jacksonianmarch

He got a $2.2 mil raise when he should have gotten a $2.5 mil paycut at least. For someone pinching pennies, he screwed the pooch on that one

He has been cut off financially. By himself. He got a leash to work with, and it appears he was given the same budget Theo worked with last season. He got under that budget by overpaying Ortiz by badly underestimating his acceptance of arbitration and dealing away his starting shortstop. How can he get a B+? I have a theoretical trade for you. Red Sox get: Clayton Mortensen, Mark Melancon, Andrew Bailey, Ryan Sweeney, Cody Ross Team X receives: Papelbon, Lowrie, Weiland, Reddick, Scutaro, and Wheeler That's what it comes down to.

You are losing it if you think Melancon and Bailey will "replace" Papelbon and Bard.

How can anyone say A? Coming into 2012 with 2 relievers in the rotation and no prospects ready in the wings is a big problem. He lets Papelbon go and gives Ortiz a raise and he gets an A? The only thing I give him credit for is using his position to get a bunch of former big league starters into camp to see how they do. That's a good thing, and if one of them sticks, then it's well worth the minimal risk. Also, dealing away Scutaro for nothing without a suitable full time replacement is a negative as well. I gave him a C because he didnt panic, but he did make some stupid moves.

Either that or an announcement that he's taking the first half of the season off

He should sign with a non-contender in the NL and just get dealt at midseason

I think Santana is in Charleston if healthy and Cave is in SI Also, Heathcott starts in Tampa

they also got an option on him for 2013

2009, he was lights out. 2010 he was very solid until he got injured. His hip was operated on, then he blew out his elbow in July. Should he come back healthy, this is one hell of a smooth move. If he doesnt, then there is no risk

Carpenter was drafted by the Yankees previously (I believe in 08) and he was considered a top prospect, but fell in that draft due to injury concerns. He was definitely looking to sign as an overslot kid but hurt his arm in summer ball. His problem will never be velocity, but health and command have plagued him ever since. The issue at hand is the fact that it's not just command this time, though. He never progressed with the breaking ball, making him more of a one trick pony. Now, if he can learn to locate that 100mph fb, then the average breaking ball could be more of a weapon, but thus far, he hasnt proven he can. He should have 2 options left, so my guess is that he sits in AAA and tries to get his act together

I am telling you right now, no major player movement will happen

That park is awesome. When you go, go to Tony Luke's in the LF grandstand and get a pork sandwich with their curly fries and a side of cheese. Yes, their cheese-steaks are amazing, but the pork sandwich literally will blow your mind

Centerfield This is a position that the Yankees have a TON of potential and prospects locked into. The only issue is that the bulk of them are due to start the yr in SS, A and A+, so they are a little far off. The good thing is, we have an all-star in CF right now and a solid CFer playing LF for us as well, so we do have some time. 1. Mason Williams, 20yrs old: .349/.395/.468- Williams is not just a top prospect for the Yankees, he's a top prospect in all of baseball. He's a 4 tool player with the capability to develop the power as he fills into his frame. He has speed to burn, a good eye, solid contact skills and a solid above average arm. He raked the NYP as a 19 yr old playing against college competition and already plays plus defense. Mason has all the makings of a potential leadoff hitter with a Kenny Lofton type upside. He does need to work on walking a bit more and avoiding the CS. He did steal 28 bases, but getting caught 12 times isnt gonna cut it. Regardless, he is a true blue chipper who should shoot through the system. He'll be the starting CFer in Charleston this coming season, but I highly doubt he stays there all yr. 2. Ravel Santana, 19yrs old: GCL- .296/.361/.568- Ravel is the goods. He played 2011 as a 19 yr old and just dominated. He showed plus power potential (9HR in 41 games), plus speed (10 steals), and a good eye (17BB in 41GS). He also possesses a rocket arm and is already a plus defender. The only reason why he's not in too many national rankings is due to a nasty compound fracture of his ankle that he suffered at the end of last season. Initially concerned he might miss this upcoming season, he's squashed those rumors by already being at the sprinting phase of his rehab and already showing up to camp with minimal restrictions. Ravel is a kid with 30+ HR potential, 30+SB potential, and .300BA potential. And the silly thing is, he still has a lot of room to grow. He's stick thin, but at 6'2", he can still put on some weight and add even more raw power. Where he begins depends on the overall health of his ankle. If he is unrestricted come April (which right now he is projected to be), then he'll break camp in Charleston as a RFer since Williams will be there. If he has a setback, my guess is he'll end up in EST and play for SI of the NYP 3. Slade Heathcott, 21yrs old: A- .271/.342/.419- Slade is all about health and potential. He possesses all 5 tools but the only tool he's lacked is an ability to stay on the field. He's an all out player, which has been something that has caused him to miss significant time as a pro. To start, he dropped in the 09 draft because he was coming off shoulder and knee injuries from his time playing football. Then, his 2010 season was cut short by a shoulder surgery. Subsequently, he was on the road to good health when he required another shoulder surgery one game into a callup to High A. He should be healthy now, but the Yankees are going to have trouble keeping him that way if he continues to run into walls, incite brawls, and effectively lay out all over the place. They may need to try and keep him in check before he ends up on the DL again. If he can progress and stay healthy, he has the potential to be a top of the order hitter, and if the projected power ever comes, maybe a #2 hitter in time. He should start out in Tampa, but if he finally gets it to click, he'll be in Trenton before you know it 4. Jake Cave, 19yrs old: debut- Cave is a guy with all the tools who the Yankees drafted last yr in the 6th round. He has a very advanced stick for a kid so young, good plate discipline and a rocket arm. His arm was so good, in fact, that he was being looked at as a LHP in the draft as well. The Yankees intend on keeping him in the OF. Regardless, he's another athlete added to the farm who showed in late season tournaments that he can hang with the big names that came off the draft board. He signed late then his season ended as soon as it began when he injured his knee running over the catcher. My hope is that he doesnt develop the same level of durability concerns as Slade does, because they do both play with reckless abandon. He will probably start 2012 in the NYP and stay there all season. I am pegging him as a kid who comes out and lights the world on fire in his first pro season like Mason Williams did in 2011. 5. Daniel Lopez, 20yrs old: DSL/GCL/A- .327/.413/.490- Lopez exploded onto the scene in 2011. He started the yr on the DSL Yankee 2 team for the this straight yr. After hitting over .400 in 11 games, he moved to the GCL, where he spent the bulk of his time. He then moved up to the SAL for 3 games and got his feet wet in the long season leagues. This kid has turned the corner. He is a 6.2 second 60 yard dash guy who initially was more of a Juan Pierre type hitter. But in year 3, something clicked and he can now drive the ball all over the field. He still has world class speed and plays an elite level of defense in CF. The other intriguing thing is the fact that the kid has advanced plate discipline at a young age. He rarely K's (32K in 61 games) and takes a solid share of walks. He can steal a ton of bases and as the power comes along, he could eventually develop into a double digit HR guy. In the end, I think he ends up in SI for this yr due to the logjam and probably moves to RF since Cave will be there. But the sky is the limit for this kid 6. Abraham Almonte, 22yrs old: A+ .268/.333/.382- Almonte has all the tools to be great, it has just been his health that has let him down. After a promising 2009 season at Charleston that saw him hit .280 with 36 steals, he suffered a should injury that cost him 2010. It took him awhile to get right and when he came back in 2011, he was rusty. His numbers after the break were very, very promising though, with an OPS over .800 and a BA of .317. He is a 4 tool player right now with the capability to be a 10-15HR hitter. He has blazing speed and has shown significant improvements in patience and contact. He should start the season in AA as the Thunder's starting CFer. Where he goes from there depends on which AA shows up. If he shows the second half was no fluke, then he won't be there for long. But if he continues to be a streaky ballplayer, then he likely settles in as a big league reserve OFer 7. Eduardo Sosa, 20yrs old: A- .255/.303/.342- Sosa is one of the reasons why the Yankees are trying to slow down the progress of some of their young position prospects. After lighting the world aflame in the DSL in 2008, he struggled mightily in the GCL in 2009. Still, he was pushed on one level at a time even though he really wasnt mastering any level. 2011 was more of the same. He has a sweet left handed stroke that should eventually develop some power, but he doesnt make enough contact to be a big weapon. He hasnt improved in the patience department either and the power has stagnated. He still plays solid defense, which is good for him, but the offense must pick up or else he's gonna get buried. He is still young, though as he doesnt turn 21 until March. My guess is he ends up in Charleston again as the LF with Williams and Santana manning CF and RF respectively. He still has time, but thus far, he isnt progressing. Overall, this list is ridiculous for one position. This is probably the deepest position player spot in the system seeing as Montero is now in Seattle. It will be very interesting to see how these guys move as some of these prospects pop

EEI this am. They got it from Cafardo

You know why Francona wasnt hired by StL right? John Henry wouldnt vouch for him or even return a phone call on his behalf. That's why StL didnt hire him. I find it underhanded that Henry wouldnt at least pick up the phone and put a good word in for the guy who skippered the sox to their first 2 titles since 1918

and the commissioner already has said he wants to limit the value teams place on executives and non-game managers. My guess is you will not be pleased with the return

They have to start moving a few. We've got quite a glut in AAA and it only gets worse with the kids behind them

Okay, so let's say park factors negate that final 0.25WAR difference. So effectively, what you are saying is that right now, you havent upgraded the RF position. Okay then, my point stands. If Iglesias is your starting SS, then your team has downgraded

Okay. Drew and Reddick played 168 games in 2011 and put up a 1.6WAR. Ross played 121 games and put up a 0.9WAR. (121/168)*1.6= 1.15, which is still higher than Ross'

SSS. Cmon man, really? You say he was stunted by his home park, which is a pitcher's park. Now you are saying he is stunted by all parks that could be construed as pitcher's parks. That's called baseball, some parks are better than others. Doesnt mean dick when it comes to his performance. As a full time player, he's a guy who is a low .700s OPS guy. If they platoon him when Crawford comes back and be sure to give him lefty matchups, then he'll be more than that.

Cayones and Moreno. More than I thought we'd get. Just looked through Cayones here and he is intriguing. He's got a good eye and was doing well in the GCL playing as a 19 yr old, then moved up to the NYP and went 2 for 32, skewing his numbers a bit. My guess is he starts in SI. Moreno has a big arm and has shown good command up until last season. He apparently has closer level stuff, but has maturity issues. Which may be the reason why they had him stay in High A for 2011 even though he dominated that same level in 2010 to a level most people don't see very often. His WHIP in High A in 2010 was under 0.5 with a K/9IP of 13 and a K/BB of over 11. Just insane numbers. If he gets his head on straight, he's probably headed to Trenton for 2012 and could be an option for us this yr if he comes out ballin

What isnt hard to look up either is the WAR of Ross vs Drew and Reddick. Ross had a WAR of 0.9 in 2011. Drew was -0.3 and Reddick was 1.9. According to that metric, the sox are actually downgrading in 2012

You know what else isnt hard to look up? Cody Ross' splits home vs away. If his home stadium is such a drain on offense, why did he OPS slightly worse on the road?

Corner OF There are so many OF prospects, that I decided to break them up into guys who will obviously not man CF and guys who are at least projected to play CF. This will chronicle guys ticketed for LF or RF in the Yankee system 1. Ramon Flores, 19yrs old: A- .265/.353/.400- Flores has a very solid long season debut last season. He played the whole yr as a 19 yr old and actually shone through. He showed great patience (61 walks), solid developing power (11HR, 39 EBH), and some plus speed (13SBs). He's a guy who doesnt really have the arm to man CF, but should play a solid LF defensively as well. He's your prototypical 4 tool OFer (no arm) who should make the move to Tampa this coming season, where he will play the whole yr as a 20 yr old. He has all the tools to shine especially as he starts to fill in. 2. Zoilo Almonte, 22 yrs old: A+/AA- .276/.345/.459- Zoilo is the forever underappreciated prospect in the Yankee system. He can switch hit, he hits for power (15HRs in 2011), he can steal bases (18SBs in 2011), and he has good natural instincts in the field. Where he lacks is in the consistency department. He'll have stretches where he looks like a world beater and others where he just looks lost and isnt in the game. Those lapses make it likely he ends up as a 4th OFer somewhere. If he can get his head on straight, he has 5 tool talent enough to break out into being a true corner OFer somewhere. It all depends on whether he can mentally do it 3. Melky Mesa, 25yrs old: A+/AA- .249/.332/.399- There is perhaps nobody as frustrating in the Yankee system than Mesa. Mesa was one yr removed from being the offensive POY in Tampa before falling on his sword in 2011 in Trenton. He has never shown good contact ability, but he has always seemed to show the power and speed tool. Well, in 2011, he hit only 9 homers and was caught on 40% of his steal attempts. He has the power arm, enough to be a pitcher one day if they want, and he has the natural tools to be a solid player one day, but he is so erratic and K prone that it looks like he's busted at this point. His natural talent keeps him this high. He'll probably start out where he left off in Trenton 4. Ben Gamel, 19yrs old: NYP- .289/.373/.432- Gamel is an interesting prospect. He can play all 3 OF positions, but due to depth, he'll be squeezed into the corners. He shows an advanced knack for making solid contact and takes a TON of walks. He also has above average speed, enough to be a double digit base stealer in the bigs. He doesnt project to have much power, but he might eventually start to hit for gap power in time. He is still young, but to me, he looks like a slower Brett Gardner. Solid D, great eye, maybe a little better in the contact department, but similar in the power department. I think he ends up as a reserve, but he should see some time in Charleston this yr. Should the power miraculously come, he could bump up his projection 5. Yeicok Calderon, 20yrs old: GCL- .225/.264/.457- Calderon is an intriguing prospect. He made his US debut last yr and showed the world that he can slug for power. The problem is, he left his solid hit tool with him. He is an absolute butcher in the OF at times as well. But what he lacks in polish he makes up for in raw talent. He can run, throw, hit, catch and hit for power. A prototypical 5 tool player. He's got the highest ceiling of anyone on this list not named Mesa or Flores, but he also has the furthest to go to reach that ceiling. He may experience an improvement with an adjustment to American life in 2012, and if he does, watch out. He's got the raw talent to be something special. 6. Kelvin DeLeon, 21yrs old: A- .221/.282/.369- Kelvin is another enigma on this list. It seems the Yankees get a fair amount of corner OF guys but the development of the most talented seems to be lacking. That changes in the CF aisle as you'll see soon. De Leon has light tower power, a strong arm, and good speed. The problem is, he is the epitome of Serrano. He cannot hit or lay off a good curveball, leaving him virtually helpless offensively when down in the count. He struck out an astounding 147 times in 118 games, but did manage 14 homers as a 20 yr old in long season. He is a kid to watch, but his flame is slowly getting extinguished. He should stay in Charleston for one more season. If he sucks again, then it might be time to cut bait That's about it. Flores is really the only big prospect on the list with Zoilo being the most likely to make the bigs in some capacity. This is an area the Yankees have tried to improve with no luck of late. We'll see if Flores changes that