jacksonianmarch

Sounds like I shouldn't have taken the Yankees.com site at face value.

So it begins. Spring training and thus far, Pineda's debut was successful. Sounds like he was pretty impressive in his first action. Cannot wait to see what he can do on a nightly basis

The wrist is funny. Your range of motion will improve when the swelling goes down regardless of the underlying ligamentous or tendonous injury. Less fluid in the contained space will mean increased range of motion. You are going to see if this is just normal inflammation vs something more serious when he picks up a bat and starts swinging in anger again. That kind of force cannot be duplicated and will be the ultimate determinant of his long term prognosis

Or maybe because he aggravated it on a drill where it shouldnt have been aggravated? I can understand him aggravating it swinging, but in a bunting drill? That's ridiculous. Regardless, you can continue to see the sunshine through the clouds, but the reality is, he isnt all the way back. And, even if he re-injured it, the swelling will go down after a couple days. So the fact that the swelling is down doesnt tell you much. And I said nothing about bone chips, you fabricated that. Let's just put it this way, I am concerned that he's pushing himself too far and will likely need to scale back. It might just be some tendonitis, but the fact that the swelling is down does nothing to take that possibility away that it could be more serious. And sff, are you questioning my track record on here? Because last I checked a whole lot of you guys ate crow when I brought my opinions on injury into here. Gun to my head, this is tendonitis and will go down with a week off from work, but I dont like that it reaggravated in such a trivial manner. Makes me suspect something else could be lurking, which is why I would recommend an MRI

Before you crown yourselves world series champs, just remember they're a bad college team. Back a decade ago, I was on a team that hung double digits and beat Northeastern twice in one day. Not a big achievement.

They are trying to continue a tradition that is also a recruiting point for the University. My guess is BC does something for the sox to pay back this benefit

He irritated it bunting. Really. Yeah, that sounds like something minor. Bunting has nearly no force at all applied to the wrist. How the hell is he going to swing the bat?

Left Handed Pitching You will notice the right handers will be broken down into upper level starters, lower level starters and relievers. But left handed pitching comes at a premium, and while the Yankees have some solid prospects, they do not have the depth. 1. Manuel Banuelos, 20 yrs old: AA/AAA- 129.2IP 3.75ERA 8.7K/9IP 1.8K/BB 1.54WHIP- Manny's peripherals werent impressive, but they came mostly on the heels of his astronomical walk rate. Typically, that would be enough to scare away most scouts, but looking at his history and the underlying reason for his wildness is the key here. Prior to last season, he had been throwing to about a 3BB/9IP mark and was topping out around 92mph. This yr, though, he was sitting 92-94 and was hitting as high as 97 on the radar gun. His newfound velocity cost him some control. As a 20 yr old, that's okay. He will need to harness it, though, before he can reach that next step. He compliments his hard fastball with a true plus plus changeup that is a deadly strikeout pitch. He rounds out his repertoire with a plus curveball that is deadly, especially vs lefties. ManBan has true ace level ceiling, and with him turning 21 in 2 weeks, he has a long time to get it under control. With a fluid motion and solid command of his offspeed pitches, I expect him to nail down the heater with velocity this season. His ceiling is an ace level pitcher capable of being an all-star multiple times. His floor, if he cannot locate his heater is still a big league starting pitcher in the 3-4 mold range. Regardless, the kid has the goods, and the Yankees are handling him the right way. By signing Kuroda, they effectively give the kid a full yr to add some innings to his arm (goal of 160IP this season) and to harness his newfound power. He's one to watch 2. Daniel Camarena, 19yrs old: No stats- Camarena might be a little high on this list, but I love what I hear about this kid. He is drawing rave reviews in instructs and drawing a lot of comparisons to Manuel Banuelos before he gained his velo. He's got a fluid delivery, lots of confidence and the stuff to be a big league pitcher. He starts off his repertoire with a 88-91 mph fastball that tops out at 92. He gets great movement and can locate it well for a kid so young. He follows that up with an already plus curveball that has great bite. He already has a great feel for it and can locate it well for someone so young. He rounds out his repertoire with a plus potential changeup that has solid fade but is a little inconsistent. In total, you have a kid who has a fluid motion, solid arsenal, great work ethic and a high level of confidence. If the system werent so loaded at pitcher, he'd shoot through the ranks. As it is, I think he starts the yr in Staten Island, but there is a chance, due to the logjam that he starts in the GCL. 3. Matt Tracy, 23yrs old: SI- 47.1IP 3.04ERA 9.1K/9IP 3.0K/BB 1.20WHIP- Tracy was not expected to be as good as he was when he showed up at SI last season. He was drafted as a senior sign in the 24th round as a two way player. He was an OFer and a LHP at the U of Miss and didnt start on the weekends. Well, focusing on pitching showed he could be a star if he continues to work. He's a tall, strong kid who can run his FB up there in the 91-94mph range consistently. He gets a good amount of tail to it and impeccable command. His changeup has plus potential that gets a lot of run, but needs to work on command a little. His curve rounds out his repertoire. He came into SI with a slurvy breaking ball that quite frankly, sucked. They turned it into a 12-6 knockout with plus potential. Like his change, he needs work commanding his curve. Overall, he is more polished than they expected as well, able to command both sides of the plate and with a bulldog mentality, he goes right after hitters rather than nibbling around the zone. His ceiling is as a middle of the rotation starter who could rise higher should he nail down his command of his off-speed pitches. My bet is that he is in the starting rotation in Tampa this upcoming season 4. Nik Turley, 22yrs old: A/A+- 89.2IP 2.81ERA 8.7K/9IP 4.0K/BB 1.15WHIP- Turley is an intriguing prospect. He was drafted a few yrs back as a raw kid out of Canada with a lot of upward potential. He was sitting right around 90mph at that time, mostly in the high 80s, but with a 6'6" frame, he was expected to throw much harder as he filled out. Well, he's still a bean-pole, and his fastball has only ticked up slightly. He sits in the 90-92 range for the most part, which is nice as a lefty, but not overpowering to say the least. He makes up for that, though, in command. He also throws a plus potential change that is getting good after being useless on first sign. And he throws a loopy slow curve that he has some issue controlling, but is rounding into a nice K weapon. Overall, if he doesnt add velo but continues to tighten up his arsenal, he has the potential to be a #4 style pitcher, capable of going deep into games and keeping hitters off balance more than blowing them away. And for those wondering about his light IP mark, he broke a finger in his second start at Tampa on his pitching hand and missed the rest of the yr 5. Evan Rutckyj, 20yrs old: GCL- 45.1IP 4.76ERA 7.4K/9IP 1.5K/BB 1.46WHIP- Rutckyj is all about projection. He's a tall 6'5" Canadien who was more a hockey player than baseball player when he was drafted. Also, when he was drafted in 2010, he was topping out in the high 80s. Well, now he's topping out at 94 and sitting in the 92 range. He gets a lot of movement on it, and as he fills out, he should continue to add more velo. His issue has been command, and that will continue to be an issue for the short term. He also throws a nasty slider that he has some issue commanding and is starting to develop a changeup. He reminds me a lot of Nik Turley after he was drafted. A kid with projection who came in very raw. Unlike Turley, though, Rutckyj is gaining velocity at a young age while gaining experience. Like Turley, I expect Evan to repeat the GCL in his second full season, and if he shows he's improved, he could see time in the SI rotation by season's end. His projection is too early to tell. His ceiling is high, but he has a long ways to go to reach it 6. Chaz Hebert, 19yrs old: No stats- Hebert was drafted out of HS last yr in the 27th round. He fell far because he appeared to be a strong commit to college, but decided to take a small signing bonus rather than go to school and increase his draft stock because of his affection for the Yankees. That is not a lie, it actually happened, which makes one wonder if he is intelligent. Regardless, he has the raw stuff to be very solid. He's a tall lefty who currently tops out in the low 90s with an advanced curve and changeup for his age. He is still raw, but has a great feel for pitching for his age and should shoot through the ranks as he gets older. He should start out in the GCL this yr due to numbers, but if he starts showing improvements, he could fly 7. Evan DeLuca, 20yrs old: SI- 46.1IP 4.27ERA 8.4K/9IP 1.3K/BB 1.60WHIP- DeLuca is an enigma. The kid showed up on the scene in 2010 after being drafted in 09 and absolutely sucked. He rebounded a little last season, but still remains a mystery. The kid tops out in the 94-95mph range, but lost some velo due to elbow tendonitis. He has made some serious strides with his curveball, though, and an inconsistent changeup has made it hard to project him as a starter. If he can regain his velo, he's got unlimited potential, but he is another guy with a humongous gap between his ceiling and his current. My bet at this point is that he ends up in relief. He's got too big of an arm to give up on, but he has shown nearly no command after two full seasons in the Yankee system. He turns 21 in a week, so he isnt old by any means, but he needs to figure it out soon. My guess is he stays in SI for his final short season year (you can only have 3) and may move from there. 8. Jeremy Bleich, 24yrs old: No stats- Bleich is a special case here. He was drafted in the supplemental round in 2008 as a kid with a solid repertoire and good command. He was rising through the ranks and started out in AA in his second full minor league season, when he all of a sudden lost his velocity. Turns out, he had a torn shoulder capsule and needed it operated on. He had a setback last season and was actually done with his rehab as the season was winding down. Rather than ramping him up only to end the season in a couple weeks, they shut him down, happy that his rehab was finally over. He is in camp now with no restrictions. It will be interesting to see what kind of player returns. Shoulder surgery is much tougher than elbow surgery, but strides are being made and it is no longer the deathknell of pitchers, although it is far from a sure thing. Healthy, he threw a 90-92mph 4 seamer with some life to it, a 88mph cutter that was filthy, a plus changeup, a slider, and a plus curveball. He had the look of Andy Pettitte on the hill and it seemed like he was on the fast track to the bigs. Now, nearly 2 years since his last professional pitch, it will be interesting to see where he starts. My bet is that he starts out in Trenton, but his role will be defined later. If his fastball lacks some life, he might be moved to the pen to increase it in a shorter role. If he comes back throwing 90+ again, he should be in the rotation 9. Kramer Sneed, 23yrs old: A/A+- 103.2IP 3.99ERA 9.6K/9IP 3.9K/BB 1.25WHIP- The guy with the best name on the farm put up impressive totals last season in his first taste of long season. He pitched well enough to earn a promotion as well. One would wonder why a guy with his performance would be so far down. Well, I don't see him in the rotation. He throws a big league average fastball that tops out at 92mph. He also throws an average slider and changeup. His stuff isnt overwhelming, but he commands his pitches well enough to get through the more inexperienced hitters. He does have a rounded 3 pitch arsenal, so that means he'll stay as a starter for now and is likely ticketed for a repeat of Tampa in 2012. 10. Shaeffer Hall, 24yrs old: AA/AAA- 157IP 4.07ERA 5.7K/9IP 2.6K/BB 1.41WHIP- Hall is a poor man's Mark Buerhle. He works fast, throwing strike after strike and will not overpower anyone. Sitting mid 80s with a capacity to touch 90, he will never overpower anyone. And without a plus pitch, he won't wow anybody. But he can throw all 4 of his pitches to a dime all over the plate and can go deep into games if asked. He will be a victim of the numbers game. He isnt nearly good enough to warrant a spot in the AAA rotation, since all 5 spots will be held by legit prospects. But his stuff doesnt play well out of the pen. My guess is he repeats 2012 in AA and waits for his chance, be it a trade or an injury. I bet he ends up being a throw-in in a trade for something midseason. To some other team, he could have some use, but in this system, he's just not a factor. Honorable Mention: Francisco Rondon, Pat Venditte, Rony Bautista

He is not an adequate defensive catcher. Never has been. He isnt the complete butcher he was billed as, but he is not a big league average defensive catcher. He is below average, let's not pretend his defense is anything other than that. His offense is in the above average category. That isnt saying much, since most catchers nowadays hit about as good as a pitcher in the NL

They are shutting him down and putting him on anti-inflammatories. My guess is that if he has trouble swinging the stick after 4-5 days of rest, he's gonna get an MRI. That being said, if I were the sox physician, I'd get one because they have too much invested in this guy to let him take some cuts if his wrist isnt healthy

Nava is a cup of coffee player and AAAA fodder. Cue the Tug Hulett Dojji priapism

Cody Ross and Ryan Sweeney starting every game. Cool

I am telling you right now, he should get another MRI

Pain experienced today in his surgically repaired wrist. He's been shut down for a few days and is on anti-inflammatories.

I think Lavs plays more like VMart did last yr. Backup catcher, full time DH. I doubt the sox get in on Napoli, who is effectively a DH. The sox are waiting for Miguel Montero

He's been high for 2 yrs. the likelihood he stays that high is zero. He needs to start making contact or he never makes the bigs. That simple

I think Lavarnway is your DH in 2013

Hazelbaker is interesting, but not a prospect to watch for IMO. His OBP last yr was fine for a speedster, but look at his BABIP. He had a .348BABIP last yr and only a .270 batting average. In 2010, he hit .269 with a BABIP over .350. When he moves up the ladder and equalizes in the .300 range, his BA is going to be in the .220s and his OBP around .300. He's an intriguing backup until he figures out how to not K.

I want him to play SS too. He doesnt have the arm to man SS, IMO.

Brett Gardner is possibly the most underrated player in baseball. If Hazelbaker turned into a guy with elite defensive skills who could steal 50 bases and reach base 35% of the time, you'd be ecstatic

AJ broke his orbital bone and is out into June. Talk about a kick in the pants for the Pirates who were hoping to parlay a strong first half into a deal for prospects at the deadline.

I think the sox should go hard for Miguel Montero in the off-season. After seeing the dramatic turnaround on the Yankee side of things with their acquisition of an elite defensive catcher, the sox might want to do the same. Remember, during their championship run, Varitek was the balls defensively. Once he started down the crapper, the sox went with him

I think Salty benefitted significantly from the lineup around him more than anything. I think teams have figured him out a bit and this could be a bit of an adjustment this season. I expect him not to see so many fastballs seeing as he showed a problem hitting the offspeed stuff