Yanks Farm Stuff

Yesterday, the Yanks' DEEP farm system gave up a classic power pitching starter, as well as grinding professional hitter with positiona uncertainty and not name Rob Refnsyder.   Both Rookie Davis and Eric Jagielo appeared in most of the Yankee Top 10's that have been circulating this offseason, and though it's a deep farm, they were at the upper levels, and both will play in the majors (unless Jagielo's health augers otherwise, and let's hope he's blessed with the opportunity).

So where is the Yankee farm now?   It's still DEEP.  Another sign of that is how regularly their getting plundered in the Rule 5. Happened again this year.  But while the Yankee farm is almost 1950's level deep, it doesn't, just now appear to have a ton of future all stars waiting in the wings.   That's partly because they wouldn't spend what they could have in the draft or IFA, haven't had a ton of first round picks like some other teams, and have refused to get into young Cuban speculation.

Still the Yanks, through sound, and I think, insightful scouting, in both the  draft and IFA, do control a lot of guys who will play in the bigs. and Given their draft positions, and weird ownership decisions,  that's impressive.

Last year they reconfigured their system, replacing Mark Newman with Gary Tuck (in a seemingly smaller job) and moving coaches or dismissing coaches throughout the chain.   They also elevated their Analytics team into a full department and fired up a sports science division. This offseason, Gil Patterson went back to the A's, while Danny Borrell and Scott Aldred were pugged into his job.  And there were probably some other moves as well, for example, I don't know who the AAA staff is right now.

It also seems like they're letting guys move up a little faster, than they had been.  Sure, some like Judge and Wade struggled after promotion, they still earned the chances and will adjust.   It's far better to continually make them adapt than to let them dominate lesser players for full seasons.  So that's probably a better strategy, if it is indeed a strategy and not just based on what a few prospects showed they could do.

A couple of things I would still like to see are a super focus on grinding AB's, serious offseason (instructs, January sessions) bunting program for the fast guys,  and some sort of revolution in the way they teach defense.

Btw, I think there is a pretty good focus on grinding, as we saw when Bird and Refsnyder got AB's, but they both have the walk gene, anyway.  It's guys like Jorge Mateo, who aren't grinding enough.  I'd like him a lot more if he took his walks.   Right now, I'm leaning toward Wilkerman Garcia, who at 17 came over to the GCL and grinded, as the SS of th future.  Though that could change as the Yanks have a ton of SS prospects who can stay at the position or move to second right now.

Also, it's guys like Jorge Mateo who need the bunting program.  Look, I hate sacs bunts as much as the next guy, but guys like Mateo have to learn to make bunts a weapon, like Mickey Mantle, Ty Cobb, and Brett fricking Butler used to do.   They're a great tool for for fast guys, and can really add to their times on base, as well as destabilize opposing defenses.

And Mateo could also use more work on his D.  Now,  he's not who I was thinking about when I said they should revolutionize their defensive schooling, guys like Refs and Jags were, but Mateo's still not a finished product at SS, either.   Though no one is saying he'll have to be a 2B, he is a little wild on D.  Guys shouldn't be reaching the higher levels with positional uncertainty, playing D in any sport is about "want to" and reps.

So, where are the super impact prospects going to come from?   Barring a last minute free agent splurge, the Yanks should once again have a top 20 first round draft pick, and a workable bonus pool. That will help, like this past year's draft where the Yanks added Kaprielian, Degano, and a bunch of other arms, and even some advanced, toolsy hitters.

This is the second year of their IFA punishment, but remember guys like Mateo, Acevedo and Severino were low dollar signings, so, gold might still be found in a punishment year.

Also, the Yanks may already have some super impact guys. Remembr the 30 or so they signed in July of 14? Some of them could start popping at any time. Wilkerman already has and he wasn't the most highly regarded.

So, given the penalties, yesterday's trade and and no last minute free agent signings, the Farm is in good shape and should keep trending up.