Ruben Tejada was sent down today, along with Solano, meaning that the SS competition now appears to be between Pete Kozma and Tyler Wade.
Indications are that Severino is likely to end up with one of the remaining two rotation spots.
Judge and Hicks are still neck and neck. Judge has played well, but so has Hicks and Hicks is arguably the better defender (and can play all three spots).
They have always been high on Hicks potential. Last year may have been a down year. If Hicks wins does Judge go to AAA or will he be on the bench?
Actually he will cut down his K's. Ha. The bottom line is Judge needs consistent AB's. He won't grow as a player if he's a platoon RF.
They have always been high on Hicks potential. Last year may have been a down year. If Hicks wins does Judge go to AAA or will he be on the bench?
Hicks is going to play against LHP and have either Ellsbury or Gardner sit. He's also insurance against the inevitable Ellsbury DL stint.
Carter is a strikeout machine. I think he's had like 35 at bats this spring and has struck out 24 times
If he homered 9 times in 35 ABs, it wouldn't matter if he struck out 24 times and popped up the other 2!
That happened to me in a recent spring training game in Port Charlotte, Florida.
The Tampa Bay Rays were hosting the New York Yankees in a meaningless spring training game. They are meaningless perhaps for the veterans just trying to get in shape and work toward opening day. But spring games are mega meaningful for prospects on the cusp of earning a place on the team’s 25-man roster.
Long and lankly lefty Jordan Montgomery took the mound as the starting pitcher for the Yankees. I had never seen him pitch. I had never heard any buzz about him at all.
It didn’t take long for Montgomery to make me sit up in my seat and take notice. Here’s what I saw: He filled up the strike zone with fastballs, sliders and changeups. He used a very solid repertoire of outstanding pitches and kept the Rays off-balance. In his 4.1 innings, Montgomery struck out eight and walked none. His command and control were impeccable.
Montgomery threw his fastball between 91 and 93 miles per hour with terrific late movement on the ball. He would mix in a very solid 85 mph slider and a changeup that would greet the hitter at 84 miles per hour and buckled their knees. His curveball is another offering that he throws at 71 mph.
Montgomery knows how to pitch. He uses all quadrants of the plate and certainly isn’t afraid to work inside. He has excellent mound demeanor. He is very savvy and cool on the mound and doesn’t get rattled or distracted.
Montgomery has the ability to be a dominating pitcher.
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Kozma at least can pick it as a fielder.
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People love the guys that throw 100. But if you can thrown low 90's with nasty secondary pitches to keep hitters off balance, then you can have great success.
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The Sale comparison was a bit much, but Montgomery has improved significantly - stuff, K rates - over the last year so there's a chance that he could be more than just a fringey back-end guy.
People love the guys that throw 100. But if you can thrown low 90's with nasty secondary pitches to keep hitters off balance, then you can have great success.
Yes. It's called "pitching". Baseball seems to have collectively forgotten at every level that it's about getting outs, not hitting MPH on a radar gun.
Wade makes all the sense in the world to stay up, him and Torreyes will do a very good job here. You have your starting 9, you add Hicks, Wade, Romine and the stupidest move in the world, Carter, and that gives us 13.
But I am still hoping that Severino (and perhaps Montgomery) makes it the is year as a starter. And next year a healthy Kaprelian. Alot to ask, but isn't that what March ans Spring Training is for?
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Great stuff. Thanks.
I can see why Littell is the kind of young player one would want to root for.
Great read. Thanks Dune for leading me to RAB. Just passed the website it to my father in law. I check in on Mike and his guys daily.
Still stoked about the minors and the young guys. Only way to improve the year is Jacoby going away. I don't hate him, just the ridiculous intractable contract. What idiot pays him that money when he was never better than Gardner. It is worse than the Hank's A-Rod contract.
Anyway, this could be a very good year.
They won't cut Carter yet. They gave him too much. Ideally they trade Ref or put Austin on the 60 day.
Depends on the player. Torres and Frazier no, borderline guys like Wade and even Montgomery I doubt it's a major consideration.
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Every game I watch as a scout is a treat. There are some games, however, when I see a position player or pitcher that makes me want to scream, “Hey, look at this guy! Do you see what he’s doing?”
That happened to me in a recent spring training game in Port Charlotte, Florida.
The Tampa Bay Rays were hosting the New York Yankees in a meaningless spring training game. They are meaningless perhaps for the veterans just trying to get in shape and work toward opening day. But spring games are mega meaningful for prospects on the cusp of earning a place on the team’s 25-man roster.
Long and lankly lefty Jordan Montgomery took the mound as the starting pitcher for the Yankees. I had never seen him pitch. I had never heard any buzz about him at all.
It didn’t take long for Montgomery to make me sit up in my seat and take notice. Here’s what I saw: He filled up the strike zone with fastballs, sliders and changeups. He used a very solid repertoire of outstanding pitches and kept the Rays off-balance. In his 4.1 innings, Montgomery struck out eight and walked none. His command and control were impeccable.
Montgomery threw his fastball between 91 and 93 miles per hour with terrific late movement on the ball. He would mix in a very solid 85 mph slider and a changeup that would greet the hitter at 84 miles per hour and buckled their knees. His curveball is another offering that he throws at 71 mph.
Montgomery knows how to pitch. He uses all quadrants of the plate and certainly isn’t afraid to work inside. He has excellent mound demeanor. He is very savvy and cool on the mound and doesn’t get rattled or distracted.
Montgomery has the ability to be a dominating pitcher.
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I had no problem sigoing Carter. But that was insurance. With all the young guys he looking great and Holliday hitting, there is no need for Carter. He really shouldn't take a single regular AB from Bird or Judge. I guess he's fine for about a game a week to give a guy a rest.
Severino is the biggest conundrum. He has shown not to be special as a starter because of his secondary stuff. But, I think he still has shown just enough talent to not give up on him as a starter. In my opinion, the only way he should make the team out of camp is if they determine he is a reliever. You don't throw him out there to work on his stuff again. That should be in Scranton with this being his make or break year. Either he masters his secondary stuff and starts, or you only consider him a reliever moving forward.
It is Pete Kozma and he is a fair player. He can play IF or OF. He looked decent in the games I watched this spring. While he wouldn't be considered for the Bronx if Didi was healthy, he's not a bad player. His value is he can field several positions at a major league bench level. Not sure of his bat, but probably fair to below average. I'd prefer to see Wade, but the 40 man roster spot is the problem. If they lose Kozma when he goes through waivers to be taken off the 40, no big deal. Same cannot be said for Wade.
Hicks has played very well in ST, and you are just wrong on his defense. He is good with that cannon arm. He has great range and might very well be better in CF than Ellsbury. Since August last year his bat has gotten much better. This spring he has truly pushed Judge for the right field job, but his true value is he can play all 3 OF positions beyond capably.
I'm one of the few that agrees with you on Severino.
The Yanks have conviction in him - I can see him playing 3-4 games a week, spelling Judge but also Gardy and Ellsbury, who we all know gets banged up often.
But also agree we should give Judge every chance to play regularly, no just platoon against lefties.
I haven't seen him live enough to make this comparison physically, but the stories of Montgomery make me think of a young Pettitte - a less heralded prospect at the time bc he wasn't overpowering, rarely threw harder than 91-92 coming up, but had command of 4 pitches that were effective against both righties and lefties. Plus easily repeatable, non-violent mechanics that helped him stay mostly healthy
The Yanks have conviction in him - I can see him playing 3-4 games a week, spelling Judge but also Gardy and Ellsbury, who we all know gets banged up often.
But also agree we should give Judge every chance to play regularly, no just platoon against lefties.
I haven't seen him live enough to make this comparison physically, but the stories of Montgomery make me think of a young Pettitte - a less heralded prospect at the time bc he wasn't overpowering, rarely threw harder than 91-92 coming up, but had command of 4 pitches that were effective against both righties and lefties. Plus easily repeatable, non-violent mechanics that helped him stay mostly healthy
On Montgomery = Pettitte. IMO, that is exactly right. Just to show how prospect rankings can look bad in hindsight, through most of the early 1990's, the Yanks top SP were Brien Taylor (who I still believe would have been a star if he had not hurt that shoulder) and Sterling Hitchcock. Pettitte just went year to year and then burst on the scene.
People also forget that in 1995, many thought that the Yanks top prospect was Ruben Rivera, followed closely by Derek Jeter.
I also think that Pettitte kind of snuck up on most NY media because everyone thought that the Mets had 3 future superstar SP in Wilson, Isringhausen and Pulsipher.
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I also think his defense is strong, not just his arm but his range...gold glove? No...but a 4th OF good enough to play all 3 positions well is valuable.
The Yanks have conviction in him - I can see him playing 3-4 games a week, spelling Judge but also Gardy and Ellsbury, who we all know gets banged up often.
But also agree we should give Judge every chance to play regularly, no just platoon against lefties.
I haven't seen him live enough to make this comparison physically, but the stories of Montgomery make me think of a young Pettitte - a less heralded prospect at the time bc he wasn't overpowering, rarely threw harder than 91-92 coming up, but had command of 4 pitches that were effective against both righties and lefties. Plus easily repeatable, non-violent mechanics that helped him stay mostly healthy
On Montgomery = Pettitte. IMO, that is exactly right. Just to show how prospect rankings can look bad in hindsight, through most of the early 1990's, the Yanks top SP were Brien Taylor (who I still believe would have been a star if he had not hurt that shoulder) and Sterling Hitchcock. Pettitte just went year to year and then burst on the scene.
People also forget that in 1995, many thought that the Yanks top prospect was Ruben Rivera, followed closely by Derek Jeter.
I also think that Pettitte kind of snuck up on most NY media because everyone thought that the Mets had 3 future superstar SP in Wilson, Isringhausen and Pulsipher.
Was Ruben Rivera the one who stole Jeter's glove to sell for money, or was that someone else?
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In comment 13408768 mfsd said:
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I also think his defense is strong, not just his arm but his range...gold glove? No...but a 4th OF good enough to play all 3 positions well is valuable.
The Yanks have conviction in him - I can see him playing 3-4 games a week, spelling Judge but also Gardy and Ellsbury, who we all know gets banged up often.
But also agree we should give Judge every chance to play regularly, no just platoon against lefties.
I haven't seen him live enough to make this comparison physically, but the stories of Montgomery make me think of a young Pettitte - a less heralded prospect at the time bc he wasn't overpowering, rarely threw harder than 91-92 coming up, but had command of 4 pitches that were effective against both righties and lefties. Plus easily repeatable, non-violent mechanics that helped him stay mostly healthy
On Montgomery = Pettitte. IMO, that is exactly right. Just to show how prospect rankings can look bad in hindsight, through most of the early 1990's, the Yanks top SP were Brien Taylor (who I still believe would have been a star if he had not hurt that shoulder) and Sterling Hitchcock. Pettitte just went year to year and then burst on the scene.
People also forget that in 1995, many thought that the Yanks top prospect was Ruben Rivera, followed closely by Derek Jeter.
I also think that Pettitte kind of snuck up on most NY media because everyone thought that the Mets had 3 future superstar SP in Wilson, Isringhausen and Pulsipher.
Was Ruben Rivera the one who stole Jeter's glove to sell for money, or was that someone else?
It was Rube Rivera. Million $$ talent, five cent head.
Sanchez
Bird
Holliday
Ellsbury
Then some combo/order of Judge/Hicks, Headley, Castro, and Torreyes until Didi comes back.
I like that plan - Sanchez will likely be our highest OBP guy, giving him protection of Bird will help him get more pitches to hit too
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Wade's locker is empty. #Yankees
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Yanks make one move official. Tyler Wade reassigned to minor league camp, presumably to the RailRiders.