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Joel Sherman has two reports this morning.  First, Phil Hughes will win the fifth starter job and second, Curtis Granderson will play center and not left. 

I always expected Hughes to end up in the rotation, just not this year.  I figured Joba would get the call because of everything the Yankees went through to get him ready to start.  But, Hughes had pitched better and while it will be infuriating to go through another year with "rules" we have to remember that Hughes is only 23 and needs to be protected.  As Sherman says, he has a high ceiling and the Yankees want him to be around for a long time.

What should be interesting to watch is how the Yankees spin this news in regards to Joba.  Personally, I think that this move should put an end to the Joba as a starter argument.  The Yankees can't keep yanking him around and I can't see how they could productively put him in the bullpen and then move him back into the rotation in 2011.  Part of me wonders if this move has more sinister undertones.  After all, Rivera will be 41 in the offseason and a free agent.  Having Joba return to his previous greatness in the bullpen would take a lot of pressure off Brian Cashman in those negotiations come November.  Hmmmm...

One decision that I think nobody will disagree with is the one to put Granderson in center.  Even if Garder is a better centerfielder, Granderson can play the position well.  He is more valuable to the Yankees in center and remember that Carl Crawford, a leftfielder is going to be a free agent next year.  Obviously, it isn't a permanent change, if Granderson struggles they can always switch them, but it is the right call for now.

LoHud also took a guess at the final roster and it makes sense based on what we know now.   A bullpen of Mo, Joba, Marte, Aceves, Robertson, Mitre and Park means only one lefty for now, but Logan has options so he can go to AAA.  Thames and Pena win the backup spots, though I think Thames is going to need to wake up his bat quickly if he is going to keep that spot during the season. 

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

The Yankees returned Jamie Hoffmann to the Dodgers today.  Not really a shock since he hit .130 this spring and the Yankees would have had to put him on the 25-man roster to keep him.  The disappointing thing is that the Yankees could have used their Rule 5 pick to take anyone so Hoffmann represents a missed chance.

The question is, who is going to win the last spot in the outfield?  Marcus Thames is 3-for-28 with one walk this spring.  Randy Winn has hit .167.  Jon Weber has destroyed the ball, but he is a lefty hitter so it's hard to see him making the roster.

One guy who could get the call is Greg Golson.  Golson is already on the 40-man and he is hitting .316 this spring.  He was a first round pick of the Phillies, but has never hit in the minors.  Would the Yankees give the job to a guy who has a grand total of 7 AB's in the majors?  We have 13 days to find out.

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

With today's rain out, the Yankees had to shuffle their pitching plans and the way they did is very interesting.  What they have decided to do is have an intrasquad game tomorrow while also playing their regularly scheduled game against the Phillies.  That will allow all the pitchers who need work to get it in some form or the other.  And, Jack Curry is reporting that Phil Hughes will go and face the Phillies tomorrow while Joba will pitch against the Yankees' intrasquad team.  

Does this mean that Hughes has the inside track on the rotation spot?  I would think so, but I guess we will find out a lot more tomorrow after he pitches. 

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 07:32 PM | Permalink

"Brilliant" is the word I keep reading about Joba's performance. Add in the fact that Phil Hughes pitched very well yesterday and it is fair to say the two favorites for the fifth spot have stepped up.  Now, it's only one performance for each of them and it will be very interesting to see what Aceves does, but it is a good sign.

Another good sign is to see Brett Gardner 2-for-3 with a steal.  Apart from Nick Swisher, none of the guys you would expect to make the final roster have done much with the bat this spring, but it is still early.  I maintain that Gardner is the guy to give the bulk of the AB's to this season in left/center.  His speed is an element that fits in well with the overall lineup and if he can get on base he will be dangerous.

One other competition to keep an eye on.  Kevin Russo is hitting well, Ramiro Pena is not.  Could Russo get the utility job?  I think it depends on how much the Yankees like his glove around the infield, but I think he is gaining ground.

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 04:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

When you look at the fifth starter competition in 2010, you also have to look back and look ahead.  Look back to 2009 and all the Yankees went through to get Joba stretched out and ready to pitch without innings limits.  Look ahead to 2011 and realize that the only two definite starters the Yankees have on the roster are Sabathia and Burnett.

That means it is vital that the Yankees develop a starter in 2010 who can slot into the 2011 rotation.  It makes it much more likely that Joba and Hughes (two guys who aren't going anywhere) beat out guys like Gaudin and Mitre (who knows where they will be).  I suppose you could put Aceves in the former group, but I think the Yankees value the flexibility he gives them in the bullpen.  Now, a small disclaimer.  I fully believe the Yankees would go in a different direction than Hughes or Joba if they continue to stink in spring training, but assuming they improve a little bit, this is a two-horse race.

Now, in that race, I think Joba is the favorite.  He is the guy they tried to develop in 2009 and while it was bumpy at times, he certainly showed potential.  Through the end of July, Joba had a 3.58 ERA as a starter.  That was the point the Yankees started messing with his starts (and his head) and things went downhill from there.  What caused the fall off in performance in the final two months?  I'm not sure anyone knows for sure, but I think it's another reason the Yankees will give him every chance to show it was his head and not his arm.

What will be interesting to watch is what the Yankees do with Hughes.  The smartest approach may be to put him in the minors as a starter for a couple of months.  This would achieve two things.  First, keeping Hughes in Scranton for part of the season would allow him to build up his innings which would put him in line to start in 2011 without an innings cap. More importantly, it would give the Yankees insurance if one of their starters got hurt.

That could be a huge factor in the decision.  Aceves will almost certainly make the team as a reliever.  Gaudin's deal isn't guaranteed and I would expect the Yankees to cut him loose if he didn't make the club.  (Why pay him $3 million to relieve when you have guys like Melancon who can do it for much cheaper?)  I believe Mitre woudl have to agree to a minor league assignment, so he is probably gone.  Now look at Scranton's roster.  There really isn't anyone with major league experience.  Having Hughes in Scranton would give you a solid replacement if a pitcher got hurt. 

I can hear the argument against this and it is a good one.  Why keep one of the 12-best arms on your club in the minors for a situation that may never arise?  Well, if the paragraph above didn't sway you how about we think about 2011 again?  Mariano is 40 and while I wouldn't bet against him, it is fair to say that he might not have many years left.  If the Yankees are going to develop Hughes and Joba as starters, then they also need to develop some other guys as possible closers down the line.  If Hughes opens in Scranton, I would assume that gives Robertson a chance to be the 8th-inning guy (along with Marte).  Additionally, it might give a guy like Melancon a shot at making the team outright.  My opinion is that starting 2010 with Joba in the fifth spot, Hughes in Scranton and Robertson being the bridge to Rivera is the best way to handle the delicate balancing act of winning in 2010 and preparing for 2011.  If something doesn't work, let's say Joba blows up, then Hughes can jump into the rotation and Joba into the pen.  If Robertson blows up, Hughes can replace him in the bridge role.  And, if a starter gets hurt, Hughes is ready to jump into the rotation.

Is it perfect?  No, you waste Hughes' talent for the part of the season he spends in the minors.  But, if people stay healthy you could end up with Joba as a rotation cog, Hughes ready to become one and Robertson (or Melancon) as a reliable bridge to Rivera.  That's the best case for 2010 and 2011.  

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 07:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

There is a story building about A-Rod and Dr. Anthony Galea. Galea is being investigated by federal authorities after getting stopped at the border bringing HGH into the country.  So far, he has been tied to Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes, Huston Street and Tiger Woods.  Now, Galea is saying he treated A-Rod last year after hip surgery, but only gave him anti-inflammatory drugs.

Now, on the surface that shouldn't be a problem, but as with all things A-Rod there are some other details that need to be considered.  Start with this statement from the Yankees:

"The New York Yankees have not been contacted with regard to an investigation of Dr. Tony Galea. The Yankees never authorized Dr. Tony Galea to treat Alex Rodriguez, nor do we have any knowledge of any such treatment.

Assuming Galea is telling the truth, then A-Rod went behind that team's back to get treatment.  Not exactly a great thing to learn.

But the bigger issue is obviously Galea's involvement with HGH.  Assuming what Galea said is true, A-Rod's only "crime" is not getting authorization from the team for treatment.  If that is indeed the case, A-Rod should apologize to the Yankees and get a statement out about this ASAP.  Otherwise, the speculation and distractions will start to build.  Neither Alex nor the Yankees need that right now.  

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 06:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)