Written by Greg Fertel | 25 February 2008

What do you know about Carmen Angelini? Shortstop of the future? It all depends on if Eduardo Salcedo signs with the Yankees. If he doesn’t, Angelini is definitely the shortstop of the future. What do you know about Melancon? Will he make an impact this year on the big-league team? When the Yankees move Joba to the rotation, I am quite sure the Yankees will call up Melancon. Although I don’t see him being quite as effective as Joba was in the bullpen last year, I am sure he won’t be that he will be pretty darn close to that level of effectiveness.

In light of what has been reported on Brackman, from the time of the surgery, do you believe NYY would rather have Porcello or Brackman?

I am a huge Brackman fan. After hearing all of the positive stuff come out after his surgery, I’d say the Yankees would prefer the power pitcher that Brackman is.

Come September when every game counts what do you think the starting rotation will look like?

 

1. Wang

2. Pettitte

3. Hughes

4. Chamberlain

5. Kennedy

Will Chamberlain be in the mix or will he be in a set up role? They’ll move Joba to the Rotation and call up Melancon to replace him in the bullpen. Will they implement a 6 man rotation to give the young guys rest? No. But if the Trio get too tired, they always have guys like Rasner, Karstens, Igawa, and others to call up to give the Trio a small rest.

 

What are your thoughts on Melancon, Robertson and Sanchez. When will they be ready for the majors? What are their upsides and what are their chances of reaching that upside?

Both Melancon and Sanchez should be in the bullpen by August, but Roberston might have to wait until 2009 to get called up. Roberston’s upside is he has the chance to throw 95-96 mph, like he did in college. Both Melancon’s and Sanchez’s upside are they have the skills to become the next Joba. Also what are your thoughts on Damon Sublett? Sublett’s most dynamic tools come on the mound. He sat at 91-93 with his fastball at WSU, and had a nasty knuckle-curve that was rated as one of the best breaking pitches in the draft class. His delivery is a bit weird but it provides good deception. Off the mound, Sublett has a good amount of pop for a middle infielder, and runs very well. His best offensive attribute is his plate discipline, as he walks a ton and works deep counts on a regular basis. His plate discipline reminds me of Bobby Abreu. Where do the Yankees select in this years draft I forgot? The Yankees have the 28^th pick in the Draft.

Which of Gargantuan 2 (Brackman and Betances) is more likely to pan out? The Yankees have some serious money invested there.

I’d say Betances. He’s much less likely to get injured like Brackman and his stuff is superb. What do you feel the AAA rotation and starting lineup will look like? Rotation

1. Horne
2. Marquez
3. McCutchen
4. Rasner
5. Igawa

Lineup

OF – Justin Christian

OF – Brett Gardener

OF – Greg Porter

Third – Marcos Vechionacci

Shortstop – Eduardo Nunez

Second – Bernie Castro

First – Juan Miranda

Catcher - PJ Piliterre

 

Since you are kind of new around here, I’m just wondering what methodology you use when looking at hitters and at pitchers? What stats and scouting things are you big on? What doesn’t really matter to you? Where do you stand on things like makeup and background?

I am more of a scouting report kind of guy, but I use sabermetrics quite a bit, as well. There isn’t one particular stat that I am big on. I think that all of the stats matter equally. Makeup isn’t a big thing for me. As long as the kid can play ball and stay out of most trouble, he’s fine with me. Second question, in terms of the draft, where do you stand on college pitchers versus high school pitchers? Hitters? I’d prefer that the Yankees drafted college pitchers and hitters, simply because they are more polished and ready for the life of a pro baseball player. Third question, you don’t have to answer if you haven’t looked at the draft that’s upcoming, but what kind of players do you think the Yankees are going after? I’d say the Yankees will take a left handed pitcher in the first round, probably Robbie Ross or Brett DeVall. Fourth and final question, are you a Torre guy or a Girardi guy? I was a big fan of Torre, but I loved what Girardi did with the Marlins, and I, like everybody else, is hoping he can do what he did with the Marlins young pitchers to our young pitchers.

Who do you see as the best of the crop of infielders the Yankees drafted last year, excluding Angelini?

I’d say Damon Sublett, although Cano may be blocking his way for a little while after signing that extension.

Melancon, Sanchez, Cox, Whelan, Robertson, Ramirez, and Ohlendorf. Can you put them in order of a) their 2008 impact in the majors, and b) their long term impact for the Yankees.

2008 1. Ramirez 2. Ohlendorf 3. Melancon 4. Sanchez 5. Cox 6. Whelan 7. Robertson Long Term

1. Melancon
2. Sanchez
3. Cox
4. Whelan
5. Ohlendorf
6. Roberston
7. Ramirez

If the Yankees sign Eduardo Salcedo (16-yr-old SS), will he instantly become the best prospect in the system (Big 3 notwithstanding)

Yankees Top 6 - Including Salcedo and The Trio 1. Hughes 2. Chamberlain 3. Kennedy 4. Tabata 5. Salcedo 6. Jackson

 

Which prospects you think will have the biggest impact this year?

Mark Melancon when he’s called up to the bullpen in August to replace Joba. Do you have any information on the international prospects that the Yankees will be looking to sign? Eduardo Salcedo, Michael Inoa, and Yorman Rodriguez. Who do you think the Yankees should draft? Are there any players that might fall due to signing issues? Robbie Ross or Brett DeVall are both possible Yankee draft choices. Which prospects do you think will break out this year? I think Melancon will have a break out year after his surgery.

Joba, Hughes, Buchholz: best career and why?

Hughes, because he’s less injury prone than Joba. Buchholz is just too inconsistent for my liking.

 

It looks like the Yankees 2010/2011 starting rotation will comprise some combination of Chien Ming-Wang, Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy, Dellin Betances, Phil Hughes, Jairo Heredia and Andrew Brackman. Do you agree? Are there any other high-end starting pitching prospects that may also go into this mix? (e.g. Humberto Sanchez, Alan Horne, Daniel McCutcheon, Ryan Pope)?

2010 – Wang, Hughes, Joba, Kennedy, Betances 2011 – Hughes, Joba, Kennedy, Betances, Heredia I have a feeling Wang won’t be a Yankee in 2011, unless he improves in the postseason. It also looks like the Yankees are seriously pursuing the 16-year old shortstop, Edward Salcedo. I hear that he has far more potential than Carmen Angellini. What do you hear? Angelini is good, don’t get me wrong, but Salcedo is way better. He has much more power than Angelini. It also looks like the promotion of several minor leaguers may wind up being stifled by the Posada contract (when Posada needs to be moved to another position), the inevitable extension of the Jeter contract (when he, too, will have to be moved) and the possible extensions of the Abreu and Damon contracts. Do you concur? I agree, yes. Damon may sign an extension for one or two years, but I doubt it. Abreu will switch to a full time DH in 2010 or 2011. Jeter will take Abreu’s spot in RF and Posada will play first. So the only spots that won’t be open for promotion are First (Posada), Second (Cano), Third (Rodriguez), and Right Field (Jeter). It looks like the Yankees are hopeful that either Mark Melancon, Humbero Sanchez or J.B. Cox will replace Joba in the bullpen at some point this season. Do you agree? Melancon will replace Joba in the bullpen in August. Have the Yankees definitively stated that they no longer view Sanchez as a starter? When they got him from Detroit, he was viewed as a potential starter. I can’t speak for the Yankees, but I’d be surprised if Sanchez switched back to a starter, especially with all of the young talented starters they have in their system. Lars Anderson or Juan Miranda? Anderson, more power potential. Austin Jackson or Jose Tabata? Tabata, especially if he starts to bulk up and hit for power Rank: A. Horne, G. Kontos, M. Bowden, J. Marquez, Masterson 1. Horne 2. Marquez 3. Kontos 4. Masterson 5. Bowden Realistically, do you think that Montero will/should be moved to 1B?

 

No, I see Posada moving to First when he’s older to make room for Montero.

-- Sorry for the late post. I was busy at home. Because of the late post, here is a revised schedulefor the week. I'm also busy tomorrow, so no post tomorrow, Friday, or Saturday. Sorry for the lack of posts. I have a very busy week, which won't happen anymore. Tuesday: Day Off Wednesday: Not A Rookie: Phil Hughes Thursday: Rookie Preview: Ross Ohlendorf Friday: Day Off Saturday: Day Off Sunday: Minor League Projection: Kei Igawa

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