Joe T. Has a Big Man-Crush March 26, 2008
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in Joe Torre, Off-Topic.1 comment so far
The Dodgers released 39-year-old righty Rudy Seanez according to MLBTR. He did well last year, posting a 3.79 ERA in 76 IP, with 8.6K/9, and has been effective for the last…forever. Well, I guess this means he has a spot on the roster.
Add Us on Facebook! March 25, 2008
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in Off-Topic.add a comment
It’s been up for a while, but if you have a Facebook page and read this site consistently, why not become a fan? Just click this link to register yourself as a fan of Yankees: Looking for the Future on Facebook, and join the many other fans who have done so. Yankees: Looking for the Future–always posting rumors, looking for star prospects, reflecting on games, and providing overall analysis on the Yankees.
Coming to Computers Near You! March 25, 2008
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in 2008 AL Standings Projections, 2008 Opening Day.add a comment
When Opening Day Rosters are announced, I will predict the standings for the American League, with a note under each team explaining my choice for that record, and a potential sleeper team in that division. I’ll start off with the AL West, and move eastward, unlike John Soule’s suggestion.
News and Notes: MLB Opener, AL East Top Prospects March 25, 2008
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in 2008 Opening Day, Baseball Prospectus Future Shock, Boston Red Sox, Oakland A's.add a comment
A few pieces of news to pass along for your morning pleasure:
- The Red Sox have won the MLB Opener, 6-4, against the Oakland A’s. Huston Street blew the save and then took the loss, first giving up a home run to Brandon Moss (starting in place of the injured J.D. Drew) and then allowing the eventual game-winning hit to Manny Ramirez. The A’s had a shot to win the game in the bottom of the tenth, but Emil Brown made a bonehead play trying to take an extra base on his RBI double to bring in Daric Barton. Daisuke Matsuzaka went 5 innings, allowing 2H, 2ER, 5BB (yikes), and 6K’s. Joe Blanton started for the A’s, and allowed 7H, 3ER, 1BB, and 3K’s in 5.1IP. W-Hideki Okajima (1-0) L-Huston Street (0-1) S-Jon Papelbon (1)
- Kevin Goldstein actually wrote a legitimate prospect piece over at Baseball Prospectus, and here he covers the prospects of the AL East teams.
Hughes is Effective, Yankees Win March 25, 2008
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in 2008 Spring Training.add a comment
Phil Hughes had a good outing yesterday, pitching 5 innings and allowing 3H, 3ER, 2BB, and 6K’s. The WHIP is good, but he used 86 pitches for 5 innings, meaning he needs to be more economical. The Yankees roughed up the Phillies, 13-4, and former Twins top prospect JD Durbin got the worst of it, surrendering 6ER and a 3-run to Robinson Cano and a solo shot to Melky Cabrera in the fifth inning.
Overall, though, the Yankees’ offense was clicking, as they had 19 hits and three homeruns (Jason Giambi homered off Jamie Moyer in the third). Mariano Rivera was sharp, striking out the side and walking one. Billy Traber allowed a run, but the lefty job is essentially his anyway. LaTroy Hawkins was also sharp, and Brian Bruney made his case for the last spot in the bullpen with a scoreless 9th inning.
NCAA Bracketing Experience March 24, 2008
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in NCAA Tourney Bracket, Off-Topic.add a comment
Well, I’m in my second year doing brackets, and I think I’m doing well. I was 24-8 in the 1st round, calling some upsets (W. Kentucky over Drake) while missing some others (Siena over Vanderbilt). I followed that up with 11-5 in the 2nd round, partially ruined because I had Arizona and Duke playing a Round of 32 game. No team that I have predicted to go a long way has lost…yet. My final four consists of UNC, Texas, Wisconsin, and UCLA, with UCLA beating UNC for the National Championship.
Yankees Opening Day Roster Prediction March 24, 2008
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in 2008 Opening Day, 2008 Spring Training, Roster Competitions.1 comment so far
Here’s my first crack at projecting the Opening Day roster. Note that there will be a long reliever and likely a lefty in the bullpen.
Lineup
LF Johnny Damon
SS Derek Jeter
RF Bobby Abreu
3B Alex Rodriguez
1B Jason Giambi
DH Hideki Matsui
C Jorge Posada
2B Robinson Cano
CF Melky Cabrera
I think the lineup should have Cano batting 5th and Matsui 8th, but I just don’t see Girardi doing that.
Bench
INF Wilson Betemit
3B/1B Morgan Ensberg
1B/OF Shelley Duncan
C Jose Molina
While the Yankees would love a speedy pinch runner and/or a true utility infielder, Betemit and Ensberg are versatile enough and hit too well for them to carry Bernie Castro or Nick Green.
Rotation
SP1 Chien-Ming Wang
SP2 Andy Pettitte
SP3 Mike Mussina
SP4 Ian Kennedy
SP5 Phil Hughes
Note that I am determining this based on innings, as the first two pitchers will pitch over 200 innings, with the last three slots pieced together based on innings caps and an aging veteran.
Bullpen
LR Darrell Rasner
MR LaTroy Hawkins
MR Kyle Farnsworth
MR Billy Traber
MR Scott Patterson
SU Joba Chamberlain
CL Mariano Rivera
Girardi will likely take a lefty, as it is his preference and Traber has done a solid job. Patterson’s spring performance will win him the last bullpen spot, and Ross Ohlendorf will continue his bullpen seasoning in AAA S/W-B. I’ve been predicting that LaTroy Hawkins’s 63% groundball rate won’t hold up and he’ll be out by mid-summer, and I’m maintaining that.
This is a solid roster. Some things will no doubt have changed by the end of the year (Hawkins, Farnsworth, Damon traded? Joba to rotation?). Prospects will be called up, disappointments will be DFA’d. This team has its share of broken-down, aging veterans (Damon, Matsui, Giambi, with Abreu, Posada, and Jeter soon to follow) who may not last the full season. There will be growing pains with the Big 3. The bullpen is full of question marks who can well be busts.
This is not to say there aren’t players on the rise. Robinson Cano is a rising star and the second-best 2B in the league. While comparisons to Carlos Beltran and Bernie Williams are silly at this point, Melky Cabrera will be (at least) a league-average CF. The Big 3 will have its moments to shine, and Wang, only 27, will get it done with his hard sinker.
The offense is no longer a 1,000 run offense. The pitching is somewhat suspect, and there are a fair amount of questions on this team. Regardless, I see that the Yankees still have enough to scrape a 92-70 record because there still is talent. However, they will barely miss the playoffs.
Something to Look at March 22, 2008
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in 2008 ZIPS Projections.add a comment
These have been available since late October, but here are the ZIPS projections for Yankees players. Note some minor players (Andy Cannizaro, Tyler Clippard) are present in the projection that are no longer on the team. I think these numbers are pretty solid projections, and there are some interesting ones in there (Joba’s and Mitch Hilligoss’s particularly).
Wang Tapped as Opening Day Starter March 22, 2008
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in 2008 Opening Day, 2008 Spring Training, Chien-Ming Wang.add a comment
Yesterday, Joe Girardi named Chien-Ming Wang as the starter on Opening Day. This was essentially known for weeks–his Spring Training assignments have been on track with Opening Day, and he merited the start anyway. At least it’s not Carl Pavano this year.
- Andy Pettitte and Robinson Cano were scratched from today’s game with back issues. Jon Alabadejo started and punched his ticket to Scranton, allowing 6 ER in 1/3 IP. However, the game was canceled after an inning and a half due to rain.
Minor Notes: Cox Returns, Duncan Impresses March 20, 2008
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in 2008 Spring Training, Eric Duncan, J. Brent Cox, Kevin Reese.1 comment so far
- J.B. Cox returned on the mound after missing a year with Tommy John Surgery, and threw in a minor-league game. He threw only fastballs and sliders–no changeups–and felt good. He is at Hi-A Tampa, and will advance to AAA S/W-B when the weather is appropriate.
- Eric Duncan has impressed in Minor League games. Per Chad Jennings’s box scores, he is 4-14 (.286) with a HR, 3 RBIs, 1 BB, and 4 K’s in 4 games. Not bad.
- Kevin Reese has returned to the Yankees…as as scout. Reese last played in 2007 with S/W-B, but retired after finishing the year on the DL and being released. He will now scout the Sally and Appalachian Leagues for the Yanks.
