This Week on the Blog

This week has seen the Yanks run out a house money lineup that was abolutely Girardian in an embarrassing loss, then turn around a punch Boston right in the face. The Rangers ran their prospect cap. The Knicks announced their Vegas lineup, and the Giants were more or less distracted to something involving somebody's relative. More stuff coming right up this week, let's take a look.

Yankees: The Yanks will continue to slug it out with the Sox this weekend. Today's game has a terrible SP matchup, but, you never know in these games. The big news this week will come Monday, when the Yanks begin to introduce their 2018 IFA class. They've consistently been associated with Cuban RHP Osiel Rodriguez, and he's been throwing 96 at 16, which is nice, but we'll see what else they've got. HC17 has been going strong in short season, and it will be interesting to see if the Yanks again make trades for more IFA room.

Giants: the Giants are still on break, but they have attended all the pro-days for the the Supplemental Draft prospets. I'm hoping they'll take a run at CB Sam Beal during same.

Knicks: NBA free agency opens tomorrow, but then they have to week long accounting period or whatever before anything becomes official. Perry has said the Knicks would not be doing anyting big, and I believe him  They are currently under the cap and have all of their exceptions. Also, if something comes up, they can always stretch Noah.

Rangers: Likewise, NHL Free Agency opens tomorrow, and the John Tavares decision as well as some possible big target trades, seem to have slowed things down for the Rangers. Tavares is supposed to announce today, and might even have announced while I've been doing this.  In the meantime, the Rangers have a bunch of RFA's they have to deal with, including Skjei. Coming out of the draft it seemed like they had a trade or two linedup for their current RFA's, but again, it's been slowed by the uncertainty at the top of the market.  The prospects have now taken off, and we'll see who's on the Traverse City roster by the end of Summer.

So there it is, Yanks/Sox and an unveiling, Giants doing due dilligence. And the Knicks and Rangers look like they'll be pretty far under the radar in free agency, but neither is cap strapped.  Have a great one, people.

CC Deals

CC Sabathia threw 7 innings of 1 run ball.  Bird homered twice.  Judge homered. Andujar was 3-4 with a homer, and Gleyber lead off the second inning with his first career triple and started the scoring.  Yanks roll 8-1.

Knicks Stuff

Lot's of Knicks news. Enes Kanter has opted back in for the 2018-19 season. While this might be because he had no other suitors this year, if he doesn't finally play defense for Coach Fiz, he won't have any suitors next year. This could be the last money he ever makes in America.

In the bigger news, the Knicks unveiled their Vegas Summer League team, and it could actually win a game or two.  Let's take a look.

First of all, both of this year's draft picks and last year's draft picks are on the roster. It will be fun to watch the bigger stronger Frank get the ball to the ever improving Kevin Knox, and the ever dunking and ever mysterious Mitchell Robinson. Damyean Dotson could have his hands full fending off Allonzo Trier, who's shorter but stouter and seems more aggressive.

Luke Kornet will be there, launching 3's and worrying about Mitchell. Troy Williams is also on the team and will either back up Knox, or start for him, if they want to take it slow or make him earn it. Isaiah Hicks will also be there. Lot of long guys who can run so far - other than Trier.

Other interesting names include Juwan Howard Jr. who's been playing in Europe, and Big Guard Michael Gbinjie, formerly of Syracuse, who played for Santa Cruz in the G-League last year.  The rest of the squad is comprised of last year's G-League Knicks, none of whom were good enough to make last year's awful team.

Mike Miller, last year's G League coach of the year will be coaching the Knicks, and maybe should have gotten a more serious look at the big job when they were looking. That said, let's hope they can keep him in the organization, as he's a good coach.

Yanks Calling Up Brandon Drury

Tyler Austin has a back, and Clint Frazier hasn't been down 10 days, so the Yanks will lose a year of control by calling up Brandon Drury.  This speaks to depth, and it gives them another righty bat off the bench as Boston will possibly start 3 lefties. Tough to lose a year of control so close to trade season.

UPDATE: Freicer Perez, the big righty strike thrower is gone for the year with unspecified surgery.

Ryder Green Homers

Yanks overslot 3rd round prep slugger, Ryder Green, just hit a 3 run jack for the GCL East Yanks. This is only his second or third game.  On the West side,  Cabello has hit another homer.  Great to see the teenagers coming right in and producing.

In other new Yankee news, Pita and Pastuer finally signed.  Pita could be this year's Sensley, and Pasteur was listed as a P when drafted but the Yanks really took him as another speedy CF.

Steven Sensely Promoted to Tampa

One of the relatively few Yankee prospects with left handed patience and pop, Steven Sensely has made it to high A in his second pro season.  He was drafted last year in what's looking more and more like a huge haul for both sides of the amateur scouting department.  Could see more promotions in the next week or so.  A bunch of kids are, currently blocked, though.

Johnny Lasagna Wins Again!

Loaisiga was perfecto into the 4th or fith, then hitless into the 6th before giving up a single, but not runs. This is second scoreless out in his first three outings and Joe West was screwing with him all night.  Aaron Judge homered and playest catch with a little kid, which is why he's probably our best right fielder since Babe Ruth. Giancarlo is also coming around.  Beyond that the NL is for morons.

Sanchez Out and a New Nightmare Scenario Arises

So The Sanchino is out for a month.  Again. And he won't be back till around the deadline. Higgy's been called up but his arm never came back from TJS.  Given consistent at bats he will outhit Romine, but I doubt he gets the chance. I think instead a possibility they will explore is the idea of adding Russel Martin to the JA Happ price with Toronto. Maybe I'm just bummed about Gary, but that's what went through my head when they said a month.  I hate trading for old players.

Rangers Draft Review Part Two

In the day and a half since the draft ended, grades have come out as high as A and as low as D. And I think it's all foolishness. I'll talk about 2 different issues here. I think most of the mock draft creator spend a lot of time stacking the North American,  Major Junior, USHL, NCAA kids and then, and only then, to they try to see which international players they are capable of sliding between players they've already ranked. And I don't think that serves the players or the teams. Or projects the reality that will take place on Draft Night. I do think NHL teams like the Rangers and other organizations with unlimited draft budgets start with a more inclusive list.  Meaning their first top 10 will be more of a true ranking than someone who's making a mock and hasn't looked at the international players with the same gusto as a big time pro team can and must. I suppose there still are a few teams that run on a tight budget and who skimp on international scouting.  They'll be the ones taking all NA players or all OHL kids or something. It's foolishness and reflects a heavy and limiting bias.

The other thing is the idead of a short board. I first saw this term applied to Bill Belichick who claims to go into drafts with very specific and shorter boards than other teams, like the Giants, for example, use.  The Giants have a scouting report on everyone by the time the draft goes on. Belichick doesn't.  And I think the Rangers sort of followed Belichickian model. I say this because they were only looking for speed, skill and character, and that particular trifecta doesn't apply to everyone. I also think this because both Gordie and Gorton mentioned a list after the first night of the draft, not an exhaustive database, a list.  So it didn't seem all inclusive and made it seem like there were lots of players they just weren't interested in.  We'll see how this works out, but I do think it was a short board.

Btw, at the end of the Giants pre-draft mini-camp Coach Shurmur said he was going into the draft with a list of guys he wanted. And the Giants seem to have had a very successful draft.  Picking second in every round helps.

Prospect Camp Starts Tomorrow

I was wondering when the Ranger Prospect Camp was starting and it's tomorrow!    The list of attendees is my phone so, I'm going to have to do this the sort of long way.  All ten of this weekend's prospects will be there.  Can't wait till we see them skate.   Alright here's the roster.

Goalies

Alexander Georgiev
Adam Huska
Olof Lindbom
Tyler Wall

Defense

Alex Basso
Sean Day
Nico Gross
Libor Hajek
Joey Keane
Simon Kjellberg
Ryan Lindgren
Nils Lundkvist
K'Andre Miller
Tyler Nanne (also listed as a right wing)
Brogan Rafferty
Jacob Ragnarsson
Calle Sjalin
Josh Teves

Centers

Lias Andersson
Morgan Barron
Filip Chytil
Gabriel Fontaine
Brett Hancock
Kevin Howden
Dylan McLaughlin

Forwards

Mason Bergh
Tim Gettinger
Riley Hughes
Vitali Kravstov
Dawson Leedahl
Michael Lindqvist
Drew Melanson
Josh Melnick
Ville Meskanen
Lauri Pajuniemi
Ty Ronning

Most of these guys are former draft picks or prospects the Rangers picked up in the Big Sell Off.  Like every year there are a few tryout players, a couple from big time NCAA programs.  They are Mason Bergh, who is from Colorado College. Drew Melanson from Boston University - at least one of Quinn's former charges came with.  Josh Melnick is from Miami of Ohio. Brogan Rafferty is from Qunnipiac (which is a great program) and Josh Teves is from Princeton.

Unusually or, perhaps, revolutionary, only one tryout is coming from for the OHL, that's Kevin Hancock, from the Owen Sound Attack. The Rangers used to typically bring in more major junior kids and would sometimes end up singing them

Missing in action are 2016 pick Tarmo Reunanen, the skills Finish D they drafted 2 years ago, and F Robin Kovacs from the 2015 draft who left last year, and I guess is never coming back.

I wonder if the new draft picks will skate circles around them.  Also, I wonder who's running it, since the assistant coaches haven't been hired yet.  Maybe Quinn and Schoeny.

This Week on the Blog

Alright, the Yanks finished the week in the tank, but guys are breaking out down on the farm. The Giants are off for another 4+ weeks so the beats are recycling OBJ holdout stories.  The Knicks and Rangers went unicorn hunting and may have found some. Let's take a look at this week.

Yankees: At the very end of this week, 7/2, the Yanks will announce their initial 2018 IFA class.  There could be pitchers at the top of it.  Last year's kids like Everson Pereira are already homering.  So it's always an interesting day. I know we are all bracing for a trade, and it wouldn't surprise me if it came sooner than later, the roster is a little problematic because, for example, Drury should be up, but there's no place to play him.  And I don't know what the plan is for Clint Frazier, but the Yanks O has been awful over the last 2 games and 8 innings and they're not letting Clint get in there. Anyway, I thought the Jays moving Snell from today to tomorrow might have implied that that's the trade we're close on. Who knows?  Just brace yourselves.

Giants: The Giants were at the pro-day for VaTech CB Adonis Alexander and are presumably also interested in Sam Beal. Beyond that, they may be working on OBJ's extension or they might let that go until camp.  So no real news, but I'm sure we all continue to wish Dave G a speedy and full recovery.

Knicks: The Knicks are getting interesting. They absolutely made the right move passing on Porter for Knox. Porter might not even play this year, and Knox is improving in the same ways that KAT did when he got out of Kentucky.  And the Knicks might have also gotten a second Lottery type talent when they took star crossed C Mitchell Robinson in the second round. If these guys hit their ceilings, the Knicks will be vastly improved. Oh, and KP called them.

Something interesting that is going on, that I didn't know the players union even allowed, is that a bunch of the Knicks are already practicing with Coach Fizdale in Westchester, and Knox and Robinson are expected to join them right away.  Oh, and while we weren't looking the Knicks hired all of their assistant coaches.  They are Keith Smart, Pat Sullivan, Jud Beuchler and Royal Ivey. So they're probable up in Westchester, too. Fizdale talking about how they now had good player development people, I don't know who those people are, but it would be a very good thing if it's true. Interesting time for the Knicks,

And free agency and trading all starts this week.

Rangers:  The Rangers perplexed both fans and pundits over this weekends draft. But if you watched their pre-draft videos, they talked about skating, skil and character, and they took iterations of all three of those values, throughout their nine non goalie picks. They weren't looking for McIlrath type, nor even an Andersson type necessarily.  They took a lot of kids who'd played against men. Now, I don't know if that was just happenstance of where the picks were, or if that, like International Play is something they now seek.

Just as the Knicks surprised people by taking taking Kevin Knox over injured Michael Porter Jr.,  the Ranger challenged the orthodoxt by taking Vitali Kravtsov over big time scorer Oliver Wahlstrom whom the Islanders grabbed a few picks later - the Islanders. Kravstov seems more freakishly talented on tape, and his highlights are all against men. Wahlstrom has great tape, too, and tons of production, but that was all against other kids. I don't know how they squared this, but the Rangers apparently squared in Kravstov's favor months ago. He was playing in the KHL as a 16 or 17 year old, which I don't think Buch or any of our other Russian players have done. He might end up being like OBJ or Aaron Judge, where people will wonder how he fell to nine. I hope they don't start him out on the third or fourth line.  Btw, let's call him VK.

Also, I think their annual Prospect Camp is starting any day now, and Chytil will be there, so I'd like to see them play together to see if it's a thing.

Also the Rangers will either start signing their RFA's or trading them this week. A couple of years ago they traded Brassard on the eve of free agency.  We'll see if something like that happens again.

Also, on June 30 assistants with other teams will be free to move to the Rangers and that seems like something they've been waiting on.

So there it is, a player development and player acquisition week.  No bad trades please, and enjoy it people.

Rangers Draft Review: Part One

We've pretty thoroughtly looked at the three kids they took in the first round last night, and sort of took snap shots of today's picks as they were being made. One thing is very clear, the Rangers, this year, were not as impressed with the North American skaters as they were when they were putting together the last core. D'Andre Miller is a American Unicorn and future #1 defenseman, but he was sandwiched between two Euros, and they only took 3 other Americans, two of whom Jacob Ragnarssson and Simon Kjellberg are playing in Sweden. The only other NA taken who's playing in America was Riley Hughes, the kid they traded back into the draft to get.

This shouldn't surprise us because the Junior National Teams from USA and Canada have been joined at the top of the mountain by Sweden, Russia, and sometimes Finland.  When asked why Gordie was taking Americans over Canadians years ago, he answered that American kids kept beating the Canadians.  Anyway, some of the confusion that fans were feeling today was a reflection of the North American bias that is always reflected in the annual prospect rankings. Having said that, they did realize that ther was no modern version of Lady Sid at the top of the heap this year - there was Swedish D Rasmus Dahlin.  Then came the usual passel of North American Major Junior and College Prospects that were getting examined to death. They weren't interested, or perhaps, analytically capable of slotting in Vitali Kravtsov who had been busy playing against men and not other boys.

The Islander took two classic and very good North American propsects with their back to back picks and were roundly applauded.  But they were only able to do so because teams like the Rangers and Canadiens went for skillsy, talented Euros that they were willing to take over the NA kids.

Another thing that went on last night was that C's were not in big supply this year, and not a lot had true first round value like they do most years. The Rangers were lucky enough to grab two last year when they were in more abundant supply. But teams that didn't starting with the Canadiens were reaching all over for C's and that really helped the Rangers, who were already sitting on Chytil, Andersson and Howden as C prospects. So be glad they weren't elevating flawed C's.

After the draft, which was also a bad G draft, Gorton said that the Rangers had Oscar Lindblom as the best goalie in the draft by about a mile. He further rang the same bell I did earlier about the Rangers ability to both develop and trade goalies.  It was surprising, but nothing to freak out about given that there are only 3 position groups. They took one G and 9 skaters.  It was fine.

As we've been taking about,  Gorton was serious when he observed the way the game was going back to skill and skating.  So that's what the Rangers were looking for, plus they made character a co-equal measure, so they weren't going to take Bode Wilde today instead of the goalie, because he had off ice stuff. Plus every metric showed him to be not as good as Miller. So people who were bent about that, and there were plenty, just weren't looking at things through the same prism that the Rangers were using.

So, in general it was good draft for skillsy S's, a not as good draft for skillsy F's, and a bad draft for C's and G's though the Rangers believe they got the best G.

We'll talk more later.  Not sure anyone is reading the hockey stuff, but when the Yanks lost again, I had to start this.

Ranger Take Prep RW Riley Huges at 216

The Rangers traded back into the draft and acquired to the second to last pick. There they took RW Riley Hughes out of the St. Sebastians School in MA.  He's a Northeastern commit. Good skate, good vision and good hands.  This could mean a couple of things.  First, he's from Needham, MA, and Coach Quinn might have been trying to recruit him to BU. Second, the whole Ranger Boston crew could know his Dad who's an agent. Finally, it could indicate that the Rangers were working from a short board, and when they saw one of their guys was still available, they felt he was worth dipping back in and securing. Interesting move.  I tend to think it could be part ringer, part short board which I will discuss later, but essentially it means that while many teams had 7 rounds worth of player Rankings, the Rangers didn't find 7 rounds of worthy players and didn't bother with the various name players in whom they had no conviction.

Rangers Take D Simon Kjellberg at 163

Rangers finished up their draft (unless there's a trade) by taking 6'3" 190 pound Nashville born D Simon Kjellberg.  Apparently not finding enough game in Music City Simon went to Sweden and has been playing in the Swedish Junior League. Curious and I'm sure we'll get it straightened out. Second biggest D they drafted and I'm sure we'll learn he is another high character, skillsy speedster. I doubt they're trading back in.  Going to take a break for awhile.

I think we will see RFA trades starting in the next few days.

Rangers Take F Lauri Pajuniemi at 134

Rangers just took another overager, Finnish forward Lauri Pajuniemi was eligible last year but I guess he wasn't picked.  Lauri is 5'10 and yet another great skater with a lethal shot. I think the Rangers took some Fins a few years ago, and I wonder where they went. This might not be as exciting as everyone expected when the extra picks were acquired, but they are going for great skaters and skill and that's a great way to go.

Rangers Take Swiss D Nico Gross at 101

Here endeth the 2018 Ranger Draft Bonanza.  They started with 8 picks in the top 101 but made only 7 after the trade up for Miller.  Gross is interesting and made the Swiss 20 and under team as a 16 year old. Gross is a great skater who was loaned to the Oshawa Generals of the OHL, but who's top 50 draft status was derailed by a bout of mono.  Poor kid.  Anyway, the Rangers are getting a great price on one of the better Swiss D's to ever come along. Defense first at this point, physical at 6'1" 183.  Loves the corners. Bet this is the Rangers most popular Day 2 pick on Twitter.  Let me check.

Rangers Take D Joey Keane at 88

This picture is from blogofthebrotherhood.com. This is fair use.  Anyway Joey is an overager with a 1999 birth year.  He's obviously a right handed shot and has played a mature defense first game since he was 16.  I'm sure we'll find he's a great skater. A little surprised they haven't hit forward again, but they did hire a defenseman as their new coach. Twitter has been upset at the Rangers all day. I'll wait to hear from them.

Rangers take D Jacob Ragnarsson at 70

Okay, the Rangers have now taken three Swedes in a row. This guy is a left shot and 6' 170, so I expect he's skillsy and can skate. I wounder if any of these Swedes were on the team when Lias Andersson roofed his silver medal in disgust. The Rangers pick again at 88, then they have 101 and I hope they keep swinging for the fences.

UPDATE this kid is the son of former Shark Marcus Ragnarsson and was born in California.  At one point this year he was the third highest scoring 18 and under kid in his league and he's a defender. Sleeper with bloodlines and production. What's not to love?

Rangers Take G Olof Linbom at 39

This one puzzles me. While the Rangers were busy trading picks and chasing Cups, they did manage to create a strong goalie program with a bunch of strong goalie prospects.  My guess here is that he Olof reminds them of Hank. I thought they'd go forward here, and would not have minded if they still had 2 2nds and took a goalie, but I was thinking that was a position the Rangers didn't need to service this Draft. He's the first goalie taken, btw, but was listed as only the 5th rated European goalie. Though that generally hasn't meant anything.  If he develops he'll either be the next starter or trade gold. We'll see.  Need more goals.

Rangers Day One Review

Strangely both images loaded.  Anyway, I was trying to wait till we got the full Gordie on these guys, but looking around I've picked up enought to see what's up. Okay, in a video that was made before the draft but posted during the draft Gorton said every player they take will have speed, skill and character.  So he wasn't joking months ago when he mentioned how he thought the game was changing.  Wathching, you really understood the picks, fast, skillsy and grea kids, all three of them.  With the first pick the Rangers took Russian Wunderkind Vitali Kravtsov. He broke out in the KHL playoffs and has been playing in the men's league since he was 17. Not sure Buch was at 17.  Anyway, apparently Gordie said, in the presser that hasn't been posted that they had Vitali as the second best forward in the draft. That implies that their trade up talks with Montreal were for Vitali. I Also turns out that Vitali is qualified to buy out his KHL contract if he makes the team out of camp, and there's every reason to believe he will.  So the Rangers get an elite talent who might help as soon as this year at 9.  He's big, he's fast and he has great hands.  This is great.

Later in the first the Rangers traded up from 26 to 22 to take D K'Andre Miller, from the USA U18 team. This is another size, speed beast. Not sure who is faster, but K'Andre is now listed at 6'4" and 204.  In commenting on him the Ranger scouts who watched his games said because they had they weren't surprised with what he did at the combine, which was blow it up. Miller took a year off from hockey to just develop his skating at one point, and will head to Wisconsin to grow his game for awhile. Worked for McD and Step. Just another great pick, and I'm not bent that they sent the second of their seconds tomorrow to move up. I think they're getting more, once they make some trades.  This is another big, fast kid with huge upside.

Finally, they stayed at 28 and another favorite skater, slid their way in Swedish RHD Nils Lundkvist. He's not as big as the other two, but he is fast and skillsy and I get the feeling they didn't think he'd make it to 28. The Rangers really need more RHD's so it was good that they got one who can skate.  In some of this tape he looks a little Leetchy.  Hmm.

So there it is. They didn't make any moves involving roster players today, but I think they might tomorrow, which is not to say that they will sell Hayes for a 2 but a 2 might be part of the package cost of getting Hayes. Perhaps the mallest part.  We'll see what happens. Gorton said they still had a bunch of names on their list.  So tomorrow should be fun.

Good first round, by which I mean, good first day.

Rangers Take D Nils Lundkvist at 28

Here they finally get a right handed defenseman.  Nils is currently 5'11" and 180, and another great skater. Also, another helium guy who really flew up the charts this year. First round is about to end, and we'll recap either tonight of before it cranks back up.

Rangers Trade Up to 22 for D K'Andre Miller

Love this move.  Rangers had to give up picks 26 and 48 (their second second rounder.   Anyway, 2 years ago K'Andre, who's from Minnesota and the US Development Program, was a forward.  He volunteered to play D and has become a lockdown, nasty defender.  He's scheduled to go to Wisconsin next year. He comes from really tough circumstances, where he and his single mom had to find ways to keep his expensive hockey career going. Now look where he is. He's thought to have offensive upside, but used the past two years to become a stay at home guy and master the craft.  Great pick.  Still have pick 28.

I should mention that he is 6'4" and 200, and blew up the Combine, like Kreider and McDonagh.

Rangers Go Off the Board at 9 with Vitali Kravstov

This guy had helium from his 2nd KHL Season, and flew all the way up the draft board to 9.  He's big, fast and creative and I suspect that Gorton was serious about the game getting skillsier. Let's hope he's better than Oliver Wahlstrom, who is now still on the board at 11.  After Hughes was gone, I wasn't interested in any of the D's at 9, but was thinking Wahlstrom. Various reports have him as 6'2 or 6'4" but they all agree he's 18  His heat comes from blowing up in the KHL postseason where he set a league record for 19 and under. Defensively responsible and Huge ceiling and a future first liner.

This guy is a great skater and can back a defense off with his explosive first strides. We'll have to see if he comes over right away, hopefully Buch has his digits. We should excited about this guy and it will help immensely if he is clearly better than Wahlstrom, whom the Islanders took at 11.

UPDATE: Kravstov has 1 year left on his KHL contract. Perhaps something can be done about that.

Knicks Draft Review

The Knicks did what they said they'd do at the end of the season when they added Kentucky Wing Wonder Kevin Knox at pick number 9. They had a choice of a few different wings but Knox is the one who has kept on working and improving - and showing up - in this predraft process.  The only other wing available in Knox's talent univers was Michael Porter Jr. and he couldn't work out.  Already having had one back surgery in HS it keeps cropping up. That's a huge red flag, and made it easy for the Knicks to pass on the young man. I hope he reads Dr. Sarno's book, and follows the easy instructions. In Knox, the Knicks get a gifted shooter/scorer with great hands and improving handles. He is athletic enough to become a good defender and looked like he was on his way before the year at Kentucky. I know a lot of people are comparting him to Paul George, and that would be a great path to model, I think he'll be more like the KAT of 3's. That is, a kid who played on an all-start team in Kentucky, then will show a more gifted player without it. We could still end up with Paul George 2, and that would be great.  Fizdale told him he was a "mismatch."

In the second, the Knicks may have found their defensive ringer. Mitchell Robinson is sort of the anti-Enes Kanter and blocked 6 shots a game in HS. His offense is sort of primitive but effiicient.  He was 7 for 9 in the McDonald's All America game, back before he became a dropout and spent the year working on his own with a pro-trainer and his Godfather, Shammond Williams, whom you might remember played for Dean Smith. Dean Smith was the best man most of the guys he played for, and perhaps most of the people he met, ever met.  So, Williams, who left an assistant coaching job at WK when Mitchell left, probable had some good lessons for the kid. Having missed a season, it wouldn't be shocking if he spent some time in the D League.  But let's see how he looks in Vegas, first.

Right after the draft, the Knicks signed Arizona Junior G Alonzo Trier to a two way deal. Trier is a physical scoring guy and Dotson will have his hands full on the depth chart. Savvy signing.

Given their lack of picks and position, I think the Knicks did a really good job last night.

Rangers Draft Day

Knicks were fun.  The Rangers with 10 picks, as of now, should be more fun.  They have three first rounders today, 9, 26 and 28. Then they have 2 2nds, and 2 3rds. That's 7 in the top 100.  I still think they might move up, but I also think they could stay put and get someone like Oliver Wahlstrom which would great.  I hope whomever they get can really skate. The guys they've taken who haven't really made it have had skating questions like Gropp.  Let's stick with the skating model tonight.

UPDATE: Gorton has said he intends to use all 3 picks, but they are all in play. One thing I am concerned with is that Gorton said at the end  of the season that the league was getting skillsier.  So what I really don't want to see them do is take a slow footed Evan Bouchard, who, though super productive for a D, is not fleet of foot and could become a speed cone in the game as it evolves back to skill over power. And people keep mocking him to the Rangers. What's more, I hope if they do trade up it's for goals, and uses roster pieces and not bundles of picks.

The Tkachuk Factor: Brooksy thinks if he falls past five the Rangers could pounce.  And earlier, I listened to a Quinn interview where he said Tkcachuk would be a goal scorer at the NHL level. Oddly, he looked like one for Team USA, but not as much of one for Quinn at BU.

Would still prefer Wahlstrom if he's there at nine.

Knicks Have a Deal With Alonzo Trier

AT is a a long 6'5" G from AZ.  Was considered a huge sleeper in this draft.  He slept right through it and the Knicks grabbed him right after the draft.

Knicks Take Mitchell Robinson in 2

This kid is either 6'11 or 7' and 225 and can run the floor.  Not sure he played college hoops but many expected him to go in One. Can run the floor like a 3, but can defend and finish.  About what I wanted here.

Knicks Take Kevin Knox!

Alright, they resisted taking the safe pick in Mikal Bridges - with KP out for awhile - and the Knicks in need of a 2-3-5 before picking what is ideally a 6.  Porter could not work out for them, and the health was too much of a risk.  Instead, they took a long, athletic frosh, who can score and reboud and was a high school at AAU defender.  Knox has massive upside as a second star for the Knicks with KP.  A 3 to his 4 or a long to his long in a positionless offense.  Sexton wasn't there to create a conflict in me,  I wanted Knox in this case, and so did the Knicks.  We haven't really had a long, lean scorer - unless you consider KP more that than pure unicorn.  Knox has great hands and feet.  And any Knick fan who doesn't get this, doesn't get much. This is a great pick.

Btw, let me remind you that the Knicks had Knox and Miles Bridges in at the same time and  had them duel it out. What do you think the result was?

Knicks Draft Day

Okay, the big day is finally here.  This is the day where we, as long suffering, but emminently rational Knicks fans must hope we find another piece of a championship core.  Someone who will play D, and the hit the open man or hit it when he is the open man on O.  I think the Knicks are safe at 9 and there will be players that that can dispatch the role of new core, with Mikal Bridges being the safest pick of all, but not necessarily core. I think he could be a great 6th man, but we're not at that phase of our team building process.  If they move up for Bomba, he's probably core. He plays hard and would, along with KP (who is jumping off of boats with his gf right now) would help the Knicks match up better with Philly, who look to be good for the near and mid-term.  Same with Doncic, who would be amazing in a ball share O with KP and Frank. Kevin Knox at 9 would give the Knicks another true scoring threat who is long and athletic enough to play D, like he did before his year at Kentucky. Sexton plays hard D already and would give the young Knicks an in your face, take it to the hole or dish it, leader. Reminds me of Westrbook at UCLA. I don''t think Carter will be there. Would be nice to get something usefull in the second, 2.

What we can't do is take another player in the THjr useful, but not core mold, if we stay at 9 or move up.

Stanton Walks Us Off

I think we just had the moment we've been waiting for since last November.  I declare the floodgates open -- so let's get this show on the road!

Knicks Draft - Night Before

Alright, there are rumors afloat that the Knicks are trading up for Mo Bomba. They'd have to take back Parsons contract, but maybe they are into buidling throug the draft and savvy trades rather than doing what the did in 2010, spend years making room for two starts, and only getting their third choice. Maybe they've learned. Maybe they haven't.  We'll probably hear more rumors about the Knicks and target by the time the Draft starts tomorrow night.  Let's talk about them here.

UPDATE: Kyle O'Quinn has opted out.

Giants Announce More Changes

So our hopefully swiftly recovering GM announced some executive and scouting changes today. The biggest of which, Kevin Abrams to VP - probably sets the succession order for our next GM whenever Dave takes his stories to the radio full time.  Kevin has kept our cap shining since coming aboard and has learned the football biz from some of the best while he's been at it. Mark Koncz was made Director of Player Personnel.  Dave brought him over before the draft, as an advisor, and for a hot minute, when Chris Pettit was named Director of College Scouting, it looked like Koncz would be out, but he's not.  They also did some scout re-organizing, and named Jessie Armstead as special assistant to Dave G.  Those of you who don't like it when the Giants execs come from ownership might not like it that Charles Tisch is a football operations assistant, but he's a bright guy and they didn't start him at the top.

You had to know more changes were coming and at least they got through all the draft stuff and free agency stuff before announcing the changes.

The Pulaski Yankees

This is a really interesing squad.  When all is said and done this year, this roster could easily contain 3 of the Yanks top 10 prospects, perhaps even top, depending on what they do here and what the Yanks do at the deadline. But the squad is also like the Island of Unwanted Toys.  I'll show you.

Catchers

Saul Torres
Carlos Narvaez
Carlos Gallardo.

Pulaski is only showing three catchers, right now and the other teams both had four.  Perhaps they are keeping a spot open for Breaux, in which case, he'd start getting the most reps.  Saul Torres in 19 and has some upside, but I think they've expected more bat than he's shown so far. The Two Carlos Theory has been similarly challenged, whoever becomes a hitter first will get to advance.  The 2 C's are 20 and 21 respectively,  actually Narvaez won't be 20 till after the season, but Gallardo needs to show some progress.

Infielders

Daniel Barrios 3B
Ezekial Duran 2B
Nelson Gomez 3B
David Metzger 3B
Oswald Peraza SS
Carlos Tatis 1B

Ezekial Duran, who is suddenly being listed as a 2B, but was previously haled as a shortstop, is the elite prospect in the infield. He lost a pro year or 6 months or whatever to registration issues, so he's been 19 for almost a month, but experience wise, one would expect him to be in the GCL, not here. But he's been putting up Judgian Exit Velo at just 5'11" 175 (that's according to MiLB.com, I suspect he's bigger, now).  Peraza just turned 18, and is part of the IFA Class of 16.  He crushed it in the DSL last year, before moving over to the GCL, but is just a doubles guy so far.  Precocious, though he be, he'll get passed by by the kids with pop.  Nelson Gomez, was thought to be the 2nd or 3rd biggest Yankee signing back in the vaunted class of `14.  He had some weight issues, but has also had some moment of clarity where he hit some homers. Needs a positive season.  Daniel Barrios is already 23 and a little old for this young college, IFA league.  David Metzger is an org guy who just got sent down from Tampa. Carlos Tatis is a right handed 1B, who needs to show a first baseman's impact bat on a team where the 2B and Gomez already have them.

Outfielders

Everson Pereira OF
Juan DeLeon RF
Cody Brown LF
Robert Javier CF
Terrance Robertson LF
Jordan Scott LF
Evan Alexander CF

Everson Pereira was the big star of the July 2 wave of HC17, and since signing, he's gotten bigger and stronger and is showing now power to the tune of 8 EST bombs.  He's now 6' 191 but just turned 17 in April. In terms of upside, I think he has blown by Florial.  We'll have to see, but if he keeps doing what he did in EST. If the arrow keeps going up, we have our next superstar.  Let's hope he doesn't outgrow CF.  Juan DeLeon as the other top 3 2014 signing.  Still just 20, but in need of a break out season, he has supplemented some of his stuggles, by taking his walks.  Cody Brown is 24. Javier is 5'8" and from the `16-`17 signing class.  No power.  Robertson is now 21 and still hasn't shown power.  Jordan Scott was drafted 2 years ago and has shown some power and patience, but he hasn't really hit a lot. He's 21 and could use a breakout.  Evan Alexander was a surprise prep pick a few years ago.  He's 20 now and doesn't really have any plus tools. He doesn't seem to be quick twitchy, though he is 6'2" and 175, and can play CF. Needs to hit or perish.

Pitchers

Luis Medina
Bryan Blanton
Wellington Diaz
Wellington Caceres
Carlos Espinal
Pedro Espinola
Austin Gardner
Ron Marrinacio
Brett Morales
Jhonaton Munoz
Luis Rijo
Gilmael Troya
Alexander Vizcaino

I think Luis Medina is the best pitching prospect in the loaded system. He's 6'1" 175 and turned 19 in May. He alrady throws 100 but needs to lock down his fastball command.  Last night, in 4 innings he K'd 4, walked 5, threw a wild pitch, surrendered an unearned run -- and didn't give up a single hit. He needs to get rid of the walks and the wild stuff to preserve his pitch counts, but that's okay for right now and we can just be excited about his velo and the fac that they can't hit him.  We'll see who pops up on the rest of the staff. Troya's had some fans.

So there it is. Team Pulaski. Elite prospects and others.

GCL Yankees East

Alright, now let's take a look of GCL Yankees East, they don't have the high gloss shine of a switch hitting teen catcher, but they do have a cat named Raimfer, who can rake.

C

Gustavo Campero
Pedro Diaz
Gaberial Mora
Miguel Torres

Gustavo Campero IS a switch hitting C, but he's just 5'6"  (and 185!) and turning 21 this year. Pedro Diaz will also turn 21 later this year and is 6'2" and 202. He was actually signed in September of 16, and will be 18 this season. Miguel Torres is an ince taller than Mora, and also signed in 2016, and will be 18 all year. None of the young guys have played yet, and we'll have to see who gets the bulk of the playing time.

Infielders

Asdrubal Alvarez SS
Jose Carrera 3B
Brayan Jimenez 2B
Borinquen Mendez 2B
Sandy Mota 3B
Starlin Paulino SS
Jose Villa 3B

There's no hot prospect in this group, and Jose Carrera is listed as just 5'2" and will be 24 this year, if he's not already.  I guess they're going to take turn playing first, because there's no 1B.  Starlin Paulino signed in May of 2017, which actually puts him in the class of '16.  He's just 18, the other guys are 18-22. We'll see if anyone pops up.

Outfielders

Christiane Andrade OF
Bryant Arrieche OF
Luis Martinez CF
Raymundo Moreno LF
Raimfer Salinas RF
Alexander Santana OF
Jesus Severino OF

Raimfer Salinas is the big ticket here. Surprising that they are listing him as a RF since he was signed last fall as a CF, and seemed to have CF tools. If they were going to play him at CF at all they probably would have listed him as "OF" like some of these other guys.  Raimfer is one of the big prospects from HC17, and overally, this is a really young group.  Amazingly Bryant Arrieche who won't turn 17 till later this month, is already in the states at 16. He's presumably from the HC17, and being here at 16 is something.  Ronny Rojas is destroying the DSL as a 16 year old and he's not here. So Bryant is a guy to watch.  Martinez will turn 20 late in the year.  Raymundo Moreno has been around for awhile and was part of the class of `14, though he's still just 20.  He's been injured a bit but better get a move on it.  Salinas is a July `16 guy and still 18.  Jesus Severino is also a July `16 signing.  So, basically this group is Raimfer, maybe Bryant and a bunch of young IFA signings from the past few years. A pop up player from this group would be a great thing.

Pitchers

Albert Carrizo
Derek Craft
Jairo Garcia
Imael Gomez
Yoendrys Gomez
Gaberiel Gonzalez
Tony Hernandez L
Anyelo Luna
Daniel Martin
Alex Mejias
Anderson Munoz
Luis Ojeda
Elvis Peguero
Adonny Roja
Juan Then

Okay, only one lefty.  We are a little organizationally bereft.  But you can't create lefties out of thin air, and so we must be patient.  Now Derek Craft is a 6'8" reliever from this year's draft.  I guarantee they will get him to throw harder.  The other big item is Juan Then, who is a Yankees Top 30 prospect. Then is listed as 6'1" and 155.  Yanks went through a period when they were getting a lot of big pitchers, and drafting smaller relievers.  Now it's all spin rate and they might have found a market inefficiency in these 5'11" to 6'1" guys, like Then, and Johnny Lasgna, and Sevy, etc. Not the typical power pitcher profile of old, but all with electric, moving stuff.  We'll see if anyone else pops up on this staff.  No one's particularly old, and with pitching, it doesn't matter if you can get people out.

So there we are.  Maybe better pitch, but certainly a less impressive group of position players than GCL West.

Pulaski starts today!

GCL Yankees West

Alright, the GCL season opened today and, though the Rosters could turn over a bit, let's take a look at how they are starting.  The GCL Yankees West start out particularly loaded:

Catchers

Anthony Seigler
Hemmanuel Rosario
Carlos Rodriguez
Meure Rodriguez

Okay, Seigler is the switch hitting first round pick from earlier this month today. He started today going 1-2 with a double and scored a run.  He'll probably get most of the work, or more than his share while also getting games at DH to keep his bat developing. He'll turn 19 on Wednesday, and he may be one of those rare preps who gets a promotion.

Hemmanuel Rosario is the kid we signed right after the draft last year, and whose bonus MLB subtracted from our draft pool, he's 2 inches taller than Seigler but the same weight.  He bats right and is just 18.  He'll probably get the second most games.

Carlos A Rodriguez and Meure Rodriguez both bat right, and can't be brothers because they are 19 year olds born about 2 months apart.  Meure spent the last two years with the Yankees DSL and Carlos signed in January. Muere is 6'2" 200 and Carlos is the shrimp of the batch at 6' 170.

Infielders

Nelson Alverez  1B
Robert Chirinos SS
Jesus Grateral 2B
Jose Martinez 3B
Jose Polonia 3B
Louis Santos SS

Okay, this is where we seem to have some "place holders" that could be flipped for this year's draft picks or other younger prospects at some point. Nelson Alvarez could get swapped out. He's lefty swinging big bodied power bat but he's already 22, so will probably move up if he can hit at all. He's the only 1B on the team, so it could be someone from the draft who moves him out. Jesus Graterol has also been around forever and is already 21 and was a 7/2/15 signing who's been in the GCL for 3 years. No bueno. Jose Polonia will be 23 by Christmas. Worse Bueno. Now, onto the good stuff.  Robert Chirinos is 17 and a tooled up SS from what could be the "Historic Class of `17" before all is said and done. He's listed at 5'11" 175. SS Louis Santos is also from HC17, but he's just 5'8" so, who knows if there's a ceiling? Jose Martinez is from the HC17, too, but he's 19. Yanks have done well with some of these late bloomers.

Outfield

Antonio Arias OF
Antonio Cabello OF
Jonathan Capellan OF
Anthony Garcia RF
Brandon Lockridge OF
Edel Luaces CF
Stanley Rosario RF

Okay, this is a really intriguing, group.  Even the old guy might have upside, and we'll get to that.  The stars of this group are Stanley Rosario, the power hitting lefty swinging 17 year old who is already 6'2" and 195. Monster power from HC17.  Antonio Cabello is also from the HC17 and was signed along with Raimfer Salinas as soon as they realized they weren't getting Ohtani.  He was a C when he signed, but they saw enough AA to make him an OF and he'll be learning it in GCL. Brandon Lockridge is 21 and a college pick from a few weeks, but he has true 80 speed and though another righty bat, he gives them another shot at teaching a fast guy to bunt for hits and play the old Brett Butler short game. Exciting ceiling. Anthony Garcia is another power hitting RF from HC17 he's also just 17 and a switch hitter. He's 6'5 and 204 already.  Edel Luaces is that 6'5" 205 athletic freak they found a few years ago. He'll be 24 this year so he needs to figure it out.  I think Arias is from the class of `14 that's had mixed results, but he should get moving.  Jonathan Capellan is from the class of `16 and was in the DSL last year.

Pitchers

Pedro Barrios
Havid Burgos L
Daniel Calderon L
Nelvin Correa
Deivi Diaz L
Abel Estevez
Franyer Hernandez
Argelis Herrera L
Kyle Johnson
Brignel Mendez
Kenlly Montez
Edward Paredes
Anderson Reynoso
Carlos D Rodriguez
Connor Von Hoose

Von Hoose is the kid from Bucknell. They plan to make him a starter but he pitched in relief today.  Other than that it's a mix of power arms with Franyer Hernandez being the most interesting because he is just 17 and most of the other guys are in their early 20s. Barrios, Diaz, Estevez, Herrera, Paredes and Rodriguez are the other teenagers. We'll see who pops up, but right now, none of the Yanks top 30 prospects are on this pitching staff.

So there it is, and they are being managed by a former big Yankee prospect with bad luck: David Adams.

Ranger Stuff

Larry Brooks offered some answers and some things I just didn't agree with today. First thing, the answer: the Rangers haven't added assistant coaches because the ones they want from other teams are under contract till June 30.  Makes sense.  He also offered that there is league wide interest in RFA Kevin Hayes. Here's where I don't agree with him: Larry opines that the Rangers wouldn't use Hayes to move up a few spots in the first round. I think that's exactly how they'd make the best use of him.  Don't really want to move him for a vet or unless they can get a top prospect or package of picks.  The Flames are said to be one of the most interested teams, and they don't have a first rounder to offer, and I don't want Marek Hrivik back, so it would have to be their top prospect or two.  Hayes had a break out year this year with 25 Goals, and the main reason for moving him is kids with upside.   And the Rangers have to get out of the habit of giving away RFA's for low returns like they did with Carl Hagelin, the same draft night Sather turned down a first rounder for Cam Talbot and ended up with a second. I think that ended Sather's complete control, but the Rangers have to max their deals this week.

I wouldn't be surprised if they were active before the draft, like last year when they made the deal with the Coyotes.

Yankee System: The Influx

Hate Yankee losses.  So let's talk about something that's going to happen in the next few days.  Tomorrow and Tuesday, the Pulaski Yankee and GCL Yanks West and East will start playing and at that point, we'll see who's here. As you'll recall, the Yanks got CF Everson Pereira, and others on July 2, 2017 as well as a few others. Then in expectation of taking a run at Ohtani, they traded for more and more IFA space, until they hit the league max. Now, I think SS Ronny Rojas was in the original budget and just had a late birthday, but they had targets they were going to move into this year's budget, but instead got to sign CF Raimfer Salinas and C turned CF Antonio Cabello this past fall, plus, seemingly one or two more per month, till the signing period for `17/`18 ended this past Friday.  Rojas is still just 16 and may stay over in the DSL, which he is DOMINATING all season.  But the three CF's are coming over and have drawn comparison's to Florial as their floor. They are all 5 toolers and that's not all that seems to be coming.

They have two more shortstops in Ezekial Duran and Robert Chirinos. Duran, especially, has been getting massive love in the prospect community for his light tower power, but Chirinos is also all tooled up and might put on a show. They have another RF type he might be over named Stanley Rosario, who's a left swinger with huge power. We'll have to see who else is over, but this undercover class already looks like it has more upside than the `14/`15 class, and there seem to be more of them coming over this year than there were three years ago.

Beyond that, the Yanks will also have Seigler, Green, Alex Guerrero and the mysterious Sincere Smith in the GCL.  The Bro will probably be at Pulaski, but last year's rehabbing first rounder, Clarke Schmidt will probably get some GCL starts, while last year's prep #2 Matt Sauer threw 6 no-hit innings for SI on Friday Night.

So, even though the Yanks lost today, and sent a good chunk of talent packing since last July, there's a likelihood, we'll see that it's been more than replaced this week, so that will be a blast.

UPDATE: It's being reported that CF Everson Pereira and SS Ezekial Duran are going to start the season with Pulaski, which may be because there are multiple CF's and SS's who need slots on the 3 new teams, but that it is those 2 is really impressive for those two. I think they are both just 17, though Duran may turn 18 this year.  He was like Florial in that he had some sort of registration stuff that delayed his signing. Still, this is big news, espectially if they perform half a level up.  You might recall that Sensely and Dermis Garcia started at Pulaski and got promoted during the season last year. And they were 21 and 19 or something.  Interesting stuff.

UPDATE 2: GCL is underway!  Just from the looks of it, GCL West is LOADED!  Today, they have Lockridge (80 speed) playing CF,  Seigler playing C - these are the first two 18 picks to play in games, and they have Robert Chirinos at SS and power hitting OF Stanley Rosario playing Left and Antonio Cabello batting DH. Neither Raimfer Salinas nor Ryder Green are playing for either GCL team today. Will look at the full rosters later, but this team could probably beat the O's. Hmm, Raimfer Salinas is on the GCL East roster, but isn't playing today.  Both teams are losing, and the loaded West team is being no-hit so far.  That's baseball, Suzyn.

This Week on the Blog

The droid we seek may already be here. That was fun. Yanks had 2 inexcusable losses this week, the Giants wrapped up OTA's and Mini Camp, the Knicks kept working out draft prospects and the Rangers stayed below the radar. Let's take a look.

Yankees; the Yanks are looking around for a pitching trade. Meanwhile, Domingo German and Johnny Lasagna look like the second and third best pitchers on the team, and only because Sevi is a legitimate ace and the post TJS twins are just getting their feet wet. Is it hard to imagine the Yanks acquiring a pitcher, then watching these kids outpitch him?  Shouldn't be, they're outpitching Gray, who was last year's big get.

Staten Island started last night and Matt Sauer pitched 6 no-hit innings. I like it when our kid pitchers have no ERA's.  Anyway, Pulaski and the two GCL Yankee teams will start in the next few days. I noticed that none of the new draft picks have been added to SI yet, so I'm holding off on a roster review. If it turns out that they are all on Pulaski, I'll start the reviews.  But untile some are assigned I won't bother.

Btw, yesterday the Yanks traded last year's tenth rounder, RHP Chad Whitmer to the Brewers for more IFA dough. So expect another big class.

More, the Yanks acquired INF Wendell Rijo as the PTBNL in the Erik Kratz trade. Their sending him to High A. Former Red Sox. He'll be 23 this year.

Giants: The Giants head into their five and half week pre-camp break still needing help at CB and possibly pass rush. That said, neither Avery Moss or RJ McIntosh could practice in the offseason program, and they are both passrushers. That leaves CB, and hopefully the Giants will take a good look at Sam Beal in the Supplemental Draft. Also, none of use should be surprised if there's more turnover at the bottom of the roster between now and camp.

Knicks: The NBA draft is later thise week, and the Knicks really, really, really need to get a player or two. At 9, I'm hoping for Wendell Carter or Collin Sexton, more than for Mikal Bridges, who'd be a decent enough 3 and D piece. I feel, Carter paired with KP would create the synergy we didn't see with Willy or Enes or anyone, really. Plus, he's a willing defender. Collin Sexton is also a willing defender, and though he can't shoot yet, he reminds me a lot of Russell Westbrook at the UCLA.  Plus, he's tough and would extend the defensive identity the Knicks have been talking about.  I hope they don't trade up for Porter or Young, just because of their lack of assets. Would like to see them get more picks.

Rangers: The Rangers also have their draft this coming week and unlike the Knicks and Yanks, they are loaded for bear with 7 picks in the first three rounds, including 3 in the first. I believe they will trade up for whomever they have fallen in love with, the #2 pick is said to be in play, as is either 5 or 6.  The Rangers are starting at 9, and have players and picks to use to move up if they want.  They'd get a great player at 2, as long as they don't think Tkachuck is that guy.  We'll have to see. I think I'm the only one around here who loves the NHL draft. So, I will go on about it later in the week.

So there we have it. Giants are off, the Yanks need to catch fire, and the Knicks and Rangers will both add youth. Go teams! Have a great week.

Tyler Austin Sent Down

After tonight's game, Tyler Austin was sent down.  This will give him a chance to play every day and get his offense back together.  Healthy and playing regularly, he will take walks and get hits, as well as homer. He just couldn't get reheated. And Boone had a weird habit of sitting him after his two homer games.  Anyway, this move seems to be for Drury, and Drury has been red hot.  Wouldn't be surprised to see Toe go back down for Frazier if the middle of the order stays quiet much longer.  Walker or Drury can play a game a second if Didi ever needs a break and Gleyber plays SS.

Yanks Announce 22 Signings

The Yanks PR department just announced that the Yanks have signed 9 of their top 10 picks (Hutchinson is still playing) and 13 other picks. Given their toploaded spending this year, you have to wonder if 13 out of the top ten is all their signing.

That said, top loading was not a bad idea given how loaded their system already was going into the draft. You don't want a bunch of college guys stuck in the GCL blocking kids. And it was also wise to take some injured guys like Ernst who are on a different clock that will time up better with the guys the Yanks already have graduating, getting traded or whatever.

UPDATE: In an interview Damon Oppenheimer said Isaiah Pasteur is a fast CF, not a pitcher.  So add one more fast hitter to the pile.

Knicks Stuff

The Knicks have been working out everyone, even guys they seem less interested in like Miles Bridges and Kevin Knox whom they brought in at the same time and had play one on one. This is where it gets sort of interesting, last week Michael Porter Jr. had a pro-day.  You usually hear about NFL prospects doing that, but Porter missed most of the year with "a back" and wanted to prove health. Anyway, the Knicks probably had a scout there.  They did not have Mills, Perry or Fiz.  Now Mills and Perry are flying out to see him in Chicago on Friday.  For whatever reason,  the teams ahead of them have been gauging their interest in a trade up for Porter. Seems odd, unless their scout was blown away.

There are, naturally, two problems with this rumor.  What do the Knicks have to trade up with? They're not going to trade Frank, and Lee won't get them much of a move that high in the draft.  So they'd be forced to use a future one or the 35th pick and a future one.  They're not loaded up like the Rangers who can and probably will trade up. So it better be the right move.

The second thing is Porter's health. If the back stuff is behind him, and mine's been gone for 17 years.  So if he's as fixed as I've been, he's probably the best player in the draft class, or right there with Doncic.

Now let's look at a bigger cause for all four of the teams we follow: that's IMPACT.

The Yanks have been bringing up impact players for the past three years, and traded for Stanton.  What's more, in last week's draft, they took three impact bats over the three rounds and seem to have spent all of their pool money getting it done.

The Giants just used the second overall pick in the draft to get an explosive running back.  They used their second pick to get an explosive guard.  Big, impact moves.

It's pretty clear that the Rangers modeled the Yanks 2016 teardown this past deadline when they moved veteran players for prospects and picks.  Not sure they got an impact prospect, but they've been talking about getting impact in the draft and trading remaining veterans for 20 or 21 year old players.

The Knicks are owned by the Ranger owners, and what's good for one, new coach, impact search, is good for the other, and though the Knicks aren't especially dressed for a tradeup the corporate will is there.

New Yorkers seem to respond to impact, and now it's all the rage.

Yanks Stuff

So Johnny Lasagna is getting the Thursday start agains the Rays.  They like him because he's already on the 40 and doesn't walk guys.  We'll see how he adjusts and if he can forestall a hastily made trade, that will rob us of some future core.  Meanwhile the Yanks have signed 2nd Rounder Josh Breaux and 3rd Rounder Ryder Green.  They both got about half a million more than slot, so as it stands now the Yanks have spent 5 million on their first 3 picks and have 1.116 + plus 5% allowable overance to use on the rest of the class.  The only 2 guys we know have gotten overslot are 2 and 3, the rest of the top 10 were underslot and Huthinson is the only one who hasn't signed because he's still playing. Not sure they'll have room to Isaih Gilliam anyone this year.

UPDATE: Justin Wilson is going back to Vandy. So he won't rehab with the Yanks.

UPDATE 2: After the game, Boone said Loaisiga was actually pitching Friday, not Thursday.

Giants Mini Camp Begins.

So the Giants mandatory mini camp is underway and everyone, including OBJ and Snacks is there.  Earlier today, they waived/injured CB Aaron Davis, the UDFA CB from Georgia, and signed TE Simonson.  That might just be about who can practice.  Davis might be back when he can.  We'll get back to that in a moment.  They also brought back DT to OT conversion Jaron Jones as well a DB Kevin Durden and cut Tyler Howell yesterday.

The first OL is now Solder, Hernandez, Halapio, Omameh, Flowers. So it appears that Halapio used the OTA process to wrench the starting C job away from Brett Jones. Halapio is bigger, so let's hope he provides at least a marginal upgrade over the game Jones.

We'll see if Davis comes back, but the Giants didn't draft any CB's and though DRC has made noise about returning, the depth on the outside is not deep. The fact is, one more good CB could really help.  And they might have a chance to get one in the Supplemental Draft.  CB Sam Beal from Western Michigan, is probably the best BPA of the Supp, and worth a 3 or 4 in the Supp. 6'3" CB Adonis Alexander got in some trouble at Virginia Tech, and might be off the Giants Supp board.  FS Brandon Bryant from Miss State is really fast and might be worth a 7.

I don't think the Giants have made a supplemental pick since they took Tito Wooten, but Sam Beal is probably worth breaking the streak.

Let's hope for no more injuries during the mini.

Sincere Smith is Signing

Sincere Smith has told his local paper that he's signing and reporting to rookie camp.  I know there are going to be a lot of physicals and signings in the next day or so, and I'll trying to keep updating this post.  Had a feeling Sincere might be a local ringer. He's also a football prospect.

Yanks Stuff

Johnny Lasagna was pulled after 45 or 50 pitches today, so it looks like he'll get the upcoming spot start.  He's already on the 40 and has already had his TJS, so he's a little like Domingo German.  He could be the starter the Yanks are looking for and, God willing, he will be.

Back to German, Domingo seems to have two fastballs, a variable slider/curve and all those pitches create swing and miss.  So what the hell was he doing throwing changeups in the first last night?  Let them try to catch up with the crazy stuff and save the change for third time through.

Finally, SI starts it's season on June 15 and we should have the initial roster by then, if not that day. It's gotten slower over the years.  Short season teams will be fascinating this year because of these past two drafts and last year's expansive IFA season.  SI used to be very mixed between teens and college guys, back when Nunez and Reegie Corona were the best players.  Then it became more collegiate, but now it will probably be back to mixed.  The remaining teams start around the 18th and then, finally, all the Yankee affiliates will be in action and the talent at the lower levels is mostly dynamic.

Draft Review Part Three: Arms Race?

The Yanks flipped out some of their fans by going with hitters before pitchers this past week, and then not drafting a prep pitcher till their late "here's to to you, kid" picks, that they have no intention of signing.  That's was surprising because lately they've been popping a big prep or two in the first 20 rounds like clockwork.  Last year they worked it that they took an injured collegiate RHP Clarke Schmidt to save slot space, then tapped prep RHP Matt Sauer in round 2 and spent most of what they had saved.  The year they took UCLA RHP James Kaprielian they followed that up with prep RHP Drew Findley.  In the year in between, they took prep RHP Nolan Martinez with a top three round pick.

So I think people were conditioned to expect and day one or two prep pitcher.  Heck, last year they popped RHP after RHP from round one through the end of the draft, almost excluding bats completely.  What we later learned was that last year's IFA class was low on premium arms but high on premium bats, and the Yanks grabbed their O there.

And I think that's a key to understanding what went on this week with all the catchers, some high OPS'ing other bats and some guys for SI, and fewer of the sort of big power arms they stocked up on last year, is that this year the really big arms are going to come from IFA. The Yanks are reportedly signing 2 or 3 Cuban imports on July 2, and we can expect that there's more than that.

Looking at the entirety of the pitching system, it might have been tought fitting in another high upside college arm.  You can't really start them in the GCL unless it's for rehab, and guys from High A up are having promotions delayed because there's a logjam between High A and AA.

So here's what it looks like the Yanks did: they took a a bunch of college relievers.  Many of whom are absolutely from the School of DRob.  Who were presumpitce relievers between 5'10" and 6'1". You can look through the earlier posts to see them all, I don't feel like going through the whole School of DRob again -- until they become Yankees and do DRob things.

In a draft that seemed to have a bunch of big pitchers, the Yanks only took 5 pitchers who were 6'5" or taller. Rodney Hutchison who is 6'5" 225,  Daniel Bies who is 6'8" and 245,  Tanner Myatt 6'7", Derek Craft 6'8" 220, and Charlie Ruegger 6'6" 218.

The Yanks also spent some of their pitching picks on rehabbing guys like Miami RHP Nick Ernst, who was hitting 97 before he got hurt and has already signed.  This might be a good bet for a sleeper. They also took Justin Wilson, a Vandy pitcher, who didn't pitch at all this year.  He's built more like a reliever, but you never know who the Yanks plan on making into a starter.

Anyway, the point about using Round 15 and  Round 23 to pick injured guys sort of shows what they though of whole class.  If they really liked Ernst and Wilson, they could have taken them in the top ten rounds and maybe gotten some useable savings like the did with Schmidt.  Instead they took them where they could gain no financial edge, and over presumably healthy guys.

So with the way guys like Chad Widmer pop up every year these days, my guess for the role with be Nick Ernst, and I guess if there's a conversion guy, I'd go with Tanner Myatt.

And I'll say if you feel this particular draft brought more impact bats than arms, wait for it.  What's it?  July 2nd.