Yankee High Hopes

This week Baseball America came out with it's Top 100 Prospects for 2012.

I'm sorry to report that the Yankees only had four players make the list. None of which were even in the top 20. Are we headed for a playoff drought? Is a rebuilding stage in the near future? The players that did make the list were the ones I reported about in my last blog. The Yankees Organization Top 5 Prospects. Baseball America ranked them as follows. # 29 Manny Banuelos LHP, # 63 Dellin Betances RHP, # 81 Gary Sanchez C, #85 Mason Williams OF

Since there are no new players on the list I thought I would take some time to tell about two more players the Yankees have high hopes for. Ranked # 8 in the organization is Dante Bichette Jr. The 19 year old was the Yankees first round pick in the 2011 draft. Being the son of a former major leaguer he has an advanced knowledge of the game. He has plenty of power, can hit to all fields, and is better defensively at third base then Yankees thought.

This past season he was the MVP of the Gulf Coast League.

The other prospect is right handed pitcher Adam Warren. The organization ranks him # 10. He has quickly flown under the radar through their system and has put up good numbers at every level. Last year he pitched all season in Triple-A Scranton. Warren isn't going to blow away hitters (or scouts) he's a control pitcher who doesn't walk many batters. He's more of a number five starter / middle relief innings eater and has proven to be very durable. Let's keep an eye on him, maybe he could see some time this season with the club.

Dante Bichette Jr.

Height : 6' 1"

Weight: 215

Position: 3B

Bats: R

Throws: R

ETA: 2014

Age: 19

DOB: 09/26/1992

Drafted: 2011,1st (51)

Adam Warren

Height: 6' 2"

Weight: 215

Position: RHP

Bats: R

Throws: R

ETA: 2012

Age: 24

DOB: 08/25/1987

Drafted: 2009, 4th (135)

The New Yankee - Michael Pineda

Michael Pineda - NY Yankees

By The Big Ragu

Yankees spring training officially opens Sunday for pitchers and catchers. There have been some early arrivals already. Among them Phil Hughes, David Robertson, Corey Wade and newcomer Michael Pineda. Pineda has been the talk of the town already and mostly likely will be all spring. He was acquired from the Seattle Mariners along with pitcher Jose Campos in a trade for catcher Jesus Montero and pitcher Hector Noesi.

He began his first season in the major leagues with a 6-2 record and had a 2.16 ERA but finished the year 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA. He led the majors with righty opponents only hitting .184 against him. Lefties hit .237. He fizzled out the second half of the year but still finished 5th in the Rookie Of The Year voting just behind Yankee starter Ivan Nova.

Don't let the record fool you. It was his first year in the bigs and he may have just run out of gas. It didn't help that he was in Seattle where scoring runs are hard to come by. Scoring runs shouldn't be a problem with the Yankees. If it is then the Yanks are in trouble no matter how he pitches. 

Yankee #: 35

Michael Pineda 

• Born : 1/18/1989 Yaguate, Dominican Republic
• Height: 6' 7
• Weight: 260 lbs.
• College: None
• Draft: Non Drafted

2011:

• W-L: 9-10
• ERA: 3.74
• K: 173
• BB: 155
• WHIP: 1.10
  
  
  In other spring training news former lefty Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima signed a minor league contract but failed his physical so he will not report to Yankees camp. Okajima spent most of 2011 with the Triple-A Pawtucket. He pitched only 7 innings with the Red Sox and was 1-0 with a 4.32 ERA in just 8 1/3 innings.

RAGU RANT!

Ok. From time to time I've been know to rant. Well, this is one of those times. Do you want to know what New York sports talk radio is saying about the Yankees ?...............NOTHING !! 

Kevin Maas - NY Yankees

We're a couple of days away from the opening of spring training and no one is talking about the Yankees. No matter what station I put on their talking about the same two things. Football and basketball ! Correct me if I'm wrong, wasn't football was over February 5th ? Do I really need to hear about the possible off season moves by Jacksonville Jaguars ? Did you hear what I said ? The Jacksonville Jaguars !!! WTF ? This is New York. Come on people !! 

The other story I keep hearing is. Linsanity, Linsanity !! Ok Ok, don't get me wrong I get it. The kid is playing well, the Knicks are playing well. It reminds me of a time in the 1980's when Kevin Maas arrived on the scene with the Yanks. He was hitting bombs over the short porch in right field every other day. It was "Maas Hysteria." I remember banners hanging at the stadium that said " The M+M Boys" and I don't mean Mantle and Maris. I mean Mattingly and Maas. Well we all know how that turned out for Kevin.

 Like I said, Jeremy Lin and the team are playing well. It's a nice story. I hope it lasts for him because you know how some fans can be. The minute he misses some shots, throws a few turnovers and they lose five in a row they'll want to run him out of town faster than their trying to run AJ Burnett out. 

How's that working out ? I've even heard a little talk about the Mets. The Mets ? Do they still have a team ? I'm not saying don't talk about other stuff just give me some Yankee Baseball. All I'm asking for is a few of hours a day that's all. Because in a couple of weeks all I'm going to hear about is March Madness !!

If your a die hard Yankee fan like me and you bleed Yankee blue, then come back here and click on "The Big Ragu"

Lets Go Yankees !!!

Yankees - Rotation, Sleeper pick & more Big Ragu special Sauce!

Here's who I think will be starting rotation

1. CC Sabathia

2. Micheal Pineda

3. Ivan Nova

4. Phil Hughes

5. Hiroki Kuroda

If AJ Burnett doesn't get traded you can slip him into the number 4 spot and move Hughes into the Bullpen.

The Yankees will have a strong bullpen with alot of arms like David Robertson, Rafeal Soriano, Boone Logan, Cory Wade, Freddy Garcia, and to closeout the 9th inning....I shouldn't even have to say his name...The best ever.. Mariano Rivera.

As for Joba Chamberlain, he's making progress in his return from Tommy John surgery last June. He has thrown from a 15 inch mound twice. 15 throws each. Joba told the AP he was "happy with progress and feeling good." He hopes to rejoin the Yankees before the All-Star break.

My sleeper pick from the minors will be catcher Austin Romine. He did see some time last year with the big club but most likely will begin the season in Triple-A Scranton. Should Russell Martin or Fransisco Cervelli go on the DL for any length of time Romine could get a call up. I could have chosen any one of the pitching prospects. Either Manny Banuelos or Dellin Betances. Both finished the year at the Triple-A level but I don't think their ready yet. Should a Yankee starter go down they have Garcia to spot start if need be. So if he's my sleeper is Romine, then yes I anticipate an injury at the catchers position. Sorry guys.

Every season there's always talk about what position needs improvement. Well this year I really can't decide. Catcher ? Martin was ok last season. Just as long as he stays healthy, handles the pitching staff, and plays well defensively that position is fine. He doesn't need to hit .300 on this team. DH ? Do they need a steady DH ?think not. That position will be used to give bench guys playing time and give others some rest. So what needs improvement ? Clutch hitting, that's what !! Especially in October !! We don't need a homerun in a big spot, just a base hit would be fine.

Here are my picks for the AL East Division in 2012

1st : Yankees...Who else !

2nd : Tampa Rays....Good pitching

3rd : Toronto Blue Jays...Much improved bullpen

4th :Boston Red Sox..LOL !

5th : Baltimore Orioles....Poor Buck

Bomber Spring Training opens February 19th for pitchers and catchers. But guess who's already getting in his ABs early this year.....Derek Jeter !!

Stay tuned for updates.

Predicted Yankee Starting 9, 2011 stats, Rotation and more!

NY YANKEES

• 97-65, 1st place in the AL East

• Projected batting order

1. SS Derek Jeter:
.297 BA, .355 OBP, .388 SLG, 6 HR, 61 RBIs in 2011
2. CF Curtis Granderson:
.262 BA, .364 OBP, .552 SLG, 41 HR, 119 RBIs in 2011
3. 2B Robinson Cano:
.302 BA, .349 OBP, .533 SLG, 28 HR, 118 RBIs in 2011
4. 3B Alex Rodriguez:
.276 BA, .362 OBP, .461 SLG, 16 HR, 62 RBIs in 2011
5. 1B Mark Teixeira:
.248 BA, .341 OBP, .494 SLG, 39 HR, 111 RBIs in 2011
6. RF Nick Swisher:
.260 BA, .374 OBP, .449 SLG, 23 HR, 85 RBIs in 2011
7. DH Andruw Jones:
.247 BA, .356 OBP, .495 SLG, 13 HR, 33 RBIs in 2011
8. C Russell Martin:
.237 BA, .324 OBP, .408 SLG, 18 HR, 65 RBIs in 2011
9. LF Brett Gardner:
.259 BA, .345 OBP, .369 SLG, 7 HR, 36 RBIs in 2011

Projected rotation

1.CC Sabathia, 19-8, 3.00 ERA in 2011
2.Ivan Nova, 16-4, 3.70 ERA in 2011
3.Hiroki Kuroda, 13-16, 3.07 ERA in 2011
4.Michael Pineda, 9-10, 3.74 ERA in 2011
5a.Freddy Garcia, 12-8, 3.62 ERA in 2011
5b.Phil Hughes, 5-5, 5.79 ERA in 2011
5c.A.J. Burnett, 11-11, 5.15 ERA in 2011

Projected bullpen

Closer:Mariano Rivera, 44/49 saves, 1.91 ERA in 2011
RH setup man: David Robertson, 1.08 ERA in 2011
RH setup man: Rafael Soriano, 4.12 ERA in 2011
LH setup man: Boone Logan, 3.46 ERA in 2011