E-Boland and the Bombers

Anyone notice that on the Yanks active roster Humberto Sanchez and Cervelli have been added? Also I read in another newspaper that Juan Miranda has been called up from AAA.

Dave, I knew about Sanchez and Cervelli but Miranda was news to me. I'd be interested in seeing what all three can do.

Sanchez was the key to the Sheff deal but needed surgery which cost him nearly a season and a half.

Cervelli was supposedly on the radar with the club's management prior to his spring training injury.

Miranda was a FA signing 2 years ago (I believe?) who has good numbers in the minors.

Dave,

Saw that both Sanchez and Cervelli were called up (hope to see them play soon) and Miranda was being kept at AAA until last night's AAA Championship Game was played. Ideally I would like to see him at first for the rest of the season.

Miranda's in the 2nd year of a 4 year deal he signed and it would be nice to see if he can contribute on the ML level.

Realist, Miranda's numbers in the minors were ok this year (.287 12hr 52rbi) but, before they try to sign tex for 20 mil a year or make a deal for a first baseman (Kotchman?) they should give this guy a shot.

On a related note, I think it's quite telling that Melky Cabrera hasn't gotten on the field at all since his recall

Great article by Ken about Jason Giambi

Basically confirms what I've thought about him...
He's a nice guy who can get caught up in stuff.

I'm sure when he was a young kid coming into a locker room with Canseco and McGwire he probably thought "OK, I guess this is what you do in the bigs."

I'm also sure that when he was offered hundreds of millions of dollars he probably thought "I'm really comfortable in Oakland, but I guess this is what you do in the bigs."

And I am also sure he went cold turkey on the stuff in 2004, which resulted in his body breaking down, because he thought "This is the right thing to do."

And I am also sure that he wanted to do the right thing and come clean but the lawyers convinced him not to.

The article about how he made sure the clubhouse people and staff got six figure bonuses after winning the pennant shows he is genuinely a good guy...

He made some bad decisions, but its hard not to feel for the guy.

(I wish some of MY bad decisions led to a $100 million contract!!!)

Chip,

You are correct regarding Miranda...I was more impressed with his average against righties.

Here are some minor league notes, guys to pay attention to other than the obvious names that we keep hearing (Montero, Jackson, Betances, Melancon, McAllister, Laird and Romaine)

Pay attention the name Jhonny Nunez. The Yankees got him for Alberto Gonzalez from Washington. He's a hard throwing RHP. The Nationals used him as a starter in A ball where he had trouble holding his velocity winding up with an ERA of around 5.2. Since moving to the bullpen he's been nearly unhittable at AA. Racking up a bunch of strikeouts and showing very good control.

Also keep your eyes on 2b Kevin Russo and ss/2b Addison Maruszak. Russo showed some promise at Trenton and will be heading to the Arizona Fall League. Maruszak played most of the season with Staten Island but was promoted to AAA for their playoff run.

Christian Garcia fought through injuries and moved up to AA this year. I've always been a big fan of his and think that if he can stay healthy next season he could advance to at least AAA next year.

And finally - Abe Almonte. The Yankees love this kid. He's a 19 year old switch hitter. They moved him from 2nd to the OF and think he could be a fantastic CF in a few years. He needs to work on pitch recognition (101 k to 47 bb) but he's got power and tremendous speed.

I had heard they were considering moving Almonte...thanks for clarifying it!

Thanks also for the minor league report!

A couple of other thoughts:

Russo, Maruszak, Corbin Joseph, Garrison Lassiter, Ramiro Pena. These are all ss/2b prospects who are climbing quickly. That leads me to believe two things. 1. The Yankees are preparing for the day when Jeter can't play ss anymore and 2. The Yankees could move Robbie Cano in a trade this winter, sign a 2nd baseman and have some of these kids to work in in the future.

Another prospect who Baseball America is high on (they are doing their rankings of the top players at each level and Gulf Coast League - Hi A - is out):

Arodis Vizciano a 17-year old RHP out of the DR - Vizcaino was the focal point of the Yankees' international scouting efforts in 2007, signing for $800,000 out of the Dominican Republic. The bonus was the highest among pitchers on the international market last year. His fastball sat at 89-91 mph when he signed and jumped to 91-95 mph this summer during his pro debut.

Vizcaino has a quick arm and minimal effort in his delivery, leading New York to believe his fastball velocity could increase even more. On top of throwing hard, he also features a plus curveball with medium late break and depth. The Yankees hope he'll be able to develop a changeup so they can use him as a starter.

Vizcaino throws strikes but needs to improve his fastball command within the zone in order to succeed at higher levels. He's well ahead of the learning curve for a 17-year-old, however.

Yeah guys I read that since Scranton loss the championship game last night (which we all know IPK started) Miranda was going to be called up. Not sure if it is the truth but it was in an article I read. Would be interesting if Sanchez can finally show us something in these next few games. I'd take something close to what Joba did for us last yr (one can dream ya know). Although i doubt he'd be as dominant as Joba was, maybe next yr he, along with maybe Melancon, can give the yanks a very good, if not great, bullpen. I honestly have had it with Ramirez.

Maybe a bullpen made up of (again one can have a dream of perfection):
Mo'
Joba
Coke
Marte
Sanchez
Melancon
Bruney/Aceves

What do you guys think of that? Power bullpen if all stay healthy and show what their talent is capable of doing.

Dave,

I think in the end either Sanchez or Joba will wind up in the pen. But not both of them.

In my above post I listed the Gulf Coast League as Hi A - obviously that's a mistake, Gulf Coast League is Rookie ball.

Chip,

Let's say, and again PLEASE bear with my nostalgie-type thinking hear, the yanks have a best offseason in terms of getting starting pitching...

Lets say they acquire 2 out of the top 3 FA SP's. Either:

Sabathia
Burnett
Sheets

Starting rotation:
1 of the 3
1 of the 3
Wanger
Petitte/Moose
Whoever wins the battle from the 5th spot.

With a pretty good rotation like that, Joba would be in the pen(i would imagine). Wouldnt the yanks be one of the most feared teams in the league in terms of overall pitching?

Again just me thinking big...thats the only thing yankees fans are left with for this yr...

Wow my spelling took a 4th grade route on that last post...

Guess our yanks are playing october baseball next season...check out the schedule.

Dave,

I like your bullpen except for Joba being in it ;-)

I think Sabathia is going to the Dodgers...
And I think Sheets is too injury prone

Burnett to me is a wait and see

Dave,
I like your plan/rotation etc. except I don't have as much faith in Sheets as a lot of people do. It seems every time I've watched him he gets rocked or pitches just well enough to lose and couple that with the fact that he is always hurt, I just have a "Pavanoesque" feeling about him. I do agree though that A.J. Burnett should be added if Sabathia goes elsewhere.

Also, I refuse to count out the Yanks in any race where money is the determining factor so Sabathia can say he wants to play in his own backyard or anywhere else except NY, but when the contract is drawn up, I think he'll get used to the place with the most zeroes.
Maybe he'll have a Reggie White-like epiphany and God will tell him to come to NY (remember that? don't think for a minute that the fact that Green Bay offered Reggie the biggest contract had ANYTHING to do with it) :)

Realist,

Point well taken buddy.

Some days i want him in the pen, and others i LOVE him in the rotation, just think back to that 8Innings of shut out ball he pitched against the saux. If only he could do both...either way I believe he'll be very dominant.

My gut feeling is that neither CC or Tex have any interest in signing with NY. Without at least one of them I don't see how they can seriously contend for a ring?

This leaves NY to either overspend and bring in mid level talent that won't greatly better them or continue to try and rebuild with youth while trying to contend.

A big trade could help along with some mid level FA's (Burnett..etc.) but NY would have to give up some of their untouchables to pull off a decent one. And recently most teams ask the moon from The Yanks in trade talks.

I know this may all sound pessimistic but I truly believe w/out CC and Tex, plus another (Burnett?), we are still lagging behind Boston and Tampa.

Joba could be a great starter and he could be the next Mariano...

And this will be year 3 of not knowing which one he is
That's a pretty good definition of insane

The fact is Joba has told the Yankees he is 100% certain he wants to be a starter so they might as well honor his wish.

As far as trading for an established pitcher, I've always felt that a strong farm system should be used not only to replace older players on the teams roster, but to trade areas of strength to fill holes. The Yanks appear to have a lot of RH arms in the system that they have sufficiently hyped, so it's time to make some trades for players that can have an impact right away (not anyone over 32 please).

Jim,

I agree, put him in the rotation and worry about the innings limits when the arise. As of the end of the season NY only has Wang in the rotation. If Joba wants to start, then start him, now you have 2 starters. This is why I believe it is imperative to bring in at least 2 quality arms.

If CC signs somewhere else and if Tex signs somewhere else, here's what I would do:

Trade: Ian Kennedy and another prospect to the Reds for Aaron Harang. Harang has a big contract for next season and is coming off a down year. He's a bulldog on the mound and should bounce back next season.

Trade: Robinson Cano to the Dodgers for Clayton Kershaw and Kuo. I think Sabathia ends up with the Dodgers meaning two things: 1 LA will have pitchers to move and 2. They won't have the money to bring in a free agent to replace Furcal and Kent in the middle infield. Torre and Bowa love Robbie and it seems like a good fit for him and them.

Trade: Kuo, Bruney and Melky to the Rockies for Garrett Atkins and Willy Taveras

Sign: Orlando Hudson (3 years 9 mil per)

Sign: AJ Burnett (4 years 15 mil per)

Sign: Eric Hinske and Jerry Hairston Jr. for bench roles

Lineup:
Damon - LF
Hudson - 2b
Jeter - SS
Alex - 3b
Matsui - DH
Nady - RF
Posada - C
Atkins - 1b
Taveras/Austin Jackson - CF

Rotation:
Harang
Burnett
Wang
Hughes
Kershaw

Pen:
RHP: Joba, Melancon, Rivera, Veras, Ramirez
LHP: Coke and Marte

Bench:
Molina
Christian/Taveras (if Austin Jackson doesn't beat Taveras out in spring training he should go to AAA)
Hinske
Hairston

I put Joba in the pen because at this point I don't care anymore, I just want him to enter next season with a defined role and have him stay there.

I predict an all-current Yankee rotation - Wang, Joba, Hughes, Coke, and one of the folowing: Aceves, Geise, Wright, Mussina, Pettite

I also predict that if Kennedy, Melky and Cano are still here they all start the season in the minors.

I read all 24 comments and once again, I come away impressed with the speculation on FA signings and trades.

Chip your team makeup without the big time FA signings is interesting plus the report on the minors was uplifting becuase after watching this Yankee team slug through the season showing age and careless play. It would be nice to see some players with heart.

But in line with J. Howard's article on Girardi not being the manager that the Yankees thought they were getting. My question to the bloggers is what does Girardi have to do to change his approach or did the season with injuries and contracts dictate and take his skills and throw them out the window?

Larry,

Girardi dealt with dismal outings by Hughes and Kennedy plus major injuries, I believe he deserves another chance because of this. One thing I believe that needs to be done is making players accountable for their lack of hustle or when playing poorly, regardless of whom they are.

I also feel that he has to command more respect as a Manager and Posada's comments about not playing 1st and being the everyday catcher kind of undermine that. I may be wrong as I didn't see the interview but he is the player and if the manager feels he isn't ready to be the full time catcher (and Posada seems to be the only one who thinks he can) and the TEAM'S best interest is him playing 1st, then Girardi has to put and end to that nonsense.

Again, I may be offbase....

Let me clarify....Posada seems to be the only one who thinks he will be ready to be the fulltime catcher at the beginning of the season.