IMPORTANT BLOG ANNOUNCEMENT

PLEASE CHANGE YOUR BOOKMARKS AND FEEDS TO THE NEW URL, YANKEEANALYSTS.COM. TYU IS IN NO WAY AFFILIATED WITH THE NEW YORK YANKEES OR YANKEES UNIVERSE.

What is the best way to handle Brackman this season?

Posted by EJ Fagan at 1:04 pm 8 Responses »
Dec 302010

Andrew Brackman is a better pitcher than most people realize. That’s a bit odd, because Brackman has also mostly been a disappointment to fans since he was drafted. In his freshman and sophomore years in college, Brackman was a 100 mph fireballer. That and his size earned him routine comparisons to Randy Johnson, and it was probably deserved. He was likely to be considered for the 1st overall pick in the draft, and quickly move on to become a major league ace.

Of course, we all know that things worked out differently. He didn’t recover fully from his elbow injury (perhaps because he waited to be drafted and handled $4 million dollars before undergoing it), and had trouble adjusting to both a long layoff and reduced velocity. Nothing was really working for him a year ago. Now, he’s completed the Double-A level, has recovered to 93-95 mph, and has some of his mechanics better locked down.

In a perfect world, Brackman would be given at least one more year to pitch and settle down his mechanics. That’s not really something you can do in the major leagues. He would be allowed close to a full season at Triple-A, a 160+ inning workload, and be pressed into service when he would be most likely succeed. Unfortunately, two factors make this difficult. First, the Yankees have a need, and Brackman may present the best option right now for a MLB pitcher to help the Yankees win the AL East. And second, and more importantly, Brackman has only one option year left. For some unknown reason, the Yankees signed him to a major league deal at the draft, despite knowing that he would immediately undergo Tommy John surgery. This means that once Spring Training 2012 ends, he must either be on the MLB team (mostly likely in the rotation), put on waivers, or traded.

I think that the Yankees interest and Brackman’s development plan may align somewhat. Brackman, if he doesn’t make the team out of spring training, will begin 2011 at Triple-A. Around the middle of the season, assuming he is pitching well, the Yankees could call him up and make him a regular member of the rotation. He’ll be allowed to pitch 60-100 innings at the level, and then prepared for a permanent spot in 2012. The Yankees probably wouldn’t be ready to commit to Brackman’s rotation spot out of spring training unless their hand was forced, which it is. I think this is a good thing – if the Yankees are pressured by Brackman’s lack of options to commit to his 2012 rotation spot, then they’ll have to do the necessary call up in 2011 (especially if they need starters, which they probably will) to make that happen. If he’s pitching well enough to deserve that call up, this actually works out well both for the short term team interests and Brackman’s long term development.

Of course, this could all be moot if Brackman either makes the team out of spring training, or goes back to pitching poorly. Hell, if the Yankees look at Brackman in spring training and his mechanics are all clean, and he’s throwing 96 mph, and they don’t bring in another starter, they would wise to go straight with him. Pitching and physical abilities aren’t what the man lacks. Its just all mechanical. But I don’t think that’s likely – just like in 2009, Brackman may need some time to get going before everything’s working well. He needs less Triple-A experience than he simple needs experience.

Tagged with:

Romine Gushes about System's Pitching

Posted by Matt Imbrogno at 11:00 am 1 Response »
Dec 292010

An on going theme of 2010 for the Yankees has been the vast improvement of the minor league system. What was once barren has now been replenished. There may be some kinks to work out–a few more potential impact position players would be nice–but behind Jesus Montero, there are definitely some high quality arms we could see either this season or in the next one or two.

Adding to the praise of the revamped Yankee farm system is catching prospect Austin Romine. In a recent blog post by the Daily News’s Anthony McCarron, Romine spoke of the talent in the Yankees farm system.

“There are so many good pitchers in our organization and it’s being overlooked. DJ Mitchell, (David) Phelps, (Dellin) Betances, (Andrew) Brackman. They’re all really good. I had the good fortune to catch a few of them in Double A and see them go up and I’m really proud of that.

We’ve, rightly, heard a lot about Betances and Brackman this season. They both have high ceilings and made big strides this year. There’s still room to grow, though, as both need to stay healthy going forward. Brackman improved his control this year, cutting almost four (!!) walks per nine from his 2009 total. He kept his strikeout stuff, too, as he fanned 8.1 per nine (3.23 K/BB).

Betances pitched 85.1 innings in 2010, the second most of his career. He posted a career high 11.4 (!) K/9, while walking just 2.3 per nine (4.91 K/BB). If Big D can keep that performance up while still building up his innings, we could definitely see him in the Bronx in 2012.

Mitchell pitched 150.2 innings between Trenton (22 starts) and Scranton (3 starts). His WHIP was 1.400, but he did manage a 2.11 GB/FB rate at Trenton, as well as a 1.12 at Scranton. Aside from strikeout guys like Brackman and Betances, the Yankees should be focusing in groundball guys like Mitchell. While we’d probably like to see his K/9 creep over 7, as long as he gets grounders, we’ll be happy.

David Phelps had his second straight solid season in the Yankee system, posting a 3.92 K/BB and a 2.50 ERA across 158.2 innings between Trenton (88.1 IP) and Scranton (70.1 IP). Phelps pitches a lot of innings and gets good results; he’s another guy we could see make his debut in 2011.

Romine talked most about everyone’s favorite left hander, Manny Banuelos:

Banuelos out here was lights out in (the AFL All-Star game). That was one of the top starts I’ve seen.

“That’s tough for a 19 year old kid. Ninety percent of the guys on that field (in the AFL A-S game) are going to the big leagues and he came out and to pitch the way he did, he should be nothing but confident now. And I love seeing him gaining that confidence every month, it seems like, from when I got him from high A. He came up wide-eyed, a young kid. I didn’t know who he was and he was throwing gas. To see him mature over that time is great. He’s only 19 now and that’s young and he’s mature over his years.”

It looks like Romine saved his biggest praise for Banuelos and it’s well deserved. Of all the players mentioned, he probably has the best combination of upside and likelihood. Despite an appendectomy, Banuelos still managed to strike out 11.8 batters per nine innings while walking 3.5 per nine (3.40 K/BB). That 3.5 BB/9 is a bit inflated by bigger walk numbers in small appearances in the GCL and Trenton. In the place where he spent the most time, Tampa, Banuelos walked just 2.8 per nine.

I expect that we’ll be hearing big things out of all of these pitchers in 2011, Banuelos most of all. With each passing year, I get more and more pleasure out of following these guys in the minors. The best part of that is with each passing year, these guys get closer and closer to the big leagues.

Tagged with: , , , , ,

What would a two-slot spring training rotation battle look like?

Posted by EJ Fagan at 2:00 pm 12 Responses »
Dec 212010

If Andy Pettitte does not resign, the Yankees are currently set up to enter spring training with two open rotation spots. I don’t know about you, but I can’t remember that ever being the case on the modern Yankees. Even in 2008, when the Yankees attempted to use Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, and later Joba Chamberlain all in the rotation, the plan was set from the start. If the Yankees decide to go into spring training with their current roster, it’ll really be a rare sight, and pretty interesting too from an objective standpoint.

Luckily for the Yankees, the team does have a lot of options. An exhaustive list at this point probably includes Ivan Nova, David Phelps, Sergio Mitre, Joba Chamberlain, D.J. Mitchell, Andrew Brackman, Dellin Betances, Hector Noesi, Adam Warren, and Romulo Sanchez, plus whatever minor league contracts the Yankees bring in to audition.

Right off the bat, I think the Yankees will value some stability by immediately promising one job to Ivan Nova. This would allow him to relax in spring training a little bit and work on his game, instead of having to endure the pressure of a competition. You can pass your own judgment on whether or not pressure is good for a young pitcher – I think the team should press him. Regardless, Ivan Nova is probably the best “ready-now” pitcher on the roster. He’s got two great things going for him – a superb 2.86 ERA in 146 Triple-A innings plus a solid MLB debut with a 4.50 ERA in 42 innings. He’s got the workload and mental icebreaking down. Nova’s problem is that he’s just not all that great of a pitcher. He has the stuff, and should be a MLB starter, but has poor K/BB numbers all around. He’s going to allow a lot of baserunners, which means a lot of runs. Still, he’ll get his outs, and shouldn’t be overexposed in the majors. The Yankees couldn’t really ask for much better right now.

Once we get to the competition, I think that the Yankees will only give a real serious chance at making the rotation to Phelps, Brackman and Mitre, plus Joba if they decide to go that route. They’ll do their due diligence on Sanchez and Mitchell, but neither are particularly promising as starters in the majors. Warren, Betances, and Noesi offer higher-ceiling options than Phelps and Mitre, but all could definitely benefit from some more time. The Yankees do not need their opening day starters to last the whole season, and Noesi in particular could very well be ready by the time its apparent that one of the MLB guys isn’t working out. If spring training is really kind to them and the Yankees are feeling pretty adventurous, maybe they get a shot. Just don’t bet the farm on it.

Phelps should be the favorite of this group. He has the potential to be a lot better than Mitre, but is a little more ready than Brackman. He pitched a robust 158 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, with a strong 3.92 K/BB ratio. He’s got solid enough stuff with a 91-93 mph fastball and a good slider, plus oodles of polish. He’s no ace, but Phelps definitely has the potential to stick in the back of the rotation on a team like the Yankees. You could see him pitching 200 innings with a 4.50 ERA, which we would take I think. Brackman, on the other hand, is the opposite kind of prospect. He had a fairly strong season, but topped out pitching 80 2/3 innings at Double-A. We all know about how good he can be. If he shows up to spring training looking like the good Brackman – in shape and all together mechanically – I think the Yankees will strongly consider him. But that needs to happen first. Sergio Mitre is Sergio Mitre. You know what he brings to the table – not a whole lot, but he’ll go out and pitch every 5th day.

Its important to remember what the Yankees are seeking to replace. Andy Pettitte and Javier Vazquez combined to pitch 286 innings for the Yankees with a combined ERA of 4.40. That’s what the Yankees should shoot for. Furthermore, the Yankees can count on some kind of mid-season reinforcement coming from Hector Noesi, Adam Warren, Dellin Betances, Manuel Banuelos, Brackman, etc, plus the trade market. I really don’t think this picture is all that bleak for the Yankees. Yeah, it might be painful to watch some rookies struggle at first, but it was just as painful to watch the Vazquez/Moseley/et al crew try and hold down the bottom part of the rotation this year. Cashman might not be pulling a Bubba Crosby here, folks. The truth is that Phelps and Nova are relatively solid, if unspectacular, major league options, and the rest of the crew represent high-ceiling potential at mid-season (or earlier in Brackman’s case).

Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Piliere: Yankees Ripe for Youth Movement

Posted by Matt Imbrogno at 11:00 am 2 Responses »
Dec 162010

Frankie Piliere’s second paragraph started:

…in terms of organizational health New York is just about as strong and as flush with talent in its minor league system as any team in the game.

No matter what we think of the Yankee farm system or prospects, this is an incredibly encouraging statement. In fact, it’s something I can’t recall hearing ever before; granted, that could be from lack of attention in the earlier part of the century, but in the last few years, that statement was certainly a rarity.

The first person we think of when we hear “youth movement” in regard to the Yankees is Jesus Montero. Appropriately, he’s the first prospect mentioned in this piece:

I’ve had the pleasure of scouting Montero at each level of the minor-league ladder during his development, and the worries about his defense aren’t unwarranted. But, they were much more warranted two years ago, and even more so the year before. As he’s matured, especially physically, his defense has improved, not declined as some predicted. With Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2010, I still saw a lot of inconsistencies in Montero’s game behind the plate, but it was nothing that I don’t see from time to time from mediocre defensive catchers at the major league level.

While that last sentence is a bit of a backhanded compliment, hearing “mediocre defensive catcher” in the same sentence as “Jesus Montero” is fantastic. The best case scenario, we’ve been told, is that Montero can hit a ton while faking it behind the plate for a while before moving to first base or DH. If he can improve to mediocrity, that means Montero will be able to stick behind the plate, making his bat that much more valuable.

Piliere then touches on the Russell Martin. Pay attention to the bolded words:

With all that said, the Yankees have just signed Russell Martin. For most any other club, Montero would likely be given a very real shot at the catching job in 2011. Given the Yankees’ financial might, you can’t blame them for going out and buying a safety net for their young catcher, but this is going to be an interesting case study in just how willing they are to let this next wave of young talent infuse itself into their roster.

There it is. That’s what I think the Yankees plan to do with Russell Martin and Jesus Montero. Martin will get the bulk of the catching duties in the Majors until it’s clear that Montero cannot be kept down any longer. At that point, it’s likely they’ll shift Montero into the starting job, Russell to the back up job, and Francisco Cervelli…well, wherever.

The last thing I’ll touch on is a fair question that Pilere raises:

When the time comes can New York be patient enough to work guys like Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances or perhaps even Andrew Brackman into its rotation?

I desperately want to say yes to this question. But at the same time, given what happened with Joba Chamberlain, I’m not going to put any confidence in that answer. Obviously, though, the situations will not necessarily be analogous. We have no idea if there will be rotation spots open. We have no idea if the latter two will stay healthy.

What does give me confidence, though, is that in many ways, Manny Banuelos has taken great strides this year. The fact that he throws with his left hand also helps immeasurably. If any of the Killer B’s is going to make it as a starter for the Yankees, it’s going to be Banuelos.

Tagged with: , , , ,

Discussion: Which Killer B Is Best?

Posted by EJ Fagan at 5:00 pm 36 Responses »
Dec 152010

The high-ceiling trio of Dellin Betances, Manuel Banuelos, and Andrew Brackman are all on the cusp of the major leagues. Although they probably do not compare with Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, and Ian Kennedy in terms of value (the Big Three were way ahead in terms of being better prospects), they do find themselves in a similarly comparable position. Usually when we compare prospects, we’re comparing apples an oranges. Who’s better, the above average-looking catcher in Double-A or the 17 year-old potential all-star in rookie ball? So much separates those players that there really isn’t much to argue. They all started the season in A ball and finished it in Double-A, and are all high-ceiling starting pitchers. I also think that there is an argument out there for each one being the best.

So, who’s the best Killer B? Back in September when I ranked them, I listed Manuel Banuelos as #1, Andrew Brackman as #2, and Dellin Betances as #3. I see no reason to change those rankings now.

I believe that Manuel Banuelos is the best Killer B for a number of reasons. First off, he does not carry the serious injury concerns of Dellin Betances and to a lesser extent Andrew Brackman. He missed half a season with a non-baseball related injury, but has received great comments from several scouts about having a smooth, effortless delivery. He may be small (a foot shorter than Brackman!), but that concerns more more down the line, not immediately. Just a year ago he was considered a top prospect because he threw great secondary pitches and was universally recognized as having poise and pitchability beyond his years. Take that, and realize that all of the sudden he’s not throwing 90-91, but 93-95 from the left side. He’s a safer prospect than people realize (unlike the other two Killer Bs) yet has tons of upside.

I ranked Andrew Brackman second, and below several other Yankee prospects, for a lot of reasons. First off, he’s getting to be a bit old. While I don’t blame Brackman – he had an unorthodox path to the majors – it does raise concerns about his upside. I’m not sure how much more development we can expect out of him. That said, its not like Brackman is lacking in physical tools. The man throws in the mid-90s on a pretty nasty downward plane, and tops it off with one of the best curveballs around. He’s 6’10″ and athletic, and even managed to flash pretty good control last season. But he’s far from a safe product. While he was pretty good in the second half of last season, he could very well lapse into the funk that he could not get out of in 2009. Arm surgery explains some of it, but not all of it. I guess I just have trouble seeing Brackman consistently bring it in the majors, despite the package he brings. He’s on track to definitely be some kind of major league pitcher, but there is a lot of variance in how good he could end up being.

To me, Dellin Betances is a no-brainer at last place. Its not for lack of ability – I ranked Betances #1 ahead of both of them in my all-ceiling ranking. Dellin came back from surgery to throw like the absolute monster he could be – 95-96 with lots of movement and awesome secondary pitches. He’s not just a tall guy, but a really strong, built man, and he has finally matured into that body. The guy can chainsaw through hitters. A lot of people have ranked him #2 in the system after Montero. But come on! Dellin Betances is the Rich Harden of minor leaguers. He’s got a terrible health record, having only stayed healthy for one full season in his career. I’d give him more credit had his 2010 season been a 130+, healthy season, but he didn’t even pitch a full season this year. I’ve learned from being burned so many times by Betances over the years. I’m not buying yet, though I acknowledge the big step forward he made in 2010 by finally putting it all together.

But that’s my opinion. What do you guys thing?

Tagged with: , ,

Buzz Building For Banuelos

Posted by Moshe Mandel at 3:00 pm 11 Responses »
Nov 092010

Manny Banuelos played in the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Showcase earlier this week, and then returns were quite positive. Keith Law had the following to say:

His opponent, Yankees lefty Manny Banuelos, was also excellent with a ridiculous changeup that had plus arm speed and hard, late fading action, and he touched 94 as well. I don’t see much physical projection with Banuelos, who is already pretty maxed out physically (unless he gets taller — he is just 19), but his feel for pitching and fastball command are extremely advanced and tightening his curveball would give him three above-average or better pitches too.

Manny’s changeup is starting to be viewed as one of the best in the minors, and his increase in fastball velocity has greatly increased his prospect standing. Kevin Goldstein of BP confirmed Law’s report, noting that “Banuelos showed multiple swing and miss offerings, which for now is what matters.”

People have been debating over the last few months how to rank the “Killer B’s” of Banuelos, Dellin Betances, and Andrew Brackman. I think Banuelos is the clear choice for the #1 slot, and would likely consider him the Yankees’ best prospect after Jesus Montero. He is now displaying top of the rotation stuff to go with strong command and plenty of polish, and does not have major injury concerns. While the other two may have slightly higher ceilings, they also have a much higher bust factor. I’d be much quicker to include either Brackman or Betances in a deal than Banuelos, and Manny’s performance in the Arizone Fall League has done nothing but confirm this evaluation.

Tagged with: , , , , ,

Madden: Plan B is the Killer B's

Posted by Steve S. at 9:12 am 18 Responses »
Nov 072010

Yesterday, I kicked around a trade scenario between the Yanks and Giants if the Yanks fail to land Cliff Lee. Bill Madden of the NY Daily News throws out another alternative, one where the Yanks go with some of their highly-touted internal options if Lee opts to stay in Texas. He writes:

Cashman’s vision of a mostly homegrown rotation remains the same – and is, in fact, “Plan B” if his pursuit of Lee goes for naught. Only the principals have changed. Brackman, the 6-10, 2007 first-round draft pick out of North Carolina St., whose progress was retarded by Tommy John surgery in 2008, came on strong the second half of this past season after being promoted to Double-A Trenton. Betances, the 6-8 Brooklyn product selected in the eighth round of the 2006 draft, has been making steady progress with 108 strikeouts and 22 walks in 85.1 combined innings at Class-A Tampa and Trenton. This season those two were joined by a new prodigy, 19-year-old Mexican lefty Manuel Banuelos, who had 70 strikeouts and 31 walks in 59 innings at Tampa and Trenton. All three possess “plus” fastballs, breaking pitches and changeups and appear to be on the fast track. And, according to Yankee operatives, the hope is that one or more of them could land in the big league rotation at some point next season. Scouts I’ve talked to are unanimous in their praise for the “Three B’s,” citing Betances’ “outstanding breaking ball,” Brackman’s “power cut fastball, which he never throws straight,” and Banuelos’ way-above changeup.” Just the same, the failure of Cashman’s homegrown-arms plan to bear quick fruit has resulted in the necessity to chase Lee and likely invest another $100-plus million in an over-30 pitcher, meaning that, beginning next year, the Yankees could be on the hook for nearly $200 million in three starting pitchers through 2013 alone.

With all three spending time in AA Trenton last year, it’s not at all far fetched to put them in the 25 man roster mix for  sometime next year. One could easily envision a late season call up for Banuelos if the Yanks are in need of a lefty in the bullpen, and if Betances continues the progress in terms of control that he made since the second half of 2008, then as BA recently said “he’ll be a frontline starter for New York”. Brackman may be the most likely of all to get a look-see, if for no other reason the clock is ticking on his team control.

Lee is obviously their 1st choice, obtaining him for nothing but cash and draft picks means they keep all their top prospects and have oodles of depth for the long regular season in 2011. But I believe the Yanks when, as Buster Olney said yesterday, they say have “a very finite view” of what they’ll offer Lee. Looking down the road a bit, if we assume a minimum 3 year/20-ish deal for Jeter and a 20+ annual deal for Lee, in 2013 you could have a whopping 110 million tied up in just 5 players in Jeter (39) Lee (35) A-Rod (37) Tex (33) and Burnett (36) all of whom will be past their prime years. Throw in CC’s 22.5 mil, a big extension for Robbie Cano (18-20 per) and a big 3rd year arb raise for Phil Hughes (10+) you’re easily north of 160 mil with 17 roster spots left to fill. That’s a very inefficient use of payroll space. Considering that you have to assume declining production at some of those ages, that could give the Yanks the kind of roster inflexibility that plagued them from 04-08. There’s also a new collective bargaining agreement to be negotiated with the MLBPA, and every recent CBA has contained some bad news for the Yanks. Unless they plan on raising their payroll ceiling substantially (something Hal Stienbrenner has been very reluctant to do) to around 250 mil or get Jeter to agree to a 2 year deal, the payroll picture is very ugly for 2013. They’ll need some big production out of some cheap young players that year, or risk being an injury away from missing the playoffs. It’s easy to say ‘worry about this stuff then’ but which one of these players is likely to be elsewhere? None, not even the unproductive AJ Burnett. Back loading a Lee deal could help, but that just means he’s earning the most money in his least productive years and creates similar problems in the out years of his deal.

While I agree that it’s possible the Yanks will go with the kids, I have to think this represents Plan C or D for them. It’s always smart to enter the off season taking the “We’re happy where we are” stance for negotiating purposes, you don’t want to look desperate if Lee decides he’s happy in Texas. But a finished product will always be more attractive to a team like the Yanks than a young pitcher who you have to expect some growing pains with, so I have to think they’ll pursue the trade route all winter before settling on the ‘Killer Bs’ as their Plan B for 2011. However, they’ll need some of these guys to be productive for them going forward, so look for them to make their MLB debuts in the near future.

Tagged with: , , ,

Brackman Called Up (Update: Maybe Not?)

Posted by Moshe Mandel at 10:47 pm 3 Responses »
Sep 202010

At 8:15 this evening, I received an email from an individual claiming to be Andrew Brackman’s uncle. He stated that Andrew was being called up. I could not confirm the relationship between the two and did not run the story. Cincinnati.com just confirmed that Andrew is headed to the majors:

Former Moeller standout Andrew Brackman was called up by the Yankees today. He reports to New York on Tuesday.

Brackman was selected by the Yankees in the first round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft after playing baseball at N.C. State.

He’s come a long way considering Brackman underwent reconstructive elbow surgery on Aug. 24, 2007.

Brackman was 10-11 with a 3.90 ERA this season at Tampa (A+ ball) and Trenton (AA ball), but he has continued to progress during the season.

According to the Trentonian, over his last six regular-season starts, Brackman appears to be on the verge of putting it all together. He allowed just three earned runs over his final six starts, and spun a brilliant five innings in relief of Andy Pettitte in the first game of the Eastern League Championship Series.

It has been a remarkable turnaround for Brackman, who looked lost last season after Tommy John surgery. He is unlikely to see much action, but this certainly suggests that he has a chance of making the Yankees at some point in 2011. The Yankee minor league pitching renaissance is starting to bear dividends.

Update: Mark Feinsand just said on Twitter that the Yankees have denied the report, for now. We shall see.

Tagged with: , ,

Fall 2010 Top 30 Yankee Prospects Ranking

Posted by EJ Fagan at 5:00 pm 23 Responses »
Sep 202010

Its been a really good season for the Yankees down in the minors. Below is my top-30 Yankee prospects. Though I should say this: there are a lot more guys in the system. I strongly considered expanding the list to 40 or 50 players, which the Yankees could easily justify. I decided to hold back for a number of reasons. As always, I tend to value certainty over uncertainty and performance over raw talent. The level listed after their names is where I project them for next season. The list:

1. C Jesus Montero, AAA/MLB – Really, he should be on the Yankees next year. His second half was as good as it gets. We’ll see.
2. LHP Manuel Banuelos, AA - He went from a polished young lefty to a flame-throwing potential ace.
3. C Austin Romine, AAA – More worried about the lack of defensive growth than his poor hitting season.
4. RHP Hector Noesi AAA – Better than people think. Also pretty close to a sure thing.
5. C Gary Sanchez A- – The next Montero, but with less body-type defensive questions.
6. RHP Graham Stoneburner AA – Blasted on to the scene this year, couldn’t have asked for better.
7. RHP Andrew Brackman AAA/AA – Went from having terrible control to having really good control in 2010. On track for a 2011 MLB appearance.
8. RHP Ivan Nova AAA/MLB – Could start on a lot of teams, maybe the Yankees. At the very least, he should be a good reliever.
9. RHP Dellin Betances AA – Still skeptical, but you can’t argue with his potential ceiling. Frank Piliere’s comments were pretty glowing.
10. OF Slade Heathcott A+ – Held his own. He’s a project, so we shouldn’t expect immediate gains. Next step: power.
11. RHP Adam Warren AA – His reported velocity has been a bit inflated, but his AA numbers were pretty awesome too.
12. 2b David Adams AAA – He’d be higher if not for the injury. Excellent trade bait, since we have Cano.
13. RHP Jose Ramirez A+ – Got leapfrogged by other players in 2010, but he’s still a great prospect.
14. SS Cito Culver A- – Great reviews on defense, held his own on hitting. Now the real work starts.
15. 3b Robert Segedin A+ – Fell to us due to injury concerns. Fell to #15 due to injury concerns. If he’s healthy, he’s top-5.
16. CF Mason Williams A- – Don’t know a lot about him, but he sounds like Brett Gardner with more tools. The bonus justifies this spot.
17. 3b/1b Brandon Laird AAA – Not too confident that he can be a starter in the AL East, but he should be a useful little piece as soon as mid-2011.
18. RHP Bryan Mitchell A- – Lots and lots of raw stuff. The Yankees love him.
19. RHP David Phelps AAA/MLB – Starter for the Pirates?
20. OF Angelo Gumbs A- – Highly rated, but raw. We’ll see.
21. OF Melky Mesa AA – Still skeptical, but if the breakout is real, then he could be a top-flight prospect. Rule V protection?
22. C JR Murphy A+ – Disappointing season.
23. RHP Brett Marshall A+ – Came back looking great. If he stays healthy, he’s a top starter prospect.
24. RHP D.J. Mitchell AAA – Just can’t get lefties out. Reliever?
25. 2b Corban Joseph AA – Underrated, but didn’t do so well in an extended AA audition.
26. RHP Lance Pendleton AAA/MLB – Was my pick for dark horse of the year. 154 2/3 innings, 2.33 K/BB, 3.61 ERA. Rule V protection?
27. LHP Evan Rutckyj A- – Super interesting super project. But he’s both really talented and a lefty.
28. RHP Gabe Encinas A- – Super interesting more polished project. Not left handed.
29. OF Colin Curtis AAA/MLB – MLB 4th/5th outfielder. Just like everyone said when he was drafted. Decent AAA season, deserves a look in spring training.
30. LHP Jeremy Bleich AA – We’ll talk after he recovers from surgery.

Honorable Mentions: George Kontos, Fu-Lin Kuo, Zoilo Almonte, Caleb Cotham, Eduardo Nunez, Eduardo Sosa, Jairo Heredia, Matt Richardson, Manny Barreda, Evan DeLuca, Ryan Pope, Pat Venditte, Anderson Feliz, Brad Suttle

There’s a lot to say about this group of players, and you can rest assured that I will say a lot of things. My current plan (if life allows) is to do a full array of prospect profiles, though I may leave a few of the less interesting players out. Who am I most intrigued by, relative to the buzz out there? Evan Rutckyj, Brett Marshall, Graham Stoneburner, and Rob Segedin really get my brain going.

What do you all think?

Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

KLaw Chats Montero, Yankee Prospects

Posted by Moshe Mandel at 5:00 pm 10 Responses »
Aug 132010

Keith Law held his weekly chat this Thursday, and had some nice things to say about Jesus Montero:

Q: Which current hitter would you compare Jesus Montero to? If he goes to a different team any chance he stays behind the plate?
Klaw: Physically and in his swing, he reminds me of Frank Thomas. And I know that’s an insane comp to put on a guy, but I don’t think that’s out of the question as an optimistic long-term projection.

Now, KLaw was talking about his swing, so I doubt he was suggesting that Montero would replicate Frank’s otherworldly OBP skills. That said, if Frank Thomas is not out of the question as a projection for Jesus, I think the Yankees could find a way to get him at-bats regardless of position. As I have stated since Montero established himself as an elite hitting prospect, trading him is a bad idea.

Q: KLAW, Yankee prospects to keep an eye on besides Montero. Thanks.
Klaw: Most exciting guys are Betances, Brackman (I don’t want to say he’s back … but he might be), and Heathcott. JR Murphy’s a long-term guy, but with Romine’s hot start fading out I think some hype might shift over to him as the Yanks’ potential C of the future.

Q: Re: Yanks to keep an eye on. How about Gary Sanchez?
Klaw: Yes, thanks, forgot him. That’s a pretty good line of catching prospects – even if Romine’s just a fringe starter, that’s three catchers who project as that or better in their system.

Q: Brackman had a BB9 over 6 last year, this year it’s in the mid-2s, is that normal recovery from TJS? Or did he improve mechanics?
Klaw: Command is the last thing to come back.

Regarding Romine, his fade does not concern me, as he is likely experiencing the effects of his first full season of catching. He had previously been splitting catching duties with Montero, but with Jesus at AAA he had the job all to his lonesome. Additionally, the ballpark in Trenton is a notorious pitcher’s park, and Romine has significantly better numbers on the road. I have a feeling his second half fade will be long forgotten by May or June of next season.

As for the Yankees catching depth, it is amazing that most of their legit non-pitching prospects are backstops. It is also important to note that Murphy is athletic enough to play elsewhere and Sanchez may be as well, so on the off chance that all of these guys are not traded AND turn into everyday MLB players, the team will have the ability to move those who are blocked to other positions.

Finally, the buzz around Brackman continues to build, and it looks like he has recovered much of his prospect status. I would not be surprised to see him make a number of top 100 prospects lists, along with Montero, Romine, and Sanchez, with Betances possibly sneaking onto a few as well. This really has been a strong bounce-back year for the Yankee farm system.

Tagged with: , , , , , , ,
Older Entries Newer Entries
© 2011 TYU Suffusion theme by Sayontan Sinha