Bargnani is a Knick

The deal is official.   Andrea Bargnani is a Knick, Novak and Camby, a 1 and two 2's are Toronto's.   I have no idea if this is an improvement.   Andrea rebounds and plays D like someone named Andrea would be expected to in a league of men.   He is a 7 footer who can shoot and hopefully pass, so he might be valuable for spreading the floor.  I really will have to see how this thing works...

Meanwhile, the Knicks are apparently meeting with JR Smith and asking him to stay.

Rangers Grab a Goalie

With their final pick in the 6th, the Rangers took Goalie Mackenzie Skapsi.   Skapsi is 19 and didn't start for Kootenay till this year.   But goalies can be like that, and great ones can even be gotten later than Skapsi was today.   So we'll have to see what we have.   I may or may not have some thoughts about this draft later.   Though I'm sure they're self evident.

Rangers Grab a Big D

At 110 the Ranger have taken LS Dman Ryan Graves.   He's 6'4" and doesn't score much, but has some penalty minutes, so he's probably a bit of a scrapper.   He's our second pick from the Q which proves we really do scout it, even if we rarely pick from it.   Surprised he's another left shot.

Rangers Go For More Speed at 75 and 80

The Rangers doubled down on speed and skill with their next two picks taking Pavel Buchnevich at 75 and jet powered Anthony Duclair at 80.    Both are listed as LW's.      Who knows is Buchnevich will ever come over, but he has speed and skills, and so does Duclair, who is already over.   Both kids were born in `95 and are among the younger and faster guys in the draft.   For a team that was looking for D depth, they ended up with three more F's who can skate so far.

Rangers Stay Put and Take Adam Tambellini at 65

After 4 and a half hours, the Rangers have finally made a pick.  Adam Tambellini, son of former Islander Steve Tambellini.   We now have the sons of two former Islanders named Steve.  He's a 6'3 wiry kid who played BC juniors , but has averaged over 1 ppg in his leagues.  He's a North Dakota  commit.  He's also supposed to be a plus skater, continuing last years theme of speed and skating.   They have two more picks this round.

Bargnani To The Knicks?

Rumors are flying, from reporters and not "incarcerated " types, that the Knicks are close to acquiring Andrea Bargnani from the Toronto Raptors for Marcus Camby, Steve Novak and picks.   First off, anything that gets rid of Novak is probably a plus.   Sad Marcus didn't get more done in his second go round with the Knicks.   Hope we aren't sending a one.  I think the idea will be to have the 7 footer hoist threes with the rest of the kids.   Doesn't rebound much.   Can't be a less effective defender than Novak.   Curious move.

Rangers Trade for Justin Falk

The Rangers have made their first move, trading next year's 6th rounder and Benn Ferriero for D Kevin Falk.  Yet another lefty shot, and scrappy fighter.  At the least this will keep them from rushing McIlrath.   Todaythey are down to 5 picks.  3 in the third and 1 in the 4th and 1 in the 6th.

Rangers Draft

Alright, the Ranger draft, such as it is, starts at 3pm EST and 12pm PST tomorrow, and runs till it's done.  They used to make more of a weekend of it, but for some reason not this year.  Maybe because it's at the Pru.   Should once again be full of Ranger fans, but right now, they'll be waiting till the third for the Rangers first pick.  For some reason, I still think they're going to end up with a first round pick, though I have no idea what that deal would look like or who they might be targeting.

Okay, so why do I think they'll trade in for someone they've targeted.  It's because there are always guys they target.   Every year.   Usually they get them, like Kreider, MeIlrath, and Miller.   Sometimes they get them a little later like McDonagh, Lindberg, and Erixon (who they then traded away).  Sometimes they'll grab a guy who's falling, like they did when they traded Evgeny Grachev to jump into the third round two years ago and get Stephen Fogarty.   So they have targets and they pursue them.  So that's one.

Two, and I think this is important: they have gotten really good at scouting and finding prospects.  In other words, their scouts have earned not only a great deal of credibility over the last 6 years or so, but it always behooves the Rangers to give them picks to work with.  You always want to go with your strengths, and scouting is now a big Ranger strength.  You want to spend assets that way.

Third, this is supposed to be a blue chip first round and a red chip draft thereafter.   Now, I think teams with good scouts have an advantage in red chip drafts because some of those kids will turn into blue chip players, and good scout tend to find which ones better.   But in a blue chip draft, you have a chance to take a great player or even a Hall of Famer.   The Rangers should be giving their scouts a chance to do that themselves.

Finally, the draft will be on TV and Cablevision which owns the Rangers loves sizzle.   They sort of made a meal out of finding a new coach.   Then did something perfectly dumb by holding onto Richards (though I still hope they change their mind by the 4th).   They have yet to name their assistant coaches, and I think they'll want to make a splash in the draft.   Because of the Richards decision, they probably won't be cap capable of making a splash when FA starts.

So there are my reasons and let's see what happens.

Tyler Webb Promoted To Charleston

The Yanks today promoted Tyler Webb from SI to Charleston.  It's not that big a deal, but it's a good deal.   Webb was our 10 rounder earlier this month, and was the closer South Carolina who didn't have a huge fastball, but struck everyone out.   Anyway, this is good because he struck everyone out at SI, too so far, and the Yankees should be aggressive with their college promotions.   You don't want anyone spending their college primes in the minor leagues.   It's also good because it allows Nick Rumbelow or Connor McNamara to now close for SI and hopefully get moved along right behind Webb.

Btw, when I first saw the news, I thought it said Tyler Wade was promoted,  He was our 4th round shortstop who is killing the GCL, so I was hoping it was true.

Knicks After Rondo?

I find this hard to believe.   But, since the Knick bear writers are taking it somewhat seriously, I guess something could be up.  Lord knows, MSG likes sizzle.   But I'd be a little suspicious if the Celts were willing to deal Rondo to the Knicks.   He is coming off an ACL and while Adrian Peterson might have shown how far that surgery has come, Derrick Rose showed everyone's not Adrian Peterson.   When healthy, Rondo was one of the best pure PG's in the league, and a player who seemed to get better every year.   Bernie Williams was like that in his 20's.  I believe Rondo will be turning 28 soon, so we'd be getting him in prime rather than just before.   Also, there are trade matches between the Knicks and Celts, but why would the Celts take what the Knicks offer unless their's is the only offer.  It's just a strange possibility, bit I guess it's being talked over.   He's probably still gonna be much better than Felton when he comes back.

A Confederacy of Dunces?

Great book, but no way to run a hockey team.  Since what seemed to me like the perfectly logical dismissal of Torts, the Rangers have behaved at the very least, confusingly.   First, after a coaching search that seemed to alienate an all-time Ranger legend, the Rangers hired Alain Vigneault.   This seemed like a good move and AV is a coach who is cognizant of advance metrics and doesn't advocate caveman hockey.

It felt that the smart Rangers, that we've been getting used to since the Gomez trade, had won the day and things would just keep getting brighter -- in a couple of ways.    But since then, they haven't hired a coaching staff.    They lost Messier and whatever his contribution to the bright streak was. And now they are saying they won't do the easiest task on their offseason to do list and that's by out Richards.

A friend of mine on one of the boards pointed out that Sather didn't make this announcement till after the GM meetings.  He wondered if Sather had found a taker.  Remember, Toronto was desperate for him 2 years ago.    Of course that wouldn't mean they want him now.   But could something actually be up?

Also, they still haven't done anything to get into the first two rounds of the draft, but I think they will and so I can't sleep in on Sunday.

After The Draft The Knicks Corral Some Freaks

In stark contrast to the stupidity of the Rangers, the Knicks moved quickly after the draft to secure the services of two of the most freakishly athletic players in the land.   They reached all the way down to Division 3 to find 7 Foot C AJ Matthews.   This guy is exciting, and not just because he had he was an academic non qualifier who couldn't get in anywhere else, but is now scheduled to graduate.  No, he's exciting because he's a 7 foot C who can run, jump, shoot, block shots, and rebound.   He will have to get stronger, but if the Knicks can be patient, they could have a rotation piece at some point.

They also picked up CJ Leslie,  F from NC State who's sort of a 3-4 tweener who may be athletic enough to guard both.   So the Knicks have added two more long, athletic players to go along with Iman and Hardaway Jr. in Vegas.     Go Knicks!

The Rangers Take a Big Risk

Almost unbelievably,  the Rangers have just announced that they will not use their second compliance buyout this summer.   Thus, they are stuck with Brad Richards and his ridiculous contract for at least one more year, and possibly longer.    It will literally be too risky to play him next year and they have jammed up their cap room this year.   This is just bad business, and it makes them look stupid.

In the meantime, with the cap going down as it is, the Rangers will have to move a player or two who still may have some value, unlike Richards, whose legs and reflexes looked shot,  if they need to make cap room.

And of course if Richards ends the season because of injury, they can't buy him out, and if he retires they will be subject to the idiotic salary recapture rules. Only three things can happen here, and two of them are bad.

And for those who think this is  a good move "cause there's no better option out there": really?   There's no better option than paying an over the hill player 6.67M this season to be at best the third best center on the Rangers?  Really?  I would think their are about 60 better option.  

This is the worst decision they've made in years.  

Okay, since the pick, I've spent some time looking at all the tape I could find of Tim Hardaway Jr.   And I noticed a few things that are encouraging.   First, my emotional response earlier was based on having seen him sort of disappear in some games, including this year's NCAA Championship game.   Second, I noticed that he really seems to have good hands.  That's huge catch and shoot guys.  He doesn't double clutch it or bobble it.   He catches it and shoots or dribbles, but all in pretty economical moves.   Next, I think he's even more of a scorer than shooter and he has some nice moves to get to the hoop and finish.   That's good because it means that though he can hit the threes, he's not Novak.   Finally, I noticed that he's used to prospect season to build his body and his stock.   So he might have  given himself some helium, but it was based on getting in better shape and impressing in games and workouts.  That's about putting work in and he was willing to do it.   I'm interested to see what he and Shump can do in the Summer League.

Overall, I think I'm understanding the pick a bit better, and am seeing both a more complete picture of what he can do, and his willingness to work.   He's also a bouncy athlete, and I like to see that in NBA and NFL prospects.     Anyway, I sign off tonight more intrigued than concerned.  

Knicks Take Tim Hardaway Jr.

Ugh.  With guys like Jamaal Franklin and Isaiah Canaan still on the board the Knicks shot for a decent floor instead of a high ceiling.   He can shoot, but isn't great at getting his own shot and doesn't have a great handle yet.   He tests as a better athlete than he's shown in his Michigan career.  I think he went a little high, and it's been because of his name instead of his game.  But he can hit 3's and is athletic enough to be a decent defender.    We'll see if they can add another pick or two with a July delivery date, but I think there were better players available.

Knicks Draft: Looking for Role Players

So, Word on the Tweet, says that the Knicks will be looking for a role player with the 24th pick in the first round of tonight's NBA draft.  I understand that they want to go for a title this year before blowing it up again next summer, but in the Knicks current roster position, they should be looking for another Shumpert pick with both now skills and athletic upside.   They should be finding their role players in the D-league, and over seas, like they have been doing, and not using a rare number 1 pick to draft an eventual trade throw-in.   NBA rosters are too small and too select to aiming for floors instead of ceilings in the draft.   Especially for a team that never has #1 picks, like the Knicks.   So let's hope they do something a little more bad ass than get a role player with their only pick tonight.  Go Knicks?

Messier Quits, Richards Decision Coming

As we wait for the word on Richards, and perhaps an assistant coach or two,  Ranger Legend, Mark Messier quit his job today.   He was a special assistant to Glen Sather, but, after he didn't get the coaching job, he's decided to move on.   I don't know how valuable Mess was in the better decisions the Rangers have been making for some time, but they did tend to be better when he was here.   Having said that, I think he's making the best decision not only for himself, but for Alain Vigneault, as well.   If the Rangers start slowly as they adjust to the new system, should the Rangers "second choice" for coach - whom the fans adore - still be in the organization.   I think that would make it a little tougher.  So good luck to Mess, and I hope he comes back for all of the corny events.  

In other Ranger news, Slats said they'd announce a decision on Brad Richards soon.  Still no word on a coaching staff, and they still haven't made a move for a one or two in Sunday's draft.

With Teix Done, Could Andy Clark be the Answer?

The Yankees just announced that Mark Teixiera is having season ending surgery.   Though they already have some patches on the big league roster, and recently re-acquired Randy Roids Ruiz, who can sort of play first, their best option might be Andrew Clark, who is currently destroying EL pitching.    Clark's a curious case.   The Texas Rangers drafted him, and he hit well, then got released and has continued to hit well.  He was killing an indy league when the Yankees signed him up.   Anyway, they obviously started gathering Ruiz and Clark in case they lost Teix, which has now happened.   It's unclear how soon Clark would get a shot, but after homering twice yesterday, he was three for three with a walk today.   He's got a Yankee Bat and they should call him up.

The Clock is Ticking

The window to amnesty bad contracts opens at 11pm est.    And regardless of what some reporters are saying, buying out Brad Richards is the only intelligent option for the Rangers.   He has been a post concussive train wreck for most of his time with the Rangers, and they could really use the cap room.  Not only is the cap going down, but they do have to deal with Stepan, McDonagh and Hagelin and are apparently already negotiating with MDZ.   The window closes on July 4th.   There would seem to be no reason for the Rangers to hold onto him past 11:01 tonight, but they have had a tendency to drag things out lately, and so, don't be shocked it he's still a Ranger in the morning.    

In other Ranger news, still no assistants named.  

Yankee Power RHP's Pt.1

Okay, the Yanks have a lot of pitchers.   And most are right handed.  And a lot of those can hit 94.   But  I want to break them up a bit, because some of the power righties at the bottom of the organization like Hayden Sharp and Taylor Morton are just starting again, and their velo hasn't been publicized.   It probably also doesn't help to talk about Ty Hensley, who profiles as a classic righty power pitcher and was last year's first round pick, because he's on the shelf this year with a lower body injury and we don't know yet how he'll come back from it.  Additionally, it's important to remember, preps are more likely to add velocity than older college guys.   For example, and all jokes aside, Roger Clemens only threw 89 when the Mets originally drafted him as a prep.   So those with now fastballs like a few I'll mention later are more then exception than the rule.

But even with the limits of this piece, the Yanks do have some power righties to be excited about.

Michael Pineda is the closest to the bigs, and is just in the minors on a rehab assignment, but it's easy to forget about him or that silly trade, cause he hasn't done anything yet.   But, he is regaining velo and when healthy before surgery he could regularly top 95.  He is a huge guy, sort of like a righty CC and those guys can be absolute horses for rotations so we have to hope for a best case scenario because he's coming back from "a shoulder" rather than "an elbow."

Next on the launchpad should probably be Jose A. Ramirez.   This guy has hit 100 on the gun.   In fact there was a rumor that the Yanks traded Arodys Vizcaino rather than Ramirez a few years ago because they liked him better.  That seemed like bs till Ramirez started putting it together last year.   He's always had a great fastball and change, but the thing that will keep him a starter or send him to the pen is his breaking ball, which is finally coming along.   He was recently promoted to AAA.  He did well in the first and not as well in the second.   But he's looking more and more like an impact starter.

Also at AA we have  Sean Black and Shane Green, who have been around for awhile now, and at their best look like classic RHP's, but they don't have that consistently A+ stuff that the more exciting super destroyers in the system have.

In High A, we currently have, perhaps, the next big thing, in Rafael DePaula.   He throws gas and a change and a breaking ball and perhaps a few other things.  He seems to have more pitchability than guys like Nova or Ramirez, and at least as much pure stuff.   This guy is the goods, and let's hope he has health luck and is safe from any bad ideas...

In High A we also have a couple of major power righties not having great seasons so far.   They are Bryan Mitchell and Corey Black.    Mitchell was as prep signing a few years ago who showed arm strength and continued to grow and develop into a really intriguing guy.   If you listen to one of his starts on the net, most of the time it sounds like he's a top prospect, but then he has one bad inning where he walks people and that's sort of where he's at right now.

Corey Black is a smaller guy who can hit 100 on the gun.   He had a good season starting after he was drafted last year, but had a tough start to this one, though he pitched well the other day.    Because of his size people won't stop projecting him to the bullpen until he's a proven big league starter.  Of course with the Yankees current propensity to make everyone a reliever he might get switched before he makes the bigs.

Charleston had DePaula and he got promoted, and they also had Gabe Encinas, a prep who had added significant gas last year, then harnessed it this yet, but got injured.   He was close to DePaula in terms of impressiveness this year, so I hope he still has it when the gets back.

Also, Charleston has Jose Campos, who is now called Vincente Campos, and doesn't seem to have Jose's old fastball back yet.   But last year, there was talk that he was the gem of the silly deal, but he, of course, got hurt.   He's making his way back now, but is not yet the super destroyer we were hoping to see.

It's hard to gage who the power righties are in SI, because they're sort of figuring out who's a starter and who's a reliever.    But Rookie Davis is looking more and more like a future righty power pitcher.  Scouts had him working at 93 and touching 95 in his first start of the year.  Like Gabe Encinas last year he's having to learn how to harness it.

They've also started David Palladino, the 6'9" guy who seems to have more velo he can unlock, but isn't consistently hitting 95 yet.   We'll see what adjustments they make.

And down in the Gulf League they have a developing super destroyer named Luis Severino, and he is the GOODS.  Great fastball and change up, still working on his breaking ball, but they are not going to be able to hit him down there.  He's only 6'1, so there will always be a temptation to move him to the pen.   So we should all be praying for his breaking pitch.

I'm not sure if I've left anyone exciting out.   Guys like Nuding and Stoneburner looked like they might be power righties at some point, but neither has shown great velo as a starter, and both might be better off in the pen.   And maybe we'll look at the pen in a week or so.

DePaula Sizzles In His High A Debut

DePaula started and pitched 5 scoreless, 6 K innings in his first appearance for High A Tampa.  He didn't figure into the decision and gave up just 3 hits and 1 walk in his dominant debut.     This cat could come fast and seems to share a level of pitchability that big armed buys like Nova and Ramirez didn't quite have at the same level.    Been thinking about doing a post of Power Armed Righties, cause the system is starting to show a few.    Should I?

The Week On The Blog

On the Yankee front, we'll see how hot Zoilo Almonte can stay.   See if any of the short league teams can heat up, and see if any of the other draft picks sign.  Nick Rumbelow and Aaron Judge are the only top ten picks who haven't signed.   Plus we'll track significant promotions.

On the Giants front, we'll see if they pick up Leach or Bishop or make any other news in their down period.

On the Knicks front, we'll see what they do in the draft and if they make any draft day deals.

And on the Ranger front, we'll see if they name the assistant coaches.   As well as see if they make any moves in preparation for their draft, all seven rounds of which take place NEXT Sunday.   Remember, they are still missing their first and second round picks.

Knicks Draft

Hey, it's one of those years when the Knicks have a first round pick!!!   Last time was two years ago, when they took the now ascendant Iman Shumpert.    It looks like they're sending him to the summer league to practice playing the point.    With him, it will be a matter of decision making, because he absolutely has the AA to play the point, and it was proven in pre-draft testing two years ago.   Anyway, it will give us a pretty good reason to watch the Summer League.

Over the years, all four of the teams we talk about here have gone through periods of lousy drafting.  But right now, the Giants, Yankees and Rangers have all been applying a good deal of intelligence  to their pick making.   The Knicks have been more hit or miss.  For every Shump, there's been a Jordan Hill.  And they've basically been pretty bad drafters for 30 or more years.  

The NBA draft itself is based on weird calculus.   Teams try to balance projectable athletic ability against knowing how to play.   The temptation to pick athletes is too strong for some teams, and does that not only lead to having Tyrus Thomas's getting traded every year, it creates situations where smart teams like the Spurs to continually find pieces that fit.  Although they did once seem to tank games in order to be able to draft Tim Duncan.  And of course, that kind of chicanery is about par for the NBA draft, that literally be more on the up and up if the Nixon Administration was running it.  

I'm not kidding.  Back in the day, the reason the Celtics were able to draft Bill Russell was because they owner of the Celts owned the Ice Capades and gave the owner of the team ahead of him, I think it was Buffalo or St. Louis, a deal on the Ice show for his arena if he'd let the Celts have Russell.   And then there have been all the rumors about fixed lotteries.   The NHL has seemed a little slippery about their lotteries, too, and they only hired Bettman because he had been David Stern's right hand man.  

But I digress.   So far the Knicks only have the #24 pick and no seconds.    They can't buy seconds on draft night because of the money rules, but they can make deals to buy the selected players once the league year reboots on July 1 or 2.     They're obviously looking for a point guard or a big, and there's been talk of them trading up.

I'm not sure what they'd be able to use to trade up.  The rights to Jerome Jordan?  But hopefully they have a guy they love and can get to.

Back in the Walsh days, they would have guys like Steph Curry and Kevin Love who they loved and just couldn't get to.   That's how hey ended up with Jordan Hill.   Though Danilo Gallinari was a good pick.  In the Zeke days, they'd try to go to whatever lengths they had to to mock the mock drafts with their picks.  That's how they got Renaldo B!

In any event, they need to get someone, cause they are old and wheezed to the finish this year.   Go Knicks?

Cano Walks Four Times!

Wow, in his 9th big league season, Robinson Cano, for the first time, walked four times.   He's been doing a little better with his plate discipline over the past few years, but the only reason he hasn't won a batting title in thus far has been his lack of walks.  In fact, that's the only thing that keeps him from being discussed with the greatest of the great 2B's.     He doesn't steal bases, either, but unless you're doing that at 80% you shouldn't be trying it.  Though he did steal one today, he needs to only try when he knows he can.  Like Reggie used to.  It would be good if he started walking more, though, I believe he will probably make the HoF either way.

In other good news, David Adams took his first two major league walks today.   Adams was a sophisticated college bat when we got him, and it's good to see him settling down and playing his game, that has included walks in the past.

Finally, Zoilo had another nice game including a two run single, and an RBI walk.   If he keeps walking, he can be a Major League Regular, and that would really help the Yanks.   So, go Z!

Interesting Day in Yankee Land

Okay, we have our first Ringer Alert!   The puzzling second round second baseman, Gosuke Katoh homered in his second GCL AB. Hmmm.   Also, power arm RHP Luis Severino K'd the first 6 batters he faced and worked 4 innings of 1 run ball.  I have no idea if the run was earned but he has a nuclear fastball, plus and change and curve.   He's only about 6'1" so let's hope they don't summarily throw him in the pen.   Btw, I love to see dominating K-rates from our pitching prospects.  

Next, Peter O'Brien, who was destroying the Sally League and was a college pick last year, got promoted to the FSL. So he's probably caught up with a lot of the college picks from his draft.    Curiously, Gary Sanchez has not been promoted yet, though he should have been.   O'Brien needs work behind the plate and Sanchez does great work behind the plate.   RHP Alex Smith was also promoted.

On the big league club they have DFA'd Reid Brignac and called up Alberto Gonzalez.   What's more they are starting Zolio Almonte in the OF.   Busy day!


UPDATE:  Josh Norris is reporting the Peter O'Brien will be playing 3rd Base for Tampa.   This is really interesting because Jagielo, who's injured has been assigned to Charleston.   But when he gets healthy Dante Bichette Jr. could be boxed in.   Man, that kid should have listened to his coaches instead of his Dad.

NYR: AV is Official

The Rangers finally named Alain Vigneault as their head coach.  They haven't filled out the coaching staff, yet.  He talked about his philosophy and it isn't dump and chase.   There next moves will be hugely important as we go forward.

Yankee Prospects: GCL Starts Tomorrow

The Gulf Coast League will begin play tomorrow at noon.   For the first time in GCL history the Yanks will have 2 teams, and interestingly enough, we haven't seen the rosters yet.   Austin Aune will be there, again.   And so, apparently will many.  This leads to another issue about the Yankee Minor League system.   They seem to have this EST program in Tampa where they are now incubating prep and foreign players - some for years.   Now, this wouldn't seem ridiculous if they weren't leaving the Tampa womb as elite prospects complete with on base skills, and or breaking balls and changeups, but so far we're not seeing any of that,  yet.

I wonder if if GCL 1 prospects will be more advanced then GCL 2 prospects.   And I'm wondering because we still don't have rosters.   I hope MiLB.com gets the scores up promptly this year.  It's been a little up and down in the past.

Rangers To Introduce Vigneault

Almost a week after hiring Alain Vigneault to become the 34th coach of the Rangers, and the 6th of the Sather era, they will introduce him to the media at a Radio City Music Hall presser tomorrow morning at 11.    This will probably be the least tense presser the Rangers have had in years.  

Beyond that, Sather this week commented that he expects to sign all 4 RFA's.    Today, the Flyers announced that they will buyout Daniel Briere, it will be interesting to see if the Rangers announce their plans for Richards tomorrow.   Whether they do or don't they have to buy him out if they want to re-sign  the RFA's and extend Hank.  

It will also be interesting to see Vigneault has hired assistants and if Ulf Sammuelson is indeed one of them.   Then, perhaps they can get busy finding us more draft picks, for the NHL Draft which is just 8 days away.  

Hughes and Joba: What Shoulda Been

As Phil Hughes pitches another crap game against the Dodgers, we're actually witnessing a fairly significant problem with the Yankees.  In fact, if Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain had become the frontline starters they both had the talent to be, the Yankees could have avoided a lot of the moves and salaries they thought they had to make because they didn't.  

Of course, that they haven't is as much the Yankees fault as it is the fault of Phil or Joba.   After Phil Hughes injured his hamstring throwing that partial no-hitter in Texas, he has not been the same pitcher. He stopped really extending his left leg and getting down lower on his finish.   Thus he went from being a groundball producing, harder thrower with a sick curve and good change to a taller, flyball, arm thrower whose curve has lost it's bite and who has lost the feel for his change.   And no one on the Yankees was able to figure it out then, and now it seems as though he'll be gone in free agency.   But in 2006 he looked like a can't miss future ace.  And he missed.  

In 2007. Joba Chamberlain, the four pitch starter,  who would throw 100 in the late innings of starts looked like another ace.   Because the Yanks didn't want to trade for some other teams closer to become the new bridge to Mo, they decided to make their best pitching prospect do it.   That's how we got the Joba rules,  and lost what should have been another ace for us.  Now he's not even a consistent part of the bridge to Mo, and he'll probably be gone next year, too.

I bring this up,  first because Hughes is awful tonight, and secondly because I will be writing about our coming power starters in the next several days, so it's important to remember they don't always work out.

Yankee Prospect Stuff: Zoilo Almonte to Finally Make His Yankee Debut Tonight

Zoilo Almonte has been pencilled into the Yankee lineup tonight  What a long trip it's been for the recently turned 24 year old.   When he was 16 or so, he was a big ticket IFA for the Yanks.   I believe they paid 1M for him.   That was back during the controversial days when the Yankee people in the Dominican were taking kickbacks from IFA's so who knows how much he got to keep.   Anyway, he's a decent enough corner OF, who might actually be a better major league hitter than he's been a minor league hitter, and that' partly because he finally started taking his walks this year in AAA   I believe he's a still a switch hitter, but his lefty power could really play up at the stadium.   We'll see if he's ready to solve a problem for them.   GO ZOILO!

UPDATE: He's Been Scratched.  

Yankee Draft `13: Clarkin and Katoh are Official

Today, the Yankees continued filling out their top 10 (actually top 12 because they had two extra firsts) by signing LHP Ian Clarkin and 2B Gosuke Katoh.   The players each signed for slot so no pool savings were realized.     I think there was some belief in Yankeeland that Katoh would take an under slot deal, and his savings would be used on an overslot deal for Clarkin, but that didn't happen.   So what do we have?

Ian Clarkin adds another hight upside LHP to a system that was lacking much behind the mysterious Omar Luis Rodriguez.   Clarkin already works in the low 90's and features a nasty curve.   There's some debate about whether he will add velo or whether he's done growing.  I'm not sure players have to grow to do that, but because some think he's done growing, they're projecting as a #3 starter.   Of course those are hugely important, too.  As for now, Clarkin has to start working and smooth out his mechanics and develop a changeup.    But he can spin the baseball and he's got arm strength.

Gosuke Katoh gives the Yankees speed and a lefty bat they believe will play up in new Yankee Stadium.   Gosuke was the Yanks most surprising pick because he's a 2B and 2B's just don't get picked high.   But did have a UCLA scholarship and the Yanks have had trouble breaking those in the past.  We'll see how he hits in the GCL, because he claims to be most influenced by Ichiro and Cano.    So adding something like that, with 70 speed could be sorta big.

I believe only Judge and Rumbelow are still unsigned out of the top 10 round picks.

Yanks Make Meaningless Trade

The Yanks just acquired Fernando Martinez for RHP Charles Basford.   Martinez was once a big time Met prospect, but has been but for the 2011 season, a below average major leaguer with the Mets and Houston.  So what does this mean, other than that Cash might have been bored?    It probably means Zoilo Almonte who was just called up today, will be sent back to AAA.  And it will also mean that SI will have to find another pitcher to take Basford's place on the roster.   Beyond that it's meaningless, and probably won't help.

Yankee Prospect Stuff: Where's Omar?

Last year, the Yankees spent 4M to secure the services of Cuban LHP Omar Luis Rodriguez.   Since then, they've had trouble getting him a visa.  Finally, in May, Baseball America repotted that Omar had gotten his visa, was in America and would likely be pitching in Staten Island this summer.   Well, he's not on the SI roster, and the Yanks haven't said a thing about him since the vise trouble during ST.   Perhaps he'll surface on one of the two GCL teams that will start play later this week.

Anyway, the reason why it's pretty important is the Omar is our top left handed pitching prospect, and if he's ever to be ready he needs to be working.   It was reported that he was just 19 when he signed - the Yanks had seen him as part of the Cuba junior team.   So he's only 20 or 21 now so though he has some time, he'll be 2 or three years older than the kids in the GCL if that's where he starts, and it would be a shame if he lost a year or two to bullshit like Rafael DePaula just did.

In other Yankee Lefty news, Ethan Carnes, the intriguing LHP they took in the 21st round from Oklahoma has signed, and will presumably join SI.   And first round LHP Ian Clarkin is apparently in Tampa taking his physical, having reached a financial deal with the Yanks.   Hopefully, he passed and his signing will be official tomorrow.

Staten Island Yanks Win Their Opener 2-1

The starter tonight was Gio Gallegos, 21 year old former IFA RHP out of Mexico.   He was excellent in his SI debut working 5 scoreless, giving up 3 hits, no runs and striking out 3.  He's really good, but I'm not sureI can put him in the same class as some of our other high upside pitching prospects, because while he doesn't walk anyone, his K's are just 7.2 per nine, which isn't awful or even bad, but you do expect top prospects to K at least one an inning and that just doesn't seem to be his style.   On the other hand, tonight, it did seem he could get them when he needed to, so maybe he's just a very sophisticated young pitcher who knows how to work and how to get bad contact early in counts.    He's certainly a guy to keep an eye on and he had a great debut tonight.

Other pitchers included Charles Basford who is an SI repeater from last year.   That puts him either halfway or all the way to being an organizational arm.  He gave up solo jack in his second inning of work.

The line-up, tonight, featured 4 of the college bats from this year's draft: Michael O'Neill, Brandon Thomas, John Murphy and Derek Toadvine.   Jagielo is out with a hammy, and Judge hasn't signed yet so they had no big time power threat in the lineup.   Daniel Lopez, an IFA the Yanks were really excited about a few years ago got beaned in his first AB and had to leave the game.

James Pazos, LHP, another SI repeater was the third SI pitcher.  His left handedness makes him a little less of an organizational arm at this point, but he's 22 so he has  to get it going now and start moving...  of course since he's a lefty he may have even more time than that.   He got himself in and out of trouble.

Tyler Webb came on to close with the Yanks up 2-1 in the 9th.  He's that big lefty who closed for South Carolina and doesn't throw really hard but gets a lot of K's.   And he just ended his scoreless save with a K.   Big win!  

Yanks Promote DePaula to Tampa

The Yankees have promoted Rafael DePaula from the low A Charleston Riverdogs to the High A Tampa Yankees.  This is great news and perhaps should have happened sooner.  Because of massive confusion and some chicanery that MLB absolutely abused the kid about, Rafael is already 22.   That's slightly old for low A, though really only as old as the recently drafted college pitchers who will be on the Staten Island roster when it goes final for now tomorrow.    Yet,  this kid has insane stuff and is more clearly talented than anyone we drafted this year, and he should be moving fast.   It's not like the Yanks don't always need help.   He dominated Low A, for all but two starts; his second and his last.

Now he'll have a new challenge, and if he passes that as easily, maybe he can make it to AA this year and then he'd really be getting close.

In other promo news, there seems to be disagreement on whether or not Jose A. Ramirez has been promoted to AAA for keeps.   Mark Newman told a reporter that he has.   And that's another one of the Yanks best arms.   Keep the promos coming!

This Week on The Blog

This week on the blog, we'll probably cover the Vigneault news top to bottom and see if the Rangers do anything else to start their offseason plan.

On the Yankee side, we'll preview the Staten Island Yankees who start tomorrow, and both GCL Yankee teams that start Friday.    We'll also track signing and promotions and may have a word or two to say about the player releases that are the flip side of all those draft signings.

The Giants are off six weeks, but there could always be contract work or roster moves.  

And we'll talk about anything meaningful the Knicks do.   Did I mention Camby's coming back?

It's gonna be a great week!

Yankee Player Development: Position Player Side

As the unskilled replacement Yankees are in the process of losing another game where they only score two runs, let's start to take a look at why so many of them can't hit and why we're not getting better help from the farm.      Position wise, the Yanks have turned out 1 great player since the turn of the century in Robinson Cano and 1 everyday Yankee in Brett Gardner (you can count Melky Cabrera and Auitin Jackson if you want).    And both of those players made it to through the system without learning the value of a walk.   So the amazing things are that there are only 2 actual Yankees and that anyone can graduate the Yankee Minor League system without learning the value of the walk.    

Walks are as much a part of Yankee history as homers.   Miller Huggins had been a high OBP player, and so were Ruth, Gehrig and Coombs.   King King Keller was a walking man.  So was Mickey.   So were Murcer and White when they graduated the system.   In the `90s, Bernie, Jeter and Po all knew more than one way to get on base.   Where did it go?  

Now, the Yanks will tell you that they give players walks targets for each season, but a more proactive solution probably needs to be employed.   Seriously, we have kids who came into the organization taking their walks like Abraham Almonte and Dante Bichette Jr. both entered the organization working walks like pros, but the longer they stayed in it, the less they walked and got on base.   Abe is now in the Mariners system.   Dante is still hitting under .200 in his second year in low A.

How does this happen?   Well one obvious reason is the Yanks don't have any ex-players who knew the value of a walk as minor league managers or hitting instructors.  Now that doesn't mean they can't coach that stuff, but obviously they aren't taking it seriously because guys are getting promoted without supplemental on base skills and without knowing the value of a walk.  

So, guys are getting moved up without controlling the strike zone, and as I mentioned in my speed column, they aren't being taught the basics of bunting.   Brett Gardner tried a drag bunt today and got thrown out easily.   That should not happen to a guy that fast, but none of them know how to bunt.  

So it's really unclear what they're be taught on the hitting side through the system.  Now, for many years the Yanks were drafting guys who were football players they thought would hit, but for the past several years, since they poured money into the scouting staff, they've been drafting guys who can hit again and they've been finding them all over.   They're just not having their good instincts reinforced in the minors.    The kids just don't grind.

Well, what about the defensive side? The problem there is they are not teaching the kids who can hit like Adams and Corban Joseph how to play outfield.   They were mostly going to be blocked by big contracts in the infield for the foreseeable, so both should have been taught how to play the corners.   In the old days Yogi could play left and so could Elston Howard, it was just basic stuff.   JR Murphy is another kid who should be learning other positions, because if things go right, he along with Gary Sanchez should be our catchers of the nearly immediate future.

So what are the solutions to the Position Player Side development problem?   I think it comes down to three things.  First, I think they need and organizational vision of what a kid MUST learn in the minors to be a Yankee.   Second, I think they should stop promoting kids who don't walk.   Third, I think they have to pour money into the teacher side of development like they poured money into the scouting side of acquisition.  

Back in the `90s, when they were churning guys out, young coaches like Brian Butterfield and Trey Hillman were part of a very good program, but now Butterfield is the 3B coach for the Sox and Trey is Mattingly's Dodger bench coach.

I know a few years ago they gave Tony Franklin a raise to come manage AA, but seriously, he has never been down with OBP and I don't know why he's got such a key position.   And of course Luis Sosa is the manager of High A, and he was not one of our OBP believers.  They need to find teachers who are passionate about the way the Yanks have always done things with walks, and defensive versatility.   I don't think they have that now, and they really have to RAISE the standards and not have even the good and great players make it to the bigs without knowing the value of OBP over BA.  

While Gil Patterson might mean changes are underway in pitching development, the Yanks don't currently have 1 hitting czar and there are no indications it's getting any better.

Ranger Coach Hunt `13: Daily News Tweets AV is Signing His Contract

So, unless there is major disinformation going on, Alain Vigneault is the new coach of the Rangers and they could be acknowledging that as early as today, or some time this coming week.


Okay, so what do we need from Vigneault?   First, I guess we'd all like to know who his assistants will be.  I know his key assistant in Vancouver just took the Tampa job, so who will he bring in?   Obviously Sullivan is a Torts boy, so it's unlikely he'll stay -- unless he's somehow got the Ranger version of the Herb Williams coach for life job.   So who will it be and who will they be?

I doubt seriously that ownership can get him to take Mess or Leetch on his staff, because he would know that if there's a losing streak fans will be calling for the legends.   So what will they do there, and would John Stevens, whom they also have permission to talk with - and who makes his offseason home in New Jersey be interested in moving his main assistant role closer to home?


Secondly, it would be interesting to hear his appraisal of the team and what he thinks he needs to do to turn them into something better.  For example, what kind of camp will he run?  What are his core coaching beliefs.  Will he try to sell them a system or will he tailor one to their abilities?  

Thirdly, and this might just be my concern, what is his attitude toward working in the young players like Kreider, Miller, Lindberg, Thomas and Fast?    Will he commit to our youth movement?   Vancouver didn't want him around for their's?

Finally, what else did the Rangers decide while they were sequestered at their California Hideout?   Hopefully answers and good moves will be forthcoming.

Ranger Coach Hunt `13: Vigneault Reportedly Turns Down Dallas

Okay, this is breaking all over Twittr, but Alain Vigneault, who is believed to have met with James Dolan today, as apparently told Dallas he is no longer interested in pursuing that opportunity.   That would seem to indicate that the Ranger job is his to take.   A week ago, I was down with this idea, but I read articles saying one of the reasons that Alain Vigneault is available is that Vancouver is bringing up a bunch of kids and that they didn't think he'd be good with them.   The Rangers have a lot of kids coming.   I hope, if he gets the job, he finds away to empower them rather than bench them.

Yankees Sign Kendall Coleman for 150K

The Yanks have officially signed Kendall Coleman the tall lefty swinging OF from Texas.   This was their first exciting pick of day 3 last weekend, and he is probably ticketed for the GCL which starts in about a week.   He's got a long way to go, but he's off to a quick start.   GO KC!

Yankee Player Development: Pitching Side

I said earlier in the week that I would start taking a look at the Yankee Development side.   So let's start with pitching, though it is clear through the hiring or Gil Patterson and the reassigning of Nardi Contreras that they're already trying to address it.

The fact is the Yanks haven't developed a long term, consistent starter since Andy Pettitte.   Yes, Wang had a few good years, ended by injury, but he like Phil Hughes and Ivan Nova arrived in the bigs without an out pitch.   And that seemed a very low priority for Yankee prospects under Nardi Contreras.  To wit: if a kid showed up with a plus slider like Phil Hughes or Brett Marshall, he'd take it away from from them and make him learn a curve.   Similarly, he'd take away splitters and discouraged them throughout the system,    Marshall ended up needing TJS and hasn't had a whiff of his draftable stuff since.   Phil Hughes's problems run a little deeper than pitching coaches, but he's not the pitcher he should be, nor is Joba Chamberlain, nor is Dellin Betances.    In  fact it can be said, without reservation that none of the super high upside pitching prospects the Yanks have drafted or signed as IFA's in the past 10 years has amounted to 1 plus MLB starter.

That's pathetic, and the Yanks have drafted and signed a lot of amateur pitchers in that time.   Strangely, over the past couple of years, top prospects like Betances, Banuelos and Bryan Mitchell have all came down with fastball control issues.   And that hadn't been an issue for Betances or especially Banuelos in the past.

It seemed like the method under Nardi tried to use a cookie cutter approach toward what they could throw and how they could throw it.  The curve/slider thing was supported by some health studies, but look what happened to Marshall.   And somehow throwing the same stuff became more important than getting people out.   The test for every major league pitcher is:  can they retire major league hitter?  That's it.   That's the only test an organization is training them up for.    And 0 for everyone since Pettitte is ridiculous.

Having said that, they did develop some collegiate relievers. And those were mostly players like David Robertson who were fast tracked.  Phil Coke also had a few moments of clarity before being paired with Ian Kennedy and the incomplete Austin Jackson, and shipped off for Grandy.  And there are more encouraging relievers in the pipeline which is a function of the value of where Yankee picks have fallen.

Now they've brought back Gil Patterson.   Gil was the `70s version of super high upside pitching prospect that kept failing under Nardi.   Gil was great when he was healthy, but that was really for just a few days in his career.  He had both rotatator cuff and TJS among others.   So he's either figured a few things out or he should stay away from round throwable objects.   Kidding aside, he's had success with kids in Oakland and at a few other stops as well as in the Yankee system in the past.

It's my hope that he does not have a cookie cutter approach to pitching prospects and has successful strategies for coaching up a number of differing styles.  

We're going to find out some stuff real soon.  As Yankee minors fans are aware, at any given time over the past few years, the Yanks have had almost as many prospects in extended spring training in Tampa as they've had around the minor leagues.    Well, short seasons are starting and drafted pitchers are showing up.   Let's see how they are handled and how the kids who come out of EST are doing after longer exposure to the Patterson method.

Of course, it's also about the pitching coaches throughout the system and there have been some changes there.   There's been some movement there over the past season or so, but it might take this season for Gil to weed out those that don't fit now, Carlos Chantres, I'm looking at you:)     So we'll see what happens.   If Nardi was still on the job, I could speak more conclusively about the development problem, but I'm hoping they're already starting to solve it with Patterson.

We'll talk about hitting and the lack of plate discipline among the prospects in the next few days.

Yankee Draft `13: Brandon Thomas signs for 75K

So the Yanks have now signed their 8th round pick for 75K, thereby saving 75K against the budget.   Still a little hight for a senior pick, but their getting a player with upside, and it's not his fault the system has stripped his leverage or not allowed all seniors to be FA.   A kid his age would be a UFA in the NHL and would get a better sense of his worth.  I take it he's heading to SI.

Cruz Signs Tender

Victor Cruz has apparently signed his first round tender.  On Monday, the Giants could have lowered it and may or may not have told him so.   In any event this situation should drag out to camp and Victor should stay in bubble wrap till that happens.  He really cannot afford to get hurt until he makes his big deal, whether it's with the Giants or next year as a free agent.  I hope that cable company is paying him well for those awful commercials (which are not his fault, entirely, they have scripted Bill Cowher as a yelling, intimidating rah rah coach, and that's not what he is or was).

Ranger Coach Hunt `13: Conflicting Data

While some sources have claimed that Alain Vigneault is traveling to New York, others are confirming that Mark Messier has interviewed for the vacant Ranger coaching job, and that the Rangers have received permission to speak to Kings assistant John Stevens about the vacancy.   So it's anybody guess how much the FO has been drinking while holed up in their California Hideout, or what exactly is going on.   We do know that they have interviewed both Vigneault and Mess, and perhaps talked to Lindy Ruff via teleconference.    The Vigneault travel thing is unconfirmed and the Messier revelation and Stevens interest have just been discovered.   HBO should have been filming THIS.  Will the new coach please stand up?

Rangers Coach Hunt 13: It's Starting to Seem a Little Mess-y

I was originally of the opinion that if the Rangers wanted Mark Messier to be their new coach, they would have announced it right away.   But as things are developing. or not developing, it's starting to look like they are stumbling into having him as their new coach after all.     Dallas Eakins was the guy everyone wanted, and the Rangers had permission to speak to him, but he got hired before they could.   Then they spoke with Alain Vigneault but didn't offer him a deal, and now it looks like Dallas might.  On Vigneault, he's a good coach with a nice style, but apparently he is unforgiving with rookies and the   Rangers are going to have a lot of rookies and young players for the foreseeable future  So perhaps he's not the best fit.

Lindy Ruff only got a phone interview.    So unless the Rangers have an understanding with Tippet or one of the Finals assistants, it's looking like Mess.   And btw, don't think the Nets hiring of the similarly inexperienced Jason Kidd and its position on the back pages of the local sports pages isn't appealing to Ranger ownership.   It is.   So, with some trepidation, I am now expecting Messier to be the new coach.  Wish the math looked different, but Dallas Eakins was the guy to get and we didn't get him.

Yankee Minors: Corey Black to AA

Today, the Yankees also promoted Corey Black to Trenton in AA.   That's fantastic news as he was a college pitcher last year, and he's a starter with big velo.   That he is under 6' has a lot of folks projecting him for the bullpen, and the Yanks do tend  to err on that side of things.   But they could really use a young hard throwing starter, what with Hughes losing velo, Joba being relegated to the pen and Pineda a big mystery.     So they need to give him every chance to keep starting, but it's encouraging to see someone from last year's draft start to move.   College picks should do that.

Yankee Draft `13: Michael O'Neill Signs for Slot

So the Yankees third round pick, Michael O'Neill has signed for slot.   No savings there, though I thought their might be some.  This is essentially a 500K slot, and I really hope they got a 500K player,   Now, I trust Yankee scouting but they seem to be the only ones saying O'Neill has plus speed, other than O'Neill himself.  What he doesn't seem to have is plus power, and that's basically what I would want with a 3rd round collegiate OF.  Obviously, I love the kid's uncle, but I would have liked some savings from this pick.  I take it he'll start in SI, and I hope he's a blur and learns to hammer the ball over the wall.  But I'd rather not give college OF's that kind of money if they don't have calling card power.  We can't run 8 Brett Gardners and a Catcher out there.