Knicks: Here We Go?

So, the Thunder have just been eliminated by the fundamentally sound Spurs, so this guy is now available to coach the Knicks.  Or at least to meet with Phil Jackson about the gig.  He does know the triangle and must have something special about him to have lasted as far as he has and won as many rings as he has in the league.   So maybe we'll hear that Derek Fisher is the new Knicks coach in the next few days or so.    Let's hope it doesn't drag on much longer.   If he wants to do it, it will be interesting to see who has the better coaching career going forward, Fisher or Kerr?  Kerr will be starting out with a much better roster...

Yanks System: Clarkin/Walks Issue Cont'd

Listened to Ian Clarkin's latest start in Low A today.   He's only made a few starts, so adjustments are still needed.   But what he does have, already, that is nasty and will be lethal when harnessed is a 91-93 MPH fastball, an 82-83 MPH change and a 72-73 MPH curveball.  And he's already getting swings and misses with all of them.    He's also able to climb the ladder with his fastball and get guys to swing at stuff out of the zone.   This is really encouraging, what he doesn't have quite yet is superb control and has a tendency to start guys off 1-0 instead of 0-1.    He's not wickedly wild, or walking the park like some other lefties have in the minors, so it should come around for him.   Yankee fans should start getting excited about him because having a ten mph difference between each of your pitches is nasty.  All he needs to do is build innings and find strike one.  Impressive talent.

I also listened to parts of both Trenton games.  They played a double header today and both O'Brien and Sanchez homered.   But, they lost both games.  And over the combined 14 innings of the two games, they did not draw 1 single walk.  I don't care how much they like Tony Frankin or Marcus Thames, but if the plate discipline isn't with the player by AA, they have to teach it to him.  And it seems they have a pretty laissez faire attitude toward developing the grinding approach that has won so many titles -- going back to Ruth -- for the Yankees.    That's really just pathetic.

On the positive side, a healthy Bleich could still end  up helping us as either a starter, long reliever or lefty trade chip.  His health ups and downs are somewhat reminiscent of Danny Borrell's, so let's hope he has better luck going forward.  DB's injuries cost us a quality starter...

Anway, the walks are a problem throughout the system and they have to fix it.

Yanks: Pineda Shutdown Again

The Yanks erstwhile starter, Michael Pineda was shut down once again for a sore back when he was supposed to continue his rehab today.   Eek.  No wonder I forgot to mention him in my longer piece last night.  We just can't count on him.   They say it's minor... Who knows?  

Oh and Tex is getting a cortisone shot, and says if that doesn't work he'll be worried.  I think he worries to much and that's why he has these problems, but the Yanks should be worried.

And Tex is having a really weirdly shaped career.

Yanks: Tanaka Moves to 8-1

Masahiro Tanaka was more dominant than his impressive line of 8 IP, 4H, 1R, 0ER, 2BB and 9K indicates, and that's because the Yankees porous D and porous O made it really hard on the team ACE.  Oh, and his ERA is down to 2.06.

Kelly had an error in the first that lead to the run, and also elevated Tanaka's PC.    Later, Soriano had an error on a fly ball, that I'm pretty sure I could have caught.  And that once again elevated Tanaka's PC.   But he's amazing and got out of all the jams.   There was a rain delay in the 8th, and when Robertson came in, they had an error behind him.

The Yanks offense was pitiable, they loaded the with no outs in the first and they couldn't get a run across.  And this against a pitcher with an ERA over 6.  So instead of a tense 1-1 ballgame, we had a frustrating game that they probably would have lost with anyone else on the mound.

We'll see if they have to DL Tex.  Again, they should call up Roller and give him a long audition, instead of getting into the Kendry Morales market after the draft, which can't come soon enough.

Yanks: Tex Lifted With a Wrist

Must be May 31st, because Mark Teixeira was just lifted from the Yankee game because his wrist is acting up again.    We'll see if they shut him down, but if they do, they should give Kyle Roller a look.   He's among the SLG leaders in the minors and would be the Yanks more lefty power.    Let's hope they make a good decision around this.

This Week On The Blog

So this week on the blog.  Nothing much going on.   Oh, wait a minute...

Rangers: Begin the final stage of their Stanley Cup run.

Yankees:  The MLB Yankees will continue frustrating us, but this Thursday, they start picking new Yankees.   And as they sign the picks to start sending them off to short season, they'll probably cut some guys, too.    Crucial week for the organization.

Giants:  The Giants will continue their OTA's and may or may not make some more roster moves.  Could Jermichael Finlay be one of them?

Knicks: Maybe Phil Jackson will tweet some more about the Rangers.   Or maybe he's start putting together a coaching staff.    We're sort of on hold with the Knicks since they have no picks.

Should be a huge week for the Rangers and Yanks, and an important one for the Giants as they keep installing the new O and hopefully keep avoiding injuries.   They've added some intriguing talent since the draft/udfa period.

Have a great one, everyone!  And thanks for reading and posting!

Yankees Draft: Next Week Begins the Great Crossroads

With next week's MLB rule 4 draft, the Yanks will embark on a crucially important passage in talent acquisition and development.   Derek Jeter, the last of the Core 4 is finally riding off into the sunset, and the Yanks,  for both competitive and marketing purposes will have to start developing a new identity around young stars, like their ace, Masahiro Tanaka, and their bullpen ace, Dellin Betances.

The problem, is of, course, other than a brilliant and long line of high quality relievers on the way, the Yanks don't have much in terms of sure thing plug and play young stars.  And the ones they might have, guys like Murphy,  Flores and Heathcott, are all blocked.  In fact, those three are specifically blocked by the deals given to McAnn, Beltran and Ellsbury last winter.  

It's been a bit of stunning mismanagement and myopia, but the problem is that the Yanks have high overhead, and thus have been trying to prop up their aging roster to fill the seats for so long, they don't trust any other way -- or believe that people will come out to see young Yankees develop.  Otherwise, why would they sign McAnn?  He has literally been no better than Russell Martin was, and the Yanks could have kept Martin for a relative song and term that would expire before McAnn's will.  They easily could have gotten by with Muprhy and some combination of Cervelli and Romine this year.  Or just Romine, if they'd been smart enough to trade Cervelli when things first started getting sketchy.

So we're heading into what could be a sort of long fallow period while we wait for CC, Tex, Martin, Beltran and Martin to expire.   Ellsbury is here forever.

Anyway, that's why it's so important for the Yanks to begin a massive young talent upgrade, and the latest wave has to start with this week's draft, followed by July's IFA period, and the various trade deadlines that will hit later in the summer.

And if the Yanks have been introspective at all, they might be a little more collegiate than usual in their picks, because they'll need some fast risers.   It's unlikely they'll be in position at 56 to get a Trout-like prep who can zip through the system and arrive at 20 or 21,

Also, it should be pointed out that the Yanks are probably feeling pretty good about their collegiate acumen these days.  O'Brien, Refsnyder and Dugas, are three fairly recent picks who could be up by September or next year.  Jagielo and Judge are behind them, but have the talent to move quickly as soon as the promotions start coming.  Also, if they're smart they will soon promote Kyle Roller, a former college pick who is in AAA and among the minors leaders in slugging.   That would be a much better move than signing Kendrys Morales after the draft.

So they might pick a few more college guys than we're all comfortable with.   And that might actually be alright for just this draft cycle, because they will be coming back in July with a monstrously talented and monstrously young IFA class, that will be years away, but will also be counted on to provide future star power or big trade chips for young stars (hopefully young stars).    

Actually, given this situation, I think the Yanks should perhaps consider breaking the draft rules, too.   I mean, you're not really breaking them if the penalties are already outlined.  In other words if the team does this, the league will do that.   Then that's actually just more rules to follow.   So if this class is historically deep, like some are saying, perhaps the Yanks should run a little wild in the draft, too.  It would be a really nice going away present for Comrade Bud.

I mean they're willing to punt picks over guys like McAnn, so why not sacrifice them if the talent now if better than the talent next year?

That's settled.

So the Yanks should use both the June Draft and the July IFA period to aggressively collect talent for the coming apocalypse.

Then they have to use the time between the draft and the trade deadline to seriously self scout and see which guys are good enough to be Yankees, and which might be good enough to collect a young Yankee from another team.

Notably, they should figure out if Manny Banuelos and Bryan Mitchell are both going to be good enough to join Tanaka in the rotation next year or whether they're tradable.   Eventually, they'll need 4 staters to go with Tanaka.  Phelps is sort of going to be on a long audition for the next year and whatever, to either be kept or surpassed and replaced.   But beyond that, Kuroda will be gone, CC will be a burden, and Nova may or may not be back next year.   So it's Tanaka and Phelps, and open auditions.   The first two up should be Banuelos and Mitchell, though they could also be Tracy and Bleich or someone else.   But they should keep pulling suspects or prospects from the farm unless they can make a trade for a young top of the rotation guy.  I don't know who that guy is right now, but  Yanks haven't shown any power to get a trade like that done.

Remember Jeff Weaver?  Remember Javy Vazquez, twice?   The Vazquez trade gave the Yanks a really bad reference.   They could have had Schilling for the same pieces,  but they rationally went for the younger pitcher and he was bad.   So if they can trade for a good young starter, it will be for the first time under the current administration.

It would be easiest for all concerned if Banuelos and Mitchell just developed, or if the light just went on for some of the younger starters and they started flying up the chain.

(Btw, Dante Bichette just had a game winning homer for Tampa.   He's playing a lot better in high A than he ever did in low A.    And that's a good sign.  We're gonna need 3B's.)

The pitching will probably be the easiest thing to figure out during this great transition, since they already have a sound BP for as far as the eye can see, as well as Tanaka.

Positions will be tougher since so many are blocked.

SS will probably the hardest position to fill, since Solarte or Refsnyder can be the new second baseman for at least next year.   That shortstop remains unknown.   I hope the Yanks try to find enough bandages till they get to one through the draft or IFA.   I don't want them trading for any big ticket SS's because by the time a guy becomes one and becomes tradeable he'll probably have no upside left.

The logjam in the OF should loosen up a bit as Sori and Ichiro expire or are traded.   And Flores is pretty close to ready if they need him this year or two start next.   Heathcott is injured again.   Williams has tumbled off the map since his DUI.   And Tyler Austin may finally be coming back around, and he too could be ready next year if that's the case.  Dugas probably will be.

Ultimately, the players they can start collecting next week, should be ready by the time several of the big, stupid contracts are done.   So the Yanks really have to go hard.   Because like it or not, they are at a crossroads.

Giants Awarded OT Roger Gaines on Waivers

Gaines played at Tennessee State, first as a DT, then as an OT going into the 2013 draft, where he was considered a sleeper.  He went undrafted and was signed by the Ravens.  Then he was taken by the Bears, today, the Giants got him.   Along with Jamaal Webb-Johnson, this makes two former small school, developmental tackles, with some NFL experience, the Giants have acquired since the draft and UDFA where they acquired none.   Nice move as they continue to add young, athletic talent to their OL.

Giants Release Josh Freeman

I guess, because of Eli Manning's rapid recovery, the Giants today cut QB Josh Freeman.   This would sort of give a strong leg up to Ryan Nassib in the backup QB race.   I guess this also gives Freeman more time to hook on with another team, and they saw no merit in using the 5 pre-season games to inflate his value, then trade him before the season.   Surprising development as Nassib has, by all reports, looked shaky in the on field portions of the OTA's.   Those have been screen game heavy, and the short passes were supposed to be his bugaboo in his draft year.   He throws them too hard.

Rangers Sign G Mackenzie Skapsi

Mackenzie Skapsi, last year's 6th round pick (the one the Rangers got in the Gaborik deal) announced that he signed with the Rangers today.   I'm not sure if it can be official until the contracts roll over and the Rangers make room, but he looks like he could be the best one in the system right now, and it's encouraging that they got someone they were willing to sign with the 6th they acquired.   It will be interesting to see who else they sign from the system whenever the offseason begins.

Giants: Will Hill Suspended for First Six Games

In a move at odds with history and justice, the NFL flexed it's irrational muscles by suspending the Giants Will Hill for the first 6 games of the season, because some jackass cop reported his car smelled of marijuana during a traffic stop.  No failed test, but a six game suspension.

What's really hilarious is that there would be no NFL as we know it if not for steroids.  People just don't get that big and fast by eating right.  In fact, the league rules allow players to have up to 6 times the average man's amount of testosterone in them before they throw a flag.  They even stared down congress several years ago on their "world class drug policy" that happens to allow rampant roid use.

So they are suspending Hill for 6 games over an aroma.  What a joke.

It will be interesting to see what the Giants will do with Hill, who is still one of their best players and could give them a boost in week 7.

Rangers Team Construction: Four Big Trades

Last time the Rangers went to the finals, it was with a star studded team of a few homegrowns mixed with august Cup veterans that they had continued to add at the cost of their future core on their march toward the hardware.   For all the abuse Sather has taken as GM, this year's cup finalist is a lot more homegrown than `94's, and it's future hasn't been clouded by the Cup run.

In my life as a Ranger fan, there have been two really grim periods of player deals.   The first were the ones of the mid-70's when the Rangers traded away Ratelle and Park for Espo, then Espo got them to trade Rick Middleton of Don fricking Awry.   Those trades really hurt and you can only imagine how our `79 Cup run might have had a different result with Middleton and some of the other exiled players.

The second time was leading up to and after the `94 Cup run, where Messier seemed to be calling more shots that was healthy for the franchise.  

It may be because of the cap that's been installed, but the Rangers were a bit more surgical this time around, and didn't end up trading anyone as good as Middleton or Doug Weight.

In building this team, first for Tortorella and then for AV,  the Rangers basically made 4 big trades.  

On June 30, 2009, the Rangers brilliantly traded Scott Gomez, Tom Pyatt and Michael Busto to the Canadiens for Chis Higgins (thought by the Canadiens to be the best player in the deal), Pavel Valentenko, Doug Janik and  Ryan McDonagh who was then playing at the University of Wisconsin with Derek Stepan and was the true object of the Rangers desire.

That may have been the greatest trade in Rangers history.   Around this time they also traded a third rounder for Kings minor leaguer Brian Boyle.  Now I have ripped Boyle for being unproductive and not ferocious enough for his size, but this is also true:  Brad Boyle was injured by a cheap shot during our run in `12, and we didn't make it to the finals.   He was healthy this time, and even had the primary assist on the series clinching goal last night and we did make the finals.  So time has taught me something.

Trading Gomez gave the Rangers room to sing Marian Gaborik the next day.

The next major trade occurred on July 23, 2012 when they traded Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Tim Erixon and their 2013 First Round Pick Columbus for Rick Nash, Steve DeLisle and and 3rd round pick.

This was a tough trade because Dubinsky and Anisimov were homegrown core, the Rangers had spent two #2 picks to get Erixon, and they're #1 was presumptively valuable because they had been drafting well.

However, they third rounder they did went for Pavel Buchnevich, and he appears to be the goods.


The third big trade, made on April 3, 2013 was again made with Columbus when they sent Marian Gaborik, Steve Delisle, and Blake Parlett for Derrick Brassard, Derek Dorsett, John Moore and a 6th round pick.

This trade was almost the inverse of the previous trade and the Rangers acquired 3 important pieces for this cup run and the future.  The Rangers had reportedly been after Moore and Brassard separately for some time.  My only problem with it ever was that we didn't get our first round pick back, and Gaborik had been a more productive player than Nash was at the time of the trade.

The final big trade was made on March 5, 2014 when the Rangers sent their captain, Ryan Callahan and what are now 2 ones to Tampa for Martin St. Louis.

Now, I still don't know how the Rangers gave up two ones for a 38 year old who was forcing the deal and would only accept 1 destination, but at the same time, St. Louis has been the goods on this run, and I the pick this year will be one of the last three in the first round, and hopefully the same next year.   I had favored the reported deal with the Sharks for Cally that included 1's coming back. But St. Louis has been heroic, and we can always get more picks.

So those were the four big moves that brought them back to the finals, and the team does not feature anywhere near as many old stars as the teams between `94 and the last several years have.  Yes they have perhaps undervalued their own picks and lost more than they should in the process, but the results speak for themselves and aren't done talking yet.

Rangers: Dom Moore

When I was a little kid, there was this unbelievably popular book, that was made into an unbelievably popular movie, called "Love Story" (it had an unbelievably popular theme song, too).  The bare bones of it - and there wasn't much more than bare bones - was  that this Harvard hockey player fell in love with this girl and they go through all this stuff, and then she dies.  Brutal stuff.   That was a fictitious.  But it's also Dom Moore's real life.  Dom was a hockey player at Harvard when he met the love of his life and his future wife Katie and they were together from their late teens to their early 30s.

Dom left the Sharks' playoff run in 2012  when Katie got sick.  She tragically passed in January of `13, and Dom took the year off from hockey.

He's been back with his original team this year, and if we had to pick one player to score the winning goal to ice the finals last night, I think we all would have chosen Dom Moore.   It was great seeing him in the Broadway hat.

Rangers Beat Montreal. Advance to the Finals

Rangers tightened it back up tonight, and now they are playing in their first cup finals since 1994.  They won 1-0, thanks to Dom Moore, and great all around play by 4 lines, 3 defensive pairs and the Great Henrik Lundqvist, who was back to his superself tonight and made at least one save we will be seeing on highlight reals forever.   Holy ____!    Back in the cup finals!   I'll right more between now and the finals, but right now, it's time to celebrate!   Let's Go Rangers!

Giants: Reaching Out for Finley?

Orr reports that the Giants have reached out to FA TE Jermichael Finley, late of the Packers.   This move was so predictable that it comes as a surprise that they're following the presumptive script that started when they didn't pick a TE.    But I actually wonder what he's worth at this point.  He was an athletic type TE during his heyday as a media darling.  Would he be a playmaker or placeholder at this point and would he have any value in helping Coach McAdoo install his offense?   It's interesting.   No visit has been scheduled yet.

Giants Claim WR Corey Washington

The Giants today revisited a few of their old strategies when they claimed 6'4" Newberry College WR on waivers from Arizona.   Washington was undrafted this year but had some small school buzz. The Giants had been at his pro day where he ran a 4.5.  They may or may not have tried to sign him right after the draft, but he's a bit of a developmental guy, but he does have talent and specials value as a returner as he's being developed.  Intriguing pickup.      They cut Steven Goodin, who had been an intriguing OL UDFA a few years ago, to make room.   Toldja there might be some roster movement on the fringes.

Yankees Draft: Drafting Starters

The Yanks have spent a lot of picks on pitching.   We've already spoken about their reliever strategy, but that has not dissuaded them from still trying to get and develop starters from the Draft.   It's just catechismic that the Yanks have not drafted and developed a top three starter since Andy Pettitte, who they got under the old D and F system around 1991.   At the same time, they did draft and develop Sterling Hitchcock and he had some good years.   Eric Milton, not so much.

Between the `90s grouping and the Phil Hughes grouping, there was a little period where Sean Henn, Brandon Clausen, and Alex Gramman gave them some hope - unfortunately none of the 3 top pitching prospects they got for Mike Lowell turned into anything.    During the period and through much of the Rule 4 draft era, the Yankees heavily went after LHP's in acknowledgement of their history and the classic configuration of YS.

From about `96 on they started not only drafting Andy Pettitte, but anyone who reminded them of Andy.   That included the aforementioned Henn and Gramman, as well as Danny Borrell, who was really good until his health just failed him.   Anyway, in 2004 they finally picked a power righty in Phil Hughes.

Hughes went through the Yankee System like a hot knife through butter, injured his landing leg while he was throwing a no-hitter in his second start, and never regained the velo, curveball of K/groundball tendencies he displayed in the minors, and now he's  a Twin.   Hughes probably bears a lot of the burden for what went wrong -- it's his life and his career after all -- but  someone should have stopped him in his tracks as soon as he came back from the leg injuries and kept him out of games till he returned to his old drop and drive ways.   He was arm throwing fly ball machine for most of his Yankee career, and he shouldn't have been.

In 2005 they seemed to start ignoring prep starters and spent early on Lance Pendleton and Allen Horne, bot of whom has great stuff but couldn't stay healthy, or learn to stay out of the big inning.

In 2006, they started to mix it up more.  They took Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamerlain with their first pick and supp pick, then went back to the prep ranks for Zach McAllister in the third.  All three of those guys are pitching in the majors, though 4 pitch Joba seems to be doomed to the bullpen for ridiculous reasons after a ton of abuse from the Yanks.  They also took Kontos and McCutchen both of whom are in the majors, but I believe as relievers.

They also took Betances and a lot of other talent that year.

2007 we've recognized as the fly in the ointment.

In 2008 they had they were ready to spend their first pick on a prep pitcher again and we all know about the Cole fiasco.  What was weird about that was that the Yanks were ready to open the vault for him, and when they found out he wouldn't sign, I'm not sure they were ready to spread the unspent money on a variety of other talent.   Fortunately that draft also produced Dave Phelps and some others who are contributing or on the cusp of doing so.   But you have to wonder who they might have picked had they not been holding so much back for Cole.  

In 2009, they took Brackman, and that was also a fiasco, because they gave him a major league contract, and knew he needed TJ when they took him.  Ponderous.

2010. Now we're getting into the years where it's too soon to tell.   Caleb Cotham has moved up the chain when healthy, and Sean Black may or may not be a late bloomer.  Bryan Mitchell was the kid they loved out of the preps and he's still got top of the rotation stuff, but is off to a tough start in AA, as he's battled injury and shutdown.   He probably needs to get going or he'll be headed for the pen.   The Yanks also bought two late lottery tickets in this one Evan DeLuca and Mariel Checo.  DeLuca was a lefty with velo and a great personality, but he never came close to succeeding.  Checo kept getting hurt.  I don't think either of them are in the system anymore.

The 2011 class is still percolating, and we really started seeing them take prep starters like Jordan Cote,  Dan Camerena, Rookie Davis, Chaz Hebert and Joseph Maher.   Camerena and Davis have been impressive when healthy.  The other three, not yet.  Interestingly, one of the most interesting preps that they signed, Hayden Sharp is already out of baseball.    Matt Tracy was a collegiate pick who has looked really good at times.

It's two soon to tell on these other drafts, especially since Ty Hensley missed last season.   Also, after the 2012 season, hired Gil Patterson to take over their pitching program after the recriminations and massive repudiation that concluded the career of the previous pitching Czar, Nardi Contreras.

Because of that, as well as the short time frame, we have wait and see on these Patterson classes and how they progress as starters.  It is fair to say that the pitching favorable parks and leagues through most of the Yankee chain have perhaps caused us to overrate our pitchers and underrate our hitters some.    But it's still be a long time since Andy, and we're still waiting on that next home grown top of the rotation guy.

It will be interesting to see if they stick to a prep starter/college reliever model when they start picking next week - or if they'll look for more Dave Phelps type college guys.

Rangers Tonight

Okay, tonight the Rangers have their second chance to close out the Canadiens.   The Rangers really haven't played crisply over the last 4 games of the series, and the only reason why they are leading is that they are flat fricking better than the Habs.    They have to play a cleaner game tonight.  Hank will probably be back to awesome, and the guys need to stop overpassing and blast shots.   Nothing beats winning in New York and the Rangers have a great chance to do that tonight.  

With Moore out, it will probably be Diaz, though McIlrath would be more interesting.  That said AV will probably ride his top 4 defenders.  Let's go, Rangers!

Yanks Win

The Yankee offense was a bit more consistent, featuring another big hit for catcher of the future who should be the present, John Ryan Murphy, and Kuroda gave them a quality start, if nothing more that could have helped the pen.  Warrren may be tiring, and DRob might be going through one of those dead arm periods because they both danced next to the fire a little too much.  But the Yanks got a much needed win, and if Kuroda can keep building himself back, the Yanks could have a second dependable starter who could take some of the pressure off the pen the rest of the starters, besides Tanaka, are creating.   Good win and the Yanks will finally head back home.

Yankees Draft: Drafting Catchers

Along with drafting relievers, the Yanks have made drafting catchers or projectable catchers into a permanent part of their annual ritual.    Or most years.  Between the Draft and IFA the Yanks have gone after so many C's they sometimes take a breather because there isn't always enough work for all of them.   Anyway, if starting pitchers are trade gold, starting catchers are are also gold or really shiny silver.   So the Yanks have been wise to draft them.   During what we'll call their modern draft era, form `05 or `06 till now, the Yanks have picked and signed:

2006:  Brian Baisely, Brock Ungricht and James Lasala.   Of these Baisely looked like a late bloomer for awhile in high A, then got injured or something.  None of them were able to be used or traded.

2007: Austin Romine,  Chase Weems, Lawrence Day.   This is where they tried to bust a big move.   Romine looked like a great pick, and had the bloodlines (which sometimes mean something and sometimes don't).   Weems was another prep catcher who was either a lefty hitter or a switch hitter.   Day was college guy for the the organization.   Weems was actually traded out of Low A.  Romine after looking good splitting time with Jesus Montero in Low A has never turned into the prospect or player we thought he'd be.   That said, he's looking like a major league back up and thus can probably still be traded.  Big disappointment, though, and a very reasonable pick at the time.

2008:  Kyle Higashioka,  Mitch Abeita,  Jeff Nutt.   Higashioka looked like another great pick as he was rumored to not only be able to catch, but to have hit well against the best pitchers in the class.  In fact, he so looked the part, they were willing to trade Weems.    Turns out Higgy could never hit consistently through the minors.  Not sure where he is now, but didn't establish MLB value or trade value.   Abeita and Nutt were for the system.

2009: John Ryan Murphy, Hector Rabago, Jeff Farnham.   Well, Murphy is now looking like the real thing after mostly playing 3b as a prep.   He not only has MLB value to the franchise, but he's got trade value that keeps getting better.   Rabago and Farnham were taken to make sure few balls hit the ump or rolled to the backstop.   But Murphy's the home run of the modern era program so far.

2010: Tyler Austin, Shane Brown, Nick McCoy.   Austin was pretty immediately switched off catcher and developed nice trade value, even though he lacked a rock solid position, before he started getting hurt.   Brown was fodder.   McCoy seemed like he might be a sleeper, but he stayed asleep.

2011: Greg Bird, Bubba Jones.  They immediately made Birb and Jones 1B's.   This is where they took the breather because they had Montero, Romine, Murphy and Sanchez going and needing work, as well as some other IFA guys.

2012: Pete O'Brien, Chris Breen, Dalton Smith.   O'Brien was their first big ticket collegiate C in awhile.   Of course, they are still giving him reps there, but his defensive numbers are awful, so he's destined to play a few positions poorly till he settle in as a DH -- that is if he ever takes his walks. Breen and Smith are two interesting prep bats, I'm not sure if either is still getting reps at C, but they were both sort of reminiscent of Austin and Bird.

2013:  Trent Garrison.  Trent is organizational.  This is another year where they took a breather because of the backlog of IFA catchers and lack of openings in the system.  It also might not have been a year where much quality lined up with there picks.

I think we can rest assured that the Yanks will use up to four of their relatively few picks to go after prep as well as collegiate catchers this year. Though they've only produced one guy who has MLB starter upside so far, the position has given them a bunch of interesting hitters.

Giant OTA's Begin

Today began the first of a ten, no contact, practice than will be spread over a few weeks and lead to mini-camp.

The most important thing is that the Giants avoid injuries.   The news from around the league yesterday was cringe worthy.

Second, it's time to start repping the new offense. Let's hope it's seamless.


Third, and we won't be able to tell till later in the year, is that they have to start building on-field cohesion.  There are a lot of free agents and rookies now and they all have to become one team with three strong units.

Fourth,  it's important for young players to start proving they get it and are ready to become regular contributors.   It's sink or swim for guys like Adrian Robinson, and the rookies didn't get a rookie mini-camp this year.

Fifth, we'll start seeing if the rookie mini-camp was missed, or if throwing them in to sink or swim was more effective.

But the most important thing is no injuries.

Ranger Update: Stepan is IN!

Of course he'll be wearing an Iron Man mask, but presumably his presence will end the aimlessness we saw from Kreider and Nash on Sunday.   Let's just do this!   Let's Go, Rangers!

Yankees Development: The Walks Issue

So last night I was listening to a Sally League game between the Yanks' Charleston  Riverdogs, and Boston's Greenville Drive.  I was listening primarily because Ian Clarkin was pitching.   First, a word about the Sally League.  The Sally league is the lowest level of full season ball.   In fact, it's called Low A.   Players in the Sally League are made up of: preps from the previous year's draft, 19 or 20 year old IFA's, some former college player from the previous year's draft, organizational filler, and guys who are repeating the level.   The point is, most of them haven't been with their organizations more than a year or so.   They are the least experienced full season players.

Anyway, last night the Drive were just grinding Clarkin, and got him out of the game with a pitch count of 71 and two runs after 3.    While this was going on, the Dogs' radio guy pointed out that the Drive was leading the Sally league in batter walks by a considerable margin.   The Dogs weren't even in second place.  They were third, over 35 walks behind the Drive when the game started.   That's about a game and a third of outs they haven't made more than the Dogs.   And players should walk a ton in the Sally as the pitchers are still learning to throw strikes.

So what is it that the Boston kids are learning by the time they reach full season and the Yankee kids aren't learning nearly as well?  It's plate discipline.  And that's embarrassing, but at least we can that one organization is emphasizing it to their young players effectively, while the Yankees are not.

So, I wonder how much of our problem with hitters is a product of omissions during their very first year in the system?

One interesting guy is Dante Bichette Jr.  When he was drafted, he walked quite a bit in short season. Then he went to Charleston for two full years and stopped walking.   He's been walking again this season and is on the verge of putting himself back on the prospect map.  He recently homered three games in a row.   But where did his walks go for two years when he was struggling?   And why wasn't he reminded to take them.

Here's the even weirder part, even though he's in High A Tampa this year, he has the same coaches he had last year because most of the Charleston staff was promoted to High A, while most of the Tampa staff was scattered.

That was part of the in-house development fix, but I fear they were overlooking the walks.   Those coaches have had Pete O"Brien for most of last year and this, and he still doesn't walk.  Cito Culver walked at Charleston but doesn't walk now.   There's a lack of consistent emphasis throughout the organization, especially at the lowest levels.

There's no reason why the Red Sox kids should learn how to grind sooner and better than the Yankee kids do.   That's probably the most important issue on the hitting side, because a player who can get on base has value, a play who can't does not.  

I think they don't just need an organization hitting czar, but they need an organizational walks czar, or some way of indoctrinating the kids when they come through the door.    Last night's game was embarrassing, but it drew a big red circle around where the prospects are getting off track and it's at the lowest levels.    Shameful.

Rangers Tonight

For the first time in 20 years, the Rangers are 1 game away from making the finals.   So here we are.  If the Rangers want to make the finals, they have to play a whole lot better than they did Sunday.   And for them to do that,  they have to get in the flow of what they like to do out there, and stop taking stupid, offensive zone penalties.  

JT Miller didn't make the trip, btw,  "upper body injury."  That's often code for concussion.  Get well soon, JT.    That probably means Fast will play, if they're comfortable with Dom Moore moving up and Boyle playing C.   If they're not Lindberg will probably play.   Some folks think Stepan might play.  That would be something, but I really wouldn't take that chance against the cheap shotting Canadiens.

Carey Price was reportedly working in full gear during Montreal's morning skate today.   I don''t think he'd have done any better than Tokarski has, and if the Rangers play their game, Price can't give them a big enough lift to stop the Rangers.  

Let's go, Rangers!

Yanks Beat the Cards in Extras

I actually think Aceves got the win, but Betances was once again dominant over 2 innings.   Whitley started again and was cruising till the 5th when he tired and ended up being charged with his second and third runs.  Claiborne came in and settled it down.  That's two draft picks. Then Tornton came in to relieve him, free agent.    Betances came on and hit 100 a few times over his two IP (he was again getting squeezed according to PitchFX).    That's three picks.   Then Aceves came in for his two innings.   Then they scored three more runs thanks to timely hitting and two sf's.   Then DRob came in and saved it.   Another draft pick.   DRob gave up an unearned run because of Jeter, also a draft pick.   Big win, but the BP is going to be cooked and they probably need to swap out a pitcher here.

Yankee Draft: Paying For the Draft

We cover this every year, and it's gotten even easier for just one successful Yankee draft pick to pay for his entire draft class.   That's because the Yankees tend to throw huge money at their perceived holes.   Witness the past offseason.   So the Yanks really only have three ways to fill their holes: through expensive free agency, costly trades and successful picks and IFA signings.   Before MLB starting assigning allotments, the Yanks were usually spending between 6 and 8 million on their drafts.  Add more if you want to factor scouting costs.    Anyway, because you get six years of control with every player from the season.   When they play well enough to hold down a position for even a year or two, they end up saving the Yankees free agent money, and offsetting the cost of the draft picks who didn't make it.    Brett Gardner, for example has paid for not only his own draft class, but is still saving the Yanks millions today with the new contract he signed.    Look what they gave a comparable player.

So even though the MLB draft has 40 rounds (39 or 38 for the Yanks this year) the Yanks are being efficient when they produce one Yankee per class.    The Giants and Rangers have to do better than that, and of course, the Knicks never have picks.

So 2005 paid for itself and 2006 has paid for itself many itself many times over.  The problematic draft class which is as yet unpaid for is 2007.  At the time, it looked like a pretty solid, well chose group, led by high upside starter reliever Andrew Brackman.

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/team/draft.jsp?c_id=nyy&year=2007

But Brackman flopped, Romine looks like a backup, and he's been passed on the organizational depth chart.  Suttle was never healthy and Angelini flopped.   Also, in 2007, after years of minor league neglect by the Yanks, they were still having to use picks on organizational players to fill out the SI roster.    Still the biggest problem was the Yankee unwillingness to really spend.

2008 could have been an even bigger disaster given the Garrett Cole situation - and that's on him, not on the Yanks, but currently David Phelps is doing his part to pay for his class.  And Jeremy Bleich just had 10 K's the other day during his latest comeback.  

Adam Warren and John Ryan Murphy are currently at the vanguard of the 2009 class, though that may have some more guys come and kick in.

Whitley and Claiborne are already starting to pay for the 2010 class.  And the `11-`13 classes have yet to be heard from, but each seems to have a few guys who will give the Yanks class value.   So that's good.   2007 has really been the only class that's failed to produce so far, and that was during the period we are all still paying for, when the Yanks wouldn't use their financial might to boost their future.  

They've been pennywise and pound foolish till they prove they're not.  Some proof could come this July, if not this June.

More Ranger Stuff

Had to settle down a bit after the game winner.   Hagelin and Brassard were beasts tonight, and they really needed to be, as some of the guys on D, like Stall, Girardi (who redeemed himself with an assist on Brassard's goal) and Stralman were not so sharp.  I don't know why, because all three have been good on this run.   But without Stepan, we really needed Brassard to step up and he did, both with his goal and his face-off wins.   Hagelin scored a shorty off a long bomb from Boyle, then later assisted on MSL's game winner.  He got the Broadway hat, and his speed like Kreider's has been a big issue for everyone the Rangers have faced so far and will face if they do advance.  

Speed kills, and Hagelin's did tonight.  

It will be great if the Rangers can end it Tuesday.   To do so, they're going to have to get their D re-organized.   They can't keep turning it over in front of Hank.   He's the King of hockey,  not of Kings.  Hank was great again, and he even had an assist on the Brassard goal,  but he'll need to be even better Tuesday as the Rangers will face a desperate team that started their program of cheap shots before they were even desperate.   It won't get easier, but they need too punch them in the mouth early, and use their speed to humiliate them.

St. Louis Wins it in Over Time!

Unbelievable!   In a game where the Rangers had to overcome the Habs and the refs, Marty St. Louis ended the matter in OT! Woo hoo!!!!!!   Hags and Brassard had the earlier goals to put the Rangers up 1-0, then 2-1.   Hagelin's goal was a shorty, but the Canadiens were literally on the PP all night long.  People were worried the Rangers were gassed in OT, well that's what happens when you have to kill so many penalties.   They did eventually give up a PPG and one other, which sent it to OT.    Oh, and JT Miller, Stepan's replacement, got his head smashed against the goalpost and did not return.    Let's build up a big lead in game five and then hurt them.   This has been ridiculous and the league should be ashamed.

Tanaka Gets His Mojo Back

After his poor showing last time, Masahiro Tanaka was back to looking like an ace today with 6.2 innings of one run ball.  He also K'd 6, but walked 2 in the seventh as his pitch count elevated and he seemed to tire.   The Yanks for their part hit for him, plating 7 runs, including a tack on homer by Roberts in the top of the 8th.   Warren got a big K to end the 7th with two on and two out.  Daley muddled through the 9th in a non-save situation.   Huge series split after the disappointment of the first two games.  Now it's on to St. Louis and let's win there.

This Week on the Blog

This week should be pretty eventful on the blog.

The Rangers:  The Rangers should be able to take care of the Canadiens in the next two games, then advance to the finals.   It will be important to get Stepan back, if possible.   Though, I remember Ratelle rushing back when I was little, and he just wasn't Ratelle.

The Giants:   I think the Giants begin Phase 3 of the offseason programs tomorrow, which will see them on the field a bit more, and end up with mini-camp.   I wouldn't be surprised if they swapped out some more players at the bottom of their roster.

Yankees:  the Yanks need to keep plugging, starting with Tanaka today.  It's unclear if they'll get anyone back this week, but maybe they'll realize Jose A. Ramirez should be in the pen instead of Aceves.  We'll probably talk more about the draft and perhaps get into IFA more as it's just over a month away.

Knicks:  Maybe they'll name a coach.   Maybe they won't.

So it should be pretty interesting all around.   Have a happy holiday, and a great week folks!  Thanks for reading.

Rangers Tonight

Stepan is out.  Brassard is back.  And JT Miller is in.   Those are your roster moves as the Rangers attempt to set things right against the despicable Canadiens at MSG tonight.    Of course the Canadiens have been despicable largely because their coach is.  Yesterday, in French,  their coach said that they knew where Brassard's injury was as a way of threatening him, and as a way of showing what a jerk he is.    And, of course, we all saw what happened Thursday with Stepan, whom the Canadiens were sure wasn't really injured - though he had surgery on Friday - and would play tonight.  He's not.  JT Miller is.    The simple truth is the Rangers need to paste these punks over the next to and send them golfing.    They are a whiny bunch of miscreants and it would just be better if they were off the air for the summer.

Yankee Farm: The Shortstop Issue

As all in Christendom and most of the Muslim world realize Derek Jeter is hanging them up at the end of the year.   Now, while this has been on the horizon for years, just as Jorge's eventual retirement was, the Yankee system is not currently prepared to offer a solution for next year.  Perhaps a bandage, if we can find another Solarte for the role, but nothing inexpensive of home grown.

I'm not putting this in the draft series, because it's a failure over many drafts, many IFA classes and many trade seasons.   It's a little amazing that the Yanks have not been able to come up with an heir apparent.   They came up with one for DiMaggio.   Had one on hand for Berra.   Never really had one for Gehrig, though his tragic end was a surprise.  Had a series of them for Combs, including Chapman then DiMaggio.  And it tool them 3 years to get an all-star back in right after Ruth left.   Though, they still haven't replaced Ruth, they've had a bunch off all-stars and some MVP's doing his old job.

Jeter's going to be a tough one and may require bandages, lots of them.  Because the most likely guy they have to replace him is Abiatal Avelino.  And a lot can go wrong between there and MLB.  Tyler Webb is another guy who can probably stay at SS and maybe make it.   There latest big money pick, Austin Aune seems to be joining the ranks of Carmen Angelini and Garrison Lassiter on the organizational scrapheap of poor little millionaires.

When Jeter's career was just beginning it looked like the Yankees always intended to have a prospect at the ready should he go down.  Guys like Christian Guzman, whom they traded, and Erick Almonte, who hit a homer in his first big league game then faded.   They also had really high hopes for Eduardo Nunez after rookie ball, but he never got any better.  He never became a consistent fielder, though he was as capable of making a great play as he was of flubbing an easy one.  And Nunez never learned the strike zone, after graduating from the leagues where he could hit everything.   So he was a development disaster.

It's just sort of amazing that they haven't thrown a ton of picks at it or a ton of IFA bucks at it.

Apparently, they're going to sign 3 or 4 toolsy SS's in IFA come July, but they'll be behind Abiatal and Webb, as well as the ever thickening mystery that is Cito Culver, who had one bad game, and one very good game including his first homer of the year in today's double header.   That's two days in a row where he's been a little productive.  He may be starting one of his runs.   That would be a really good thing for the Yanks.    For that matter Bichette hit another one today, and so did Bird.   Nice.  So did Judge.

Ellsbury Wins it For the Yanks

So the Yanks were once again listless on O, till the ninth, when down 3-0 with 2 outs they tied it and sent it into extras.  Then, in the tenth, Jacoby Ellsbury homered for the lead, and Robertson was able to nail down the save after last night's implosion.  I hope people aren't too rough on DR, Mo had a few like that, too, including in the 1997 playoffs.   Nice to see Ellsbury contributing a bit.  His D has been fine, but his O has been all over the place and the power has been slow in arriving from Boston with the rest of his stuff.   Needless to say, it was essential to find a way today and they did.   Let's see how Tanaka bounces back from his first tanking in years Tomorrow.

Yankee Draft: Bats

It's almost unthinkable, but the Yanks have had real trouble, for DECADES, finding bats in the Draft.  The reason this is almost unthinkable is before the institution of the Rule 4 draft back in the sixties, the Yanks found every single bat.  Of course, George Weiss wouldn't let them sign the African-American hitters they found, when he was GM from `47-`60, but legendary Yankee scouts like Tom Greenwade knew the players and wanted to sign them.  That, of course, lead to the collapse of the Third Dynasty.

As of right now, the greatest hitters the Yanks have ever drafted have been Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Bobby Murcer, Fred McGriff and Don Mattingly (for awhile).  After that, you have to look at guys like Mike Lowell and such. The team that found Gehrig, DiMaggio and Mantle hasn't been able to find anywhere near their equals in just about 50 years of drafting.

It's both surprising and not surprising.  First, the Yanks have rarely had high picks  (where the best talent is) in the first round.   Second, many times they didn't have ANY first round picks (like this year!) due to free agent signings.  Finally, the Yanks have had periods where they were just indifferent to the draft and unwilling to spend.  These periods were basically when CBS owned them and most of the time that George Steinbrenner owned them and in on the spending side, during the Hal years as well.  Compounding all of this, even when they have found hitters, like Nick "OBP Jesus" Johnson, they've gotten injured and/or used in trades for pitching.

What's more, their current GM believes it all "starts and ends" with pitching.  So not only do they have the challenges of no high picks, and indifference, now that they're taking the draft seriously again (which started around 2005), Cashman favors pitching.

As we've mentioned over the years, the home parks and leagues in low A, high A and double A also favor pitching.   So it's harder for a Yankee prospect to put up gaudy hitting numbers than it would be in more run favorable environments.  MinorLeagueSplits has been a revelation with regard to these imbalances.

Around 2004 when they took Phil Hughes with a first rounder, they started to take the draft a little more seriously.  They're commitment to the draft really gained traction in `05 and `06.  Where they found Brett Gardner and a lot of pitching.  Since then, the Yanks have continued to add guys who are good at finding hitters to and back to their scouting staff.

For awhile they threw a bunch of darts at Brett Gardner types, who were fast OF's, with some on base but little power.  Now this is great if you're picking for the 1980's Cardinals (and Willie McGee was a Yankee draft pick) and plan to play on carpet, but it's not great if you're going to play most of your games in the Northeast.

Starting around 2009, when they picked Slade Heathcott first and John Ryan Murphy second, they've been solving their prep bats problem.  Of course the guy they really wanted in 2009, Mike Trout, didn't make it to them, and to make matters even more painful, he was taken with their pick.   Anyway, though they didn't get him, he has been the model they've tried to pursue with their prep picks, and they have taken some guys with signs of life like Tyler Austin (Nick Johnson type wrist crap in AA), Ben Gamel, Greg Bird, Jake Cave, Bubba Jones,  Nate Mikolas, Chris Breen, Dustin Fowler and a few others.   A few of these guys might turn out to be Yankee regulars.   Murphy if they let him, Slade and Austin, if they can stay healthy, as well as Bird and Cave, who look like the real deal at 1B and CF.

During this time, they also drafted Mason Williams.  Williams and Heathcott play CF about as well as Gardner and Ellsbury, but with better arms.   That's how good they both are at defense.   No positional bopping around, just the straight truth as OF's.    Heathcott's problems have been health and style of play recklessness.  Mason's problems have sort of been recklessness, too.   He broken up periods of heroic play with insane slumps, dogging it on the base paths and a DUI.   Williams was supposed to be a ringer who would fly through the system, but his bat and his attitude are holding him back.

I'm not sure if Mason's bat is symptomatic of his life stuff, or just another dagger in the heart of the Yankee development system.  This guy looked like the absolute goods when they got him.

Just a little more about the Prep Bats the Yanks have taken.

Because the Yanks pick so late, they've had to cast a wider net looking for talent.  In so doing, they have searched the hinterlands, and this has lead to picks like Cito Culver.  Now, the problem with Cito (who had a big game last night) and seems to have the Yankee Walk Gene, is that because he's from the Northeast, he was missing a couple of thousand at bats by the time they drafted him.  That requires a massive amount of catching up, and there's just no time once you hit the minors.   Likewise, Dante Bichette Jr. who also had a huge game last night, was a really serious tennis player for awhile, and that cost him AB's.  And of course, Austin Jackson was a great baseball player at 12, then played a lot of basketball between then and when the Yanks finally drafted him.   He also missed AB's.   And his major league batting numbers have been downright strange.

So, in general, the Yanks should probably avoid picking preps from cold places or with experience gaps.  It's too hard to catch up at the minor league level, even with the Tampa complex and all the coaches.  Unless, of course, it's a Mike Trout level HoF talent.

Lately, the Yanks have made better forays into the world of collegiate bats.  If the Yanks had tried and true development guys on the hitting side, Preps would be the way to go, since you're getting them on wood bats younger and have 6 years to get them to the bigs at 24 (which is still older than I like for rooks).   With college guys you have only 2 or three years till they're 24.   And, presumably,  it's easier to teach a kid than a man how to do things like take walks.   But there's no evidence on the Yankee Development side that they care about walks or know how to teach the value of an out.    This is a really big problem with the system and why Pete O'Brien might end up being Jeff Francouer instead of something better.

Off my soapbox.

After taking Brett Gardner in 2005, the Yanks took what were supposed to be good college bats like Brad Suttle and Damon Sublett, but they were always hurt. And David Adams, who was looking like a player also had a catastrophic ankle injury which as of now has destroyed most of his value.  That's really sad, because he would have helped.

In the last few years, perhaps starting with the Kyle Roller pick in 2010, the Yanks have gotten either a little savvier or a little luckier with their college bats.  Roller is knocking at the door of a call up or a trade, and guys like Peter O'Brien (needs walks), Rob Refsnyder and Taylor Dugas all look like they could add something to a major league lineup, if not complete Yankee Bats.   Last year, when they had three first rounders,  they spent 2 on college bats, Eric Jagielo (who's been both bad and good at high A) and Aaron Judge (who'd been good, but not showing power in low A and needs a promotion).

They also took slotty college bats like Michael O'Neill, John Murphy and Brandon Thomas, who all come with AA and defense and suspect bats so far.

So going into this draft our chances of getting a real Yankee Bat are low from the get go and picking 56th doesn't improve our chances.

Having said that, here are some things they should not do:

1) Draft players from other sports or climates that have cost them childhood AB's.

2) Draft guys with bats but no positions. This complicates development and really seems to flummox management.

3) Draft guys who are vastly more athlete than player.

4) Draft fast guys expecting them to learn to hit.

If they can avoid some of these things - their bugaboos of the past - they might give themselves a better chance at finding useful parts.

They only need to find one or two per draft to justify the entire expense.

Yankee Draft: The Bullpen Strategy

The Yanks have had a lot of bad draft ideas over the years.  Like, drafting football players and thinking they could make them baseball players.   Or spending high picks on former players' kids.  Or overdrafting preps after a good workout.   One good idea they've had, that they keep doing it drafting relievers.

The reason why drafting relievers is considered a bad bet is because they can't be turned into starters as easily as failed starters can be made into relievers, though Chase Whitley is currently challenging this draft "wisdom."   Having said that, the idea of turning them into starters should almost never be part of the calculous of drafting a reliever.

Clearly, the Yanks had seen the advantage to have Mo and having a strong bridge to him.

This really first showed up in 2005, when they took JB Cox in the second round.    He didn't work out, and the 2nd round was maybe a little high to start looking, but, that's probably where they first reasoned that they could use the draft to find eventually plus bullpen guys.  Side note:  they took Brett Gardner in the third round, and he has paid for the entire draft through the money he's saved the Yanks.

2006 was when it really got going. That was when they took Mark Melancon and David Robertson.   Of course, they foolishly made Joba a reliever from that draft, too, and last year they threw Betances in the pen and are having awesome results.   All these MLB pitchers came from the 2006 draft.

2007 draft featured Brackman, who they thought would be an ace or a closer eventually, rather than the Euro League Hoop player, which he is.    They gave him a major league deal.   Yikes.  Although Manny Barreda is still in the system, this draft doesn't look like it will ever play for itself.  They seemed to be using the draft from 2007 on to figure out what a draftable bat was, though they were also drafting a bunch of Brett Gardner clones and still do from time to time.

2008 they didn't really get anything done on the plus reliever side, though,  David Phelps is probably close to paying for the draft and he's been better off as a starter.   Bleich is still around and battling and he may someday be a lefty reliever.

In 2009, they took Warren, who has looked best as a reliever, as well as Sean Black, Shane Greene, Brett Gerritse and Graham Stoneburner who may all contribute at some point.  Caleb Cotham could also still end up in the pen.   But in the years between 20006 when they did, and 2009, the Yanks backed off going for good college relievers and drafted arms with the idea that they'd land where they did.   Heathcott and Murphy will probably end up paying for this draft.

In 2010 they realized there was an easier way.   They took Tommy Kahnle early, who they have lost to the rule 5.   Then started taking college relievers in the middle rounds, staring with St. John's closer Danny Burawa.  Later they took Chase Whitley and Preston Claiborne.   Burawa is the only one who hasn't pitched in the bigs, and that's because of injuries.  He has a monster fastball and could be up later this year.   They also took Zach Nuding in that draft as a reliever and thus far are using him as a starter.

In 2011, the focus was on prep bats (and it's paying off, early) but they also took Phil Wetherell, Zach Arneson and Mark Montgomery in the early rounds. Montgomery was meteoric till he got hurt.  Wetherell is still at it.  They also took Nick Goody who looks great when healthy, but he wouldn't sign till they took him again a year later.   They also took Brandon Pinder.

In 2012, they took Corey Black, who because of his size was projected to be a reliever, though he was a starter before they traded him.   Then they took Nick Goody for keeps.  They also took Dietrich Enns whom they've swung between starting a relieving.  All the other pitchers from that draft are either starters, injured or still figuring it out.

Last year,  they took a Nick Goody, also from LSU, named Nick Rumbelow and he's been shredding it and is already in high A.  They also took Tyler Webb, who doesn't have the big fastball but has ice water in his veins and swing and miss junk.  The rest of the guys, like the ones from `12 are either starting now,  injured or status unknown because they are not pitching yet.  But Rumbelow and Webb have already looked good.

Anyway, starting with Dave Robertson, drafting college relievers has probably been the Yanks best bet.   Though that could be changing.   Pretty soon, they should be at a point where they don't have to hire free agents for the big league bullpen and can be wholly self sustaining.  That would be a big money saver for the Yanks.

Now, if they could only develop top of the rotation starters.

Rangers: Stepan Broken Jaw

The Rangers have lost their best Center.   I wasn't going to write about last night's loss, because I usually don't, and because I was beside myself about the refs.    As I'm sure you saw, Prust put a cheap shot on Stepan early in last night's game, he did with malice and forethought.    Turns out that's what broke Stepan's jaw.  Even though Stepan came back and played valiantly.

He's already had surgery, so he's out of the rest of the postseason.   This was not tit for tat for Carey Price which was an unfortunate accident and the fault of the Canadien who tripped Kreider when he as going full speed.   This was desperate goonery from a team down 2-0.   And not starting the game with a big penalty is probably the reason the Habs could steal it.

Stepan is a very important player for the Rangers, and bring back Brassard for Thursday doesn't really replace him.   It gets even trickier if Carcillo is suspended.

Just a terrible sequence of events, and completely the fault of Prust and the refs.

Yankees Draft: Some Initial Thoughts

The MLB Draft which will run from 6/5-6/7 is two weeks away.   You probably recall my pain as the Yanks traded their early picks for free agents this past winter.  It's going to be brutal at the start of the draft when their first pick doesn't come till number 56.   Not only does picking late like that take the top off of the talent pool, but it leads to smaller signing allotments.  So the Yanks can't really make up for their FA spree by signing bunches of signability kids.  The money just wouldn't be allowed, and with rumors flying that they will break the rules in IFA, this might not be the year to do it in the Draft, since, the penalty would once again be picks.   They probably don't want to face sanctions in both the Draft and IFA next year, though it would be emotionally satisfying this year.

So, anyway, the Yanks will probably go pretty college heavy early going, though their might be a prep or two in their first three picks.    They've actually been doing pretty well with drafting collegiate relievers, as we're already seeing at their MLB level, and I expect that to continue.  And they're also finally having some luck with college bats.

Before MLB attacked draft spending, it always made sense for the Yanks to go big and heavy for preps.  They never went as big or as heavy as they should have and now it's too late and their previous prep focus doesn't make as much sense.

We could talk about their failure to develop so many preps that they drafted, but they've changed a lot of personnel at the MLB team levels let's see how that turns out.  Cave and Bird look great.

So let's draft pitches with velo and/or swing and miss stuff , as well as both college and prep hitters with patience and pop.   We might want to get a little more left handed with arms and bats, but we'll see.  The players have to be there.

And then let's go for a huge talent infusion in IFA.  Btw, so far it seems like they're mostly going for bats in this year's IFA market.

Rangers Tonight

The Rangers finally return to the Garden tonight and it should be electric.   They've been going wild ever since they left, and Ranger fans will finally have a chance to let them hear about it.  Brassard should be back, which makes the Rangers deeper and more skilled.  That said, once again Hank will have to set the tone with Kingly play.    The D, and aggressive back checking by the forwards have to be rolling all night long.   Stepan especially has to remember to shoot and forget about the extra, extra pass.   And we need Nash and St. Louis to play up to their brand statuses.   The Rangers can put a stranglehold on this thing tonight, and they are a good enough team, playing well enough to do it.

UPDATE:  No Brassard.

Yanks Beat the Cubs in Extra's

John Ryan Murphy just had the game winning hit in the 13th to end a tediously long game between the Yanks and the Cubs.   Did we really need to give McCann all that money?  Sheesh.

Chase Whitley gave the Yanks another encouraging start, though Girardi again pulled him before it could be a quality start.   Dellin Betances once again came into the game at what could have opened it up for the Cubs and shut them down.  He is approaching the Jamesian Ideal of using your best reliever in the toughest situations, rather than in a 9th or 8th inning role.  

The offense continues to struggle, though Jeff Samardzija was routinely terrific.   Still, they couldn't really come through until the 13th when the Yanks got a hit and a walk, then a great sacrifice for Preston Claiborne before Murphy came through.

The Yanks pen is really very good, and should get even better over the coming weeks, months and years.

Giants Draft: UDFA Review

Thus far, the Giants seem to have added 10 UDFA's after the draft.   They are:

TE Xavier Grimble, USC
DT Kelcy Quarles, South Carolina
DT Eathyn  Manumaleuna, BYU
DE Kerry Wynn, Richmond
DE Emmanuel Dieke, Ga Tech
DE Jordan Stanton, James Madison
LB Justin Anderson, Louisiana-Lafayette
LB Dan Fox, Notre Dame
S    Thomas Gordon, Michigan
S     Charles Barnett, Ohio State

I like what the Giants did here.  I've seen more of Grimble and Fox than of anyone else, but I've seen all of them a bit, and think the Giants did a good job and mostly kept the them of football player over athlete going, though UDFA and not the Draft is the place to swing for the fences with freaks with uncertain instincts.

Before the draft, I identified three big areas the Giants needed to hit.   First was OL, where they got a perfect fit in the second, but didn't have anyone available who fit with their other picks.   They also needed to replace Nicks, they did that in the first round.   They also needed to add pass rush, and they added two productive pass rushers in the 3rd and 5th, one a 3 tech, the other an LB/Hybrid.

There was also a bit of a need for safety given Will Hill's issues.   They hit that in the 5th.

After the draft, they did a lot more of the same, going after two more 3-techs in Quarles and Manumaleuna, and some Giant Type first step DE's in Wynn, Dieke and Anderson, all of whom are pretty intriguing.    They also went for more LB's in Justin Anderson and Dan Fox.  I think Fox will surprise everyone.  He's a bit undersized, but that kid is a football player and could be a good weak side guy for us.

They also grabbed two veteran Big 10 Safeties in Gordon and Barnett.   Those two along with Berhe and Cooper Taylor, they should give the Giants enough depth to withstand another Hill suspension.

I was surprised they didn't sign a small school tackle, but they did claim Jamaal Johnson-Webb a few days later to give them another young Tackle-Guard type,

From Jim Burt, to Zeke Mowatt, to Percy Ellsworth to James Butler to Victor Cruz to Hynoski, the Giants have often found useful player in UDFA.  I've already written about Grimble and am hoping that he, Fox, and one or two of the DL's can help.  Rotation, rotation, rotation.  

Rangers Win a Game 2!!!!

In Hank we trust!   The Rangers just beat the Canadiens for a second time in a row in Montreal!   Whoever thought that would happen?  And they just ended their winless game 2 streak by a 3-1 score.   They are showing serious character and teamwork.    After giving up a fluke goal in the first that put them behind 1-0, McDonagh came back and scored 15 seconds later, and then Hank and his mates were just too much for the Habs.   Nash scored the game winner later in the first from Stepan and a perfect pass from Kreider.   St. Louis scored a PP goal in the second to make in 3-1.  Now, the Rangers didn't go back on their heals, they just kept short shifts rolling and the back check and fore check going.   Huge win, and they can take a commanding lead when they get back home Thursday.  I don't know about you, but I'd like to see them win 6 more times this year.   Let's Go, Rangers!