The Yanks and the Concept of a Sub Rosa Rebuild
If they were doing nothing else, the above would be wishful thinking on my part. But, in fact, everything they are doing and have done lately aside from their reactive free agent splurge last year, has been setting up for a future run.
To wit: they are undergoing a pretty substantial reorganization of their minors for the second year in a row. Newman is retired, Roessler is fired. More firings could be on the way. Thus far, the only additions have been Gary Denbo in for Newman, and Greg Colbrun's return to Charleston. Happenstance has really played into the Yankees hands with Colbrunn, and having a top notch hitting coach in Low A, where a bunch of their stalled hitting prospects like Aune and Mikolas will be next season and then should see a huge wave of IFA talent start filtering through the next.
And that's on top of the spending on top scouts they've been doing or the past few years.
What they have yet to do is hire a head of player development and I believe that is because they are undergoing their ongoing review of the entire system right now. In fact, I think that seems more important to them, right now, than the major league hitting coach job that still isn't filled.
We could also look at their drafts and see a desire for : a wave of college talent, with Refsnyder, Rumbelow, and Lindgren leading the way; a wave of prep talent with Murphy, Bird and Austin leading the way; and a monster wave of IFA talent coming up later with Severino, Mateo, and Dermis Garcia or pick one leading the way.
So why are the spending all this time and money on the farm, for the second year in a row if they aren't rebuilding? The inescapable conclusion seems to be that they are. They're bullshitting about it.
We'll see who they hire and what they implement, but they would be wasting time on the farm if they didn't intend to use it. And even Hal must realize that Time is Money.
posted by Kalel9 @ 5:45 PM
15 Comments:
He is the wrong guy to build or rebuild anything.
The farm is the rebuilder, he's just the guy who begged or the money to do what they're doing there. The players on the way will be the rebuild, or at least it's beginning.
The best we can hope for is that Brian Cashman ends up being Brian Sabean as far as results go. After losing Bonds, the Giants have won two World Series and are one win away from a third one.
He's also the guy who created this mess under his watch.
I don't understand the case that suggests that he is a bright guy or an effective manager.
He has had an unequaled advantage over every other team in MLB and has squandered it.
The idea that there always has to be a reason why he couldn't be more successful has lost its currency.
Although there are occasionally exceptions, I think it's more likely that you can learn more about what people say than imputing any sub rosa message.
They want more trade chips for established veterans because you can no longer get much value in free agency.
So, of course, they need the farm to stop sucking as it has since Cashman took over.
But imo, unless an opening develops due to injury, the sucky veteran replacement option becomes untenable, and a young players quickly overcomes a learning curve, they will not rely much on the farm, except in the pen.
I think actions speak louder than words, and always have. The fact is they are demonstrably rebuilding their minors, and that wouldn't be going on if they had no expectations they'd pay off.
Sure, but the issue is, imo, if they somehow develop anything of value, do they do what they haven't done, find the patience to integrate multiple position players on to the ML roster and live with their growing pains, or do they look to trade them for established veterans, as they have before, and are seemingly telling their fans they will continue to do?
Trading them would also mean trading the control years, so I don't think they'd spend what they are spending on the farm, without expecting it to palpably kick back to them with those control years.
I think the integration has begun in the bullpen and rotation and will start spreading from there.
Integrating in the pen is a lot easier to do there because they have had terrific closers and because if a reliever has a great out pitch, he can be good as soon as he make the mental adjustment.
Position players can take years to develop and look horrible in the interim.
Until they do that, I am going to think they can't because of the GM and his maanger.
Fair enough. I think Gardner would be a better player right now if the hitting coach had spent more time on his plate disc and drag bunting/bunting for base hits. He had the talent to be another Brett Butler in the short game.
I agree with your point about Cashman playing his cards close to the chest. That is a very positive change from the days when George would say publicly that he wanted someone like Randy Johnson and then, guess what, the price for Randy Johnson would go up. By not telegraphing what he was looking for, Cashman was able to avoid paying a top prospect for Prado or the McCarthy/Headley rentals.
So in watching Cashman's feet regarding the farm system, I agree 2015 and 2016 are critical. I feel somewhat positive about 2014 in terms of the development of some viable ML prospects like Judge, Refsnyder, Severino, and Clarkin. I'm also not discouraged with Jagielo and Banuelos given their medical issues. Sanchez doesn't seem to have shone, but he coped at AA; 2015 at AAA will be a huge test for him.
Your analysis of what's going on is illuminating. Two questions linger -- what went wrong with Hughes/Joba and what if anything have we done to fix that?
In Joba's case, they never should have made him a reliever, even for an instant.
In the case of Phil Hughes, after he got injured throwing that partial no hitter against Texas, then got more injured during his first rehab assignment, I would have paid more attention to his mechanics.
He was a strikeout/groundball pitcher when he was great prospect. When he came back he was strikeout/flyball pitcher. That's because he became and arm thrower instead of a drop and drive guy, which he had been when he was a can't miss prospect in the minors.
Someone had to see that, but neither Nardi Contreras nor Eland or whoever was the PC saw it and it was never corrected. Now he's just an arm thrower who could have been great.
Greg Bird hit a monster 3 run shot today in AZ.
Very interesting. Thanks!
Cool about Bird. He seems like the ideal 6 or 7 hittter at Yankee Stadium.
I maintain Joba's problem was the injury zapping him of his velocity. But the back-and-forth between starter and reliever was all kinds of dumb.
Theo is showing again that he is what Cashman only pretends to be but fails miserably.
Post a Comment
<< Home