-Yet another Yankee pitcher raves about Frankie Cervelli behind the plate, this time from AJ Burnett. He said on yesterday’s postgame “He knew everything I wanted to throw and put down everything I wanted to throw” and went on to say “I shook him once or twice all game. My mind was free, we were just having fun out there“. CC Sabathia has said similar things about he and Cervelli being soul mates. I don’t want to turn this into an anti-Posada campaign, the team has won Championships and led the league in ERA with him as starting Catcher. But there are clearly a few pitchers on this staff that prefer pitching to Cervelli, who should be allowed to do so. And as I detailed in my previous piece, Joba’s NOT one of them. If I’m manager, Cervelli plays twice a week, not once.
-NoMaas’ Lane Meyer has an interview up with Yankee #1 pick Slade Heathcott, to go along with their usual goofy pix (Loved the Santana pic, guys). Lane does his usual excellent job of delving into the players track record and skills, and also asked him the big question, the one everyone wants answered. Teams passed on Slade because of ‘character issues’. He asks him about that and the exchange went as follows:
Lane Meyer: Scouting reports said there were “character issues” that may be a problem with you. What would you want to tell the fans that ask about that?
Slade Heathcott: I checked into that myself because I was kind of curious why that came up. I haven’t lived with my parents for two years due to various issues between them- things that happened that I have no control over. Historically, society has a tendency to see kids having troubles when they don’t have parental guidance in their life, that if they have parent issues it tends to carry over onto them. Well that’s not the case with me. It doesn’t bother me, it doesn’t change me, I don’t get into trouble, and I’m not going to get into trouble. But the parents issue is why that popped up, and that makes sense to me, but I’m not like everybody else or the stereotype that people want to associate with my situation- It doesn’t affect me in anything I do.
-More and more sources all saying the same thing, looks like the Yanks will land #1 IFA Catcher Gary Sanchez. This time from the NY Post:
According to industry sources the Yankees “have a very good chance” of signing Gary Sanchez, a highly regarded Dominican catcher who isn’t eligible to sign until July 2.
“He has been in their camp a lot in the Dominican Republic and is an advanced catcher with big power who can really throw,” a scout said of the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder who is projected to be 6-3, 205 pounds.
The buzz is that Sanchez could command in the area of a $3 million signing bonus.
If anyone is wondering why we keep drafting Catchers, its simple. The Yanks have had success teaching players, often drafted at other positions, how to Catch. Jorge Posada was drafted as a infielder as was Francisco Cervelli. Toolsy players tend to go higher in the draft, so taking someone with a good bat and teaching them to Catch is a way the Yanks can turn their low draft position into a positive. Also, the current depth at this position is not an issue. Good hitting Catchers are worth their weight in gold on the trade market. Also Sanchez is only 16, so he would spend a year or more at instructs before ever seeing any game action. Even if he flew through the system like Montero he would not make it to the bigs for another 4-5 years. By that time, Montero will likely have a few years of MLB service time under his belt, either with the Yanks or someone else. And of course, since were talking about prospects, it goes without saying that all of them won’t make it to the MLB level.
-The Yanks appear to be in on the two Cuban players who recently defected. From BP:
“A number of teams are interested in Arguelles and Iglesias, but one team is mentioned by every international source I’ve spoken with: the Yankees. Seemingly since the players defected, nearly a year ago while at a Canadian tournament, the players have been tied to the Yankees and many believe they will both end up signing with the Bombers”
Arguelles is a LHP and Iglesias is a SS/2B. I will have a few pieces going up soon on these two players, as well as Sanchez and the other IFAs the Yanks are targeting.
Related posts:
Great stuff from NoMaas, as always. He seems articulate and respectful. Makeup issues be damned. Or his agent just coached him very well.
(Quote)
[Reply To This Comment]
Steve S. Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Seems to call everyone “Sir”. Not that that’s a bad thing, but he definitely wants to counter these ‘makeup’ questions.
If its all stuff about his parents, then I like the pick. If its stuff that he did, outside of usual adolescent shenanigans, then I’m more concerned.
I just hope he’s not another Jose Tabata, who was so relieved to be traded last year.
(Quote)
[Reply To This Comment]
Some of what he said sounded like the agent’s talking points. But what struck me was that the guy is smart and competitive.
(Quote)
[Reply To This Comment]
Steve S. Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Yeah, I thought the same thing. But I didn’t want to bias other people’s take by adding my own 2 cents, I wanted people to read that for themselves and make up their own mind.
(Quote)
[Reply To This Comment]