Yankees Stew

If you or someone in your family is anything like my dad, some the best meals are the ones that are created from all of the left overs and spare parts (that sounds gross but it isn’t meant to) that are knocking around the fridge.  That may not be the best analogy for what I’m doing today, but that’s what it feels like.  I just feel like gathering a few unrelated things, putting them in a pot with a little seasoning and then hoping it comes out well.  Kinda like a stew.  Anyway, let’s start with some more Joba vs. Hughes noise….

Not too long ago I made a post explaining why the best move for the Yankees, long-term, would be to send Hughes or Joba to AAA instead of sticking one in the bullpen.  Jay over at Fack Youk agrees with me.  It is frustrating to hear fans and the media so eager to stick one or two of our best young pitchers and the future of our pitching rotation in the ‘pen.  I suppose it is my fault for listening and trying to convince them otherwise.  Anyway, Jay does a solid job of overcoming a couple of the common objections tossed around by those who think it’s a waste for one of the two (specifically Joba in this case) to spend a little more time in Scranton-W/B.

Next, we’ll add a little draft speculation to the pot.  Mike over at River Avenue Blues looks at a few names that the Yanks could target in the mid-to-late rounds of the upcoming draft in June.  It is tougher to forecast the MLB draft than the NFL and NBA drafts, but that doesn’t stop us from tossing some names around.  One of the potential targets, Chris Hernandez, a LHP from the University of Miami is rated as the 83rd best college prospect in the 2010 Baseball America Baseball Handbook.  I had not heard of the other guys until I read his piece.

Speaking of the BA Prospect Handbook, my 2007 edition arrived in the mail yesterday which gave me the chance to see how accurately (not very) they projected our 2010 lineup.  It’s always fun to look ahead three years at the projected lineup, but how often do you get to compare it with the real version?

C:  Jesus Montero – close but a little bit early

1B:  Eric Duncan – didn’t come close

2B:  Robinson Cano

3B:  Alex Rodriguez

SS:  Derek Jeter

LF:  Melky Cabrera – traded to Braves

CF:  Johnny Damon – this would have been a nightmare

RF:  Jose Tabata – traded to Pirates

DH:  Bobby Abreau – signed with Angels

No. 1:  Phil Hughes – maybe No. 5

No. 2:  C-M Wang – signed with Nats

No. 3:  Humberto Sanchez

No. 4:  Dellin Betances

No. 5:  Joba Chamberlain – projected as the 2011 No. 1 starter

Closer: J. Brent Cox

Understandably, a lot of the projected lineups – especially the Yankees – are going to be off because Baseball America doesn’t project trades and free agent signings.  It is interesting to see their lack of confidence in Mo while they still had enough faith in Johnny Damon’s ability to play CF.

Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Bobby Abreu, Chien-Ming Wang, Chris Hernandez, Dellin Betances, Derek Jeter, Eric Duncan, Humberto Sanchez, J. Brent Cox, Jesus Montero, Joba Chamberlain, Johnny Damon, Jose Tabata, Melky Cabrera, Phil Hughes, Robinson Cano