
Depends on your definition of soon…
I know he never really had a chance but I couldn’t help but root for Justin Snyder.
By July, any starting pitching issues the Yankees may have could very well be solved from within the organization.
Especially if the offense and bullpen are as good as they have shown in the first four games.
And what about what might wait behind them:
DePaula
Marshall
Mitchell
Ramirez
Not too shabby.
SJ-
Having 2 guys like Soriano and Mo to close out games almost seems unfair.
By showing some restraint, Cashman is also going to have the option in July of taking on some unwanted contracts of starters from teams that aren’t fulfilling preseason expectations (see Bobby Abreu et al).
The only risk is hanging in until July which I think is a solid risk to take.
MTU – right on about the younger guys in the system as well.
DePaula needs to get his visa worked out.
The Yankees also signed a really high ceiling talent out of the Dominican contingent on his obtaining a visa.
Cashman and Co. should probably consider sending some money the immigration officials way to get these guys to the states and into the system.
The point Stuckey is I think Joba is overrated. That’s my opinion, you are certainly entitled to yours. I absolutely would love to be wrong on this.
Five-
Absolutely. Pay the “mordida” and get it done.
I forgot about that other one.
SJ
What do you think the odds are for a couple of the B’s being traded to Mariners for Felix?
MILB’s AA Eastern League’s top 10 to watch. Banuelos and Betances are #2 and #3. Tony Sanchez is #8.
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....;fext=.jsp
Ray-
I hope that doesn’t include Banuelos.
He’s a keeper.
WCYF
Joba is what he is! Great raw talent! If he puts it together the sky is the limit. Really! Mentorship from Mo is a huge plus IMO. Everyone develops & re-develops in their own time schedule.
GB-
Banuelos = #1. Don’t thank me. I fixed that for ya’
MTU April 5th, 2011 at 12:29 pm
I understand, just wanted to get SJ’s opinion.
Unless Bryan Mitchell is starting in Tampa (not likely), it looks like extended ST is his location.
MTU:
I have posted the question here a couple of times, do you or does anyone know where DePaula will start out at ? (Level wise that is)
Ray-
Pardon my budding in then.
RayVT I hope that’s true. If he puts it together.
VY-
I don’t. That would be something that GB, SJ or others would have a better feel for. Sorry.
GB-
You might have a few really good arms to watch at Charleston this season.
WCYF,
If you don’t think Chamberlain is or can be an effective 7th inning bridge, or don’t think he has a future as closer or even 8th inning set-up guy, that’s fair and there is certainly room for discussion.
But the “how the mighty have fallen” thing is just small and petty, and even worse, tired.
I, however, do not question your entitlement to be small, petty and tired, and I assume you don’t question my entitlement to say so.
MTU, looks like they just put the players to watch in alphabetical order with no thought to talent level.
sj44-
i think an interesting thing happened because of the perceived weakness in the starting rotation after not getting lee. i think cashman and the rest of the brain trust looked at everything else they could do and they strengthened those areas.
russell martin could be really good. i’m impressed with his thought process with pitchers. he’s really into bringing out the best in each pitcher and is into each pitch. having soriano is huge.the veteran starters added in garcia and colon and andrew jones and chavez for depth only helps even more.
i like the cumulative effect of all the small things done to make up for not getting lee. yeah, there’ll be bumps in the road, but this to me is looking like a good year developing.
The difference Stuckey is that my assessment was true. He was lauded as a starter, he failed, he was lauded as the 8th inning bridge to Mo, he failed.
By the way, please don’t put words in my mouth. I never said Joba can’t be an effective 7th inning relief pitcher did I?
GB-
Must be Newman staring into his Campbell’s alphabet soup again.
Oh well. I can think of worse things.
Joba is in the big leagues contributing…..craig hansen isnt
Randy-
Don’t go all optimistic on us.
That would be a really dangerous reverse barometer.
MTU April 5th, 2011 at 12:33 pm
Sorry! I certainly didn’t mean it that way!! I am just curious because I too think Banuelos is going to be a stud!
Randy-
Almost like as if GB suddenly started to spell or type well.
I’d be worried.
The Trenton Thunder web site has posted the roster which can be download as a pdf file.
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....p?sid=t567
Ray,
I think there is no chance Felix is traded this season.
WCYF – There is no difference between the 7th or 8th inning for joba. The only failure in joba’s timeline is the unrealistic expectations put on him by fans and the media.
Odds, I’m in & out here but you’re probably right about KC, though take a look they’ve gotten the ball to Soria 3x now & are 3-1. Nice start for that club, even though they lack the SP to hang around. Loads of talent down the road though, obviously so the fans have something to cheer right now & can look to the future when the team fades.
As for Joba, we’ll keep our covert plans on schedule
.
MTU April 5th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
LOL!
SJ44 April 5th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
Thanks SJ!
BTW Good Luck to UM this year except when they play VT! LOL! I think UM is on the verge of being great again!
Ray-
I don’t normally do predictions but I’ve made an exception for Manny.
I think he will be one of the most watched and talked about young pitchers in the Minors this year, and I expect him to be rated as within the top 10, if not 5, best prospects by season’s end.
Think he can’t do it ? just watch.
All he has to do is stay healthy IMO.
The kid is a prodigy.
“Don’t go all optimistic on us.
That would be a really dangerous reverse barometer.”
mtu-
i like to zig when people think i’m going to zag.
it makes it hard to keep the red dot on me
ID – If Joba was a dominating 8th inning guy they would not have had to spend what they did on Soriano. Interestingly enough, I had no unrealistic expectations for Joba.
MTU April 5th, 2011 at 12:47 pm
I totally agree! It is an exciting time to be a Yankee fan with the mixture of youth and stars.
Mitchell is in EST.
“The difference Stuckey is that my assessment was true. He was lauded as a starter, he failed, he was lauded as the 8th inning bridge to Mo, he failed. ”
I’m not arguing its veracity (not that I agree, I just have no interest in arguing the years-old topic again), I’m questioning its relevancy.
People can use “facts” in small, petty ways.
Is there a point to posting reminders that Chamberlain was once regarded as a future stud starter now 2 years after the fact?
If so, explain to me what it is, again, keeping in mind I’m not questioning your right to do so.
Randy-
I understand. I have used Zig Zag for years. And after I’m done with mine I could care less about the red dot, or most anything else for that matter.
Except for food and … .
randy l. April 5th, 2011 at 12:49 pm
I always thought you call them as you see them! I agree it is a potentially great year in store for the 2011 Yankees. Of course there will be ship jumpers along the way! LOL! Especially if Beantown wins a few.
“If Joba was a dominating 8th inning guy they would not have had to spend what they did on Soriano.”
How did the Soriano expense negatively effect the rest of the roster? What free agent did the Yankees get outpriced on?
stuckey99 April 5th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
With pitching it is basically a month to month thing! In how well you did the last month or not.
Let’s let go of what Joba has or hasn’t done in the past….he’s throwing well right now and can help the 2011 Yankees a great deal if he keeps it up.
Derek Jeter has abandoned some of the changes he made this spring in his plate approach.
Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long tried to help Jeter reduce his front-foot stride this spring, but the veteran shortstop hasn’t felt comfortable at the plate and decided to abandon the new approach Monday. “I just said the heck with it,” Jeter said. “I wasn’t going to think about it. Before you’re trying to think about where your foot is and you’re trying not to move it, and it’s just too much to think about.” He is 2-for-14 with an RBI and three runs scored. Apr 5, 11:56 AM
Source: ESPN New York
Because Stuckey, this is a forum for discussions about the Yankees and their players and Joba is as talked about here as anyone. He is in the news again after Girardi came out and said he was now the official 7th inning guy. It struck me as ironic given his history, that’s all.
Regarding small and petty in my opinion, that’s subjective rhetoric, noting I said nothing to you in the same vein. I’d rather debate the merits if that’s ok with you.
MTU:
Thanks for the response.
==================
Kind of sad to see Igawa’s name on the AA Trenton roster, the guy can’t even languish at AAA Scranton ? A $ 45 million dollar project that didn’t work out. Thank goodness the Yankees can absorb financial hits like that.
Well that was quick
Irreverent Discourse April 5th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
I personally thought not moving his front foot was stupid! It made no sense to me & it tied him up on inside pitches. I suspect a little less jump would help him. I wonder if there is some bounce in his vision that is causing an issue. When I hit 35 I noticed a slight bounce in my vision especially batting & chasing flyballs. LOL! I have/had a high leg kick when I batted.
Vineyard Yankee April 5th, 2011 at 12:57 pm
It really hurt the Yankees that contract wise it was cheaper to keep him than trade him. Very unfortunate, because I think he could start for some teams today especially in the NL.
stuckey99 April 5th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
“If Joba was a dominating 8th inning guy they would not have had to spend what they did on Soriano.”
How did the Soriano expense negatively effect the rest of the roster? What free agent did the Yankees get outpriced on?
*****************
I never said Soriano’s signing negatively effected the roster did I? And I never said we lost a free agent did I? Why insert those straw men?
It does seem obvious to me that you don’t spend that kind of money on a position you consider a strength. That’s pretty much 101A business of baseball material. The Yankees are not going to sign a first baseman, or center fielder, or second baseman, etc.
Jeter just took me down off my bacon high
1. Warren
2. DJ Mitchell
3. Phelps
4. Brackman
5. Noesi
6. Black
7. Stoneburner
8. Betances
9. Banuelos
10. Hall
11. DePaula
12. Bryan Mitchell
13. Marshall
14. Bleich
15. Kahnle
16. Ramirez
17. Turley
18. Whitley
19. Romanski
This is in no particular order but if only 20% hit on making any difference, Yankee pitching (starters will be in pretty good shape for years to come.
I got to run.
Catch you all later.
LGY – It was reported by ESPN so… hold onto that bacon
The headline doesn’t match the story.
He said he’s not thinking about his stance. Not that he abandoned it.
The only thing he “abandoned” was thinking about it.
RayVT:
I don’t think it ‘hurt’ the Yankees, as I said they are more able to absorb financial hits like that than almost any other ML Club.
As far as trading him I doubt there was much of a market if any based on what he showed performance wise. Who would in their right mind would want to trade for him and pay him that salary ? The Yanks probably would have had the pay a substantial portion of his contract if he was traded anyway.
YES guys pointed it out last night. He was “toe tapping” again.
I believe ARod might DH today giving Posada & Gardner a day off & Chavez & Jones ABs.
So is he still trying to keep that front foot planted?
They talked about it on the broadcast yesterday and it was obvious he was moving his front foot again. Did anyone notice when that started? If it was after ST or during the end?
He hasn’t been hitting with a stride that I can tell so that story doesn’t seem.accurate.
SJ44 April 5th, 2011 at 1:04 pm
Hmm! I didn’t see that! True!
Jonathan isn’t a “failure” at 25. That’s just disgruntled fan babble.
Some guys take longer to find a role, make adjustments, etc.
That’s not being a “failure”.
If he has a good year this year, he helps this team win a lot of games. Which is the ultimate goal.
Randy,
I agree. Sometimes, things don’t go according to plan. Instead of whining about it, you adjust.
I think the adjustments the Yankees made Post-Lee have the potential to turn out very well.
It also helps that both Arod and Tex look great in the early going.
I like Martin. All the pitchers I talked to this Spring commented how much they like throwing to him.
He fpcatches and frames well, sets a good target, and I like his game calling.
I bet the Red Sox would like a do over and sign him right now.
Joba, not Jonathan. Sorry for the typo.
DiMaggio is the only hitter I know of that could hit totally flat footed and no stride. It was strange to see, but, even 10-13 years later, in Old Timers games, he still hit the same way and hit homers 3 straight years. CBS with Reese and Dean used to carry the games.
GreenBeret7 April 5th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
True! But Joe D did move his weight forward when he hit & he wasn’t flat-footed.
Yeah the actual article on ESPN is strangely written. Hard to tell what O’Connor actually means.
If being a valuable, contributing member of a team is ‘failing’, then what’s succeeding?
GreenBeret7 April 5th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Didn’t he do the toe thing lifting all but his toe and then shift his weight forward as he swung?
Jeter is still not striding so, nothing mechanically has changed.
Yikes. Not kind words a little further down in the article. O’Connor taking notes from Wally.
“Only Jeter moved more like an old man shooing pigeons in a park, and less like the supple and graceful athlete he used to be. The shortstop booted the ball, accepted the E-6 with a smile, and returned to the only position he’s ever wanted to play.”
Pujols has virtually no.stride either….id have to look at tape to confirm but I don’t even think be picks him front foot off the ground….just pivots..
stuckey99 says:
April 5, 2011 at 12:52 pm
“If Joba was a dominating 8th inning guy they would not have had to spend what they did on Soriano.”
How did the Soriano expense negatively effect the rest of the roster? What free agent did the Yankees get outpriced on?
————-
Ooooh
Its hard to tell what anything O’conner writes means….
Oooh I know that one!!!
None?
Sj – Even without the stride could the toe tapping (yea I’m going there) contribute to timing issues with his swing?
GB…..Joltin Joe had such strong hands and such a long swing that was a thing of beauty…..He could actually turn his hands at the last second to alter the swing to adjust to the pitch…….But it was The Babe that had the fastest hands ….They just exploded at the pitch
Gehrig’s swing is underrated I think…..was as pretty as the Babe’s or Williams but man was it functional….looks like he kept the bat in the zone forever.
Toe tapping is a timing mechanism some hitter use.
In Jeter’s case, perhaps he feels if he toe taps, his timing would be a little cleaner than it’s been.
For him, the key is for him to find a way to not jam himself on pitches on the inner half of the plate.
Clearly, the swing and his timing is still a work in progress.
14 AB’s is nowhere close to making a definitive declaration on how it’s going.
Ray, you’re right. His back heel came off of the ground. Still an unusal stance and swing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
*wasn’t*
“It struck me as ironic given his history, that’s all.”
WCYF, if you want to keep pretending it was just an opportunity to take a shot, and you made NO point other than to take a shot at him, I obviously can’t stop you.
“Regarding small and petty in my opinion, that’s subjective rhetoric”
And “My, how the mightly have fallen” is what???
“I’d rather debate the merits if that’s ok with you.”
I’m still waiting.
“I never said Soriano’s signing negatively effected the roster did I? And I never said we lost a free agent did I? Why insert those straw men?”
Then what’s the relevancy?
Yes, the Yankees spent money on Soriano instead of giving Chamberlain the role.
And…?
Thanks SJ!
It looks to me that Jeter has settled somewhere between his old stance and the new one he worked on with Long. He’s not striding into the ball like he used to. He’s just gone back to the toe tap with no stride. He’s probably doing that to get his timing down. If you’re an actual fan of the guy you saw last night he was hitting the ball hard again. He’s about to break out. So is Gardner.
What I love about the lineup right now is that when it flips you have Martin/Gardner/Jeter setting up for all the sluggers. If the pitcher can’t keep those 3 off the bases, we’ll score 7-8 runs a game most nights.
Jeter has never been a tinkerer like some guys are….he’s a see it and hit it guy. Its not unexpected to me that he’s having some trouble adjusting to something new. I do hope he sticks with it though because I think it will help him after he’s adjusted to it.
SJ44 April 5th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
I am an avid Jeter supporter! LOL! I didn’t get to see the last game on tv so I didn’t know what he did! He is a brilliant baseball player.
GreenBeret7 April 5th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
Thanks GB! I was just looking for a pic/video of Joe D!
G. Love,
I agree. Both Gardner and Jeter had some better swings last night…..gardner is adjusting to a new swing as well….he just looks like he’s been having a little trouble timing when to start, and he’s been late a lot….looked like he was starting to get it last night.
SJ…..I think once Derek has a few good ab’s he’ll start feeling good and then will drive the ball…..As you know so much of the game is played upstairs……I mean just a week ago the talk was how good he was driving the ball in camp……..The microscope and the spotlight is so much more when it comes to not only the Yanks as a team, but Derek Jeter the ballplayer who is fighting father time……Makes for great copy…….
Tim Wakefield was on WFAN this morning – what a nice, classy guy. I can’t believe he’s been with the Sox since 1995(!). He’s got a book out called Knuckler – I’ll have to check that out.
It’s also hard to believe that we have to calm people down about Jeter after 4 games……
The swing of beauty was Mantle from the right side. Almost always level with unreal power.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....&NR=1
GreenBeret7 April 5th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
Truly!
blake……The Iron Horse was in some minds, the 2nd best baseball player ever…..He was crazy great…..
I’m not ready to yet to say this pen is so good that our SP only have to go 6 innings because it’s only 4 games. Soriano, however, looks like he fits like a glove.
SJ, but that again comes down to Manny having to save the rotation. We don’t know about Phil right now and it’s still only 1 start each with Nova and AJ. Asking a kid to solve the rotation woes (if we have them in July) is asking a lot.
GB
From looking at the video it appears that Joe D had several swings/stances. He appeared to take a very short step on fastballs. He appeared much more flat-footed on breaking pitches as if he were holding back and generating power from his hips and a bit of spring off his back foot!
Joe D was such a student of the game! He prided his vision as a point of emphasis such that he wouldn’t go to movie theaters. Ted Williams was the same way. Makes sense 2 of the greatest pure hitters of all time.
GB….Just imagine The Mick playing in The New Stadium ???? What do you think, an additional 100 dingers ???
Facing a LH tonight so that may help Jeter feel comfortable and hopefully get him on a roll.
Wow, I’m glad I didn’t read that article. That is not only mean-spirited, but it makes Jeter sound like a selfish SOB
Nobody has to save the rotation Betsy.
Adding parts durning the season only makes a team better.
The rotation is not nearly as bad as you think it is.
Look around at rotations throughout baseball.
The Yankees rotation is still better than most in the game.
Let me clarify – I mean IF we are having SP problems in July, it would be hard to expect a kid to solve them.
SJ, I have no problem adding parts. I did say last night that I don’t think this is one of the better rotations in baseball and I stand by that; however, the potential is there for it to be so. It’s a matter of just waiting and seeing – I’m not ready to trash the rotation like some in the media, not yet for sure.
“Tampa It seems contrary to what you might expect, but Tampa is always the last roster to go public. There’s no one who really covers that team — that I know of, anyway — so the information is slow to arrive.”
Att Tampa Yank – maybe there is something in this for you? Would it be possible for you (with firends who have a similar interest) to approach the local paper and the TB Yankees and see if you could start a blog covering the team which appears in the paper?
Maybe you could get a press pass and free entry to games. Just a thought … I realize there are more reasons not to look into this than reasons to do it but from a distance it looks like something that might be fun and who knows where it could lead?
Here’s about 8 minutes of home movies of Mantle in August of ’56 at Tiger Stadium. Two of the best hitters that baseball has ever had. Mantle and Kaline. Pitching match-up was Bob Turley and Virgil Trucks (Derek Trucks grand uncle).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
By then though, Betsy, a free agent or two may be available and we won’t need to look to the young guns for help.
You would be hard pressed to find an AL rotation without significant question marks.
Betsy post.
Take a look at how many guys pitched in the starting rotation in 1996, and their ERA’s.
You will be shocked that, aside from Pettitte, it was a struggle to find 5 guys to give consistent performances.
Out of that group, none of the guys were as good as CC.
The bullpen and Pettitte were the strengths of that pitching staff.
There are different ways to win baseball games. It isn’t just rolling out the same five guys, who will all performe at a high level, each week.
Fact is, no team has five solid starting pitchers.
If 2-3 give you what you need, you make due with the rest.
In that regard, the Yankees are in better shape than most teams.
GB
I looked at Mick’s RH stance & I didn’t realize it before that his push off was so powerful that his back leg moved. His arm strength was so powerful that he could be fooled on a pitch & still muscle it over the fence. Awesome hitter.
LGY, when I get a chance tonight, I’m going to go through the rotations……..
SJ, I see your point. It’s really too early to judge how good this rotation is, IMO – or any other teams -except for Philly, I suppose.
From my perspective I think SJ is right that we will see Manny B sooner than a lot of you think.
All of the stuff we’ve been reading is how the shelf life on the young small LH starting pitchers is short and the window to get their best stuff is to use them up before they hit 30.
You look at Johan, Higuera and even Kazmir and you see a pattern of these smaller framed LHP losing effectiveness or suffering injury as they reach 30.
I think the Yankees are going to get him up here and use the arm, not overuse mind you, while they can if they subscribe to that theory.
If the Yankees are smart, they will keep his innings and pitch counts low in AA and save as many bullets for the big team as possible.
“The point Stuckey is I think Joba is overrated and I like to belabor the point in a derisive manner, getting in digs at Joba and even more so the peope who think he can more than a middle innings reliever.”
You left that part out.
The Yankees have had kids (inexperience) come up and save the rotation all the time. Whitey Ford in ’50, roland Sheldon in ’61, Bouton in ’62, Downing in ’63, Stottlemyre in ’64, Guidry in ’77, Pettitte in ’96.
Pettitte pitched 175 innings for the Yankees in 95 so he wasn’t exactly a rookie like those other guys.
RayVT April 5th, 2011 at 1:51 pm
GB
I looked at Mick’s RH stance & I didn’t realize it before that his push off was so powerful that his back leg moved. His arm strength was so powerful that he could be fooled on a pitch & still muscle it over the fence. Awesome hitter.
———————————————————————————————————————-
Every swing was like an explosion of power. His running out of the box or in center was the same way. Like Rickey Henderson, when they ran, it seemed that they were at full speed on the first step.
I meant to say Pettitte in 1995, not ’96. My error.
The problem with the 96 comparison is Mo pitched 107 innings.
GreenBeret7 April 5th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
Yeah! Mick was extremely fast out of the box. I tried some switch hitting to try & run out of the box batting LH but it didn’t work for me. LOL! My swing was more like Ty Cobbs w/o those results! LOL! (Leg kick)
For the record, Pujols does pick up his front foot when he swings, but he doesn’t stride
I’ll take a shot at GTLU even though it is not “official”.
Jeter – SS
Swisher – RF
Teixeira – 1B
Rodriguez – 3B
Cano – 2B
Posada – DH
Jones – LF
Granderson – CF
Martin – C
Joe could start Molina today, but I’ll guess he’ll start him tomorrow night with Garcia starting, or maybe Thursday afternoon (I think it would be better for him to catch Garcia than Burnett).
“From heralded starter – to the heir to Mo – to the 8th inning guy – to the 7th inning guy. My, how the mighty have fallen.”
This is a little disingenuous on your part, WC, since you had him written off as a 6th inning has been and trade bait for a starting pitcher. I would say according to your prognostications, his stock has risen.
I go back to my maxim that a quality player, especially one who still has the blush on his cheek, doesn’t forget how to play.
Patience is a virtue. Obviously the New York Yankees are aware of that.
Thank God.
Joba, Robertson, and Soriano could pitch 180-200 innings and more than fill in for the 107 Mo pitched working the 7th and 8th innings, as he did in ’96.
Joba, Robertson, and Soriano could pitch 180-200 innings and more than fill in for the 107 Mo pitched working the 7th and 8th innings, as he did in ’96.
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How crazy is it that we are talking about 3 guys trying to replace what Rivera did in a season? That 1996 season was so impressive, it was perhaps Mo’s best season ever. What other reliever could pitch so many innings, stay healthy and pitch so well? It’s really astounding…
Read this on ESPN:
An executive of one club that expects to be hunting for a starter says his team has already all but crossed Felix Hernandez off its shopping list because it can’t see Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik, who may already be on the hot seat, making that risky roll of the dice. “I sincerely doubt it,” the exec says. “Enough bad stuff has happened there that they have to show progress in the next year or two. And trading Felix would not help them show it.”
I think there’s a pretty good chance that “executive” works for the Yankees.
Pat M,
Yea he really was….his numbers are incredible.
Ray, about 2:35 or 40 seconds into this clip is a sample of Mantle’s speed on a routine grounder to 2nd base, from the right side.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
So here’s a different tact than I usually take…
For anyone with questions and/or concerns about the rotation, can you name a year any time during the last 16 that you DID not have questions or concerns going into the season?
GreenBeret7 April 5th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Yeah I saw that! And that was from the RH side too! Amazing!
I still love what Twins manager said (shoot, I’m forgetting his name) about Mo – that he should be banned (or something like that) because he was from another world, lol
Patrick,
Thanks….I knew he didn’t stride but couldn’t remember if he picked it up or not. He doesn’t pick it up much if he does. Just pivots with a huge hip rotation.
Though not as good for as long as Rivera, Mike Marshall did a pretty good job of eating up innings in 1974. 106 games, 208 innings, a year after pitching in 92 games and 179 innings. Now, he was a freak of nature.
blake,
Yeah I’m pretty sure he just uses it for timing as SJ44 talked about. He just picks the foot up and puts it back down in the same spot
Betsy, it was Tom Kelly. It was after Mariano pitched multiple innings in a Yankees’ win, in 1996. Along the lines of We don’t want to face him anymore, he needs to play in a higher league, but i don’t know where that league is. He should be made illegal in this one.
Tom Kelley made that remark about Rivera.
GB…..I copied The Rog’s swing and The Mick’s drag bunt when hitting from the left side……Problem was I couldn’t handle the hard stuff down and away……After a few games Cox told me he never wanted to see me hitting left handed ever again…Wiffle Ball included
YES and Yankee Magazine is doing a feature on Alex next month and the writer has blogged a small part about what Jorge and Alex (and some other MLB players) did for a workout this off season.
Exhausting just reading about it.
http://yankees.mlblogs.com/201.....ng-in-may/
GB7,
Good example with Mike Marshall. 208 innings without a single start!? Insane.
blake April 5th, 2011 at 2:14 pm
Patrick,
Thanks….I knew he didn’t stride but couldn’t remember if he picked it up or not. He doesn’t pick it up much if he does. Just pivots with a huge hip rotation.
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Ortiz has a habit of rotating his huge hips…and wipes our two rows of fans next to the dugout.
Joe, thanks! Mo is on a higher plane than anyone – it’s so cliche to say he’s not human, but he’s not. He was born to pitch -period.
Patrick,
Yea timing and helps get your weight transfer going…..his swing is near perfect from the right side.
Pat M. April 5th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
GB…..I copied The Rog’s swing and The Mick’s drag bunt when hitting from the left side……Problem was I couldn’t handle the hard stuff down and away……After a few games Cox told me he never wanted to see me hitting left handed ever again…Wiffle Ball included
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Bobby Cox was such a gentle soul. Never an unkind word….except to umpires and rookies. He had them on the same level. That had to be a treat though to listen to his stories with Mantle….him, Blanchard and Clete Boyer
Pat M,
Bobby could’ve told me I sucked all.together I would’ve been honored
cool story
Pat, Girardi/Long needs to pull out the clips of Mantle drag bunting and let Gardner copy them. Not sure how many times he was thrown out doining it, but, probably not very often.
Question: How low does Jeter’s average have to be on July 1st to be moved down to the 7 8 or 9 hole by Girardi?? My guess is .230. Comments??
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs.....-be-right/
Jeter is not going to be dropped down to 7, 8 or 9
“How low does Jeter’s average have to be on July 1st to be moved down to the 7 8 or 9 hole by Girardi?? My guess is .230. Comments??”
Who cares….its April 5.
I’m just glad Joba is pitching well and hope he continues.
Bobby Cox would have quit baseball and gone into the priesthood if he saw me trying to ‘hit’.
DocTodd April 5th, 2011 at 2:31 pm
Question: How low does Jeter’s average have to be on July 1st to be moved down to the 7 8 or 9 hole by Girardi?? My guess is .230. Comments??
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You want comments?
How about “you’re a trolling idiot”?
Stuckey
this one is my fav:
6. At least one terrible or mediocre non-contender like the Royals, Pirates, Mariners, Orioles, or Cubs will get off to a “hot start.” Numerous words will be spilled to the effect of that they might “make it.” They won’t.
pat April 5th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
YES and Yankee Magazine is doing a feature on Alex next month and the writer has blogged a small part about what Jorge and Alex (and some other MLB players) did for a workout this off season.
Exhausting just reading about it.
http://yankees.mlblogs.com/201…..ng-in-may/
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Wow that is a ridiculous workout. Hi-pulls with 240 lbs after the course they ran and all the upper body strength he must have used on the ropes, sleds, and tires. Jesus christ! Jaw dropping workout.
DePaula is still without a visa isn’t he? Until he has one, he shouldn’t be considered.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....ure=fvwrel
Sticks and stones to all those who mock….just as I was ridiculed for saying Posada was done as a catcher last year…well, I guess I was right….just wanted to see everyone’s take on Jeter, sorry to offend those who view the team through rose colored glasses……..
GB,
I smile whenever I think of PeeWee and Dizzy. I loved it when Dizzy would start singing Wabash Cannonball after sampling his sponsor’s product. My favorite thing Dizzy would say is “You ain’t just a bumpin’ your gums PeeWee”. Those were the days. Now, we get Tim McCarver who makes me want to punch him.
Rain stopped … sky is clearing … looks like they will play tonight. It is very windy here but I am not sure whether it is blowing out or in at YS.
DocTodd,
If your agenda is to come in here and bash Jeter without letting a couple months of the season to play out first, you’re going to find no one in here is going to want to deal with you since you come off as some kind of troll hell bent on seeing our older stars fail.
You predicted Jorge wouldn’t catch again? Great. Boffo. Socko. You’re Nostradamus. No one could see that coming with all the young catching the Yankees have been grooming for years. Do I have to even insert an “eye roll” here?
You’ve been in here every day looking for someone to give you a cookie for calling Jorge’s days behind the plate over, but the fact is I don’t remember you posting in here at all last season. I’m sure you did, but you clearly didn’t leave enough of an impact for all of us to praise you the way you apparently want for predicting Jorge was done behind the dish.
austinmac April 5th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
GB,
I smile whenever I think of PeeWee and Dizzy. I loved it when Dizzy would start singing Wabash Cannonball after sampling his sponsor’s product. My favorite thing Dizzy would say is “You ain’t just a bumpin’ your gums PeeWee”. Those were the days. Now, we get Tim McCarver who makes me want to punch him.
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Mac, Ol’ Diz was a work of art. Loved his Falstaff beer. Of course, he only drank it to wash down the hotdogs and hushpuppies.
GB,
I think Dizzy ate a lot of hush puppies and hot dogs. He was a loyal pitch man. He could make a blow out game fun, although may favorite Yankee games is when they score 6 in the first and then slowly pull away.
The primary reason why Posada isn’t catching anymore is because of the concussions. It’s not because he was “done” as this d-bag insists.
Guys, I predicted we’d be playing baseball in April. Do I get a cookie?
Whatever….GLove….did I say bump Jeter down today? Absolutely not! Do I want him to fail? Unlikely since I’ve been a Yankee fan for years…It was just a hypothetical question to see people’s opinions…some may say he’ll never be moved down,and that’s very possible..I was just trying to get a discussion going,sorry to upset the apple cart……
Rigut Giuseppe….so those passed balls had no effect on the decision to DH Posada…Blame it all on the concussions,brilliant!!!!
what kind of cookie do you want Shame?
The one thing the Tampa Yankees have but the others don’t is an iphone app. Too bad it’s not ahead of the curve in news. Right now, it still has the 2010 roster listed.
Um…what about oatmeal chocolate chip cookies? It says ‘classic with a twist.’
DT (how apropos). You spout the same crap every day. You weren’t just trying to get a conversation going.
Shame,
You get a cookie and I’ll make sure you get recognized for you putting your neck out on the line like this.
Predicting a 40 year old guy in the last year of his deal with concussions is not going to catch is the stuff of the occult. We have a warlock in our midst.
Ledger_Yankees Cano, Teixeira, Jeter to pick up Gold Gloves before today’s game.
Didn’t Cervelli have more PB’s last year?
Concussions, not PB’s, ended Posada’s catching days.
Posada was an average defensive catcher at best for most of his career. Yet, they managed to keep him behind the plate for 13 years.
Run along, chump.
Shame
I do make a chocolate choc chip oatmeal cookie…I will send you the internet version.
The regular internet CC cookies I reserve for GB.
Shame, Kate makes great tasting cookies, but they are really thin. Her excuse was they had to be thin to get them through the internet wires.
FWIW – Joe Girardi has said that they’re concerns are the concussions. He’s not perseverated on this – a lesson many here could take to heart – but he did say it during ST.
Wait a minute-there are cookies? I want a cookie!
Right….everybody is an expert on everything on this forum….and the worst kept secret in baseball is that Cliff Lee will be a Yankee in 2011 …..um,yeah right!
Looks like Tyler Colvin has recovered from getting a broken bat stuck in his chest last year. 2 run homer
I predict tomorrow will be Wednesday. You’ve all been warned!
Wow, homemade upstatekate inter-cookies… I feel honored just discussing it.
Are we playing the prediction game?! I love this game.
G Love
are you looking for cookies too?
It’s like a holiday here at the old homestead today. Coca-Cola, Coor’s Light and pizza. The best part is “Killer” isn’t here to drool all over the pizza. He’s with the twins, about 25 miles away.
Oh, oh. There’s the door. That dog can smell pizza and beer 25 miles out.
nothin like a well trained dog
While you are ripping those with “expert” opinions, some more informed than you, tell us why you are so sure his catching and not concussions ended his catching days?
Do you know Jorge did not pass his baseline concussion tests until December?
Did you know that doctors, not just Yankee doctors but, the doctors at the University of Pittsburgh, one of the leading concussion centers in the country, recommend to him that he not catch?
‘Ya think given that information, it’s more reasonable to assume concussions, and not PB’s, ended his catching career?
Kate, “Killer’s” not normal. Loves pizza, spaghetti and peanut butter and blackberry jelly on toast.
upstate kate,
Yes. With the exception of the tragically named Pecan Sandy, there isn’t a cookie out there I don’t like.
Sorry, but most of those on the board did not get to read Posada’s medical records…Maybe due to HIPPA laws?????
Also, if there was any chance Jorge Posada could catch, do you really think Gustavo Molina would be the backup catcher right now?
Believe it or not, there isn’t a conspiracy around every corner.
Sometimes, what’s said, in this case why Jorge isn’t catching, is what’s being said publicly.
# J. Alfred Prufrock April 5th, 2011 at 12:45 pm
Odds, I’m in & out here but you’re probably right about KC, though take a look they’ve gotten the ball to Soria 3x now & are 3-1. Nice start for that club, even though they lack the SP to hang around. Loads of talent down the road though, obviously so the fans have something to cheer right now & can look to the future when the team fades.
As for Joba, we’ll keep our covert plans on schedule
.
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True their future is not as bleak
Yep we’ll keep the Joba plans under wraps until further notice. They’ve seen too much already lol
SJ44 April 5th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
While you are ripping those with “expert” opinions, some more informed than you, tell us why you are so sure his catching and not concussions ended his catching days?
Do you know Jorge did not pass his baseline concussion tests until December?
Did you know that doctors, not just Yankee doctors but, the doctors at the University of Pittsburgh, one of the leading concussion centers in the country, recommend to him that he not catch?
‘Ya think given that information, it’s more reasonable to assume concussions, and not PB’s, ended his catching career?
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That’s really interesting. The Yankees should not have let him catch in the playoffs. Forget the performance, a home plate collision could have had long-term effects for Posada. Luckily this did not happen. I know its easier said than done telling Posada that he could not catch in the playoffs. Luckily he had no major collisions or head shots with foul tips or foul balls.
SJ–
I have been worried about Jorge’s long-term health for a while (concussions), and that recount of his tests didn’t help. He’s in my prayers for a long and healthy life.
lite beer? GB, you should go with the real thing.
No but, those who know him and have had people they know workout with him this off-season are able to back up what’s being said publicly by the Yankees.
But hey, if you want to believe PB’s ended his catching career, fine by me.
Andrew Cashner of the Cubs looks good in his first ML start. 4 innings, 2 hits and 1 run with no walks. Miranda is 0-2
Joe from Long Island April 5th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
lite beer? GB, you should go with the real thing.
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“Killer’s” watching his weight. His ladies don’t want a fat drunk. Joe.
I don’t think their is any doubt concussions are the reason the Yankees never considered Posada as the backup catcher. Clearly, he has more value than Molina as a catcher. Concussion concerns likely made acceptance of the DH role easier for Jorge to accept.
I congratulate the Yankees for placing player above team.
SJ really makes the only point that needs to be made here …..does anyone thing Gustavo Molina would be even on the roster if the Yankees felt it was safe for Posada to catch. The fact that he’s not going to catch at all with Cervelli being out says everything that needs to be known about the situation. Let Jorge be the DHRH.
BryanHoch Yankees lineup vs. Twins: Jeter 6 Swisher 9 Teixeira 3 ARod 5 Cano 4 Posada DH Martin 2 Jones 7 Granderson 8 Sabathia LHP
New Post: Yankees lineup
Concussions and head injuries are the main medical focal point in all professional sports leagues right now.
How these injuries are treated have changed dramatically in the last 2 years.
Baseline testing used to be done only on the more severe concussions/head injuries.
Now? Baseline testing is done after EVERY head injury.
I know NFL players who undergo baseline testing after each season even if they weren’t diagnosed with head injuries during the season.
Catchers are especially vulnerable these days. Increased bat speed + the speed in which the ball comes off the bat (in some cases, up to 130 MPH) can cause concussions on balls off the catchers mask. That rarely happened in the past.
Umpires are being diagnosed with concussions more and more also. That was the reason for them being repositioned behind home plate.
Concussions off foul tips are sort of new territory. At least acknowledging seems to be.
If anybody remembers Mike Richter retired under similar circumstances.
my husband’s second job is as a college coach, and concussion awareness is a hot topic at that level as well…at the high school level too