Pinstripes, Pa. - A Scranton and New York Yankees Blog

Hot Stove Roundup: 11/12/2009

2009-11-12T22:05:00.003-05:00

Time for another serving from the hot stove. There are plenty of rumors that connect the Yanks to superstar players, but its way to early in the off-season for anyone to honestly know what plans the Yankees have made. Regardless, let's take a look at what the papers are saying:

According to reports, the Blue Jays will attempt to trade pitcher Roy Halladay this winter, and the right-hander supposedly wants out of Toronto. Jon Heyman is also reporting that the Yankees will kick the tires on the 32 year-old pitcher. I can't see the Blue Jays dealing one of the best pitchers in the game to a division rival, but both the Yankees and Red Sox have plenty of players that could interest Toronto. Heyman also notes that the Yankees will look at free agent John Lackey as well.

The Yankees may have some trouble resigning Johnny Damon, according to Joel Sherman. Damon's agent, Scott Boras is reportedly seeking a long contract for his client and compared the outfielder to Derek Jeter. I'll admit that Damon really helps boost the Yankee offense, but he's not worth a three or four year commitment. The Giants have already shown interest in the outfielder.

If Damon does sign elsewhere, the Yankees may look to replace him through trade, and the now-available Curtis Granderson could be a primary target for the Bombers. Granderson posted a posted a .780 OPS last season while playing a very solid center field. He'd be a tremendous upgrade over Melky Cabrera, but that would still leave a void in left field. Xavier Nady on a discount, anyone? It would not be the best offensive outfield, but with Cabrera and Gardner filling in, Nady would make sense until Austin Jackson is ready. That is, unless the Yankees give him up to get Granderson. Ken Rosenthal thinks Chone Figgins or Mike Cameron could make sense for the Yankees. I'd prefer Cameron because of his willingness to take a short contract.

If the Yankees do not resign Hideki Matsui, you can expect the Angels, Orioles and White Sox and Rays to be interested. For some reason, the Mariners are not are not a likely destination. Unless the Yankees get desperate for a bat, I can't see the World Series MVP returning to the club.

Infielder Mark DeRosa is reportedly a target of the Yankees. Several clubs are interested in the utility player's services, and I can't really see how he'd fit into the Yankees plans. Either way, the New Jersey native would likely be a fan favorite at Yankees Stadium. Unless they want him for left field, there is no real fit here. They Yankees could sign three bench players for the price of one DeRosa.

Heating The Stove

2009-11-10T23:58:00.004-05:00

Now that the Yankees have been crowned World Series champs, the hot stove season can begin. The 2009 General Manager meetings are currently taking place in Chicago, and the rumor mill has been ripe with information on what the Yankees plan on doing this winter:

Pitcher John Lackey is supposedly on the Yankees radar, although GM Brian Cashman has already denied any interest. Analysts are speculating that the Yankees will try to offer the right-hander a contract similar to the one they offered A.J. Burnett last year. The 30 year-old Lackey went 11-8 with a 3.83 ERA last season, but missed the first month of the season with an injury. If the Yankees could bring in Lackey on a three or four year deal, he'd certainly make the rotation even stronger.

The Yankees will try to retain Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Andy Pettitte, although Pettitte is their primary target and Damon's agent has stated that the outfielder will not accept a hometown discount to return to New York. There have not been many rumors connecting Matt Holliday to the Yankees yet, but one has to assume he'll be the priciest player on the market. If Damon and Matsui don't return, I expect the Yankees to go after Type B players like Mike Cameron or Marcus Thames, Rick Ankiel, but Damon is really the best fit for the Yankees right now.

Chad Gaudin and Sergio Mitre will also be top priorities for the Yankees, who like the versatility both pitchers have to offer. They may not exercise the $1.25 MM option on Mitre, but they intend to bring him back. The same goes for Gaudin, and also Chien-Ming Wang. The team appears to be stockpiling pitchers, which is always a solid plan.

World Champs!

2009-11-05T00:03:00.005-05:00

The Yankees captured their 27th World Series title in a 7-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. It's been a long time since the last championship season, but after a nine year wait, the Yankees are again the best team in baseball. It took a mixture of seasoned veterans, pricey guns-for-hire and a talented group of rising stars to secure the title, but the Yankees finally did it. Congratulations to the 2009 World Series Champs and congratulations to Hideki Matsui, World Series MVP.

Aroldis Chapman present at Game 6 victory

2009-10-27T21:39:00.002-04:00

According to Jon Heyman, the Yankees invited highly touted Cuban pitching prospect Aroldis Chapman to watch Game 6 of the ALCS at Yankee stadium, and the 21* year-old lefty was in attendance to watch the Yankees clinch the American League Pennant. Seems like a pretty good negotiation tactic to me.

The invitation is a not-do-subtle way of gaining an advantage in talks for the talented left-handed pitcher. Word is that Chapman is seeking a deal worth $40-60 million, and the Yankees and Red Sox could be gearing up for a battle. (source)

Heyman went on to list the Cubs, Blue Jays, Rangers, Mets, Orioles and White Sox as teams interested in Chapman. The Tigers are also supposedly interested. $40 million is quite a bit of money for an unproven player, but the pitching market is quite thin this winter and the Yankees may decide to use Joba Chamberlain in the bullpen going forward. If they do, they may want to get their hands more young pitching talent. This should be one of the more exciting stories of the winter.

2009 World Series Preview: Yankees vs. Phillies

2009-10-27T16:41:00.018-04:00

The New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies will kick off game one of the 2009 World Series tomorrow night in the Bronx. Except for Jimmy Rollins, many are predicting a long series, mainly because both teams are pretty evenly matched. In the end, I'll give the edge to the Yankees because of their superior bullpen and slightly better offense - but the 2003 Yankees were supposed to trounce the Marlins, and look what happened. Anyone can win this series, and its sure to be a good one.

Offense:
The Yankee and Philly offenses are pretty evenly matched, but the Yanks are a bit more threatening with the bats. The team hit for a better average and notched 20 more home runs than the Phils, but some of the Bronx bats have been cold lately; while the Phillies have hit extremely well in the postseason. Playoff performances aside, I'd still give the edge to the Yankees thanks to Alex Rodriguez and the fact that the New York will likely have a better DH than Philadelphia. If the Yankee bats don't heat up, the Phils will win the series.
Edge: Yankees
Difference Makers: Hideki Matsui, Ben Francisco.

Defense:
Mark Teixeira has saved many runs with his superb glove work at first base, but the entire Philly infield is much better defensively than what the Yankees have to offer. Jimmy Rollins, Pedro Feliz and Carlos Ruiz are all better defenders than their Yankee counterparts, but the Yanks have a better defensive outfield than the Phils. Melky Cabrera surprisingly posted a better UZR than Shane Victorino, but Johnny Damon is a much weaker defender than Raul Ibanez.
Edge: Phillies
Difference Makers: Chase Utley, Robinson Cano

Bench:
The Phillies have elected to carry pitcher Brett Myers over infielder Miguel Cairo, so their bench will likely consist of catcher Paul Bako, infielders Eric Bruntlett and Greg Dobbs and outfielders Ben Francisco and Matt Stairs. Francisco will likely serve as the designated hitter while playing at Yankee stadium, so that gives the Phils a four-man bench for now. The Yankees announced that they will carry Eric Hinske, and Jerry Hairston, Brett Gardner and Jose Molina will likely join him on the bench. That's a much better bench than what the Phillies have to offer.
Edge: Yankees
Difference Makers: Eric Hinske, Matt Stairs

Starting Pitching:
These two teams are very evenly matched in terms of starting pitchers. Cliff Lee and CC Sabathia are almost even in terms of numbers, and the Yankees and Phillies both have a starter with questionable consistency in A.J. Burnett and Cole Hamels. Pedro Martinez and Andy Pettitte are evenly matched. Some analysts have said that the Yankees offer a deeper rotation, but as of now both teams are even, even with Sabathia being slightly better than Cliff Lee.
Edge: Even
Difference Makers: A.J. Burnett, Cole Hamels

Relief Pitching:
The Yankees have a clear advantage over the Phils in this department. Mariano Rivera, albeit overused in the playoffs, is a much better closer than Brad Lidge. If Phil Hughes can perform better in tight situations and Joe Girardi learns to manage a bullpen, the Yankees will have a serious edge over the Phils in the later innings.
Edge: Yankees
Difference Makers: Chad Durbin, Scott Eyre, Phil Hughes

Prediction: Yankees in six
Series MVP: Alex Rodriguez

Yankee News and Notes: 8-20-09

2009-08-19T10:41:00.006-04:00

Another solid win for CC Sabathia and the Yankees last night. The Big Ace has been excellent this month, going 4-0 with a 2.35 ERA and 6.2 K/BB ratio in 30.2 innings. With the pitching staff throwing as well as it has, the Yankees have a great shot to dominate in the post season. Let's hope they keep up the good play and Gaudin throws a good game.

Anyway, there is lots going on in Yankeeland:

The Yankees signed their top two draft picks this week, giving outfielder Zach "Slade" Heathcott a $2.2 million contract and catcher JR Murphy a $1.25 million deal. The Yankees signed 27 of their 50 draft picks, and nine of their first 10. I don't know much about Heathcott, other than the fact that he is a very competitive and toolsy outfielder. I did get a chance to speak with Murphy after the draft, and it sounds like he's a professional hitter who needs time to adjust to catching duties. Either way, the Yankees added some talented players to the farm system this year. Both Murphy and Heathcott will likely play in the Florida GCL.

Ian Kennedy will likely pitch in the Instructional League next month, which will mark the pitcher's first appearance since his surgery on May 12. Kennedy is doubtful that he'll return for a minor-league outing this year, but he has been throwing fastballs and changeups during bullpen sessions.

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Yankees asked the Reds about the availability of pitchers Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo. The Reds refused to include money in a deal, so the Yankees backed off. Rosenthal does not think the club will trade for a pitcher prior to the Sept. 1 roster expansion deadline. I think Harang would be a great addition to the bottom of the rotation. Especially with Joba likely heading to the pen in September.

The Yankees won't be able to count on Russ Ortiz for September innings anymore. The right-hander exercised his right to become a free agent after going 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. The Yankees had asked him to stay, but because they were unable to find a spot for him on the major league roster, Ortiz opted out of his contract.

Designated Hitter Hideki Matsui appears to have made a full recovery after getting fluid drained from his left knee on Sundday. Matsui made his first appearance in the lineup last night, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Brett Gardner will wear a splint on his broken thumb for another week, according to the Newark Star-Ledger. He probably won't be cleared to play until after Sept. 1, but he'll return to the major league roster in time to make a difference down the stretch. I wonder how much playing time he'll get now that Melky has blossomed into a productive player.

Damaso Marte has missed the majority of the 2009 season, and has helped make the Xavier Nady/Jose Tabata trade look quite foolish on the Yankees part. He may be ready to rejoin the team on Friday, but I would not trust him against the Bosox. I'd be much more comfortable with Zach Kroenke, who has completely dominated the International League.

Yankees promote Pena

2009-08-07T17:51:00.004-04:00

Peter Abraham is reporting that the Yankees have recalled infielder Ramiro Pena and sent pitcher Anthony Claggett to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Pena was demoted in early July in order to gain some outfield experience in Scranton. He hit .250 with two home runs and seven RBI in 33 games for the Triple-A Yankees. He'll join infielder Jerry Hairston, outfielder Eric Hinske and catcher Jose Molina on one of the better benches in recent Yankee history. That will definitely come in handy against the Bosox tonight.

A's cut Giambi, Twins acquire Pavano

2009-08-07T17:34:00.002-04:00

A couple of minor moves resulted in former Yankees buying plane tickets today. The Oakland A's released Jason Giambi, who has yet to be activated from the disabled list after his latest injury. Due to the injuries, the 38 year-old slugger has struggled at the plate. I'm sure he'll find a job somewhere, but it might not be at the major league level.

In other news, the Indians traded Carl Pavano to the Twins. I still can't believe that the Rajah of Rehab has recorded more than 100 innings this season.

Yanks acquire Chad Gaudin

2009-08-06T23:25:00.003-04:00

Michael Kay first reported during tonight's game that the Yankees acquired pitcher Chad Gaudin from the Padres, but Bryan Hoch confirmed it via Twitter, noting that PTBNL will be sent to the Padres to complete the deal. Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger is reporting that the right-hander will work out of the bullpen before getting a shot at the rotation, but you can figure that Sergio Mitre will have a pretty short leash going forward. Gaudin went 4-10 for the Padres, notching a 5.13 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 105 innings.

Yankees DFA Ransom, promote Claggett and sign Russ Ortiz

2009-08-05T19:25:00.004-04:00

Brian Cashman had a busy day, designating infielder Cody Ransom for assignment and calling up pitcher Anthony Claggett to take his spot. You'll remember Claggett from his first big league stint when he gave up eight runs off nine hits in only one and two-thirds innings. The Yankees likely promoted him as insurance for Sergio Mitre's start tonight. Joe Girardi backs up that claim:

"We just wanted to make sure that we were protected pitching-wise," manager Joe Girardi said."We wanted to make sure that we had depth in our bullpen.

"We know that this could be a tough series with teams that really like to work pitchers. We wanted to make sure that we don't wear anyone out."(source)

It seems like Claggett will be back in Scranton tomorrow night and Ramrio Pena will return to New York as a Jerry Hairston-like utility man that can play the middle infield and outfield. He's a much better bench player than Cody Ransom, so I have no problem with that move.

Claggett will join the newly signed Russ Ortiz in Triple-A. The Yankees signed the former D-Back, who was released by the Astros last week, to a minor league contract to add rotation depth. If Mitre falters tonight, you can bet Ortiz gets a shot. He went 3-6 with a 5.57 ERA in 23 games for the Astros this year.

(Photo Credit: James Nielsen/Houston Chronicle)

Indians DFA Jose Veras

2009-08-04T22:46:00.004-04:00

The Indians designated former Yankee reliever Jose Veras for assignment earlier tonight to make room for Jess Todd. Veras posted a 7.62 ERA in 13 innings for the Tribe. If he goes unclaimed, maybe the Yankees will take another look at him. He does have a terrific arm, he just needs to recapture the control that helped him to a successful season last year.

Cashman was aggressive at deadline

2009-08-03T22:01:00.003-04:00

Yankee fans seemed upset when Brian Cashman failed to acquire an arm prior to the trade deadline, but according to Ken Rosenthal, the Yankee GM tried very hard to add a pitcher:

Yankees GM Brian Cashman told Rosenthal that he was "very aggressive" going after pitching help, whether it be high-end starters, low-end starters, or relievers. "I was on all of it," Cashman said. (source)

Cashman also told Rosenthal that he targeted Jarrod Washburn, but the Mariners asked for Austin Jackson in return. Smart move. The Yankees also showed interest in Felix Hernandez, but they'll probably have to wait until he reaches free agency to add him to the roster.

Cashman also targeted Padres' closer Heath Bell with the intention of using him as a setup man and shifting Phil Hughes or Alfredo Aceves to the rotation. The Yankees were also connected to Bronson Arroyo and Brian Bannister.

Although I would have liked to see Washburn in the Yankee rotation, I'm glad Cashman refused to deal Jackson for a rental pitcher. The lefty would have certainly helped strengthen the pitching staff, but Jackson has the chance to be a legitimate star in the future. Fans were upset when Cashman passed on Johan Santana, but now we have CC Sabathia. Building a championship club takes time and patience. Sometimes it takes a while to move all of the pieces into the right order.

Now that the trade deadline has passed, the Yankees will have a slightly more difficult time adding a starter, but according to Marc Craig of the Star-Ledger, they are still in the market for a pitcher. My money is on Brian Bannister.

Could Josh Towers or Jason Hirsh make a difference?

2009-08-03T21:35:00.005-04:00

Sergio Mitre has yet to record a quality outing for the Yankees in his first three starts, and based on his numbers, the trend will likely continue. Once Joba Chamberlain is moved to the bullpen, the team will need another quality pitcher to eat innings. With Chien Ming-Wang out for the season and Alfredo Aceves struggling, Phil Hughes could serve as a solution, but shifting him to the rotation will significantly weaken the pen.

The Yankees need to find lightning in a bottle and form a strong rotation to make a run at the playoffs, and the best way to do that is to test out a few arms. Right now, Josh Towers is one of the better pitchers on the Triple-A Scranton staff with a 3.42 ERA and a 2.6 K/BB ratio. He's been very effective in his last five starts, notching a 2.40 ERA . Towers has not been a quality major league pitcher since 2005, but he could strengthen the Yankee rotation until a better option comes along. He'll probably have to reconcile with Tony Pena before getting a crack at the rotation, however.

Yankees acquire Eric Hinske

2009-06-30T19:41:00.004-04:00

The Yankees acquired infielder/outfielder Eric Hinske from the Pirates earlier today, giving up two minor league pitchers in the process. The 31 year-old hit .255 in 54 games, seeing time at first, third and right field. Ramiro Pena was demoted to make room for Hinske on the 25-man roster. Hinske will likely add versatility and some left-handed power to the bench. The Yankees traded pitcher Casey Erickson and outfielder Eric Fryer in the deal.

Unconfirmed list of 2003 PED users

2009-06-30T18:57:00.003-04:00

Rotoinfo.com has posted an unconfirmed list of 103 steroid users that failed a PED test during the 2003 season. I'm not sure how accurate the list is, or how they got it, but many of the names make sense:

1.Nomar Garciaparra
2.Manny Ramirez
3.Johnny Damon
4.Trot Nixon
5.David Ortiz
6.Shea Hillenbrand
7.Derek Lowe
8.Pedro Martinez
9.Brian Roberts
10.Jay Gibbons
11.Melvin Mora
12.Jerry Hairston
13.Jason Giambi
14.Alfonso Soriano
15.Raul Mondesi
16. Aaron Boone
17.Andy Pettitte
18.Jose Contreras
19.Roger Clemens
20.Carlos Delgado
21.Vernon Wells
22.Frank Catalanotto
23.Kenny Rogers
24.Magglio Ordonez
25.Sandy Alomar

Read the rest of the list here. Odds are, this is completely fabricated and many of the names listed are based purely on speculation. That being said, more than half of the names make sense. It'll be interesting to see if this story gets picked up.

Yanks looking at Huston Street

2009-06-28T18:30:00.004-04:00

With only a month until the trade deadline, expect to hear plenty of rumors. According to Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger, the Yankees have expressed interest in Colorado reliever Huston Street.

A major league source, who requested anonymity because he isn't authorized to comment on other teams, told me that the Yankees' reported interest in Street was serious.
The source said that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman approached the Rockies about a deal as early as the middle of May, as the Yankees' bullpen struggled. Meanwhile, the source said the Rockies had already begun combing through the Yankees' minor league system, mining for possible trade targets. (source)

The Rockies went 20-7 after manager Clint Hurdle was axed, and are currently unsure about where they stand in the market, but if they make Street available the Yankees will certainly explore a trade. In my opinion, they'd be better off looking for a more affordable option, but Street would be a great fit for the long term. Especially if he reverted back to his 2007 form.

There are plenty of other options, and if the Yankees are going to upgrade any part of their club, it'll be the bullpen. They could look into guys like Rafael Betancourt, Chad Qualls, Chris Sampson, Octavio Dotel, Kiko Calero or Kevin Gregg.

Yanks DFA Veras

2009-06-17T08:03:00.005-04:00

In order to activate Brian Bruney, the Yankees designated Jose Veras for assignment yesterday. Veras posted a 5.96 ERA and held opponents to a .235 AVG in 25.2 innings this season. Veras is out of options, so if he goes unclaimed for 10 days, he'll will likely rejoin Triple-A Scranton. The Yankees will need Bruney to stay healthy, but I can still see them dealing for a reliever sometime before the trade deadline.

In other news, I got a chance to speak with J.R. Murphy last week after the draft. It sounds like the Yankees will use him as a catcher. Murphy thinks that he'll develop into a Pudge Rodriguez-type player in a few years. In other words, an energetic catcher with a strong arm and gap power. It's usually difficult to project minor league players when they are this young, but he should develop into a solid player in the future.

Yankees take Murphy in second round

2009-06-10T00:09:00.004-04:00

The Yankees drafted catcher/outfielder John "JR" Murphy out of Florida's Pendleton High with their second-round pick. Murphy is a recently converted catcher, and I could see the Yankees shifting him to another position in the future depending on how his bat develops. Fortunately, he was one of the better offensive prospects in Florida this past season, hitting .627 with 11 homers in 102 at-bats, only striking out four times.

According to the New York Post: Scouts grade his hit tool ahead of his power, though he's expected to produce average power with wood. He's also athletic, having made a shift from outfield (and occasionally third base) to catcher. He's shown he's more than capable of handling catcher, showing plus arm strength, solid receiving ability and a quick transfer.

Murphy has already committed to the University of Miami, but the Yankees could still sign him. At some point in the next day or two, I'll talk with him in order to do an article for Pinstripes Plus.

Murphy is already a polished hitter with power potential, so you should probably look into doing some sports betting on this guy in the near future.

(photo from IMG Baseball Acadamy Blog)

Yankees take Heathcott in first round

2009-06-09T23:56:00.002-04:00

The Yankees drafted outfielder Slade Heathcott out of Texas High School with their first round pick in the 2009 amateur draft. Heathcott, one of the top high school talents in the draft, is projected to be future a five-tool player in the mold of Grady Sizemore. Here's what Baseball America has to say about Slade:

Heathcott is an enigma for scouts. He's a legitimate second-round talent as both an outfielder and a lefthanded pitcher, but he has DHed for most of the spring. He was out until mid-March recovering from November surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, then jammed his throwing shoulder diving for a fly ball in his second game back.

When healthy, he's an athletic outfielder with five-tool potential. He swings a quick bat from the left side and has strength and power in his 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame. He earns plus grades for his hitting and his speed, and he has good range and above-average arm strength in the outfield.

Heathcott was selected for the Aflac All-American Game last summer as a pitcher, and some clubs like him more as a lefty with an 88-92 mph fastball that touches 94 and a promising curveball. There's effort in his delivery because he approaches pitching like he does everything else: full speed ahead. Heathcott hasn't pitched this spring because of the shoulder injury, however. His makeup also is a concern for several clubs, so it's uncertain where he'll fit in the draft. He's committed to Louisiana State. (source)

The Yankees made a smart pick here, and also made it obvious that their goal was to focus on position players with signability in mind. Heathcott will likely sign for under $3 million, which will give the Yankees more money to play with in the later rounds of the draft.

I could see Heathcott as a corner outfielder with power and speed potential in the future. As a left-handed hitter, he's suited to the dimensions of Yankee stadium. If he develops properly and stays healthy, he could end up being a very valuable player. He has tools across the board, so lets hope he can keep non-baseball issues in check.

Bruney throws 20 pitches without pain

2009-06-06T10:49:00.003-04:00

Good news for a Yankee pen that needs another dependable pitcher: Brian Bruney reported no pain after throwing a 20-pitch bullpen session before the game last night:

"I threw 20 pitches, all fastballs," said Bruney, who is on the disabled list for the second time this season with a flexor tendon problem. "I didn't feel anything, I hope that's a good sign."
Bruney does not know when he will rejoin a bullpen missing an eighth-inning arm, his job before he got hurt, but hopes it's not more than a week and a half. Bruney doesn't want to set a specific date.(source)

Bruney is not entirely sure when he'll be able to return to the roster, but this news is certainly encouraging enough to suggest that he'll be back in a few weeks. Yankee relievers has been throwing better of late, but they will still need a few more efficient arms before matching the strong Bosox bullpen. I wonder if the Yankees will explore using George Kontos in a relief role if Jose Veras continues to struggle. Kontos has a gone 4-3 with a 2.60 ERA and 2.3 K/BB ratio in 55 innings split between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton.

Pinstripes, Pa. is back in action

2009-06-06T10:44:00.004-04:00

After a tumultuous month of sickness, graduation and tons of work (some baseball related, some not), I am finally healthy, graduated and free of most obligations. That means the blog will enjoy regular content again. Thanks to those of you who sent e-mails about what was going on, I appreciate the support. I'll be covering some of the draft for Pinstripes Plus next week, so expect a few tidbits on some of the picks as well.

Manny Ramirez tests positive for PEDs

2009-05-07T11:52:00.004-04:00

via Bill Shaikin and Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times:

Manny Ramirez has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and will be suspended 50 games starting today, The Times has learned. The test result and suspension is expected to be announced later today. The Dodgers informed triple-A outfielder Xavier Paul this morning that he was being promoted to Los Angeles.

Normally I would not report on this, but it actually helps the Yankees. With Alex Rodriguez returning tomorrow, this takes a tremendous amount of pressure for him.

Posada to DL, Cervelli promoted

2009-05-05T16:18:00.003-04:00

According to WFAN and the Journal News, Jorge Posada was placed on the disable list with a hamstring injury. The Yankees are saying that Posada will be out for two or three weeks, but Peter Abraham is hearing rumors that he'll be out for 3-5 weeks. Francisco Cervelli was called up from Doulbe-A Trenton to replace the injured Posada. Despite his .190/.266/.310 line this season, Cervelli is actually a pretty decent player with a solid glove and strong arm. He'll be a decent backup, and maybe Kevin Long can improve his swing.

Also, Alfredo Aceves was called up to replace Anthony Claggett prior to last night's game. He allowed two runs and struck out seven in four and one-third innings. That is a pretty impressive outing, considering that it was the first time this year he faced major league talent. I'm glad the Yankees finally have a long-man.

SWB Yankees: April 2009

2009-05-04T00:50:00.004-04:00

After one month of play, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees have an International League leading 19-4 record. They also lead the IL in batting average (.309), runs (170), hits (262), homers (27), doubles (52), RBI (161) and nearly every other offensive category. The pitching staff is also leading the league innings pitched and are second in saves (8) and strikeouts (184). Needless to say, it will likely be another special season for the Scranton Yankees, who are primed to repeat their 2008 success and capture another IL title. Let's take a look at the three best hitters and pitchers after one month of play:

Hitters:
1. Shelley Duncan - .356/.431/.711 with 9 HR and 28 RBI in 90 AB
2. Todd Linden - .361/.434/.608 with 4 HR and 24 RBI in 94 AB
3. Austin Jackson - .389/.464/.486 with 0 HR and 7 SB in 72 AB

Comments: Interestingly, all three of the best Scranton hitters are outfielders. Duncan has put up very impressive numbers this season and has cut down on his strikeout rate. If a big league corner outfielder goes down with a major injury this season, Duncan could get the call. Linden has been an extremely versatile player while juicing the offense. He won't finish the season with a .360 batting average, but he'll be a major part of the offense going forward. Don't be discouraged by Austin Jackson's lack of home runs, the power will come eventually. He's leading the team in batting average and stolen bases while playing excellent defense. In my opinion, he could win a gold glove in the majors one day if he hits enough.

Pitchers:
Ian Kennedy - 1-0/1.59 ERA/25 K/7 BB in 22.2 IP
Alfredo Aceves - 2-0/3.80 ERA/18 K/5 BB in 23.2 IP
Brett Tomko - 1-0/0.75 ERA/15 K/4 BB/3 SV in 12 IP

Comments: Mark Melancon and Phil Hughes were the two best pitchers for Scranton in the first month of play, but now that they are both with the big league club, I'm not going to count them. Going forward, Ian Kennedy and Alfredo Aceves will anchor the rotation, along with George Kontos. Kennedy has looked great in all of his starts and much will depend on how he rebounds from injury, but I think he'll be fine. After two awful starts, Aceves has turned his season around and has put up very impressive numbers in his past two outings. Tomko has been great as the closer and will likely be the most important member of the pen going forward.

Five Players to Watch:
1. George Kontos (RHSP)
2. Austin Jackson (CF)
3. Jose Valdez (RHRP)
4. Kevin Russo (INF)
5. Eric Hacker (RHSP)

Yankee News and Notes: Hacker, Marte, Nady, Kontos, Chacon

2009-05-03T19:18:00.009-04:00

Sorry about the lack of posts lately, I've been doing a lot of work for Pinstripes Plus and just finished a magazine feature on Eric Hacker. With the Scranton Yankees on the road this week, I'll have a bit more time for posts.

I'm not sure if this is typical procedure, but there were at least six scouts on hand at the S/WB Yankees game on Thursday night. Some of them had been there all week. I talked to one of them about Eric Hacker, and he was really impressed by his curveball and demeanor on the mound. He thinks Hacker will end up as a spot-starter or reliever in the big leagues.

Left-hander Damaso Marte was placed on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. He's been replaced in the bullpen by Anthony Claggett, who gave up eight runs in his major league debut. Marte had an MRI on Friday and will visit a doctor tomorrow. Let's hope he can come back soon and turn around his season.

Xavier Nady will undergo a revolutionary surgery that could allow him to return to the Yankees sooner than expected. Nady told the Journal News that doctors will inject platelet-rich plasma directly into the torn ligament in his right elbow. Red Sox reliever Takashi Saito avoided Tommy John surgery by undergoing the same procedure. Getting a healthy Nady back will really help the Yankees, epically if he can play the field.

George Kontos was promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre over the weekend and will join the starting rotation, replacing Joseph Stephens. Kontos has posted a 2.66 ERA in 21 innings for Double-A Trenton. The right-hander boasts a four-seamer that maxes out at 93 MPH, a hard-breaking slider, and an above-average curve. His changeup could be better, but his fastball and breaking pitches are all very impressive. He'll likely stick around for a while with Scranton.

Former Yankee Shawn Chacon recently signed a contract with the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League. He'll join the likes of Jay Gibbons, Pete Rose Jr., Carl Everett, Keith Foulke and Armando Benitez. I had no idea how many former major leaguers were on the Bears' roster. I'll have to go watch a few games this summer.

Also, be sure to check out Die Hard Yankees Fan, a new blog authored by Robert Hansen. He'll post game updates, commentary and plenty of engaging thoughts on the New York Yankees.