Coincidence? Bullpen ERA leaders also lead their divisions

The Yankees didn't even get five innings out of their starter last night but still won. How? It's no secret: their bullpen has been untouchable.

No Mariano? No problem. David Robertson put an end to that discussion quickly, but then left for the White Sox and more money.

This year's dynamic duo is Dellin Betances & Andrew Miller, who've combined for 18.2 scoreless innings in 17 appearances. Betances had a "slow" start but has really looked sharp in his last few outings, and Miller has been as filthy as advertised. Esmil Rogers also deserves a shoutout as the go-to long reliever with a 2.84 ERA in 12.2 innings.

After last night's W, the Yankees sit atop the AL East tied with the Rays at 11-8. It turns out the Yankees aren't the only team benefiting from their bullpen. Sorted by bullpen ERA, the top six ranked teams also lead their division, except for the Royals who are a half game behind the Tigers.

But the Tigers are pretty to explain. First, their offense has been explosive in 2015 – I still can't get over how Miguel Cabrera has a .652 AVG against the Indians this year (15-for-23). The Tigers also lead the majors in innings pitched by starters, so they haven't had to rely on their 26th-ranked bullpen as much to win games.

For a bit of context, six of last year's 10 playoff teams had a bullpen ERA in the top 10, including the World Series champion Giants.

Fifty years ago, bullpens were barely even a thing. 

Mixed reports on state of the Yankees [Poll]

I woke up this morning and saw a positive article about the Yankees from Red Sox world, here in Boston, and a negative Yankees article from Yankeeland. Huh.

The Boston Globe published an article titled "Yankees in a position to build healthy lead," while the New Jersey Star-Ledger published an article saying the Yankees aren't equipped to win it without Brett Gardner.

So, which is it? The Yankees have succeeded, securing a division lead after a mediocre start, with dominant starting pitching and the longball. But they sure could use that spark at the end of the lineup, who hit .412 in last year's ALDS against the Tigers.

Check out my analysis below and then vote in the poll (left) on the state of the Yankees.

Poll results: Yankees fans split on team's offseason grade

Some fans say the Yankees needed to do more this offseason. Others said they will be just fine. The results were split.

It's pretty clear to us at this point that Brian Cashman didn't like what was available this offseason and is waiting for next year's stacked free agent class, including Giants ace Matt Cain. It's either that or he has a lot of trust in his farm system and top four prospects Jesus Montero, Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances and Gary Sanchez.

New poll: Should the Yankees have done more?

I'd say it's about time for a new poll.

Should the Yankees have done more this offseason?

Even though I wasn't blogging for most of it, I didn't miss any big moves by Brian Cashman – because there haven't been any.

The Yankees re-signed Freddy Garcia, and more recently they brought back Andruw Jones. Those are Cashman's two biggest moves this offseason, making it pretty evident that Cashman either was not very fond of this year's free agent market, or that he is confident in his current team.

Where the Red Sox collapse ranks [Globe]

Last game of the season is tonight, and the Yankees still don’t know who they are playing in the first round. Meanwhile, the Red Sox are tied in the wild card race with the Rays, who face the Yankees young hurler Dellin Betances tonight.

If the Red Sox miss out on the playoffs, they would fit in with this list of baseball’s biggest collapses feature I did for Boston.com. Enjoy.

Poll Results: Forget about Joba’s history, call up Manny Banuelos or Dellin Betances

Fans voted in my latest poll that the Yankees shouldn’t worry about what happened to Joba Chamberlain when they consider whom to call up in the coming weeks. The big names in Triple-A are Manny Banuelos and — after a promotion just yesterday — Dellin Betances.

I’m a little surprised by the results but I still think it makes for good banter. By calling up one of those two studs, they risk infecting him with I-Don’t-Know-My-Role syndrome, which we all know Joba has suffered from (he’s rehabbing from Tommy John Surgery right now). On the other hand, who doesn’t remember how valuable Joba was down the stretch in 2007?

Here’s today’s What the Heck Idea of the Day … starring Prince Fielder

OK, I’m not really sure if this WTH Idea of the Day will be an ongoing thing here on lenNY’s Yankees, but if there were any time to start today would be the day. Below you will find a headline on a column from NY Daily News’s John Harper (courtesy of HBT).

Harper chose the worst possible fit for the Yankees likely because they happen to be playing the team Prince Fielder plays for and he needed a catchy headline while working on deadline.

5 Yankees minor leaguers to watch in 2011

I hereby declare 2011 the year of the three B’s and two C’s. That motto refers to the Yankees’ top five prospects: three pitching prospects with last names beginning with ‘B’ and two catchers.

Three B’s	Throws	Birthday	Two C’s	Bats	Birthday
Manny Banuelos	L	3/13/91	Jesus Montero	R	11/29/89
Dellin Betances	R	3/23/88	Gary Sanchez	R	12/2/92
Andrew Brackman	R	12/4/85

It was Opening Day yesterday for Minor League Baseball, and like always River Ave. Blues has the scoop on DotF.

On lenNY’s Yankees, I like to check in on prospects from time to time. This season, I expect you’ll be hearing a lot about the three B’s and two C’s. Here’s a start.

Yankees Battle for the Rotation update

Here we are a little more than halfway through spring training and the battle for the rotation is fiercer than expected. Let’s take a look at how the candidates (that haven’t been cut) are doing.

Pitcher	G	IP	ERA	WHIP	K/9
Manny Banuelos	4	7.2	0.00	1.17	11.74
Sergio Mitre*	3	5.0	0.00	1.00	7.20
Ivan Nova	4	14.0	1.29	0.71	4.50
Bartolo Colon	3	9.0	3.00	1.00	12.00
Freddy Garcia	3	7.2	4.70	1.30	7.04
Dellin Betances	4	6.0	6.00	2.17	12.00

*Mitre was diagnosed with a minor left oblique injury earlier this week. He’s looked good thus far, but a lack of appearances and health could hurt his chances severely.

Poll Results: Fans excited for Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances

The Yankees have a few of the best pitching prospects in baseball with their Killer B’s. Two of which, Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances, the ones who have gotten a chance to pitch this spring, excited fans the most in my latest poll. Andrew Brackman, the third B, will likely pitch in his first game this week.

Betances, who turns 22 on March 23, is 6-foot-8 and throws upper-90’s gas. This year will be his second year since recovering from Tommy John surgery. With only a few games started in Trenton last season, expect him to make a return there to start 2011.

6 Yankees prospects listed in Baseball America’s Top 100, Jesus Montero 3rd

Behind Baseball America’s top-rated prospect Bryce Harper, six Yankees placed in the top 100. Jesus Montero, the Yankees’ top prospect, ranked third.

BA gave Montero a grade of 70 (out of 80), listed his estimated time of arrival for 2011, and said his best tool is power.

Other Yankees’ prospects in the top 100 include Gary Sanchez, Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances, Andrew Brackman, and Austin Romine. See below for their details.

Poll Results: Freddy Garcia favored to win final spot in Yankee rotation

My latest poll results were pretty definitive. Freddy Garcia, despite his sub-90 mph fastball, will win the final spot in the Yankee rotation. (This is assuming Ivan Nova keeps his job as the No. 4 guy. It’s his job to lose.)

The other candidates aren’t attractive at all. Bartolo Colon is a giant, Sergio Mitre is the most inconsistent pitcher on the planet, and everybody else is just too young. (I hope everyone saw this news clip about Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances starting 2011 in Double-A.)

Yankees top prospects [Baseball America]

I like to check in on Yankees prospects during the season from time to time, but the offseason gives me a chance to analyze them more closely.

Baseball America is the go-to source for MLB prospects, and Trenton Thunder beat writer Josh Norris got a hold of its 2011 top 10 Yankees prospects before it released them. Without further ado, here are the top 10 (in comparison to last year):

What happened to…?
Arodys Vizcaino was traded to the Braves in the Javier Vazquez deal … Zach McAllister went to the Indians in the Austin Kearns deal … J.R. Murphy had a rough year in mid-A ball … Jeremy Bleich underperformed in AAA.

New guys…
Dellin Betances made a name for himself, again, last year in high-A and AA … Hector Noesi shined in AA last year and earned a promotion to AAA … Eduardo Nunez had a brief stint in the majors last year, showing he could hit, run and field … Brandon Laird showed great power numbers for AA and earned a promotion to AAA.

Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos scouting reports

MLB Fanhouse’s Frankie Piliere brings us scouting reports of two of the Yankees’ top pitching prospects: Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances. Coincidentally, Josh Norris of The Trentonian is reporting both have been promoted to Double-A.

Banuelos scouting report: Piliere gave the 19-year-old southpaw plenty of praise in his report. Most notably, he confirmed his sudden increase in velocity (from 90-92 last year, 93-96 this year). Piliere concludes the report saying, “If he can remain healthy and keep his shorter frame in check, he is a true front-of-the-rotation type pitcher.”

Betances scouting report: The major question with Betances is his health. Piliere wrote the sky is the limit for the 6-foot-8 right-hander as long as he can stay healthy. He throws mid-nineties with decent control, and Piliere compared him to Josh Beckett.

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This is obviously great news for the Yankees, as the organization is as strong as it has ever been from top to bottom. Just look at the Trention Thunder’s rotation, potentially, with these new additions:

1. Manny Banuelos
2. Dellin Betances
3. Hector Noesi
4. Andrew Brackman
5. Adam Warren

If you aren’t familiar with the Yankees’ prospects, Noesi and Brackman have had brilliant seasons thus far.

Consider this your mid-month Yankees minor league prospects report.

Newman’s notes on Yankees prospects

Yankees VP of baseball operations Mark Newman had a lot to say about the Yankees prospects yesterday. Beat writer Chad Jennings separated them into posts on the pitching and position players. Here they are in short:

Pitchers
Aroldis Chapman:

Newman said the reports were exactly what he expected: Huge fastball. Spotty command. Inconsistent secondary pitches. “But if you don’t like that, you need to be in another business,” Newman said.

“(He would start in) A or Double-A,” Newman said. “Wherever it is he pitches, he needs to be comfortable and he needs to work on the command and secondary pitches. And when he gets that, he’s going to take off.”

Wilkin De La Rosa & Jeremy Bleich:

De la Rosa and Bleich will be in a Double-A rotation that will most likely include recent 40-man addition Hector Noesi. Noesi made just nine High-A starts last year, but Newman said he will “probably” open in Trenton.

Christian Garcia:

Put Chris Garcia in the Double-A rotation as well. The high-ceiling, often-injured right-hander is currently throwing and should be ready to open the season back in Trenton.

Dellin Betances:

Newman said Betances should be ready to pitch close to the start of the season. He’s slated for High-A Tampa.

Alan Horne:

“He’s healthy. He’s got to come back and see if he can recapture it.”

Andrew Brackman:

“Brack’s got stuff that’s top-of-the-rotation stuff,” Newman said. Brackman’s overall numbers were bad last season, but through his last four appearances he pitched 10 scoreless innings, walking none and striking out nine.

Position players
On Brett Gardner’s bad jumps:

“We can simulate everything in the minor leagues except the three decks,” Newman said. That third deck makes the ball difficult to track, and it takes some getting used to.

On Juan Miranda being benched in the Dominican Winter League:

“I think they brought in one of their superstar guys,” Newman said. “But (Miranda) played well.” Through 13 games, Miranda has a .409 average with two home runs and 11 RBI.

Jamie Hoffmann:

“He’s a big guy that can run. He’s a toolsy guy. I hope we can keep him because I really like the guy.”

Colin Curtis:

The good news is, Curtis destroyed the Arizona Fall League with a .397 average, .472 on-base and five home runs. That’s an offensive league, but still, those are great numbers. “He led the league in OPS. Everything being relative, relative to the rest of the league, he was still really good.”

Catching situation:

Triple-A: Jesus Montero
Double-A: Austin Romine
High-A: undefined
Low-A: Kyle Higashioka
Extended ST: Gary Sanchez and J.R. Murphy

14th Featured Yankee Card of the Week!

Dellin Betances is one of the youngest and promising pitching prospects for the Yankees. A 21-year-old from Brooklyn, NY, Betances just posted a decent outing in High-A ball in his first start after returning from an injury.

I pulled this card in a 2006 TriStar Prospects Plus pack that I bought at a Trenton Thunder game. I always try and see one Thunder game a season when they visit the New Hampshire Fishercats (Blue Jays). Betances is a long ways away, but holds a lot of potential.