Yankees add five to 40-man roster
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Nov 18, 2011 
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The Yankees made their moves to protect young players from the Rule 5 draft, and they included their high-upside, injury-marred second baseman.
This afternoon, the team added RHP David Phelps, RHP D.J. Mitchell, OF Zoilo Almonte, INF Corban Joseph and INF David Adams to the 40-man roster. All five would have been eligible for the Rule 5 had they not been protected with a 40-man spot.
None of the five is a significant surprise. The only one who stands out is Adams, a third-round pick in 2008 who suffered an ankle injury in early 2010 and lost most of the past two seasons.
That said, the guy can hit. He’s hit .291/.375/.447 in the minor leagues, not a bad bat for a guy who’s primarily a second baseman, with some experience at third. He would have been a no-brainer for protection if not for the injury.
The other four seem to be fairly obvious decisions. Mitchell and Phelps are coming off strong Triple-A seasons, Almonte had a breakout season and Joseph is a solid utility candidate.
No real surprises here.
DKnobler Doumit signs with Twins, one year deal, his agent announces
Great decision in protecting Adams. He is a Pedroia clone.
# spidanyc November 18th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
Great decision in protecting Adams. He is a Pedroia clone.
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Do you really mean that or are you being sarcastic?
I suspect that protecting Adams speaks to the Yankees belief that he will continue to progress from the ankle injury. Here’s hoping.
Glad we didn’t protect Venditte. A lot of writers guessed that we would for some reason, but that didn’t make sense to me.
Glad we didn’t protect Venditte. A lot of writers guessed that we would for some reason, but that didn’t make sense to me.
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I can understand being glad that a particular person was protected, but glad that someone wasn’t specifically protected? The kid has proven that he can pitch with either arm. That’s still impressive.
does Adams jump hop and have balding hair?
So the Sox are interested in Bobby Valentine. All I can say if get the fire trucks revved up on Route 128, since this is pouring gasoline on a fire. I also head they are looking at Omar Minaya in the FO.
That’s it guys. Keep recreating the Mets.
“Great decision in protecting Adams. He is a Pedroia clone.”
Technically, I think you mean that he’s a Pedroia hatchling.
If nothing else…..Bobby V in beantown would be interesting. I think a genius organization deserves a genius manager personally.
Pass on Cespedes. Overhyped.
I hate Valentine, so if he does go to the Red Sox, it will be very fitting.
mashmore98 Of the 39 players on the Yankees 40-man roster, 23 have played for the @TrentonThunder, not including Derek Jeter.
Whos Sam and whos Froto?
Against All Odds November 18th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
# spidanyc November 18th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
Great decision in protecting Adams. He is a Pedroia clone.
?????????????
Do you really mean that or are you being sarcastic?
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I’m going by what the baseball experts say. I’ve read many comparisons on baseball america, riverave, etc..
I read that the Sox approached Valentine early in the offseason and he replied that he didn’t think he’d be a good fit for them. Ouch!
Not they’re going to have to do some arm-twi$ting.
Teixeira Break:
http://www.ctbulletin.com/arti.....788370.txt
Philosophical Joba
Joba_62 Everyday isn’t perfect but everyday has purpose. Are u fulfilling ur purpose?
LGy – I get what you are saying, but i was talking ‘worst case scneario”, they are not going to get into a deal with Darvish if they think that is even a remote possibility. Worst case, he ends up as another igawa/pavano type. They have stashed players of that salary before (igawa cost them $10mil/year with the posting fee) and still signed plenty of free agents.
blake – You bring up the “yankee budget” often, consider it something I do not believe in at all.
“Are u fulfilling ur purpose?”
the question is Joba…..are you?
# spidanyc November 18th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
Against All Odds November 18th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
# spidanyc November 18th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
Great decision in protecting Adams. He is a Pedroia clone.
?????????????
Do you really mean that or are you being sarcastic?
——————————————————————————–
I’m going by what the baseball experts say. I’ve read many comparisons on baseball america, riverave, etc..
————————————————————
That’s high praise for he kid I wouldn’t mind if he does become Pedroia.
SoS November 18th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
Whos Sam and whos Froto?
***************
Before you have LOTR diehards attack you, I believe it’s Frodo, not Froto
Better yet. Can Froto play shortstop. I believe we’re good at second for quite a longtime and need a shortstop that can play catch with the first baseman rather than the stands.
Ooops!! Correction. FRODO.
Erin,
You will never mistake an SoS fraud with myself. Just look for at least one mrspelled word in
the post. Same goes for GB.
DaSaint, you are nitpicking. “Glad” in terms of thinking that not protecting Venditte was the right move. Nothing personal or vindictive about it. I wish Venditte only the best.
Sorry Fem. I probably was nitpicking a bit. I’m just hoping we see some of these kids make it to the big club, but most will likely get traded.
SoS- LOL
Just wanted to save you from attack. Some of those LOTR fans can be….let’s just say passionate. My father is one, so I have experience in dealing with them.
So much for seeing Kemp in pinstripes anytime soon.
Adams has a good bat but he’s nowhere near Pedroia….
someone should tell joba “talk is cheap.”
patrick – at this stage in his career, you would have said the same thing about pedroia…
Thanks for looking out Erin.
How many of our players are in the Phat farm this winter? Why not add Colon and resign
him for a 1 year deal. He pitched like an ACE for the first half of the year and ran out of gas.
Get him the 6 second abs workout then add to that some chuck norris/christie brinkley hardcore body building workouts with their cable wires.
Changing the subject for a second. Never thought I would hear the name Robert Wagner after the 80′s. Why is Natalie Woods murder being brought up 3 decades later?
Colon got a head start. Went to the fat farm early this season. Looks like a whole new person, even changed his name. Hector something. Nosei? Noesi?
Still get goosebumps when I see Posada dump in that ball in the 8th to tie Game 7 2003. Man Old YS was a rocking. Still surprised that thing didn’t just collapse.
patrick – at this stage in his career, you would have said the same thing about pedroia…
—
Not really. Pedroia was a much better hitter at every level and a much better fielder at 2B. Pedroia was actually originally a shortstop where he was average, Adams at 2B (an easier position defensively) is below average. Pedroia was highly underrated in the minors due to his small size but if you look purely at numbers he was far better than Adams is.
mel,
Name sounds familiar. You sure he didnt change his name to Pedro jerry curl and all?
Didnt Pedroia make Kinsler transfer out of Arizona State for winning the second base position?
sorkinese Are you upset that I went out on a date? Or are you upset that I went on a date with someone who plays in the same division as the Yankees?
jimbaumbach Just got an email from a publicist that begins, “Yankees icons Bernie Williams and John Sterling…”
Sterling is a Yankee icon?
No, no. Just buzzed his hair short. The best news is that he has already agreed to pitch for the Yankees at league minimum!
Didnt Pedroia make Kinsler transfer out of Arizona State for winning the second base position?
—
Pedroia won the SS position, Kinsler had to play 2B then transferred
“blake – You bring up the “yankee budget” often, consider it something I do not believe in at all.”
why don’t you believe in it?
blake – becuase i don’t believe it exists, and i don’t believe they have ever passed on a player they needed because they were “over budget”. it’s impossible to prove it exists unless you get me on the phone with randy levine or a steinbrenner…
You could make the argument that they “needed” Matt Holliday
blake – to clarify… i understand there are certain limits that they do not want to pass as far as payroll is concerned… i just don’t believe they would actually pass on a player they need because of that desire for restraint. it’s not like their perceived “budget” is a hard line where they literally could not afford another player.
You could also argue that if the Yankees really wanted and/or needed Matt Holliday, he’d be playing for the Yankees.
patrick – you could try… many have. what season were the yankees lacking offense that he would have been the key to?
CC Sabathia is probably the only player the Yankees have signed in the past decade they actually needed.
Well it depends on how you define “need”. The Yankees didn’t win the world series in 2010 or 2011 so clearly they needed something they didn’t have. I think Holliday is a prime example of a guy that was just too much for the Yankee budget.
I think they should have got their hands on some of that stimulus package money to get Holliday.
Anyone think we should have traded Montero for Halliday if rumors were true back then? Would we have resigned CC if we had done that?
LGY – I would argue that they also needed Burnett… and they needed Pavano at the time… just didn’t work out as planned.
If the Yankees had no budget why didn’t they sign Holliday or Crawford? Both were clear upgrades over Gardner.
The answer is, they DO have a budget. What a shocking concept
if king felix was a FA and asked for a ridiculous contract say arod money, would the yanks pay?
i say no. hence, a budget.
forget the arod example, sure they could afford anybody at any price but there has to be limits.
that is what a budget implies.
patrick – because crawford is/was not a clear upgrade over gardner? and being on a budget or not does not meant hey should OVERPAY for players like the RedSox did…
why do hughes and joba constantly tweet?
seems immature…
There’s no question that there’s a budget and that having so much committed to Alex, CC, Tex, Jeter, and AJ is constraining.
Once again, Gardner is not blocking anyone.
At the time Crawford WAS a clear upgrade over Gardner. After 2011, that isn’t as clear. You are still ignoring Holliday though… and scores of other free agents that could have upgraded the team. It’s foolish to think the Yankees have no budget. Just look at their payroll for the last several years it’s been near the same number every year. It’s pretty obvious that they have gotten to the limit of their budget and won’t go over unless there is an extremely compelling reason (Teixeira) to do so.
if the players could get the moon they will ask for it….hence the reason for a budget.
Do they send beat writers to the fat farm too in ST?
It’s what kids do. Tho I must say I enjoy Phil embarrassing his mom much more than Joba’s serial philosophizing.
why do hughes and joba constantly tweet?
seems immature…
—
lol ok
The Yankee’s never needed Holliday. They placed first in runs scored in 2009, 2010, and second in 2011 without him. More runs scored would not have helped the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
if you tell me that you wanted him becuase he may have been a better hitter in the playoffs… well, that’s conjecture and you don’t plan around 3 weeks in october.
Cash said that Hal overruled him on Mike Cameron in 09
And it’s not like Hal could pick Mike Cameron out of a crowd, it was the $12 that scared him, if that $12 mil was for Holliday instead, same result….
aha kids is what they are, altho not all kids their age are kids…maybe when they grow up they will become better pitchers
Whatever the reason is or was, I’m glad that we did not pay Crawford that contract. So overvalued.
At the time Crawford WAS a clear upgrade over Gardner.
====================
he sold his soul for the dough , he is not fit for boston.
Maybe it was the $12M for a player Cameron’s age. Boston eventually made the trade and look what happened. Better them than us.
At no point was Crawford ever going to be worth the money of his contract. A speed guy coming off of playing on Turf his whole ML career that refuses to play CF and refuses to lead off?
That shows the Yankees didn’t overpay for him, not that they “passed up on an upgrade over Gardner”.
The Yankee’s never needed Holliday. They placed first in runs scored in 2009, 2010, and second in 2011 without him. More runs scored would not have helped the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
if you tell me that you wanted him becuase he may have been a better hitter in the playoffs… well, that’s conjecture and you don’t plan around 3 weeks in october.
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Again, you have to define “need” in this context. In my opinion, if the Yankees don’t win the world series they clearly needed something extra. Holliday would have upgraded either the 2010 or 2011 teams. So he was a need.
I think 2 people at the most argued vehemently for Cameron here. Otherwise, most people thought it was not worth it. Though, Cashman probably would have gotten Cincy to kick in some money for the deal.
Wasnt Sheffield being traded for Mike Cameron at one time? Cant remember what blew it up.
They need to take all electronic devices away in the phat farm and them play chess instead if they NEED to use their fingers for something. Rice cakes for munchies.
crawfords speed game was not a good fit for boston or ny for that matter, not with a power hitting lineup. boston , acting out of desperation other than need made another mistake, one like we used to make.
LGY – I would argue that they also needed Burnett… and they needed Pavano at the time… just didn’t work out as planned.
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They needed AJ Burnett?
The spending in the 09 off-season is a poor comparison. They had over $60 million coming off the books from 08… Giambi, Mussina, Pavano, Abreu, Farnsworth, etc. plus Pettitte took that discount and only had a $5 mil base salary, 10 mil less than the previous year.
They could spend like drunken sailors in the winter of 08 because they had such an exorbitant sum of money coming off the books. Their opening day payroll was LESS in 09 than 08 despite all the spending.
And if the Yanks had no budget, why did Cashman need to beg Hal to allow him to sign Tex? Why did they make Andy take such a drastic paycut?
patrick – you don’t sign players to “win the world series” though, you sign them to perform well over the course of a whole season. The Yankees 2010 and 2011 teams were NOT in “need” an outfielder or a bat at any time.
What they “needed” was another SP or 2.
until the Yanks show that they are willing to go above 210 or so million……the budget is real.
They didn’t need Holliday…..but he would have made the team better and they absolutely didn’t sign him because signing both him and Cliff Lee would have taken them to a payroll number that they didn’t want to go to.
Crawford’s personality was not a good fit for Boston.
They’ve already said they were going to do this next year, but Francona needed to stick Crawford in the 2-hole and leave him there. That was one of the few mistakes that Francona was actually responsible for in 2011.
LGY – Who was in the starting staff if they didn’t sign Burnett? I would say they needed him, yes.
Again, you have to define “need” in this context. In my opinion, if the Yankees don’t win the world series they clearly needed something extra. Holliday would have upgraded either the 2010 or 2011 teams. So he was a need.
========================
A Swisher or Tex deep fly ball could have put us in the Series.
Holliday did nothing for the Cards in the clutch.
The Yanks, with the same team they have + a few youngsters could win the whole thing.
Reyes contract will be as albotross of a contract as Crawfords. They both rely on speed and have had lingering leg problems. Once the speed goes, they go. Glad we didnt get Crawford and mr. I in team Reyes.
LGY – Who was in the starting staff if they didn’t sign Burnett? I would say they needed him, yes.
——————–
They needed to acquire a pitcher. In no way did they need to vastly overpay for AJ Burnett.
AJ’s contract was also the product of him being a Yankee and Boston killer at the time.
Can’t wait for his walk year…
LGY – It was not overpaying at the time, the market was set by the Lowe deal.
patrick – you don’t sign players to “win the world series” though, you sign them to perform well over the course of a whole season. The Yankees 2010 and 2011 teams were NOT in “need” an outfielder or a bat at any time.
What they “needed” was another SP or 2.
—
This is just your opinion on what the Yankees needed. Unfortunately, winning the world series is the goal of the team and anything less is a failure. This isn’t me speaking, this is every Yankee executive, player and coach over the last 15 years. If they fail to win the world series, something that was needed was not present. Holliday was a clear upgrade to the 2010 and 2011 team, therefore the Yankees needed him, period. If you don’t think he wouldn’t have helped in the playoffs either year you are sadly mistaken.
However, despite needing Holliday the Yankees passed. Because they have a budget.
How is Holliday as a fielder? From what I’ve seen (limited) in the past 2 postseasons, it’s been ugly. How do you guys feel he would have fared in LF at NYS?
At the time, I think we were focusing on pitching and getting younger and more athletic. Tex had been coveted for a long time and he filled a position of need. Wasn’t Swisher our 1B at the time of Tex’s signing. We also snatched him off the Red Sox’s silver platter.
Overall, I’m happy with the teams we’ve assembled lately. It hasn’t always ended in the result we wanted, but they’ve been good teams.
patrick – Fine, I completely disagree with everyone you just said. You can believe what you want.
I always felt that when George was still around and still the lion that he was, his whole mindset was that he wasnt concerned about inflating the payroll because he was sitting on a cash cow and his initial return on his investment was paid for a thousand times over.
So he couldnt care less if he had to pay thru the nose for a FA or trade prospects for a name player with a proven track record … he loved the idea of wheeling and dealing, even if there were several decisions that didnt work out and it cost him big bucks.
He was the classic riverboat gambler.
But George is gone and we now have a Yankee hierarchy that is in many ways the opposite of who he was and how he operated.
I think a lot of people still think the Yankees will continue to throw money around like its going out of style because George used to do it and when it does not happen, there is this prevailing shock and suprise that more was not done. Its a different Yankee universe we now live in.
Patrick – After watching Teixeira struggle in the playoffs, how can you say that Holliday would absolutely have helped? You can’t. So your opinion is just as meaningless as mine.
Patrick – After watching Teixeira struggle in the playoffs, how can you say that Holliday would absolutely have helped? You can’t. So your opinion is just as meaningless as mine.
—
Probability says he would have been a significant upgrade.
And this isn’t something I believe, it’s pretty obvious logic, I’m sorry you don’t comprehend.
“After watching Teixeira struggle in the playoffs, how can you say that Holliday would absolutely have helped”
because Holliday is a better hitter than Teixera now.
I would bet a lot of money that no major league player has ever been signed because they “perform well in the playoffs”. That’s completely ridiculous. Especially for upper level talent.
How is Holliday as a fielder? From what I’ve seen (limited) in the past 2 postseasons, it’s been ugly. How do you guys feel he would have fared in LF at NYS?
—
He’s been involved in some pretty bad plays (dick shot) but he’s actually an excellent fielder according to all metrics.
patrick – probability of what? you can’t make half a statement like that and expect me to accept it.
If you want to talk about expected win-loss statistics, we can… but I know you don’t.
LGY – It was not overpaying at the time, the market was set by the Lowe deal.
———————
AJ signed before Lowe
patrick thinks that you can buy championships…he doesn’t remember the garbage deals George made….guys like Catfish and Reggie don’t grow on trees, they truly brought championships but so do role players like Sojo and O’Neill.
Peter Gammons reports a price range between $35 and $50 million.
**************************************************************
Tell this kid and his agent to take a walk. I’m sorry, but the price is too high. Why spend the money on an unproven kid like that? There is no good reason to do so.
Save the money or spend it elsewhere.
The odds of him living up to the hype are very long!
patrick – probability of what? you can’t make half a statement like that and expect me to accept it.
If you want to talk about expected win-loss statistics, we can… but I know you don’t.
—
Well if you compare Holliday’s stats over a large sample (2010 and 2011) he is a better hitter than basically everyone on the Yankees outside of Cano. Replacing someone with his bat increases the probability that the Yankees win in 2010 and 2011. Obviously I can’t say we would win more games with Holliday because there’s no way to know for certain, but the probability that we would have won more games in 2010 and 2011 is higher with Holliday.
Patrick,
Thanks for that. Halladay would have predated Granderson, no? Likely that we would have gone with Gardner, Halladay, Swisher had he been acquired.
The checkbook is only so deep.
The argument could be made the Giants brought Cody Ross back because of his postseason performance.
He’s been involved in some very bad plays at the WORST time – playoffs!!!!
Kinda like Swisher hitting well all season and then not performing up to snuff in the playoffs.
Fair is Fair.
patrick thinks that you can buy championships…he doesn’t remember the garbage deals George made….guys like Catfish and Reggie don’t grow on trees, they truly brought championships but so do role players like Sojo and O’Neill.
—
Where did I say that the Yankees can buy championships?
For the record, I didn’t want the Yankees to sign Holliday or Crawford. The argument is about whether or not the Yankees have a budget, which they clearly do.
“Well if you compare Holliday’s stats over a large sample (2010 and 2011) he is a better hitter than basically everyone on the Yankees outside of Cano.”
Pretty much
Patrick – They still led the league in runs, scoring more runs is not a NEED.
I just took a quick look at the 2010 ALCS…
The Yankees lost games 7-2, 8-0, 10-3, 6-1
Which would have made a larger impact in that series… a single batter or a pitcher that wouldn’t give up 6+ runs?
(dick shot)
=====
How is that not filtered?? Ear muffs and blinders on kids.
Thanks for that. Halladay would have predated Granderson, no? Likely that we would have gone with Gardner, Halladay, Swisher had he been acquired.
The checkbook is only so deep.
—
Well according to Irreverent the checkbook is a bottomless pit. He says the Yankees have no budget, so therefore it follows that they would sign every player that is even the slightest upgrade.
I just took a quick look at the 2010 ALCS…
The Yankees lost games 7-2, 8-0, 10-3, 6-1
Which would have made a larger impact in that series… a single batter or a pitcher that wouldn’t give up 6+ runs?
—
I just took a quick look at the 2011 ALDS…
The Yankees lost games 5-3, 5-4, 3-2
More offense wouldn’t have helped in those games?
You made that conclusion patrick, not me. Having no budget does not mean spend money willy-nilly (pretty sure i’ve never typed that word out…) if means not passing up on players you need to compete. Holliday was a luxury that people wanted, he was not necessary… and this is shown easily by the fact that they continued to lead the league in runs scored without him.
I understand that it’s the agents job to create a market for his player but the reports of Cespedes $ parameters being $35-50mil or that it may take $50mil are almost laughable.
He right now is a guy with no team no country and no $ in the bank and is hungry for anything. Teams and GM’s should really not allow themselves to played like this. If the highest offer he gets is for 5yrs/15mil what is he going to do? reject it?
His worth is what the market will bear. period.
This really all began with the ridiculous posting fee paid for the rights to negotiate with Dice-K and look at what a waste of $ that turned out to be.
Having said that I want the Yanks to get Cespedes but I wouldn’t advise going above $30mil tops! I think his athleticism and upside are compelling enough to justify bringing into the fold with an eye @ him being the eventual replacement for Swisher after next season.
The spin is that he’s major league ready and ready to be a middle of the order impact bat right now! Who knows that. But again as the old adage goes all it takes is 1 dumb owner….
Gah! That’s Holliday, not Halladay.
The Yankees have a budget, but it’s a flexible one based on specific circumstances.
Patrick – I kinda baited you with that statement…
So you are saying they needed to sign Holliday before the 2009 season because of one week in October 2 years later?
Cespedes Fever – careful, it’s contagious!
ID,
I made the conclusion based on sound logic. If there is no budget, why not spend “willy-nilly” ? If there is an upgrade and money is no object, it would take a moron to not go out and get that upgrade, no? I don’t think you understand how ridiculous it is to say the Yankees literally have no budget.
If they fail to win the world series, something that was needed was not present.
==================================
Usually when they lose it’s because of the lack of pitching, this year the lack of timely hitting.
The philosophy is getting to be more of growing their own, more power to that.
What’s on the market isn’t great anyway.
Can we say that the Yankees so called budget is written with an erasable marker on the white board?
Patrick – I kinda baited you with that statement…
So you are saying they needed to sign Holliday before the 2009 season because of one week in October 2 years later?
—
No, I was just pointing out how silly it is to point out 4 specific games. Just as silly as pointing out 3 specific games.
There are games the Yankees lost where having Holliday would have helped. There are games the Yankees lost where Holliday would have made no difference. If there was no budget Holliday would be a Yankee.
Cespedes workout tape reminds me of the movie cable guy when he warms up before the pick up basketball game running lines(when he was running cones). Pretty funny. Love how they showed him swinging and kept it away from the ball. I should make my own and send it in. Will do my best Griffey imitation on the right side.
Well according to Irreverent the checkbook is a bottomless pit.
====================================
It is. The “budget” is a blocking device used to keep the market down, as in the case of Cespedes.
It is. The “budget” is a blocking device used to keep the market down, as in the case of Cespedes.
—
That’s literally insane.
Not sure if it was discussed on the previous thread or not. But what starting position player do you see being traded if Cash pulls that card for a pitcher? Im guessing Gardner.
More Insanity—->>>>>
A five year deal for Cespedes at $35 million works for me…
…If he’s really 26, and if he can be tested against major league pitching.
Otherwise, the possible (under age 32) FA replacements for Swisher after 2012 are: Swisher, Ethier and Quentin.
If trades are considered, then that possibly opens it up to varying options of Justin Upton, Nick Markakis, Shin-Coo Choo, Seth Smith, Alex Gordon, Hunter Pence, John Mayberry Jr, Nate Schierholtz, Matt Joyce, Jose Bautista and Eric Thames.
Frankly, for the money, a 2 or 3 year deal for Swisher if trades aren’t possible could happen.
DaSaint007 November 18th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
Sorry Fem. I probably was nitpicking a bit. I’m just hoping we see some of these kids make it to the big club, but most will likely get traded.
_______________
No worries, DaSaint. I feel for all of these kids in the minors, both elite and less elite prospects, esp. having watched them over the years.