Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Over at BP, Kevin Goldstein has the lowdown on which Yankee farm hands could replace Joba as Mo's set-up guy. In order of "prospecty goodness":
Marc Melancon: Someone didn't give Melancon the note about Tommy John survivors having problems getting their control back. In 54 innings this year, the former University of Arizona star has walked just 10, while limiting opposing batters to a .209 batting average. Both his sinking fastball and his hard curve rate as plus pitches, and with the way he's throwing at Double-A (1.57 ERA in 11 games), he could be in line for a September look.David Robertson: As a small righty, Robertson doesn't pass the scouting sniff test, but he keeps getting hitters out, easing concerns about his height. In over 130 innings as a pro, he's yet to give up a home run, and in 28 appearances between Double- and Triple-A this year, he has a 1.74 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings. With a low-90s fastball and outstanding slider, Robertson may not have Melancon's upside, but he might get the call sooner.
J. Brent Cox: Like Melancon, Cox missed all of last year due to reconstructive elbow surgery, and like Melancon he's impressed people upon his return. Spread across three levels and now at Triple-A, Cox has posted a 1.38 ERA in 22 games. The one knock against him is that he doesn't miss many bats (only 13 in 26 innings), but he makes up for it by inducing a good number of groundballs.
There are a very few 'let's get that guy!' relievers and so many LaHawkins out there. Cashman is getting blasted for getting Hawkins, and blasted when any kid disappoints. It was a lot easier in the old days when we just gutted the farm and bought the most expensive player available.
If these kids pan out, we are just one SP and one RP away from having a dominating staff.
It seems the concensus is CC is too expensive (and fat)?
What about Bedard? Not 'hip' enough?
Ben Sheets anyone?
Oswalt and Andy are BFFs.
We should all pick one SP and RP (who could realistically be gotten) we would like in Pinstripes next year.
6 I have no problem with the Hawkins signing. It was a cheap and puntable contract he was signed to. If Hawkins is blocking an arm @ AAA, then I have a problem with it.
Personally, I think if Britton, Bruney & Albaladejo didn't get hurt, Hawk would've been long gone.
Sheets is too injury prone, so no.
Oswalt seems to be in a decline phase, and is going to be 31.
And both would be moving to the tougher league.
Bedard concerns me, but he's not a free agent until after next year anyway.
CC . . . I don't know. I think a 6-year deal might be too risky, but maybe he's a guy who can do it.
The only other free agent starters who interest me would be Jason Jennings, and only on the cheap (because he's been hurt the last two years, but pitched well before that), and Oliver Perez. But only if Eiland thinks he could help him with his control, and only if his money is reasonable too. Which, if his ERA stays over 5, it will be.
Hey, maybe he'd listen to Mo . . .
The Yanks don't need any free agent relievers. Let the kids do their thing.
And yeah, 13 wtf is up with the org's dislike for Britton?
(Obviously, there is no way either Farnsworth or Pavano, the Yanks' other free agents, qualifies at Type A.)
http://i28.tinypic.com/30il2jn.jpg
But that last one? Preposterous!!!
Same with Moose. I think he sees another 10-12 wins in 2009 being important to his HOF chances. 280 Wins looks much better then 268.
What's Moose worth in 2009 as a #5/#6 guy? $6m? $8m?
Joba
Wang
Phil
Pettitte/Moose
IPK/Horne
Raz/Geise/Unknown
Is that enough (quality)?
Wow, its like a 2006 Banter post.
http://tinyurl.com/56o9e2
19 Hitting depth in the Yanks system scares me. Best way to bump it up is a 1st round pick. The Yanks don't have a CC down on the farm (except maybe Hughes), but they have plenty of pitching depth. On the hitting side the only probable MLB guys are Jackson and Montero, and Montero is still just 18, so I'm not sure he should count.
Besides, if the season ended today, the Yanks would pick mid-first round (20th), not late. Most of me hopes they finish higher than that, but if they stay in the 15-20 range . . . do you still say sign CC?
Relatedly, Chad Jennings has one of the most insightful blogs anywhere. Those not reading it are missing out.
If Pettitte stays, I hope he would resign for ~$10M (again, maybe plus incentives).
24 Newman also (same link) "acknowledged that Scranton/Wilkes-Barre relievers J.B. Cox and David Robertson (left) could each end up in New York this season. . . . Newman wouldn't say which pitcher is closer to the big leagues, but he did say: "We need to see more from Cox because he's been down a little bit, so we need to be patient.""
Hmm . . .
You're right about Jennings' blog, its a great resource. Its very nice to have a guy who's constantly getting the goods from the minor league development folks. We're lucky, too; I don't know if Columbus had someone covering the team so closely and blogging as well as Jennings does.
an example from this year is where Newman claimed that McCutcheon was not going to AAA anytime soon, 9 days later he started in SWB.
I think generally, they're trying to slow down peoples expectations, but they're still promoting some players aggressively. aceves, for one.
What's going on with Sanchez? I thought it was hoped he would succeed Mariano. Is he throwing yet?
I'd say if Moose hangs in till fall, he's a very good candidate for another year at a fair cost, with incentives. I expect Pettitte to retire ... he was close to it this winter, remember. (Though some of that may have been the Roger crap.) The amount of money on the table had to play a role in his return, and if we scale that back to a 'proper' level, it makes for a lot less reason to come back.
Alas, I agree that my own wish list topper, for right NOW, a good set-up guy, is not easy to find. If Seattle is indeed abut to do a firesale, Morrow is possible BUT he's not expensive and could close for them next year, in which case Putz could go ... not sure what his deal is. Anyone know? Besides, he's still hurting. (So's Morrow, actually.)
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