If baseballreference follows through with the plan to start including in-season stats, there's no reason for that E link either!

http://tinyurl.com/263mnx

2 Last week Torre suggested he might prefer to see Karstens begin the season getting regular work in Scranton, as opposed to withering in the Bronx bullpen. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me given Pavischyssoise and Igawa's spring performances, which indicate there'll be plenty of work for a long man in April.

But if Karstens keeps up the good work, he'll be with the team at some point -- until a better option emerges(Sanchez, 'Dorf, Hughes).

Is it safe to say Sardinha has pulled ahead of the Kevins on the depth chart?

12 Sliced, my guess is, in terms of long term depth, Sardinha is probably ahead of the Kevins on the depth chart. But if there's an injury, one of the Kevins gets the call up. They'll want Sardinha to get regular ABs in AAA and see if the power stroke is for real. I hope it is.

If Mienkiewicz is used as a LIDR and gets 1 start a week at 1B (when Wang pitches?), I think things will be fine. Phelps should get the majority of the starts at 1B. Even if he doesn't, he would be the best Yanks bench bat since Strawberry/Chili Davis, so I hope there's room for him on the roster. Sentimentality over Andy Phillips (and his mom) should not be used as reason to discard Phelps.

10 14 Yup, Tampa. Doing well in Trenton by the end of the year would be the best case scenario.

12 14 I'm not so sure on Thompson versus Sardinha. The former can play any OF position and can nick a base or two. Sardinha seems more like a corner OF but he needs to show more pop. I think it all depends on what they need as to who gets called up. If it's a 5th oF, I think it's KT. If it's an injury replacement, then it's Sardinha. I agree on Bronson needing a bit more time to develop though - stronger bias to keep him in Scranton.

With Tabata not realistic till 09/10 that leaves Gardner/Christian and maybe S. Duncan as legit short term outfield youngster help (other than the Kevins) with Sardinah to back up the Milk man. Of those, right now I'd bet by June/July Sardinah may be the most ML viable in terms of his VORP.

remember the raised eyebrows when it was shown that he doctored the tigers' batting practice hat to wear during games (it had a dark panel beneath the brim, as opposed to the light grey, and it was thought that this was one place that he might be putting the "dirt" that was seen on his pitching hand).

well, new era is changing the game caps this year, and here is one change:
"The new undervisor for these caps is made of New Era performance fabric that also carries moisture-wicking properties -- and now it is black across the board, a change to assist in reducing glare."

http://tinyurl.com/2p44c9

dang! i was looking forward to spotting the other hat on rogers...

"For a non-power hitter, he still Ks too much. Overall his peripheral ratios are problematic: 1 BB per 11.3 AB; 1 K per 3.8 AB; XBA of 0.084; stolen base success rate of 61.8% (21 SB/34 SBA). In the past, his BB-rate was much better. While the XBA was improved, the K-rate suggests that he won't hit for much average and he'll have a weak OBP to boot. His bat not likely to get him to MLB."

It seems to me like he is a talented guy but has 'little man' syndrome. At 5'10, he looking for the big hit, and thusly Ks too much and walks too little. Maybe if he decides to just be a contact hitter he could turn it around a bit.

18 Those guys are worth nothing. They are simply there to fill out the Scranton roster. Every organization has those "kids".

Looking at Basak's minor league stats I have to agree: there's no there there. He's had some dismal numbers as a 24-27 year old player in AA and AAA including a 675 OPS at age 26 in AA.

I wonder how far apart Phelps and Man-cave-itch would be at the end of the year in terms of contribution to Yankees wins? With an equal number of ab's (say 400), I bet win shares are about even (I hope Tangotiger doesn't see the reference). I suppose one could throw Andy into the mix and make about the same statement in relative safety. When it comes down to it, handedness and who's the biggest jackass may have as much to do with who leaves as anything else.

18 Do you have an age cut off in mind? The older I get the younger 27 seems. :-)

Bernie - age 22
Jeter - age 22
Posada - age 25
Pettitte - age 23
Rivera - age 25
Wang - age 25
Melky - age 21
Cano - age 22

Few everyday players make the bigs after age 25. I can see having a few utility types and catchers in AAA that are older but you pretty much know what you've got by age 25. Since the Yankees seem intent on filling the bench with thirtysomethings like Miguel Cairo and Aaron Guiel from free agency rather than consider older minor leaguers I don't see much point in wasting the space at Scranton. Kevin Thompson is 27. He's only going to play if the Yankees have two injuries in the OF - in that case Cashman will make a deal.

Why not deal Kevin Thompson and move every younger OF prospect up a slot?

25 Just about every team has guys like the Kevins, Cannizaro, S. Duncan, etc. What of value are they going to bring in return? And, to expand on Cliff in 23, its also helpful to have the minor league teams be competitive to help the 'kids' (under 25?) who are going to be big leaguers (like Hughes). It keeps them focused, gives them some 'big-game' experience, and fosters a good attitude. Who likes losing, after all?

If you can't, take a deep breath, and just remember that its a spring training game, and it doesn't matter a lick, and Melky is the 4th OF.

And if that doesn't work, hopefully Sliced, Bama, Chyll W, or some other humorous Banterer will come up with something for you to laugh at. I would but I'm not that funny.

1 for 25.

Impressive. Limbo!

Oh right, Miguel has played out there "everywhere he's been".

Right now though I'm more facinated by the crowd raising on the PR at the Jays' ballpark.

That and Minky's limbo routine.

[Actually, that's just as sad - but who am I?]

Anyone watching Cairo having a wonderful day out in the left field? Why even try him there when the Yankees have Melky?

unless the player's name is A-Rod...

Lookittheminky, lookatthesillyminky...

hope that helps...