2012 New York Yankees Thread

[Epicness]

Trading Kontos for a backup catcher that isn't an upgrade over Cervelli is mind boggling to say the least.

[buffjills]

Dang, sucks to see him struggling. He had his up's and down's last year for the M's. More up's than down's, that's for sure. He is gonna be a stud IMO. I hope Jesus Montero is. What are your guys thoughts on him? Stud potential? Role Player?

I'd say he has stud potential at the plate but definitely not a 5-tool player.

He'll definitely hit for average with good power to both fields.

He'll never steal bases or stretch hits into doubles. I would actually cringe watching him lumber around the bases.

He's improved defensively but I'd be surprised if he ever becomes an everyday catcher. You'll probably be better of making him the full time DH. He could bring back memories of Edgar Martinez there. Hopefully, he doesn't kill the Yankees like Edgar did.

[Wojo1203]

I for one, would LOVE me a second coming of Edgar Martinez! Those were the days. Griffey Jr, Edgar, ARod, Buhner, Big Unit, Cora, oh man :(

[rockydm92]

WHat channel is the yankee game on? Buffalo area

[Epicness]

The AL East standings are hilariously awesome right now.

1. Os
2. Rays
3. Jays
4. Sox
5. Yanks

Gotta love the first week of the season.

[rockydm92]

Montero was completely expendable.
Pineda's 170IP MLB innings means he's already supposed to be a complete dominant polished pitcher? I think not.


Also, Phil Hughes was never projected to be an Ace.

What? He was highly touted in the Yankees Farm System and being called Baby Rocket, so he was drawing comparisons to Roger Clemons, I'm sure if you're being compared to Roger you're considered to eventually became an ace or even a 2. He was on Baseball prospectus top 50 prospects by every writer.

The Yankees selected Phil Hughes with the 23rd overall pick in the 1st round of the 2004 draft. Since that time, Hughes has flat-out dominated, going 21-7 with a 2.12 ERA and holding opponents to a combined .181 batting average in his career thus far and is widely considered one of the top pitching prospects in the game. Here's a scouting report on Phil Hughes

.

http://yankees.scout.com/a.z?s=303&p...%2f619355.html

[Epicness]

Sure he was a highly touted prospect but it doesn't say Phil Hughes is going to be the Ace for the Yankees for the next decade. Yes, he was rated as a top prospect but to call him a bonafide Ace of the Yankees is insane given their payroll and resources. In my opinion he was never slated to be that guy.

[rockydm92]

Sure he was a highly touted prospect but it doesn't say Phil Hughes is going to be the Ace for the Yankees for the next decade. Yes, he was rated as a top prospect but to call him a bonafide Ace of the Yankees is insane given their payroll and resources. In my opinion he was never slated to be that guy.

The top prospect in the game means ACE how can you not get that? When he was coming up all I heard was how he was the best prospects in the game, he in fact was supposed to be a hell of a lot better than he is that's for sure

[SammyScrawfo]

Sure he was a highly touted prospect but it doesn't say Phil Hughes is going to be the Ace for the Yankees for the next decade. Yes, he was rated as a top prospect but to call him a bonafide Ace of the Yankees is insane given their payroll and resources. In my opinion he was never slated to be that guy.

I think there were definitely expectations for him to be that guy. My friends dad is very connected within the world of sports and had a huge party at his house where a bunch of old timer yankees showed up (Nettles, Gossage, Mickey Rivers, David Cone, Mel Stottlemyre) and Mel told me that Phil Hughes was hands down the best pitching prospect he's ever seen and that he was going to be an absolute stud.

[Epicness]

I think we forget, he's still just 25.

I mean, I'm not saying that hoping all the sudden he turns into a top of the rotation guy, that's not likely but he might be the type of guy that doesn't put it all together into his mid-late 20s. He's still young.

He's only got 448.1 MLB innings on him at 25. To put that into perspective my favorite pitcher, albeit he's a totally different animal, Clayton Kershaw, has 719.1 innings and he's a year younger.

Maybe it's possible Phil Hughes just hasn't had enough time to get it right, although when you play the Yankees you really don't get time to get seasoned.

[rockydm92]

I think we forget, he's still just 25.

I mean, I'm not saying that hoping all the sudden he turns into a top of the rotation guy, that's not likely but he might be the type of guy that doesn't put it all together into his mid-late 20s. He's still young.

He's only got 448.1 MLB innings on him at 25. To put that into perspective my favorite pitcher, albeit he's a totally different animal, Clayton Kershaw, has 719.1 innings and he's a year younger.

Maybe it's possible Phil Hughes just hasn't had enough time to get it right, although when you play the Yankees you really don't get time to get seasoned.

This is very true, injuries and yes playing for the Yankees have definitely hindered his development. I am hoping for a solid 3 starter at this point, but he better watch out, Nova and the kids are gonna be nipping at his heels...

It just leaves me cautiously optimistic about Banuelos and Betances for the future... It's so funny Joba coming up in 07 you had scouts saying it wasn't even fair for him to be pitching agasint minor leaguers, he comes up dominates at the major league level, they turn him into a starter and he never found his old dominating self again. He was throwing 97-99 consistently and cannot do it anymore..

Phil Hughes comes up as a power pitcher being compared to Roger with a 94-96MPH fastball, and a knockout curve and he gets to the bigs and never looks like a power pitcher instead he hovers at 92 and tries to have a power pitcher mentality

I mean is it somethging wrong organizationally, can we just not develop pitchers? Who was the last stud we have developed? Pettitte? Whi when pitchers get here they lose their fastballs.. AJ Burnett was 94-97 with the Jays a year later he's 92-94, Pineda comes here and can't hit 93 when a year earlier he was 96-97... I wonder if we hold them back and try to work on command at the expense of velocity!!!

[Epicness]

Teixeira's 1st inn RBI single last nite was only his 8th opposite field RBI single in 4 seasons as Yankee

[rockydm92]

Teixeira's 1st inn RBI single last nite was only his 8th opposite field RBI in 4 seasons as Yankee

OMG that is pathetic, I was going to post something yesterday about the shift. It's not only Tex anymore they O's were shifting for AROD and Granderson, Tampa shifted for everyone except Cano, Gardner and Jeter I think hahahha, I know Kevin Long is considered a good hitting coach, but that's ridiculous...you know how many points these guys get shaved off their average by constantly trying to hit HR's instead of hitting the ball where it's pitched?

[Epicness]

Derek Jeter will make a hell of a platoon batter against LHP someday..

Too bad that time is now and the Yankees don't realize it.

[Epicness]

I think Hughes is being misused. I think he's a good relief pitcher and a poor starter.

[rockydm92]

I think Hughes is being misused. I think he's a good relief pitcher and a poor starter.

I think you're right, he dominated in 09 out of the pen. Was it 09? Or 2010? Interesting to see what happens when Pineda comes back and pettitte, if Pineda is ready to go Hughes will be out of the rotation

[Epicness]

If you notice, although he's struggling.. Hughes is still striking guys out.

It seems he's just good for an inning or two and in small doses.

I think he's a 7th inning type guy. (Which obviously is fall from being projected as a middle to front end starter)
But I think he'd still be a useful bullpen arm and could make the occasional spot start.

[Epicness]

2 Hrs on the year already for Jeter.

Looks like he roided up this offseason.

[Billsman]

Season is still young, the Skipper will get things dialed in soon enough! (I hope)

[Victor7]

Never been a big fan of Hughes. Too inconsistent. My boy Nova on the other hand ?? That guy is going to be an ace for years to come. Nice "problem" to have for Girardi with all those pitchers.

If it were up to me I'd go

CC
Kuroda
Nova
Pettite
Garcia

Pineda would be the "6th starter". You know the guy you start here and there in case someone needs a breather or gets hurt. Hughes needs to go back to the pen where he's more effective IMO.

[Epicness]

Nova doesn't have Ace stuff.

I'd go with
CC
Kuroda
Nova
Pettitte
Pineda

-- Garcia would be a swing man.

[Victor7]

Nova doesn't have Ace stuff.

I'd go with
CC
Kuroda
Nova
Pettitte
Pineda

-- Garcia would be a swing man.

Ace stuff ??

All I know is that he's won 15 (I think) straight decisions dating back to last year. That's pretty impressive. Bet nobody else in the bigs is on such a streak. And if the "ah he's still young" thing is gonna fly for Hughes then apply that to the already impressive and equally younger Nova and you see why I think he's gonna be an ace.

On the rotation.

I like it as well. I actually though about flipping Pineda for Freddy as you did. I ended up taking Garcia based on experience alone, but that works too.

[Epicness]

Nova is one of the luckiest pitchers in recent NYY history.

The streak is impressive and cool but the run support he manages to get in every start is unreal. Last year he got the 2nd best run support in the MLB. He averaged 5.95 runs a game. He got 6+ runs in 11 starts.

Imagine what Verlander, Halladay, Kershaw etc would do if they could count on 6 runs every game.

I mean in a lot of games Nova is pitching with a quick early large lead. It helps.

With that said, he's still a good middle of the rotation guy.

[Victor7]

Nova is one of the luckiest pitchers in recent NYY history.

The streak is impressive and cool but the run support he manages to get in every start is unreal. Last year he got the 2nd best run support in the MLB. He averaged 5.95 runs a game. He got 6+ runs in 11 starts.

Imagine what Verlander, Halladay, Kershaw etc would do if they could count on 6 runs every game.

I'd rather not. It would be insane. 20+ wins with ease. But I don't expect him ever to become like those guys you mentioned.

I mean in a lot of games Nova is pitching with a quick early large lead. It helps.

With that said, he's still a good middle of the rotation guy.

It sure helps. But that's not his fault. He does what he has to do which is go out there and pitch. I think he can be a decent No. 1 and a very good No. 2 down the line.

The Yankees are a very good team. And yes Nova luckily got more run support than the other starters but its not like CC was getting 3 runs per game and AJ was getting 2 and so. They all play on the same team.

[rockydm92]

Nova is one of the luckiest pitchers in recent NYY history.

The streak is impressive and cool but the run support he manages to get in every start is unreal. Last year he got the 2nd best run support in the MLB. He averaged 5.95 runs a game. He got 6+ runs in 11 starts.

Imagine what Verlander, Halladay, Kershaw etc would do if they could count on 6 runs every game.

I mean in a lot of games Nova is pitching with a quick early large lead. It helps.

With that said, he's still a good middle of the rotation guy.

Come on man, give the kid some credit, he pitched to 3.70 ERA in the toughest division in baseball. DOn't give me it was all the run support that did it. Your argument would hold water if he had a 4.5 or higher ERA with those win totals, but not a 3.70... Here's another stat for you, of his 16 wins last year only 4 times did he give up more that 3 ER, and 2 of those he have up 4... In 27 starts he gave up 63 ER (Sabathia in 33 gave up 79) Had a 1.33 WHIP (Sabathia has a 1.23) Yeah it was purely luck!!!!