Banuelos gets an early start this morning
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Feb 25, 2012 
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Manny Banuelos is already on the mound at Steinbrenner Field, throwing batting practice from behind an L screen. I can’t tell who the minor leaguers are who are hitting against him, but it looks like Gary Sanchez is doing the catching, and J.R. Murphy is standing behind the cage watching the whole thing.
Joe Girardi is standing behind the mound to watch with Mike Harkey, Scott Aldred and a couple other coaches. Larry Rothschild is behind the plate, pacing around the batting cage between pitches.
This is how the day gets started for the first full-squad workout of the spring.
No hitter.
I know it’s BP but Banuelos is so good they can’t even hit him when he’s not even tryin’ hard.
Banuelos, could he be the only true untouchable in the Yankees system?
If he stays healthy, logs the innings, and gets his command down, you would think that in 2013 he stands a hell of a shot at being one of their 5 SP out of the gate.
21-
As close as there is to one.
And yes to the 2nd part of your question.
If Mason Williams continues on the path he’s started on he might be a 2nd one.
Full season at AAA….hopefully ready to go next year. He was the youngest guy in the international league last year….they have time
Let’s hope we can see Banuelos embarrass the Red Sox again this ST
blake-
Just has to stay healthy all season. Log those innings. Put on the polish.
If he gets that command back he’s deadly.
The CU was always his out pitch but that cb is now gatting nastier by the minute.
He has all the equipment.
He’s gonna be an Hombre.
sp: getting. No idea what gatting is. Maybe the past tense ?
Kev-
I particularly enjoyed watching Pukelis fan on that nasty CU.
He walked away shaking his his crome dome.
Too funny.
I think the guy really on the bubble in terms of SP prospects this year is Betances.
If he doesn’t really put it together in 2012 in AAA, and, just one of Hughes, Nova, or Pineda show they can be a top of the rotation starter, Betances will be moved by the trade deadline in a package for a hitter.
Now if Betances dominates and none of these 3 guys truly impress in 2012, then I think Hughes or Nova is gone and Betances grabs a spot in 2013 along side his running mate Manny.
Betances future as a Yankees I think is directly tied to how well Nova and Hughes does.
21-
I look at the converse of what you said. That’s the one I find really interesting.
What if all 3 young guys stud out and Betances has a great season ?
Is Hughes the trade bait then, or is Betances ?
Interesting question but my guess would be Betances.
My guess would be Betances too but then again, second to an absolute obsession with pitching NY has, is also seemingly an obsession with driving down their payroll so Hughes may price himself out of their plans…..
If all 3 young guys do well and Betances, it is a good problem for NYY to have.
21-
What makes the question interesting to me is that strong arguments can be made either way.
I’d love to see it play out that way. To have those options.
The answer might be to just keep everyone and watch the rest of league just drool all over themselves.
Go ManBan.
Sanchez should be on the lips of everyone as an untouchable. That bat is special.
Betances’ future as a Yankee is tied to how good his control/command can be. If he repeats 2010, he can be a front end rotation starter. Hopefully, the Yankees are patient with him.
mlb-tv schedule up, and that Saturday, March 3rd Yanks-Phillies game is on it! I just have to find a way to reschedule a work appt.
Sched: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/officia.....-250694760
NY is litterally stock full of pitching prospects, they can’t keep them all, some of these guys will be history as Yankees or Yankee prospects in a matter of months.
OTOH, NY true risk near term IMHO is offensive related, Cashface needs to get creative and find himself some ML ready hitting talent. He has the pitching as trade chips provided NY doesn’t screw them up development wise.
If the yankees decide that betances isn’t a starter and another team thinks he is, they will trade him because they will get good value for him. If the Yankees decide that he isn’t a starter and all the other teams agree, they will keep him and move him to the pen.
YF-
To be honest, after they traded Montero, I am not sure there is anything as an “untouchable” in Yankeeland.
Very few would have thought that Jesus would have been moved in the way he was.
Most thought it would only be for Proven stud-level guys, i.e. Halladay,Lee, kershaw, etc.
Guess we’ll see.
Big years for both Betances and Hughes……probably moreso for Hughes…..butbif Betances doesn’t take a step forward this year then you kinda have to start wondering what he’s going to be nearing age 25
I don’t disagree, but Cash traded the hitting talent… So, we’ll just have to hope the big boys play well until we shore up in the O department.
Sanchez and M.Williams and Bryan Mitchell all have the potential to be untouchables but in my mind aren’t quite there yet. I’d like to seem them do well at the AA level before I start tagging them with that label just yet. So give these guys another two years and enjoy the growth.
Blake-
A guy like Betances “always” takes a big step forward. After every pitch.
The step forward for Betances was staying healthy while pitching 129 innings. If he continues to be healthy, I think he will be fine.
Any thoughts on the difference between Directv Extra Innings and MLB-TV?
I have been a subscriber of the extra innings package for years but it’s up to $215. MLB premium is only $125 (and if I’m not mistaken can be watched through an XBox)
Is the Extra innings worth the extra dollars?.
Thanks
I doubt Mason or Sanchez miss a beat as they rise through the system. They are both very special prospects. Have tried to bu haven’t yet seen B. Mitchell live, but love what I have read, and his stretch run was pretty sensational.
Gotta start getting ready soon. Hike day.
Off to see the “Color Bowl” today.
A local wonder. It’s our own unknown, private world-class spot.
One of my many favorites.
Let’s just rephrase that, It would be a world-class spot if more people knew how to find it.
Fortunately, they don’t.
My prediction is Betances will never be a regular SP for NY. He will be moved. Unless NY suffers an unbelievable rash of pitching injuries over the next two seasons, there are too may arms blocking his progress.
Wave bye bye.
“To be honest, after they traded Montero, I am not sure there is anything as an “untouchable” in Yankeeland.”
If Montero could be an everyday catcher, he would still be here.
mlb-tv is wonderful to have, and for an extra $20, you can get milb-tv as well. I haven’t fed the online version into a tv screen, I ultimately get the mlb EI as well, but supposedly people get excellent results.
“If the yankees decide that betances isn’t a starter and another team thinks he is, they will trade him because they will get good value for him.”
they didn’t do this with Joba.
“The step forward for Betances was staying healthy while pitching 129 innings. If he continues to be healthy, I think he will be fine.”
I don’t know….there is competition within the organization for those 5 spots both in the minors and at the big league level….so I think Dellin really needs to show some improvement in consistency of his delivery and show that he’ll be able to repeat well enough to have enough control/command to start in the big leagues.
The one thing working in his favor though is that the Yankees really don’t need bullpen help at the big league level right now….so that could buy him more time. That obviously could change quickly though…..
Craw, it is a matter of opinion, so the jury is still out. Obviously more value at C, but don’t underrate that special bat’s value elsewhere.
everyone is available for the right price….they’d trade Banuelos too if the right player was coming back.
blake, Dellin’s control/command wasn’t that bad, and 2010 was excellent; I have given a bunch of milb to mlb pitching prospect comps. As for the Yankees keeping vs. trading him, depends on how much they like him, and Cash likes him plenty. Heard it straight from Cash.
blake, obviously. Not debating that. See Jesus Montero.
De Paula would be pushing that upper level rotation as well, were he stateside and pitching. He was expected to move fast. Still concerned about his losing all that development time.
YF- do you actually believe what Cashman says?
I don’t think Cashman’s words publicly mean anything.
Cash’s words weren’t “publicly” said.
“The one thing working in his favor though…”
is that he has incredible stuff, and 3 plus or > pitches…
“Craw, it is a matter of opinion, so the jury is still out.”
The verdict is going to come one way or another this year. Also with Arod and Tex on the roster, the value of his bat at other positions is diluted.
“everyone is available for the right price….they’d trade Banuelos too if the right player was coming back.”
Very true!
Craw, first of all if he catches some, his value increases. Secondly, I don’t buy into that keep the DH open for resting players philosophy. The DH should be an optimum position and if you have a special bat in there, it just lengthens your lineup. Alex can still play 3B. Further, the verdict doesn’t necessarily have to come this year, re: Montero catching. He will be eased in slowly.
Thanks YankFem.
“I ultimately get the mlb EI as well”
Does that mean you get the both packages– one for your TV and one for computer, phones etc.
They didn’t trade joba because they thought he was a starter. And, as you know, they even used him as one. In their eyes that didn’t work out. And then he got hurt. And at that point they’d get more value out of him as a piece of their pen (instead of trading him to a team looking to buy low).
Plus they have many more quality arms in the system now then they did when Joba/Hughes/Kennedy were coming up.
This is a huge yr for Hughes and betances when it comes to their future in pinstripes.
DePaula may never be cleared to play in the US. He is aging without pitching at the professional level. He is less likely to impact the Yankees than a second string rookie league player at this point.
yf, I understand Cashman told you those words personally, but public in a sense for public digestion. My point still stands, Cashman is a rat that isn’t to be trusted, you obviously do put stock in what he says. No problem.
Cashman:
“I will move ANY player in the right deal.”
Guess he means it.
Tar,
I end up getting both packages as well. The computer allows me to watch anywhere, but I like the ease of flipping on the TV and watching there.
Plus, MLB package let’s me the game without hogging the TV from my wife. Peace is good, but I must watch.
Yankee21, Cash didn’t say it to me; he said it to someone else in the Yankees org.
“Secondly, I don’t buy into that keep the DH open for resting players philosophy.”
The problem is, what you buy into doesn’t matter here. It’s what the Yankees buy in that counts and unless, Arod and Tex can play their positions for the next several years, DH is going to be their landing spot for a good portion of those seasons.
“I end up getting both packages as well. The computer allows me to watch anywhere, but I like the ease of flipping on the TV and watching there.”
I’ve had both packages for years and will probably do the same this season too.
I agree though that everyone is movable and that Hughes needs to produce because he is on the Yankees, another team might give him more time, and an FA in 2014. Betances too needs to improve, but I don’t see his control/command issues as fatal. They were better than many mlb pitchers; I have pointed out Gio, Wandy, etc. who had milb BB issues. Betances is 6’8 and they will hopefully be patient with him (within reason). De Paula has decent mechanics and multiple pitches, should move quickly, but yes, he needs to be cleared or the layoff will retard his progress.
Got to run; have a good day!
Great I came on here looking to save money by switching to MLB-TV, and you guys now have me convinced to get both packages.
I really like the idea of MLB-TV for when I am traveling.
austin mac, De Paula is still young, and the Yankees have waited for him because they love his upside. Hopefully, as per Mark Newman’s proclamation, De Paula is cleared soon.
Yes, I get both packages; mlb EI once the free preview phase ends. Can watch more games that way, plus mlb-tv archives rock.
Later, all.
In a way it all comes down to timing. What the needs of the ML team are, what the contractual obligations are, etc., at the time a prospect is ready to “hit,” so to speak.
I’d love to think that there are indeed untouchables in the Yankees system; right now it would seem that the “elite” pitching prospects are untouchable because the Yankees value pitching. And because right now the major league team seems to be fine offensively, and because they knew that they have a Sanchez, a Murphy (and a Romine) behind him, Montero was expendable for a pitcher who is a step ahead of the guys they want to eventually move into the rotation (Banuelos and Betances).
The immediate needs of the parent club will always be paramount for as long as the Yankees are a perennially contending team.
It’s probably better for our mental health if we don’t project too much, or too far in advance.
“is that he has incredible stuff, and 3 plus or > pitches…”
Well yea…I just mean that he could be given more time because of the big league pen strength …..there is no need like with Hughes a couple years ago
“They didn’t trade joba because they thought he was a starter.”
If they weren’t planning on starting him anymore after 2009 then they should have traded him to a team that thought he coukd start…..like maybe the Diamondbacks if they were willing to do a deal for Dan Haren…..clearly they didn’t think he coukd start because he hasn’t in almost 3 years…
..they’ve wasted Joba….both as a pitcher anda trade chip
“..they’ve wasted Joba….both as a pitcher anda trade chip”
Maybe, what happens in the next two years we’ll know for sure.
Tar,
If I were to choose I would go with MLB for the ability to watch anywhere.
YF,
I hope you’re right on DePaula, but he is now almost 21, five years later than most of his countrymen begin pitching professionally. Also, I wonder if Newman has more insight into State Department workings than the rest of us.
MLB.TV is awesome
..they’ve wasted Joba….both as a pitcher anda trade chip
————————
I’ll probably never get over that
“Maybe, what happens in the next two years we’ll know for sure.”
sure, kick the can down the road with judgement on players like joba whose careers are being ruined in the process.
when the time comes like it did with wang, you’ll simply say , “he always had injury problems, so it wasn’t the yankees fault.”
someone would have to be a moron not to get it that you believe that it’s never the yankees fault. it’s always on the players.
unless a player does well , and then it’s the yankees that did it.
my motto is “question authority”
your motto is to “trust authority ”
of course when the authority changes , “trusters” just jump on board with the new people in power.
remember eiland? trusters said he was great. but the moment he was gone , he was an a hole.
now rothschild is the new “amazing pitching coach”.
the reality is trusters always go with who is in power.
read into that what you want.
“Maybe, what happens in the next two years we’ll know for sure.”
he’s only got 1 and a half years of control left if you count that he’ll miss half of this season…..so unless he becomes the closer during that time or is put back into the rotation and becomes a long term option for them at either position then they’ve gotten a very poor return for his 6 years of service time………
Again….(and I was saying this at the time also)…if they weren’t going to start Joba again after 2009 then they should have traded him while he still had a lot of trade value…..
The same applies with Betances…..they should give him every chance to stay a starter because the upside is so high…..but if internally they decide he’s not….they should explore trade opportunities with teams that do see him as a starting pitcher before moving him to the bullpen. Hopefully he takes a step forward and makes it all a non issue.
Thanks AM. I may have to go for both packages.
Blake do you have both as well? Do you watch MLB.TV on your TV?
Have a good day people.
Time to hit the trail.
Tar,
Yea I do the MLB and Milb deals…..I just watch on my computer when I can as kiddie stuff is usually dominating the tv
“so unless he becomes the closer during that time”
That’s what I was alluding to. If that doesn’t happen or he doesn’t make the rotation then I agree with you that they basically wasted him.
“someone would have to be a moron not to get it that you believe that it’s never the yankees fault. it’s always on the players.”
Do you honestly think I give a rip what you believe? That’s the reason I would never explain myself to you because you’re not worth it.