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.

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?

Poll Results: Fans happy with Brian Cashman after silent trade deadline

The majority of Yankees fans voted the trade market was too thin for Brian Cashman to trade prospects for pitching. I would have to agree with the fans, but I’m curious to see which reinforcements from the system Cashman will call on this month or the next — if any at all. Will it be Jesus Montero, who probably doesn’t have a place defensively this season with Francisco Cervelli in town but has had the bat for years? Or how about Manny Banuelos, who is raising eyebrows in Triple-A Scranton these days?

The reason I’m so curious — other than pure excitement for seeing prospects of any sort get their first cracks at the big leagues — is that making Banuelos a late-season call-up, like the Yankees did with Joba Chamberlain in 2007 (four years ago, yesterday, actually), might turn out for the worst. History could repeat itself. That’s why I’m making this my poll topic for the week. Cast your vote!

Should the Yankees have second thoughts about calling up a star pitching prospect late in the season with Joba in the back of their minds?

Yankees notes: A win, a promotion, but no trades

A lot going on in baseball on this fine Sunday. Justin Verlander almost pitched his third career no-hitter, the Red Sox unofficially acquired Erik Bedard from the Mariners, the Indians traded for Ubaldo Jimenez, and much, much more.

The Yankees, however, didn’t make any of the major headlines. For the first time that I can remember, the Yankees didn’t add a single piece to their team before the trade deadline. I guess initial rumors were true in that the Yankees real acquisitions were just the returns of both Eric Chavez and Rafael Soriano.

Here are some Yankees news items to be aware of for Sunday.

• Brian Cashman told Joel Sherman he was never close to doing a trade of any type. I was surprised they didn’t land anybody, but it sounds like they weren’t even close.
• No trades? Fine. They’ll take a 4-2 win instead, completing a series victory against the Orioles. Brett Gardner led the way with a three-run triple and Freddy Garcia earned his 10th win. Derek Jeter exited early after being hit by a pitch but X-Rays were negative.
• Manny Banuelos, a highly regarded prospect for the Yankees, was promoted from Double-A to Triple-A, according to Jack Curry. It’s nice to see the Yankees move a prospect at the deadline — within their organization.

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.

Manny Banuelos: The Little Lefty

If you still have never heard of Manny Banuelos, you need to add him to your list of must-know Yankees prospects. Why? His spring training numbers tell the story, but the Yankees have also raved of the little lefty constantly — and I’m not just talking about the GM, who always tries to boost all of his prospects’ value. 

Mariano Rivera, someone who rarely says anything quoteworthy, called ManBan the best pitching prospect he’s ever seen.

Just how little is he? He’s listed at 5-foot-11 and 155 pounds. For perspective, Pedro Martinez is 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds. They both share a nice fastball, curveball, changeup repertoire, but ManBan is a lefty and Pedro is a righty.

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.)

Keith Law’s Top 10 Yankees Prospects for 2011

ESPN’s Keith Law released his Top 100 prospects and Team-by-Team Top 10 Prospects today. Jesus Montero ranked as the fourth best prospect in all of baseball (first catcher), and Manny Banuelos ranked 12th (fourth pitcher).

Here are his top 10 Yankees prospects (h/t Jason@IIATMS)

1. Jesus Montero, C (4)
2. Manny Banuelos, LHP (12)
3. Gary Sanchez, C (68)
4. Dellin Betances, RHP (73)
5. Andrew Brackman, RHP (88)
6. Austin Romine, C
7. Graham Stoneburner, RHP
8. Slade Heathcott, OF
9. Hector Noesi, RHP
10. Adam Warren, RHP

Note how this list compares with Baseball America’s (they’re pretty similar).

Jesus Montero, Gary Sanchez, Manny Banuelos listed on MLB.com’s Top 50 prospects

In MLB.com’s Top 50 Prospects list for 2011, Jesus Montero ranked ninth, Gary Sanchez 32nd and Manny Banuelos 35th.

Montero is the top-ranked catcher on the list. Before the Yankees acquired Russell Martin, Montero was expected to assume the starting job in place of Jorge Posada. Now, he’ll likely have to work his way to the majors during the season.

Manny Banuelos scouting report

Jonathan Mayo gave a glowing scouting report for Manny Banuelos yesterday, listing him as the 10th best left-handed pitching prospect in baseball (my emphasis).

When Banuelos was forced out of action with appendicitis, he took the time and opportunity to focus on conditioning. The effects were noticeable when he returned, with more ticks on the fastball, for one thing. He commands it well, even though he's throwing it harder than he had previously. His other pitches -- a curve and changeup -- are also very good. All he really needs is experience and time to work on being able to throw all three consistently. He's only 20, and even if he's 5-foot-10, 155 pounds, he's got the stuff to be a front-line starter in the not-too-distant future.

Wow.

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.

Yankee prospects ranked by Piliere

Frankie Piliere of AOL Fanhouse has done an excellent job scouting the top prospects and farm systems in the game this week.

The Yankees’ farm system as a whole was ranked 15th in all of baseball. He said:

The Yankees have plenty of depth. What they don't have right now is a great deal of impact talent behind Jesus Montero. They have a lot of potential in the low levels, and it's a solid system, but at the moment much of their high-upside players are early in their development.

Piliere is referring to guys like Manny Banuelos, who is just an 18-year-old lefty with one great year for the GCL Yankees. It’s nothing special, but it’s still an average system.

Obviously, Jesus Montero was the top ranked prospect for the Yankees. Piliere ignored the criticism of his weak defense and glorified his bat.

Can he catch? Yes. Will he catch? It doesn't matter much. His bat is that potent. Much debate surrounds Montero's ability to stick behind the plate, but the bat is going to be special. He has a potential 40-homer bat with the offensive upside of Miguel Cabrera. We could see the Venezuelan slugger as early as midseason in 2010 if all goes well in Triple-A.

Can you imagine a homegrown 40-homer player on the Yankees? It’s not easy for a great team like the Yankees to pick up an All-Star bat at such a young age. That’s just great scouting.

Montero ranked No. 5 in baseball behind Stephen Strasburg (WAS), Michael Stanton (FLA), Desmond Jennings (TB) and Jason Heyward (ATL).