Knicks Expected to Sign Noah

Reports are popping up all over that that Knicks are expected to sign erstwhile Bulls Center, Joakim Noah when NBA free agency starts 24 hours from now.  While he's not KD, and it's unclear whether or not that meeting will happen, he is a good get for the Knicks.  Noah's coming off of surgery, and said to be 100%, and a full throttle Noah is a passionate and unselfish ball player who can fit in any system that's predicated on ball movement or even just sound fundamentals.  On a given night he can produce 10-12 points, the same number of rebounds, 5 or 6 assists!!!!!! and block a shot or two. He'll also be an ideal mentor for Willy Hernangomez, and bodyguard for KP.  He embodies a lot of what we liked about RoLo, and if he can stay healthy may help even more because he's such an aware passer. Wonderful player and I'd be in favor of this signing.

Yanks Sign Blake Rutherford

I was in transit when this became official, but I guess I was one of the few people who were never worried that it would get done.  And it's a great thing that it did.  The Yanks almost never get a chance to draft a Rutherford level talent.  Here's a sweet swinging lefty, who takes his walks to the tune of a nearly .700 OBP, and doesn't K. The Yanks believe in his power, and they should as they know doubt measured his exit velocity. One thing they will almost certainly do is move him back in the batter's box.  If you notice his tapes, his right foot is on the front line of the box.  He might want that extra split second back when he starts facing pros.

He's also an excellent defender with borderline plus speed, which might just settle into above average speed as he gains his "man strength."

If all goes right, we're talking about an perrenial all-star and possible MVP.

And he's starting off in the GCL.  And maybe I can do those roster post in the next couple of days.

Btw, it looks like they gave him the rest of the jackpot, so I don't think anyone else is coming in.   That's something we should have known once Solak and Martinez got more than expected.

Judgement Day is Nigh

Tonight, Aaron Judge, who's been hitting around .380 and OPS'ing way over 1.000 since making a slight adjusment with his hands and his load early this month, cracked his 16th homerun tonight and has hit 8 in the last 12 or 13 games.  He also walked again.  He's been doing that more than striking out since his adjustment, and he's no longer chasing the low and away.  The Cubs, who are a much better team than the Yankees these days (which is unforgivable) are still able to call up their star prospects when the ligh goes on.  The Yanks don't seem to have that flexibility, even though they have a bad team.  What's more, the GM seems to have an egoic attachment to Aaron Hicks, an older former first rounder for whom the light have never gone on, and earlier intimated that Hicks is somehow an obstacle to Judge's immediate call up.  That's an example of ego protecting a bad decision and it's no way to run a baseball team.    The Yanks should in fact, DFA Hicks, call up Judge, and make Beltran the regular DH.

Rangers Prospect Camp

Fresh off their striking second day of the NHL Draft, the Rangers will hold their annual prospect tomorrow, which will run all week and probably provide lots of good video.  Because of the lack of ones and twos, and the absolutely needless trade of Saarela, the camp will be lacking in broad star power.  Still, there will be some exciting guys there, lead by the Rangers' top prospect, Pavel Buchnevich.   Ryan Gropp, last year's first pick - a second rounder - will be there, too, and he's coming off a big year in the WHL whick also saw him get signed.  Robin Kovacs, the Swede from last years draft will also be on hand, and so will Adam Graves, the big D with the big shot.

All of yesterday's picks, except for Tarmo Reunanan, who is still recovering from the injury that caused him to fall to the Rangers.  But it will be fun to see just how great "great skaters" Sean Day and Tim Gettinger look.  As well as getting our first glimpses of Gabriel Fontaine and Ty Ronning.

The Ranger goalie roster looks short.  Brandon Halverson, McKenzie Skapski and the just drafted Tyler Wall will all be there, but Igor Shesterkin and Adam Huska will not, and that kind of sucks.  I happen to think they both have futures with the Rangers.

The rest of the previously drafted forwards include, C Brad Morrison,  C Stephen Fogarty, and  C Boo Nieves.  With Nieves plus Buch and the new guys, we could see some very fancy skating.  Malte Stromwall, whom we signed here or there will be on hand, as well as the Three Plessa Brothers, who I've never heard of, but form a line, will they bring the foil? Nick Betz, Adam Chapel, Michael Joly, Reid Duke, CJ Smith, Zachary Zborosky and Dmitri Buinitsky round out the F's.

Joining Day and Graves on D will be former pick Sergei Zborovskiy, and Calle Andersson. Other D's include big guy Troy Donnay, who's still figuring it out, and Turner Ottenbreit, and Rylan Yaremko.

Not a first rounder in the bunch. Which I think is the first time, unles Skjei wasn't hear last year. Still, a pretty exciting bunch of top end skaters and we'll see where it leads.

Rangers Draft Review

The Rangers finally got to do what they do best - make some picks.   That is what is so maddening about their recent drunken distribution of first and second round picks.  They might have won a cup, even, by now if they had just kept working the draft and finding good players.  The heroic scouting team changed a little last summer after Gorton ascended to the GM's roll, as Steve Greeley became Gordie Clark's right hand man, and Nickolai Bobrov took over as Head European Scout from Anders Hedberg.  But it still seemed like classic Ranger Draft.

So let's take a look at the picks.

In round three the Rangers took LHS Sean Day.  This guy might be a ringer.  He was one of only 15 year olds ever to gain "exceptional" status and allowed to play as a 15 year old in the OHL.  Then his attention to detail was questioned, but he was also going through a family situation, and that probably explained his lack of attention.  These OHL coaches and scouts, and really coaches and scouts in all sports should read Maslow on need heirarchy, to wit, a kid who's troubled over family security, ain't gonna play his best.  Anyway, the Rangers may literally have caught a falling star with Sean Day.  Sort of like they did with Duclair and Saarela, wait a minute, now I'm scaring myself.   But, it was a great pick with huge upside.

In round four, they put Bobrov to work and picked another skilled LHS two way defenseman, this one from Finland. Tarmo Reunanen.  This was a big year for Finnish picks, and Tarmo may be a bit of a sleeper and he lost some time to injury, but he regained his health and is all you really want in a two way D. People might consider him a more conservative pick by the Rangers, but unless the focus issue Day was having was deeper than just teenage family stuff, I'd think the physically healthy guy might be the safer pick,  That said, they both look like outstanding values.

In round five, the Rangers took big Forward Tim Gettinger. Tim is listed as 6'5" as well as 6'6" so either way that's a big guy who should grow into a power forward.  Gettinger fell because he didn't live up to his own lofty expectations, because Tim is not only a tall forward, but he is also a legitimately great skater.  So, I wonder if he has inconsistent hands or something else.  Still he fits the Ranger great skating model, so let's see how he develops.

In round six, the Rangers took two guys. First, they took a real two way center in Gabriel Fontaine. Gabriel sort of fits the Derek Stepan profile, but he's not as productive on the offensive end a Derek was at the same age. But the Rangers really do always need two way players, if they don't want to repeat the kind of problems they had this year.

With their second pick in the 6th round, the Rangers took Goalie Tyler Wall.  Tyler had a great season, and is going on to play in the Big East for UMass this year and in the same conference as last year's hot Goalie pick Adam Huska.  Should be fun.  It's kind of amazing to me how the Rangers went from not being able to identify goalie prospects to picking good ones most years.  

Finally, in round seven, the Rangers took a highly skilled forward who scored 31 goals in the WHL named Ty Ronning.  In doing so they met their bloodlines quota, and they also added a kid who might have been a first or second rounder if he was just a few inches taller.  He's currently 5'9" and idolizes Johnny Gaudreau.  So this may have what it takes to make it.  He was more productive in WHL in the draft year than Ryan Gropp was, and look how well he's turning out.

So, in all, it was a surprisingly strong draft for the Rangers, who afterwards admitted they had been close to making deals in round one, but it sounded like the players they had targeted were not available when the picks in question came up.   Still, they salvaged a good one and I believe they have a first but no second yet next year.

Let's hope they add to next year's picks with this week's sell off.

This Week on the Blog

Okay, the drafts are all over, the Giants are off till July 28, and free agency starts for the NBA, NHL and MLB IFA markets this week.  Is that enough possible action for you?  Let's take a look.

Yankees: The Yanks still have Blake Rutherford and maybe a few others to sign from their recent draft.  And it will happen.  The guys who have already signed like Luaces and Jordan Scott are making loud noises witht their bats, taking their walks and stealing at will.  In fact, ther is bat noise going on all over the system for the first time in memory.  Last night, good ol' Tyler Austin hit three jacks, Aaron Judge hit #14 Gary Sanchez socked number 8 to not be forgotten.  Those three players are absolutely ready to play in the bigs and should all be up in the wake of the sell off.   And that opportunity should not be denied.

Knicks: The Knicks got Derrick Rose last week, then sat out the draft.  They've signed a couple of undrafteds to play for their summer league team, including the latest Plumlee.  Willy Hernangomez's agent says he is coming over.  Unfortunately, the Knicks are not on Kevin Durant list of visits, yet.   But since they can't contact him yet, that could change.  I hope they have a strong plan A, B, and C ready to go, and also, should things not work out for 2016-17 player wise, they should be ready to trade Melo and build around KP.

Rangers: The Rangers want Steven Stamkos.  I've felt that coming for years.  To get him, they are going to have to get their cap in order this week, and Gorton has said as much.  So we will probably see the sell off that we were expecting on night one of the draft.  Let's hope it brings back some of th young talent they lost out on during their cup chasing misadventures.  Let's hope it also brings more picks.  Also, let's when the trades do happen, it's the big contracts and not the RFA's.

Giants: The Giants still haven't addressed the OL.

So there it is.  Later this weekend and or early this week, I'll have a Ranger draft review and the GCL roster preview for the Yanks.

Have a great week everyone.

Rangers Trade for Nick Holden

After the draft the Rangers announced they had acquired 29 year old LHD Nick Holden from the Avalanche.  They used their 2017 4th, so they're down to just the Yandle 4th so far for next year.   Holden is a damn solid D, and good rates player who can kill penaties for the Rangers.  I still can't believe how bad our kill became last year.  Yikes.  I really like this move and like that he has two years left on his deal.  Hopefully, it also means they are dealing away one of the big contract D's they currently employ.

Stronger day, so far, for the Rangers.

Rangers Take Ty Ronning in the Seventh

Rangers went back to two of their premium drafting strategies in round 7.  First, they took a kid who fell on something he had no control over - size - and they also took "someone's kid."   Of everyone's is someone's kid, but when the Rangers do it, the kid is the scion of an established NHL clan.  In this case, Ty Ronning is Cliff Ronning's son.  Cliff played forever.  Ty, who is skillsy as all get out, is just 5'9" and 165, but he brought it at basically a point a game rate in the sand-papery WHL.  Here's the juice on taking little guys: sometimes they work out.  The Rangers have taken their share in guys Ryan Bourque and Christian Thomas, as well at St. Croix, and none have worked out yet.  An international FA they did get, MZA, has.   And they traded half of their future for MSL, so it's good to grow your own.  And Ronning might be a make it guy.  I like his profile better from the WHL than I would from the Q. And he idolizes Johnny Gaudreau, which most kids, short of not, should do.

Overall, it looks like the Ranger Scouts have bailed the franchise out yet again, with only limited picks.

I'll review this later.

Rangers Take a C and a G in the Sixth

The Rangers had two picks in the 6th, their own and the one they got from Florida the other day.  With them, they took C Gaberiel Fontaine, a surprising underproductive scorer from the Q.  He did better in the playoffs, but was nothing like a point a game during the regular season.  Bad teammates?  Next they took G Tyler Wall.  I don't know if this means they are going back to their old tradition of taking one G per draft, or if they intend to move one of their current G's in a trade over the next few days.  If they do, it better not be Shesterkin.

The Rangers on Day 2

For the first time in memory, I slept through the beginning of Day 2.  In fact, I woke up just as the Rangers were picking Sean Day the third.  Sean is a great skating, 6'2" 220 LHS Defenseman out of the OHL. I frantically searched to see if they had done anything else, but they stayed calm and just made their selection.  When they just let their scouts do their thing, which is picking great skaters with hands and upside, the Rangers are in alignment.  When they reach all over the place and give away their scouts' opportunities as the cherries on top of Hail Mary trades, they are not in alignment, they are in depseration and that rarely leads to successful outcomes.

In the Fourth, the Rangers took another LHS, puckmoving Defenseman, Tarmo Reunanen, from Finland.  He was listed very highly, so I assume this one is a ringer.  Btw, neither of the puckmoving D's they've taken scored at the rate McIlrath, the undertaker was scoring when the Rangers took him out of the WHL.

In the Fifth, the Rangers took jumbo power forward Tim Gettinger out of the OHL.  Gettinger is either 6'5" of 6'6" but said to have instincts.  I think he's also tough, and may be a sort of organizational replacement for Iverson, the really tough guy they took a few years ago and decided not to sign.

They have two picks coming up in the Sixth.

The Rangers Are a Disaster

Last year, the Rangers went into the draft, Sather's last, knowing they were willing to trade Talbot and Hagelin.  They, then, for sure, turned down a first roung pick for Talbot, and ended up settling for a second and then throwing Hagelin into a move up trade.   Tonight, they went into the draft, Gorton's first as GM, knowing they were willing to trade just about anyone on their roster.  Some of whom would have brought back a one and MORE.  And what did they do?  Nada.  So, tomorrow they will no doubt end up selling low on some players -- like they did every time they threw a Duclair or a Saarela into a packake that already include a one or multime two's for guys who weren't gonna get it done. Where is the vision?  

Now the Rangers are short a ton of prospects and haven't picked a first rounder or won a Stanley Cup for 4 straight draft years. What could have been a tough, but smart and necessary night of work, is being blown off until tomorrow, when 30 of the best prospects will already be off the board.  I don't want to lose stars built around second round packages, so if anyone gets moved, there better be future one's coming back.

Rangers Draft: Day 1

The NHL Draft has just started.  Tonight it will just feature round one, with rounds 2 through 7 tomorrow.  The big question for us is, will the Rangers find a way to make a first round pick for the first time since they took Brady Skjei in 2012?  There has been a lot of chatter indicating that the Rangers are open for business.  They turned down an opportunity to pick up a first last time, to Asst. GM Jeff Gorton's apparenty consternation.  He's the GM now and will he flip the script?

Yank's Edel Luaces: Who Needs School?

GCL started today, and, though, because of time contraints, I can't do my team reports yet, the less loaded Yankee team GCL East won and the more loaded Yankee team got shut out.  Welcome to the GCL.  Anyway, we may have already identified a ringer.  You remember Luaces from the draft as having come from "no school."  We learned today that was because he probably didn't need it.  In his first pro game Edel went 2-4 with two JACKS, a walk and a stolen base.  What's even more delightful about this debut, is he did exactly what he said he could do in his post draft interviews.  Jordan Scott, on of the other athletic freaks from the draft was 0-3 with a walk, a stolen base and 2 outfield assists including one at home and one at second.  Nice start, and this draft already feels good.

Ranger Draft Stuff

Today could be a BIG DAY in Ranger History, and things could start moving fast at any moment, but most likely during the first round of the draft.   As is stands now, the Rangers don't have any picks until the 3rd round, but I expect them to turn their cap problem into picks today and tomorrow, then take a run at Stamkos or something.  During the Gordie Clark era he's always been a friendly avuncular guy on the Ranger Sites leading up to the Draft.  This year he's been beyond scarce.  So I'm expecting fireworks.

In Blog News, the GCL starts today, and the Yanks West team is LOADED, haven't seen the complete roster yet, or the Yanks East team roster at all but hopefully I'll get my usual posts up about both teams over the next few days.

Knicks Sit on Their Hands

The Knicks just wasted about 5 hours of my time doing nothing.  That is, doing nothing in the draft.  But by doing that they were doing something, first, I think they were realizing that there was going to be a pool of players that went undrafted from the second round who were as good as the guys who were drafted.  Second, I think they were reaching out to those players.  Almost  immediately after the draft WOJ announced the Knicks had signed Wichita St. swingman Ron Baker.  He's a good defender who can shoot.  Other guys who they were linked with, like Yogi Farrell, are also free to sign. So let's see what they do in the next few days on the UDFA side, they have a lot of spots to fill on the roster, as well as the Summer League roster, and not that much time to do it.

Yanks: Nolan Marinez Signed

The Yankees Annual Third Round Prep Pitching Stud, that loose armed fireballer with the developing curve, has indeed signed and will start his long and glorious Yankee career in the GCL.  The GCL starts tomorrow, and it is amazing that the Yanks got this done in time for him to get the full league experience.   Now we're just waiting on Blake Rutherford and to see if anything else can be worked out.  Go Nolan!  Go Yanks!

UPDATE: He signed for 1.15M.  That's probably a little higher than some expected, but should leave enough for the Yanks to still sign Blake Rutherford.  What's more, they could always just blow it out and go after another prep.

Knicks Draft Tonight

With less than an hour till the start of the 2016 NBA Draft, the Knicks still have no picks -- or at least none that we know about.  Phil's now talking to the press and says KP is doing the right things, and the hiring of Hornacek was not the impetus to them getting Rose yesterday.  He said they are exporing getting into tonight's draft, but nothing is imment.  We know that they have 3.3M they are allowed to us, as well as the extra 2 they picked up in the Rose trade.  What's more, if they somehow manage to get into the first round tonight, they can trade next year's one, though I don't know why they would.  Also, word's been floating around that Willy Hernangomez is indeed coming over.

I'll keep updating this post if anything happens.  Then I will or won't do some analysis afterwords.

Let's Go Knicks!

Knicks Deal for Rose, Cut Wroten

The Knicks today traded Robin Lopez, Jerian Grant and Jose Calderon to the Bulls for the Ghost of Derrick Rose, G Justin Holiday and a 2017 2nd rounder.  This marks the first time in Knick Cap history that they didn't not gratuitously send a package of future ones for a non-savior player.  Rose was of course, the league MVP in 2011.  But since then he's blown out an ACL and dealt with confidence issues.   Holiday is a placeholder who has not distinguished himself.

Though I was willing to trade Lopez, an Elite Rim Protecting 5, I was hoping it would be for a young, long term piece or pick to go with Kristaps.  Alas, that wasn't to be.  Jerian looked like he forgot how to play basketball last year, and I cant believe we got to unload Calderon.

The good thing about Rose is he turns back into cap room at the strike of midnight on 7/1/17.  He should also discourage the Knicks from handing out a longterm deal to any of this offseasons flawed PG class.

The Knicks also cut Tony Wroten.  So two guards enter, three guards leave.

Now we have to see what the rest of the plan looks like.  I could start tomorrow night at the draft, or sooner, if the Knicks have another trade to make.

As of right now they need a 2 and another 5, as well as improved depth at all spots.

Yankee Unforeseen Issue: The Light Has Gone on for Mr. Judge

Tonight, Aaron Judge was 4-5 with a homer to left and a homer to right.  That's a big game for anyone, but a pretty typical game for Judge in June: where he's hitting, hitting for power, stealing bases, playing D and walking more than he K's.  Till he hit AAA, Judge had cruised through the minors.  Once he got to AAA last year the veteran pitchers there fed him a steady diet of low and away.  And instead of laying off and taking his walks, he swung.  Maybe having such long arms made  him think he could reach them but that's over.   He's laying off the low and away and that enable him to wait for pitches he likes or walks, and thus the light has gone on.

Of course, the only problem is, is that the Yankees, who could really, really use a bat, and defense in a corner like Judge provides, would have to have one, two or three big injuries occur in the Yankee OF before he's called up. And Hicks, who is what he's always been, would probably get the first shot, and Gamel, who's already on the 40 could get the second.

This is a big problem.  And will we really have to wait on and count on a July sell off, for a player that could help them win now?   This is what happens when you load up on FA's and other people's failed first rounders.

Knicks: Afflalo Opting Out

Yipee!  Aaron Afflalo is opting out of his Knicks deal.  I wish him well, but what I observed was a past his prime ball hog.  No digity.   Still no word on Derrick Williams, who I happen to think would shine in Hornacek's fast breaking, movement O.  But gaining cap room is good.  I think if they both opt out, which seems likely since Williams seems more valuable than Afflalo, and thus stands to gain more on the open market.  I think that's 8m and 4m, creating 30M in cap room for the Knicks.

Btw, what do you make of the Knicks hosting a Draft Viewing Party for the press on Thursday Night, given that the Knicks don't have any picks?  Or do they?  Or do they have something else up their sleeves?  Or are they just taking care of their beat guys.  Is Isola invited?

UPDATE: According to Woj, Derrick Williams is also opting out. Cha-ching!  Though he would have looked even better under Hornacek.

Yanks Sign Nick Solak

The Yanks have signed their second round Hit Machine, Nick Solak. Nick will probably join that gang of grinders they've got operating out of SI.  Surprisingly, they gave Solak 950K, which was just about 90 grand below slot.  When Nick was chosen, I, and I think everyone thought they had taken a really talented overdraft who would sign for less.  That wasn't borne out by what they were willing to give him, though a slight savings was realize.

I don't think the Yanks got a chance to workout Solak before the draft, so I'm not sure they could do their scientific tests.  Maybe they got him last summer in a wood bat league.  Anyway, they have a serious belief in this guy,  and they took him in a spot where they could have takent someone else and saved a ton.

Solak is sort of emblamatic of the hitters they took this year, in that he seems to have an excellent contact tool and be hard to K's, but also willing to take a walk, and he's reportedly a plus base runner if not a 60 yard burner.  Plus baserunners are more valuable than guys who are faster but don't know out to run the bases.  Even after his bad knee injury in Oakland robbed Reggie Jackson of his speed, he was still a really savvy baserunner.   Whereas,  young Bernie Williams, a sprint champion, never quite mastered the craft.

So, what the the Yanks are buying for 950K is plus hit,  plus contact, patience, plus baserunning, and maybe some developing pop an positional versatility.  

Good Deal.

More Rangers Stuff

Y'know, I've been so disgusted with the Rangers that I didn't even realize the NHL Draft starts Friday.  As of right now the Rangers don't pick until round three.  Let's see if that changes.

Rangers Trade Yandle Rights to Florida

The Rangers just don't know how to sell high, or buy low. They've apparently traded their negotiating rights for Keith Yandle to the Panthers for one solid pick and one conditional pick that they'll receive if the Panthers can sign him. And so, another one of their cup chasing blunders goes out the window with a whimper. I acually thought they were going to try to hang onto Yandle, but this move makes it seem like they're gonna hold tight to the RFA's.  And that's actually the first smart thing they will have done since they started giving away 1's for runs but no cups.

Yanks: Pulaski Roster So Far

The Pulaski Yanks have released their first roster, and from the looks of it, it may be as loaded as I had expected the SI Yanks to be - though they're setting about a record a day as is.  So let's take a look, shall we?

Pitchers: Like the entire team the pitchers are a mix of recent drafts and IFA scores.

1. Nick Nelson:  Nick was the fourth rounder this year who had both pitched and played the field for his JuCo  team.  Yanks expect him to gain velo, as guys like Joba and Kap did, now that he's just going to be a pitcher.

2. Jeff Degano: Jeff was the hard throwing LHP in search of a change that the Yanks popped last year.  He was old for his draft class owing to collegiate TJS and both could and should start moving if the change has come along through EST.

3. Greg Wissert: This RHP was the 18th Rounder out of Fordham in this year's draft.  Good athlete, as Diamond Gems has already proven.

4..Julian Aybar: RHP Julian is already 24 and a former Cub. He has; however, struck out more than a batter per, while keeping his walks, WHIP and ERA low as a reliever.  Could move quickly.

5. Abel Duarte:  Another RHP who is just 22 and has had some mediocre splits so far.  There must be something there, though, because they've kept him around.  Has been a starter, but as 6'1" and 190,  he'll head to the pen soon if he doesn't come correct.

6. Philip Diehl: This year's lefty 27th rounder.  Just 22 and a great interview.  Kind of slender and will be interesting to see if they can build him up a bit.

7. Braden Bristo: Braden a  6 foot RHP was this years 23rd rounder and from the same Louisiana Tech pitching staff that dould give us Diehl four rounds later.

8. Miles Chambers: This is one of the guys from Cal State Fulerton.  A husky-ish reliever who could join the long train of Major League relievers the Yankee system has been producing.

9. Will Jones: Will should probably be on an innings count, as he was the horse of his division 2 school's staff and we are not savages.

10. Tyler Honohan: Senior Righty out of Stony Brook, picked admidst all of those preps on Day 3.

11. Icezack Flemming: Ice Flemming, which is what they better be calling him, was last year's 26th rounder.  He's a strikeout guy who needs to clean up the walks and hits a bit, but still had a good first year out of the pen last season.

12. Spencer Mahoney:  Spencer is a right handed pitcher whom the Yanks signed after last season ended. Spencer was an infielder in college, so this could be interesting.

13. Juan Jimenez: Juan has been in the system from DSL to GCL since 2011 and is now 23 or will be this year.  His relief work has gotten better but he has to do a better job of limiting hits.

14. Zach Wasserman: a 25 year old reliever who was originally drafted by the San Francisco Giants.

15. Chad Martin: Last year's 30th rounder.  Just 22 he's a starter who seems to pitch to contact.  Can't remember if this was the hot prep pitcher who got hurt or not.  Probably in the rotation to start.

16. Alex Bisacca: Last year's 35th rounder, a strikeout reliever.

17. Cody Hamlin: RHP, undrafted out of Arizona.  23 year old reliever.

18. Rafael Lara: a 21 year old right handed starter.  Diminutive when he signed.  Needs an out pitch.

Some age on the staff, and no teenagers, but a pretty talented group that should see some emerge.

Infield:  This is where it gets exciting.

SS Wilkerman Garcia:  Possibly the gem of the IFA  class of `14.  A real live shortstop with all the right actions and he can hit! Teenager.

3B Dermis Garcia: On the other hand, he could prove the gem of that big class.  He got the biggest bonus and that's because he had the biggest bat.  Dermis had a bad back in year one after impressing in instructs.  If healthy this year and playing everyday he should start putting up big numbers.  Teenager.

2B Welfrin Mateo, 20, put up good numbers in the DSL for two years before getting some exposure in the GCL.

1B:  Tim Lynch, this year's ninth rounder and the old man of the group.  He's also an on base machine who could really help these young guys learn to grind.

UT Kevin Cornelius will be 24 next month and was drafted by the Yanks twice before they actually got him.  He crushed the GCL last year as an older player, and really shouldn't be on Pulaski.  We'll see how this works out.  He's mostly played 3B.

Outfield

CF Estevan Florial might actually have been the gem of 2014, but identity issues kept the Haitian Sensation from signing till later.  Teenager.

RF Isiah Gilliam, last year's overslot JuCo with big batting practice power, but has to turn it into game to game power.  Had a decent debut.

LF Ben Ruta the speed merchant out of Wagner and this year's 30th round

UT Andy Diaz is 21 and may have a contact issue to work on as he's K'd almost half of his pro AB's.


Catchers: None of the name brands here.

C Victor Rey is now 20 and they have been converting him from 3B to C.  The hit tool has yet to impress.

C Brian Reyes will turn 21 this week and has always been a catcher.  His D is ahead of his O.


So there you have it. this year's Pulaski Yanks, complete with exciting young talent like Garcia, Garcia, Florial, Gilliam and Ruta.  And not so young talent like Lynch, Cornelius and some of the pitchers.   They were the best team for much of the year in the Carolina League last year, and starting Thursday, they should be again.

Yankees Catching Conundrum

First off, let me remind you that Wally Pipp was a pretty good player.  What he wasn't was a ridiculously overcompensated player, so, when Lou Gehrig was ready the Yanks had no compunction about making the Lou the starter and packing Pipp off the Cincinatti the following year.  The decisions can be that easy when all things are equal, as they should be, and things like veteraness and salary don't become overweighted factors.  Unfortunately, that's happened repeatedly during this era of Yankee mediocrity.  By the way, that's Yankee mediocrity not regular mediocrity. And nowhere is is it so apparent than at the Catcher position.

In their history, the Yanks have won relatively few championshiops without either Dickey, Berra, Howard, Munson of Posada behind the dish.  I think Girardi and Schang (who had a Yankee Bat)  were the Catchers for virtually all of the other titles.  So, looking at their own long and majestic history should have clued them into the fact that they do better with homegrowns, and allowed them to chill until Gary Sanchez was ready.

They had a good situation at catcher a few years ago when they had Russel Martin and Francisco Cervelli catching.  They were actually the perfect tandem to keep the spot warm for the next great homegrowns, hell, Cervelli is now a wealthy homegrown playing for the Pirates and Martin is competing for titles with Toronto.

But instead of chilling with some combination of Martin, Cervelli, Murphy and Romine of the past few years, the Yanks, quite foolishly, in 2014, signed Brian McCann to a contract that is now keeping him in the lineup even though Sanchez is ready, and already a much better hitter.  As I pointed out two and a half years ago, when I was urging the Yankees not so sign McCann: his career has been trending down since his mid-20s, after peaking at age 24.

So the articles that say that Girardi is now puzzled with McCann's struggles (I believe he has not been under .210 for a calendar year) are hilarious.  He is clearly not the HoF type player that he looked like when he was 24, and the Yanks paid him like when he was 30.

And there is no way under the traditional Yankee values that McCann should be blocking Gary Sanchez right now. It's something they absolutely need to address, because you just can't run a team where better players are being blocked because of high salaries.  It hasn't worked and it's not gonna work.  And I'm pretty sure we are all sick of watching it.

I have no idea if they can trade McCann and have seen no evidence that they would man up and DFA him, but they can't keep running the Yankees like this and harming their own compete level.

SI Yanks: Finley and Roeder Combine for a 10 Inning No-Hitter

Been posting this pic a lot and now you know why. Drew Finley in his first appearance of the year threw six no-hit innings against the Brookyn Mets. Drew started the night a bit on the wild side, yielding a run without a hit based on a walk, a stolen base and hit batter.  He was in a similar jam to start the second, but then he started K'ing dudes.  Got the first two looking, which I take it two mean the curve ball was biting.  I'll have to find out from more eyewitness accounts.  They lifted Drew after six either as an act mercy on the Mets or because he was on a pitch count.  He finished with 5 K's.

But then last year's 21st round pick, Josh Roeder came in, and  K'd 10 over four more hitless innings!

Kane Sweeney, one of those patience and pop seniors from last year had the walk off single in the 10.     He drove in Dalton Blaser who is currently batting .600 with walks after two games in pro-ball.   Dom Thompson joined the club today and batted third, but was 0 for three with a K.  And let's face it, to go 10 innings after going 20 last night, the pitching in this series has been stellar for both teams.

In other news, Severino pitched 8.1 innings of 1 run ball and was reportedly hitting 98 in the ninth.  In that game Judge homered, walked and stole a base.

Dietrich Enns pitching 7 innings of 7 K, 1H 2BB scoreless ball.   Then Cale Coshow, who has been regretably returned to the pen, gave up three runs and the lead, but the Thunder Thundered back and won 4-3.  Miguel Andujar may have had the walk-off, three run double to win it.

Charleston is currently tied at 3's in the 11th, and the other team has the bases loaded with one out.   Yikes.

This Week on the Blog

Okay, this week saw the Giants survive mini-camp without injuries, the Yanks sign most of their picks, the Rangers re-sign D Chris Summers to a cheap two way contract, and the Knicks bring back Rambis as an assistant. This week should be even more interesting.

Knicks: The NBA Draft is this week, and so far the Knicks have no picks.  What's more, so far, the Knicks don't have a full coaching staff. For more than a month the Knicks have been rumored to want into the draft, but I really wonder if they'll be able to get a legitimate piece picking late in the first or in the second or both.  I like Juan Hernangomez as a guy who knows how to play and can back up the three and four, and maybe take over the three when Melo leaves.  But still, how are they going to get into the draft?  By a second rounder?  Trade for a first? Or perhaps, make a big deal that at least starts to remake the team around KP?  We'll see. I've yet to see Jackson do anything stupid on draft night, and don't expect to this week,

Giants: The Giants appear to be out of the running for Monroe.  So, while the players are on their own and hopefully staying in shape for the next 6 weeks, the Giants must keep looking to upgrade the RT position, and it's ridiculous that they still have 18.5M in cap space and have not been able upgrade.

Rangers:  The Rangers remain in their horrible position of being capped up and still having to leave quality players available for the stupid ass expansion draft.   They also have no picks till the third round of the coming draft because of their fruitless "all in" deals of the past few years which have left them cupless and prospect low.   Also, Chris Kreider, an RFA, still hasn't heard anything about a new deal yet, so the fear here is that Gorton is either just like Sather, or that Sather is still running his idiotic RFA game.  Rumors will abound.

Yankees: Okay, the reason this week will definitely be more interesting is because the Yanks will open up their three other short season teams this week.  Pulaski will start Thursday, and the two GCL teams will start Friday.  Among these three teams we should finally see the huge influx of the IFA Class of `14 players.  And that should be fascinating.  What's more we may even see IFA's from the economically limited Class of `15, as well as guys for the last two drafts. Should be fun, even if watching the major league Yanks is just painful or frustrating or both.  And let's hope the Yanks get Blake and Nolan done this week, so they an get to work.

Have a great week, everyone.  Should be interesting!

Giants Claim QB Logan Thomas on Waivers, Cut QB BJ Daniels

So, after cutting sought after UDFA QB Josh Woodrum without much of a chance during rookie camp, the Giants have now cut QB BJ Daniels.  The guy they kept instead of Woodrum.  I really must question who would have benefitted more from OTA's, the UDFA with the drop back skills, or the guy who got cut right after that ended. It was questionable then and it's more questionable now.  Meanwhile Logan Thomas is a former VaTech QB who's just 24 and was drafted by the Cards in the 4th round a few years ago.  He has since been a Dolphin as well.  6'6" and 250.

Knicks Considering a Trade for Derrick Rose

This is the same picture we used back when the Knicks were in the 2008 Lottery to see if they were moving up.  Of course, the didn't and the Bulls got the prize.  However, Ian Begley is now reporting the Knicks are considering trying to trade for Rose.  Not really sure what they could give up other than cap room, unless this became an expanded deal where parts like Melo and RoLo end up elsewhere.  Also, Rose has had some injuries since this 2011 MVP season, including a major knee, and it's unclear whether or not he'll ever be an iron man going forward. Also, he's been more of a scorer than a faciliator with the Bulls, though that may be a factor of who his teammates were and never having a big man like KP.

Yanks Post Draft Stuff Pt.4

As I've mentioned, at least in passing a few times, the Yanks have clearly gotten more sophisticated in the way the go about drafting people over the years. Since the Draft, the Yanks have signed 22 of their 40 picks including Dom Thompson-Williams, Jordan Scott, Joe Burton and Edel Luaces.  What these four players have in common is fast twitch hyper athletecism.   Let's go on for a second, they got DTW for a below slot deal in the 5th, and must have gotten off pretty easily on Scott, Burton and Luaces - because frankly - they're not going high overslot for anyone until Blake and Nolan are on board.

So, we're forced to concede that the Yanks were able to add 4 athletic gems at pretty great prices. That admirable and not all what they used to do.  During the Lin Garret years especially, the used to overapay for athleticism and undervalue production.  For example back in the 2003 Draft the Yanks took a great athlete named Estee Harris in the 2nd round and perhaps even a greater athlete in the 3rd named Tim Battle. Not sure what the money was for either of them, but that was under the old rules, and even the D and F rules, so using your second and third picks in a 50 round draft on two great athletes who weren't yet great players was a major cost.

So the bet then seemed to be that they could make them baseball players, and in both cases they couldn't.  Though to be fair, Estee battled Cancer, and Tim gave his all during his 2 or 3 years in the Sally League.

Anyway, that's what can happend when you pick great athletes who aren't necessarily great players.  Of course when you hit on one, you can get Superstar.  But the chances are somewhat remote, thus, you don't want to risk too much on them, and it doesn't look the Yanks are doing that anymore.   Btw, all of DTW, Jordan and Luaces have crazy speed.  Jordan has surprising speed for his NFL Linebacker body, like Aaron Judge does for his NFL Tight End body.

Of course, not quite all of the high upside athletes have been signed.  Rutherford could have gone to college as a wide receiver, though he has no less than a 70 pure hitting tool, which makes him more baseball player than athlete.   Nick Solak has 60 o 70 speed, but also has a plus pure hit tool. And the unsigned Evan Alexander the CF from Hebron HS, is also said the have elite speed. Solak should be done Monday, and the Post reported progress is being made with Blake Rutherford.  No news on Alexander.

But, very surprised the Yanks could buy such athleticism so cheaply.

Yankees Farm: Gittens Smacks Three Jacks

Barrel chested Chris Gittens, and JuCo pick from 2 years ago hit three jacks for Charleston last night.  That's sort of hard to do in the Sally, and he now has 11, and probably should be promoted.  Since the Yanks took over the Charleston affiate in 2005 or so, only Jesus Montero, Peter O'Brien and Greg Bird have come anywhere near hitting 20 for the River Dogs.  Gittens was drafted one round ahead of Bo Thompson, who is currently batting under .200 for the Tampa Yanks and it might be time to flip them.  That would reward Chris and perhaps be a needed wakeup call for Bo.  Chris still has a little too much swing and miss, but when he doesn't miss the ball should be issued a passport.   We'll see what happens.  Both Charleston and Tampa won their first half titles, which is unusual, and the all star games are coming right up.

Yanks: SI Roster Details Rolling Out

Robert Pimpser has introduced a lot of the SI season opening details over at Gotham Baseball, and it's not quite looking like the pitiless machine of dominance that I'd expected it to be. Don't get me wrong, it has prospects, but it's also got some guys who are getting up there that haven't gained traction and still others from whom it would seem the Last Chance Cafe.

Normally, I think we all think of SI as a place for just drafted college players to go and get their feet wet.  And while there are some just drafted college players on the initial rosters like: C Keith Skinner; 3B Mandy Alvarez; 1B/OF Justin Blaser; OF Timmy Robinson; CL Brooks Kriske; and, LHP Trevor Lane,  others like Nick Solak, who haven't signed, and guys like Nick Nelson who have are nowhere to be found yet.

There's also an issue of age appropriateness, with 24 seeming the upper limit for position players at this level and perhaps a little older for pitchers -  face it - if you can get people out, or might get people out, they're going to keep giving you chances.  Well C Radley Haddad is already 26.  I guess that makes him an Org Guy, but I was hoping the Yanks  were swollen enough with the newly drafted, the monster IFA influx, and advancing prep picks that would be late teens, 20 or 21.  But I guess one Org Guy can help, especially if he keeps the pitches from rolling to the backstop.

Speaking of catchers, the big news here is the Louis Torrens is on the team.  Louis, as you'll remember was a really impressive young catcher two years ago, but then missed all of last year and up till now with shoulder surgery, but he's still just 20.   We'll see if they have him catching straight away or just want him to starting getting AB's before breaking him back in behind the plate.  Keith Skinner, the just draft OBP machine is the other catcher.

The listed infielders are missing any of the big names from the 2014 IFA haul.  So far, 3B Mandy Alvarez and 3B/1B Drew Bridges and 1B Kane Sweeney are the corner guys. Drew is just 21 but is in his 4th season and has to start putting those power and patience tools to work on a consistent basis.  He can't keep hitting .200.

Ricardo Ferriera, who had an impressive age 20 season in the DSL last year and is a switch hitter;  Danienger Perez, who is from the monster IFA haul of 2014 and played well enough in the DSL last year to come over midseason; and 23 year old Chris Godinez, a refugee for the Dodger organization, will play up the middle. Sort of grateful the Yanks don't have an all glove-no hit college SS on the team this year -- and they didn't draft any so none are still coming. Solak will probably show up next week and become the regular 2B.

The outfield will no doubt be evolving over the next few weeks. Kendall Coleman, the oft injured but toolsy guy had a nice start for a change in Charleston, but now he's back in SI.  Kendall like Drew is just 21, but similarly needs to get going because both are already getting passed.  To wit, 21 year old college SR, Timmy Robinson will also be pressing for time out there. Likewise Dalton "The Legacy" Blaser will be manning a corner.And actually there may be some confusion in the article I read, because they're listing Kane Sweeney as an OF, when I suspect, he's staying at 1b, and Ricardo Ferrriera will be playing OF and not IF.  But we'll get it figured out.

Now, the pitching is a little more interesting, first from who is missing, namely Austin DeCarr and Jeff Degano. Austin is coming back from TJS, and Jeff was not known to be re-injured as he has already been TJ'd.  So that's puzzling.

Drew Findlay, last year's curveballin' third round prepster will be there. He's still just 19 and this is how that system should work. Also, possible phenom Freicer Perez is about 6'10" and just 20, but apparently has enough control of his heater not to kill anyone, and start out in the NYPL. That's impressive. What's weird is that Anyelo Gomez, who is 23 and coming off impressive progress in Charleston, has been sent back to short season.  Maybe he broke a rule or something.  We talked the other day about Brooks Kriske who could be just the latest in our impressive string of college relievers.  Now 25, Claudio Custodio, who used be a pretty good hitter, is continuing his conversion in SI.

Some guys from last year's draft like Kolton Mahoney, Josh Roeder, and David Sosebee are all on the team and some Kolton, at least had a pretty nice debut last year.

Guys from previous drafts like Justin Kamplain, who's 23 and David Palladino, who's also 23 and an eternal tease are also on the team.

Some of Findlay's teammates from last year's Pulaski squad are joining him: Adonis Rosa; Simon De La Rosa, and Jonathan Padilla.  Adonis, 21, was impressive last year, and Simon, 23, was really impressive, but foundered early this year at Charleston, and Padilla, 23, was impressive in the DSL before heading over the Pulaski.  Strikeout reliever, Eduardo Rivera, 23, also spent some time with Pulaski last year.

And then there's Trevor Lane, the 5'11" 185 LHP who tops out at 95. We'll have to see if they continue to develop him as a starter, or move him to the pen right away, cause he's small.

This roster will keep changing, but this seems to be the gist of it so far. Thanks, Robert.

Ralph: Giants After Eugene Monroe

The Ravens released Eugene Monroe earlier today and according the Ralph V. the Giants began pursuining him immediately.  The Giants still have plenty of cap room and should be able to get done if he passes a physical.  And surely he represents a big improvement over Marshall Newhouse.  Still, with all the cap room and time they had, you'd think they could have come up with a younger and healthier replacement.

The Yanks Big Chance

It's hard to tank in baseball, but because the Yanks were once again depending on old players to provide the lions share of O for them again this year, they are tanking. Fortunately, unlike the 1966 Yanks who had a roster full of Hall of Fame type players who all got old at once, this Yankee team has some assets it can actually auction off over the next six weeks that can set up their next dynastic run.

We've talked about how the Yanks have sort of worked at crosspurposes for a few years now.  For example, when they decided not to counter Seattle for Cano, they stood to go into the 2014 draft with three more first rounders.  That sould have been their second year in a row of 3 firsts, and would have put them much closer to that next run than they are now. But, instead they signed Ellsbury, McCann and Beltran.  And in case you count making the play-in game as adequate process, they've gotten no closer and are currently far away for making a serious run.

There are generally no do-overs in baseball, but the Yanks can get one this summer, but trading Chapman, Miller and Beltran and possibly even McCann.  I don't think they'd want to trade Betances, but he's bring back a haul, too.  Let's hope they have their old and current scouting reports ready and have dispatched the right scouts to the appropriate minor league affiliates.

Ideally, the Yanks would get some young players, and even more prospects that don't have to be added to the 40 yet throught this fire sale we're advocating.  The Cubs, Rangers and Washington are all supposed to be interested in the relievers and they all have some pretty attractive assets if the Yanks want to rebuild on the fly and erase a lot of the team building mistakes of the past several years. They should be able to replace the three missing picks and perhaps even make up for some of the money they didn't spend on the draft and IFA before the pool rules were established.

There are no do-overs in baseball, but the Yanks are setup for an utterly redemptive one.

Yanks Post Draft Stuff, Pt. 3

In each of the last three drafts, the Yanks have picked a prep RHP in the third round to start day 2.  Two years ago it was Austin DeCarr, last year it was Drew Finley, and this year it was Nolan Martinez. That seems almost formulaic, but I think the formula keeps developing and I think there are some how's and why's.

First of all, the Yankee drafts have gotten more sophisticated over the past few years with the advent of their anlytics and sports science people. Where they used to have a few to perhaps several sets of eyes looking at a kid, now they have machines and data sets examining the prospects.  This is really interesting, because at the beginning of the post Lin Garrett period of fallow drafting, they didn't even have cross-checkers.   That got switched a few years into the new system, but that's sort of what they were up against with the George and friends brain trust.   And now it's really grown.

Anyway, the 2016 draft felt a little funny because they didn't pick a pitcher till their 3rd round prep guy, and in the previous two drafts, and many of their drafts they've picked one no later than round two.  But as we learn more about the pitchers they took, it is seeming a lot like last year's crop, and last year's pitching class may indeed provide a bumper crop, given what Kap was doing, Chance is doing an how solid to excellent so many more of them have looked.  Josh Rogers, after a slight adjustment to High A is now crushing it, and may hit AA before the year is out. And Finley and DeGano haven't even played yet, but we should see them in SI as early as Friday.

So last week, they took 24 pitchers, with an unusual number of preps, but some things in common like swing and miss stuff.  Let's take a look.

3. Nolan Martinez RHP: This kid from Culver City covered the prep 3 thing, the SoCal thing, the spin rate thing, the projectable thing, and the swing and miss thing.  So he fills up a lot of what they are looking for, and will almost undoubtedly be their highest bonused pitcher from this draft.  He's got some similarities to Gabe Encinas, who was a prep the Yanks took that was looking like a future star befor he got hurt.  In the free article on Scout, Damon Oppenheimer said they believe he will throw harder, the the Paper out here has already had him at 95.  Nolan's got a free and easy atheltic delivery and a nice feel for pitching, so the upside is just terrific.

4. Nick Nelson RHP: Nick Nelson could well be this year's Chance Adams.  He's not popping out 98's like Adams did leading up to last year's draft, but he was popping out 96's, while also being the 3rd place hitter and first baseman for his JuCo team. You don't see that much anymore.  I remember Danny Borrell being an accomplished collegiate hitter before the Yanks drafted him as a pitcher.  And that was now a long time ago.  Anyway, Nelson's already signed and once he's just pitching full time, and getting on that rest and recovery schedule, his good stuff could become great stuff, like Chance's.

6. Brooks Kriske RHP: The USC closer.  The Yanks have made significant hey draft closers and otherwise college relievers over the past ten years, and Kriske joins a now proud tradition.  He became the closer this year and his fastball played up to 95/6 and he's also got offspeed stuff from his seasons as a starter. Brooks has already signed, and he could move pretty fast.

10. Trevor Lane LHP: This was one of their senior picks who just happens to strike out everybody. The guy is 5'11 and 185, which is not the size teams are looking for these days.  Of course, it was the size of Ron Guidry, and though I don't think Trevor has 95 and an exploding slider he has location or something that is creating so many K's.  It'll be fun to see what this can do.  Trevor is also already signed.

UPDATE on this guy.  Turns out the Yankees did have him at 94-95 as the season went on.  That's Gatorific and really intriguing.

11. Connor Jones LHP: This guy might be a ringer, and we'll have to see if the Yanks can get him signed. Connor is a full sized lefty at 6'3" and 190, and he does throw hard.  In the interview on Pinstripe Prospects, he said the Yanks had been at his best starts this past season, and he dominated in front of them.  This could be one of those college pitchers comes in and after some tweaks just starts moving up.  The stuff is reported to be primo but with some walks, and it feels like the Yanks are teaching guys to limit their walks again.

12. Taylor Widener RHP: This was their second big stuff college pitcher pick in a row.  Taylor Widener was used as both a starter and reliever at South Carolina during his career.  The pundits believe he'll probably be a power reliever in the pro's because he's just 6 feet tall, but power starters are still more valuable, and if the Yanks can keep him there, I hope they do.

13: Brian Trieglaff RHP: This one is a bit of a puzzler.  Trieglaff is a 22 year old junior who is 6'1" and 190 who has spent his TCU years in the pen. This year he pitched 41 innings and gave up 42 hits.  What's more he only K'd 33.  He had a good era of just 2.41, so there must have been grounders or bad contact.  He just doesn't seem like the swing and miss guys the Yanks have been predominantly drafting for the past several years.

15: Tony Hernandez LHP: This is the other JuCo pitcher and he is a power lefty who got it up to 95 this year.  He's 6'2" 215 with plus stuff for a lefty.  What's not to like?  We'll have to see how he does once he starts pitching, but the Yanks have been having good luck with their JuCo's of late, and this looks like another strong arm for the system.

UPDATE: SIGNED

16:  Zach Linginfelter RHP:  Zach is 19, and it doesn't looke like the Yanks will have the extra dough to get him in, but he will be a DES in two years and if it's meant to be it will happen then.

18. Greg Weissert RHP:  This is another athletic pitcher, this time from Fordham.  He got on the highlight shows this past season for a pair of athletic barehanded plays.  This was a more typical Yankee pick,  Greg was a starter who worked 78 innings, but only gave up 64 hits, while K'ing 82.  The thing he'll have to shed as a Yankee is the propensity to walk guys, although he didn't really have that problem at all as a Sophomore, so perhaps the Yanks can help him figure it back out.

20: Miles Chambers RHP:  Miles is 6'2" and 215 and throws hard. This past season as a reliever for Cal State Fullerton, he posted a sub one era over 27.2 IP, giving up 25 hits and 3 walks, as well as striking out 20.  K's are a little low, but I'd guess bad contact.  The Yanks will be able to help him find an out pitch if he needs one.

22: Blair Henry RHP: Alas, another kid the Yanks probably can't get under the current rules.  But perhaps they'll be able to do something next time he enters the draft.

26: Gage Burland RHP:  The Zag!  Greg started and relieved for Gonzaga and had a rough season, but he did K 28 in his 20.2 innings of pain, and is reported to be a hard thrower, and perhaps their's an out pitch.  20.2 tough innings can be overcome.

27: Philip Diehl LHP: Diehl's already signed and has already had arm surgery.  He's also a starter who struck out 90 in 80 innings of work this season though he gave up a few too many hits and walks, but it was a comeback from surgery and he was a lefty throwing hard and producing some big performances. This could be another ringer.  He's also great in an interview.

28: William Jones RHP:  He was a 5th year senior who worked a lot as a starter and struck out just under one per inning.  Worked 110 innings alread this year, so the Yanks will probably limit him if the sign him.

29: Bo Weiss RHP: The gutsy picture perfect son of Walt Weiss.  Maybe the Yanks can get him somewhere down the line.

31: Miles Sandum LHP: This is a kid I hope the Yanks target if they have any money left over from Rutherford and Martinez.  Miles is alread 6'2" and 215, and was dominant, working around a gruesome internal injury, against strong SoCal competition.  He's already 19 and been through something tough and come out of it.  He might be ready for the pro challenge if there's some extra dough.

32: Juan Cabrera RHP: This is sort of a lesser known prep, and I'm wondering if something can get done.  He's 6' and 175 and just turned 19 in April.  The Yanks have had some luck with late unheralded preps.

35: Zack Hess RHP:  This is a super heralded prep the Yanks should hope to meet again in his next draft year.  The money won't be close.

36: Tyler Honohan LHP: The kid from Stony Brook.  Word is he's already signed.  It's unknown if he ever ran into Will Tye in the lunch room at Stony. Meanwhile, he's coming off a tough season where he didn't K enough guys and walked too many.  Sometimes there's a fine line between strikes and balls and let's hope the Yankees help him get on the right side of it.

39. Brian Keller RHP: The Thin Man. Productive guy who upped his K's as a senior, but didn't quite make it to 1/1.  Maybe he'll continue to blossom or maybe he'll become important to the organization in some other way.

40. Nat Brown RHP:  With their final pick the Yanks took yet another kid who won't be coming in this time around. But as he heads off to school he has a new appreciation for the Yankees who drafted him.

In all the Yankees added 6 prep pitchers  and unless Blake Rutherford doesn't sign, they're probably not signing more than one or two of them.  So were the picks of guys like Henry, Weiss and Hess, wasted?  You could look at it that way -- though the large area of B players seemed to really thin out on day 3.  But really the Yanks were creating more first round type targets in case their first rounder doesn't sign.  They now have the fallback option of getting another great arm if something goes wrong with Rutherford.  It's not a bad position to have at all, but let's hope it doesn't come to that.

And though they didn't get a big time Friday Night starter like Kaprielian was last year, they didnt once again get their share of ascendant swing and miss guys, and added more athletic pitcher with velo to a system which is now geared towart their collection.

We'll start seeing which teams they are assigned to as early as tomorrow.

Yanks Post Draft Stuff, Pt. 2

Back in the `20's the Yanks had Ruth, Coombs and Muesel.  In the thirties, while they were re-finding themselves, they Old Babe, Old Earle, and then guys like Ben Chapman.  Chapman was a good young player for them, but he was so obnoxious that they traded him to the Senators in the midst of his Age 27 year.  Anyway, the OF re-stabilized when DiMaggio was purchased, the Henrich was freed by Landis to join the Yanks and Keller came up from the minors.   The DiMaggio, Henrich, Keller OF might have been the greatest in history.  The war disrupted things, and not long after the war, guys like Gene Woodling and Hank Bauer showed up first to abet Joe D, then at the start of the Mickey Mantle era.

Jackie Jensen had come up in `50 and was a future star, but not for the Yanks.  Mickey came up in `51 and the rest was history.  Anyway, Mickey had many guys around him as the Yankee farm system was producing OF's like Chrysler was cars.  At the dawn of the `60s it became Mantle, Maris and usually Hector Lopez.  By the mid-70's it was Bobby Murcer, Roy White, and Elliot Maddox (who was made of baby wipes).  Then they traded Murcer, and I would posit they have dealt with some measure of OF instability most years since - and mostly because they stopped growing their own.

And that brings us to last week's draft.  The Yankees -- for the Yankees -- picked a lot of outfielders.  In fact they picked 10, a full 25% of their total haul.   Let's take a look.

1. Blake Rutherford: This is a must sign guy and a possible star.  I like to try to contextualize these guys in Yanke history, so left handed bat with speed and power, you've Bobby Murcer and Charlie Keller, both of whom but up HoF seasons in their careers, though Bobby's fell prey to the stadium moves and the banishment to the NL.  King Kong Keller played at a Hall of Fame level for his entire career, but it was interrupted by WWII and a back injury.  But those are the great homegrown lefy OF's.

5. Dom Thompson-Williams: This is another left hitter.  He did some time in Juco before joining South Carolina for a year.  This fast twitch athlete who runs a legit 4.4. 40.  The questions with this guy are about his bat consistency, and he'll be the latest challenge for Gary Denbo and his new development team.

14.  Jordan Scott: This one of three mystery men in this draft.  The mystery about this 19 year old is how, after accepting a scholarship with West Virginia as a high schoo senior, did he end up at IMG Academy for a year?  Still don't know, but the kid is really intriguing.  He's a switch-hitter with power and speed.  There's also some confusion over whether he has already signed or not. I have a feeling he's in Tampa and will sign when some other stuff has worked out.  This is a kid who could grow up with Blake and create two thirds of a future OF.

19. Evan Alexander: This is another 19 year old prep and lefty swinging CF.  He's from Hebron HS, and only has a commit to Hill College that needs to be broken.  Probably doable, and I still need to hear more about him,

21. Timothy Robinson: College senior and CF from USC. 6'1" and 225, and said to have power, but I'm not sure the numbers are showing it yet.  We'll probably see it or not at Staten Island.

24: Joe Burton: JuCo and the second mystery man.  Righty swatter. This guy is a runaway train at 6'4 and 240, stole 23 out of 24 bases this year which is startling unless all of the 2B's were just bailing as they saw him coming.  He's played LF before but his fielding there is rumored to be primitive.  He crushes baseballs, though and let's hope he signs.

25: Edel Luaces: The final mystery man.  He went to no school this year, and is 6'5 and 205 and listed as another right handed hitter.  The story's not out on him yet, but it should be a good one.  Here's hoping he's a an athletic freak of some sort.

30: Ben Ruta: This is another speed guy.  Don't know where he'd finish in a race with DTW, but that's his big tool.  He's also a bats right, throws left guy.  That used to be called "cross coordinated" in baseball parlance and was a desirable trait.

33. Bryson Bowman:  This, I think, might be our senior signing ringer.  This cat raked in college power and patience, and I love to see these kind of bats enter the system.  Hopefully, we'll see him slugging for SI in a few weeks.

37: Corey Dempster: The junior CF from USC.  This is yet another speed guy, finally had a break out season as a junior.  He'll probably sign, because he's not going to be a top 5 round pick as a senior so this is probably his last best chance of getting paid.

So that's pretty much what they did, also there's word the Dalton Blaser will play OF rather than 1B as a Yankee, so maybe they spent 11 picks.   In all they got a ton of upside, some now power, and a bunch of speed.   It would be a really, really great thing if Blake isn't the only top Yankee prospect to come out of this cluster.  In the last 25 or so years only Bernie and Gardy have come from the  farm and taken long term jobs in the OF, and that's ridiculous for a team that used to mass produce them.  Let's hope this draft, along with guys like Florial eventually stabilizes the situation and makes the Yanks less market dependant.  Still sick to my stomach over the Beltran and Ellsbury deals

Yanks Promote Chance Adams to AA

Chance's name has been mentioned around here a bunch lately, and today he was deservedly promoted to AA.  Chance had a tough start or two to start the year at A+ but over the last 5 or 6 weeks he's been a machine of utter dominance.  This could also mean that Acevedo will be moving to high A, as he is mocking the Sally.  Or it could mean that Kaprielian is ready to come back.  In any event, it's good news and a great development story in the making.

One thing we will see, that I hate about every June, will be the releases of former picks and org guys after the and as the draft picks are signing.

But congrats to Chance, and the Scouts who found him.

UPDATE: Domingo Acevedo got promoted to High A.  So they both moved up a level and congrats to Domingo, too.

SECOND UPDATE: Miguel Andujar was also promoted to AA.

Yanks: The Gurriel Situation

Today, Yulieski Gurriel became a free agent and will begin workouts soon with the idea of signing somewhere by August 1. Yuli can play second, third and outfield, and is thought to compare to Jeff Kent as a hitter, though he's said to be a more flexible and athletic defender.  And that's not the only reason the Yanks who have been trotting out a vastly dimished Chase Headly for the past year and a half should be interested.  It's Yuli's 22 year old brother that should make this a no brainer for the Yankees.  Lourdes Gurriel is a Shortstop and OF, who can also really hit.  He hasn't been cleared yet, but if he is cleared before turning 23 in October, he's unlikely to sign because he doesn't want pool money if he can get FA money on his 23rd birthday.

In fact, Lourdes could turn 23 during the Yankee offseason and if he is a real SS, they could sign him and have the entire offseason to trade DiDi.

So, if these guys really are what the scouts believe they are, they shouldn't let what they have block them from signing them.  And they should especially jump on Yuli if he'll be the key to Lourdes.   Yanks don't get as many shots at comensation other than money guys anymore.  That's largely because of Hal's Cuban Embargo.  But these guys could upgrad the roster, without costing picks or minor leaguers.  Why not?

Yanks Post Draft Stuff Pt.1

First off,  it's Monday and I still can't believe the Yanks got Blake Rutherford. This was just an amazing turn of events.  If they get him in, which I believe is fully expected, he'll be their best first rounder since Jeter.  And he literally should have gone no lower than #6 where Jeter was picked.  As I've mentioned there are a bunch of people out here who think Blake is better than Moniak and has been great for a longer period of time.  What's more vitrtually everyone will concede Blake is the better hitter. And Moniak went first overall.   This is just a delightful stroke of luck.  Gerrit Cole, who they were willing to back up the truck for under the old rules, had a chance to be that next elite pick, but alas.  Signing Blake will change the system, and has to be done.  Btw, I don't think they've found the right comps for this kid yet.

In other good news, the college guys seem to be rushing to Tampa to take their physicals and sign.  Notably, Nick Nelson of the nice projection has already signed.  He's been a two way player in college, and they expect his plus stuff to really play up now that he'll be a pitcher only.

I'll have some more draft stuff as the week and weeks move on, but if you're a Yankee fan, you should be thanking your lucky stars, they got Blake.

This Week on the Blog

Alright, Yanks have finished their draft, the Giants have finished their OTA, the Knicks'and Ranger's Leagues are about to be open for business.  So what does it all mean.

Yanks: The Yanks concluded a year or more's worth of scouting by picking 40 players. In fact, Blake Rutherford mentioned the Yanks have been scouting him since 8th grade.  Now it's time to start signing them. On the big team, they've been winning a little more and that's largely becaue CC Sabathia has reinvented himself into something different that also, so far, is producing ace-like results.  We saw Frank Tannana go from power lefty to tricky lefty after his injuries, so it can be done. We'll have to see if the league catches up. I'm hoping he continues to dominate.

Giants: The Giants wrapped up their OTA's on Friday, and the mandatory mini-camp starts will take place this week. Victor Cruz wants to practice. If he can, that will be a great sign.  Beckham, Shepard and Cruz truly is checkmate.

Knicks: The Knicks to mass consternation re-hired Kurt Rambis as a Hornacek assistant.  Well, Horny still has to hire the rest of his staff, and the Knicks have reportedly been working out draftable players with the idea that they will get into the draft by June 23.  Oh and their could be a free agent or two, and the rumors should start flying as soon as the finals end.

Rangers:  The NHL finals could end today.  And as soon as that happens, the Rangers will start showing us their plans, they are currently caught between a cap place and an expansion draft place.  So this will be a very tricky offseason, and a lot could go wrong if they're not careful.

Have a great week!