jacksonianmarch

VMart is still apparently in a lot of pain.

The Braves didnt make out too badly. They rid themselves of Jo Jo Reyes and got 2 good prospects with Gonzalez

how about a patch that just says THE BOSS. They dont need his full name there. Everyone knows who we are talking about

Adam Warren has been promoted to AA. Over his last 3 starts, he has struck out 19 and allowed no earned runs

Theo got burned on emotion with Mike Lowell. He wont get burned again

and CC has a rough May where he only had 2QS in 6 starts. In the other 3 months, he's thrown 12 QS in 13 starts. The fact of the matter is, Lester and CC are two of the hottest starters in the AL and have been two of the best with Price being ahead of both. Regardless, right now, CC, Lester and Price are probably the top 3

WHIP is negligible, ERA difference is significant and the K's are significant. CC has thrown more IP, has more wins, and more QS's. I said that he is in the conversation with Lester and Price. I am being objective, maybe it's time you actually decided to give the big guy his due

Most of them will flame out, but the Yankees have stopped filling up their minors with garbage. There is a massive amount of talent in the lower levels

George was one of the most generous owners of all time, he just never publicized it. His image would have been improved significantly if he did, but he was humble enough to let his donations be out of the public eye.

George was more than just an owner. He brought a personification of NY to the club. An in your face, win at all costs, money is no object owner whose motto was winning second, breathing first. Was the guy a saint? Hell no, as his 3 yr ban would say. But he rejuvenated a dying historic franchise back to its rightful place atop the sports pantheon. 7 championships in his tenure and a multitude of pennants his way. Every single ball player needs to pay homage to the Boss today. He made their free agency and salary structure what it is today. A truly capitalistic method of buying, selling and trading players with the highest price going to the players. And to the fans, his ENTIRE effort was devoted to the fans. He wanted NY to have a winner, even when it cost him millions out of his pocket. In terms of a businessman, he took a 10 million dollar investment and turned it into a $1.5 billion dollar enterprise. He was a pioneer in the TV marketing industry and was able to put his final stamp on the Yankees with the palace that is Yankee stadium. Baseball fans need to pay homage to a man who put the game even further on the map than it was before. And all Yankee fans need to see that this man, although flawed, put the Yankees back into the center of New York's minds and hearts. And for that, I will miss him. You kept trying and you reached the mountaintop 7 times. God bless George, and from the millions of fans you helped generate, THANK YOU. JM

He has sucked in his first half season, ERA in the upper 4's with a 1.60WHIP. He's got a history of being a finisher and is much better than his numbers indicate. He isnt a bust yet. Wait until after 2011 before you start throwing that around. It might just be an adjustment to the park, to the Al East, who knows. Maybe he is hurt and isnt telling anyone? Regardless, Beckett came over and sucked in yr 1 and everyone was ready to throw him out. But he turned out to be effective, maddeningly fragile, but effective

Meh, just wait until next season when some of our talent in the lower levels hits the long season leagues. I honestly think that from Staten Island down to the DSL league, we have the most talent in baseball. Our INTL signees since 2007 have been pretty frickin good and they are just starting to hit their stride. If you are looking for a few names.... Nik Turley- 20 yr old 6'6" LHP now in SI Mikey O'Brien- 20 yr old 5'10" RHP who throws mid 90s in SI Gavin Brooks (injured)- 22 yr old lefty reliever throws low 90s and was dominant in the SI last yr Manny Barreda- 21 yr old, only HS pitcher signed in 2007, dominated before TJS, now back Francisco Arcia- 20yr old Dominican catcher who is on pace to be starting in Charleston next yr Garrison Lassiter- 20yr CIF who stumbled in long season, but has found the stroke in SI Jose Mojica- 21 yr old SS with a solid glove and bat combo, returned last yr from ACL injury Kyle Roller- 22 yr old 2010 draftee who can flat out stroke Kelvin De Leon- 19 yr old, 2007 INTL million dollar signee, has always hit but is now learning how to play D Eduardo Sosa- 19 yr old complete 5 tool CFer who struggled last yr but is doing very well in SI Mariel Checo- 20 yr old raw RHP drafted last season, throwing hard in the GCL Evan DeLuca- 19yr old LHP capable of throwing mid 90s, a bit raw but has some serious stuff Brett Gerritse- 19yr old RHP signed in 2009, throws low 90s with a knockout curve holding his own Bryan Mitchell- 19yr old RHP, the most complete of the HS pitchers from the 2009 class, has had 2 dominant outings and 2 absolutely terrible ones. He'll be the best of the 4 Matt Richardson- 20 yr old 2008 draftee who is finding his way through the GCL Gary Sanchez- 17 yr old catcher dominating the GCL Cito Culver- 17 yr old switch hitting SS, 1st rounder in 2010, adjusting to the wood bat Anderson Felix- 18 yr old 2b, part of the 2008 class who is holding his own in the GCL Reymund Nunez- 19 yr old, 6'4" 220lb 1B with light tower power who is adjusting to America after dominating the GCL Kelvin Duran- 19 yr old lefty swinging speedy OFer Henry Pena- lefty swinging OFer with some developing power Those are just the prospects in America. The DSL has some serious talent, notably Yeicok Calderon- 2008 signee, 18 yr old, huge lefty who is hitting .346 in the DSL with 6 bombs in 36 games. He is the prize of that team. Jorge Alcantara is hitting the piss out of the ball on the same team. 19 yr old 3B (who is probably gonna be an OFer in the states, 22 errors in 36 games) has a 1.062OPS through 36 games as well as 9 steals. He is a true 5 tool prospect who will be in the GCL next yr Daniel Lopez, 18 yr old OFer, ran a 6.2 second 60 yd dash, hitting .331 in the DSL, but needs to learn how to steal (10/17 in SB attempts) Kennedy Agramonte- 19 yr old Dominican RHP capable of throwing mid 90s, who is tearing it up in the minors (0.81WHIP, 44K in 33IP) Cris Cabrera- 17 yr old RHP who has allowed 2ER in 27IP, throws low 90s at this point with 2 workable off speed pitches Rafael Polo- (turned 17 in April), young 3B out of the Dominican, hitting .336 with a .911OPS thus far, showing mostly gap power Eladio Moronta- 21 yr old short and squat OFer who is holding his own in the DSL in his first taste of professional hitting Ravel Santana- 18 yr old speedy OFer holding his own in the DSL with a .800+OPS and double digit steals. And those are only the guys doing well, there are other names to keep an eye on as well who have talent but arent hitting (Arias, Valera, De la Rosa, etc) The point is, obviously, not all these guys will make it. But there is an unprecedented amount of talent in the yankee lower levels, mostly made up of IFA's. Surprisingly, the Yankees didnt push many of their prospects this yr, hence why Charleston is made up of a few actual prospects scattered inbetween organizational fodder. But next yr, the SI team should move on as should guys like Sanchez and Richardson from the GCL and should make up a pretty strong low A team. And, assuming some of them reach their potential, we'll have one hell of a crop brewing from below, not to mention the upper levels having some serious success. Come 2012, I am betting that the Yankees will be ranked in the top 5 in farm system talent, because the supposed scouting "experts" will actually get useable SRs on guys who are above the short seasons

I think we are in a battle of semantics here. I said that we'd move him for an elite talent and if none come available, then we'd start him next yr

The one thing that this experience showed us is the reality that Montero is on the block. Jesus Montero is a hell of a prospect, and he is just starting to swing the lumber. BUT, he really is a moveable commodity. We already have a catcher for 2011 in Posada and a very strong long term backup in Cervelli. We also have a future franchise C in Romine in AA who is doing very well. Below him, we have solid catching depth in Kyle Higashioka (who I am told is having his swing revamped, so his numbers are a bit misleading) and JR Murphy. And below them is Gary Sanchez, who is lighting s*** up in the GCL at 17. All of these guys profile to be better than Montero defensively. So that leaves his second most likely defensive position, 1B. Well, Teixeira is an MVP caliber offensive player who plays Gold Glove defense and will be there for another 6 seasons. So, then you look to the OF. I have been told by people in the know that Montero would never be a LF option because he is just too damn slow. Okay, with that out, we'd be looking at a split C/DH position until Teixeira moves on. Now, his offensive capability is special and the fact that he is only 20 yrs old means that we should expect some serious improvement, but at the same time, he really is a man without a position. Hence why the Yanks were willing to part with him. Now, I expect this to be a theme. Montero on the block for an elite talent. If one doesnt come our way, then Montero probably DH's in 2011. If one does, then we improve significantly and sign a veteran to fill that hole. Regardless, it isnt a bad situation to be stuck in

I talked to a few people who were at that game and it sounds like his defense let him down a bit as well as getting pounded by some bad luck. Infield hits, balls that should have been played, etc.

With all the talk about Cliff Lee being the best pitcher in the AL, CC is quietly jumping to the forefront of the Cy Young conversation with Jon Lester and David Price. CC has started 19 games, with 14 of them being QS's. He's thrown 5 straight starts with 1 or less ER and 7 or more IP. He's thrown 131IP, good for 4th in the MLB and 2nd in the AL to Felix Hernandez. He's 10th in the AL in K at 104, first in wins with 12, 9th in WHIP and 9th in ERA in the AL East and he is known as a second half pitcher. If he goes on another second half tear, the award should be his. As it stands right now, he is the best pitcher on the best team in baseball, so he's definitely in the conversation. I love having the big lug. He quietly goes about his business, throwing 7-8 inning with ease and always keeping the offense of the other team down.

If I were a sox fan, I wouldnt want either Youk or Beltre in. Both of those guys need a few days off

Adrian Beltre left the game with an apparent hamstring injury

I should have specified. The Padres do not want VMart and Beltre for AdGon, and neither do the Brewers for Fielder

He has been an .860-.880OPS guy for 3 yrs now with massive power from the right side. He will command a lot, especially since there are no other power OFers available at the deadline

It was a good run, 99 yr is a lot more than most of us will ever get. But listening to him at a game was one of the things I will always remember about the old park. RIP to a good guy and a great voice

Pal, there is no way they are able to move VMart or Beltre and get AdGon. Now, they could get a prospect load for those two, then spin those prospects off in the offseason for AdGon or Fielder, but nobody would want an expiring contract for an elite player still under contract

Joba f***ed us, the umpires helped put us away and Vazquez' start is wasted. Gotta do something with Joba. This cannot continue.