Montero’s two homers help SWB to division title

August 29, 2010 by Mike Axisa 100 Comments

Triple-A Scranton (5-1 win over Buffalo) thanks to the win, they are the North Division champs for the fourth straight year
Kevin Russo, 2B: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 K – had been just three for his last 27 (.111)
Greg Golson, CF: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 BB
Jesus Montero, C: 2 for 4, 2 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI – 12 for his last 34 (.353) with a double and four homers … one of the homers was pulled, the other went to the opposite field … that gives him 18 homers for the season, a new career high
Juan Miranda, 1B & Jorge Vazquez, DH: both 0 for 4 – Miranda struck out once, JoVa four freaking times
Colin Curtis, RF: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 HBP – 14 for his last 39 (.359) with seven doubles and a homer … he’s pretty locked in right now, could be a nice little surprise for the Yanks in September
Chad Huffman, LF: 2 for 4
Brandon Laird, 3B: 0 for 3 – he’s stuck in a real bad rut, just 11 for his last 76 (.145) … he didn’t run out a grounder and got booed
Eric Bruntlett, SS: 0 for 3, 1 K
D.J. Mitchell: 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 1 WP, 9-6 GB/FB – 57 of 99 pitches were strikes … very nice for his second AAA start
Kevin Whelan: 1 IP, zeroes, 1-2 GB/FB – half of his eight pitches were strikes
Eric Wordekemper: 0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K – just four of his 13 pitches were strikes
Jon Albaladejo: 1 IP, zeroes, 1 K, 1 WP, 1 HB, 0-2 GB/FB – eight of his 13 pitches were strikes

Double-A Trenton (6-2 loss to Harrisburg in 10 innings, walk-off style)
Justin Christian, LF: 2 for 5, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI – 12 for his last 38 (.316) with five doubles and a homer … currently riding a 12 game hit streak
Austin Krum, CF: 1 for 5, 1 RBI, 1 K
Austin Romine, C: 2 for 5, 1 R – eight for his last 26 (.308) with a double and a homer … he’s drawn just two walks since July 23rd
Rene Rivera, DH, Marcos Vechionacci, 1B & Luis Nunez, SS: all 0 for 4 – Rivera got hit by a pitch, drove in a run & K’ed … Vech drew a walk … Nunez K’ed
Corban Joseph, 2B: 0 for 3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
Edwar Gonzalez, RF: 3 for 5, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 RBI
Justin Snyder, 3B: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 K – 48 BB, 41 K
Dellin Betances: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 WP, 1 HB, 3-7 GB/FB – 103 K in 81.1 IP
Wilkin DeLaRosa: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1-2 GB/FB
J.B. Cox: 2 IP, zeroes, 1 K, 1 HB, 2-3 GB/FB – 2.51 ERA in August
Josh Schmidt: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K – the walk was intentional

High-A Tampa (4-2 loss to Dunedin)
Ray Kruml, CF: 1 for 5, 2 K – playing center in place of Melky Mesa, who was hit by a pitch on the wrist yesterday
Jose Pirela, 2B, Zoilo Almonte, RF & Anderson Feliz, D: all 1 for 4, 2 K – Pirela stole a base and drew his 55th walk of the year
Bradley Suttle, 3B: 0 for 5, 2 K
Addison Maruszak, SS: 0 for 4, 1 K
Myron Leslie, 1B: 2 or 4, 1 R, 1 K, 1 SB, 1 E (interference)
Jack Rye, LF: 1 for 3, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB – he’s doubled in four of his last five games
Jose Gil, C: 2 for 3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 PB – that’s his tenth homer this year after hitting three total in the last two years
Josh Romanski: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K1 WP, 5-5 GB/FB – picked a runner off first
Ronny Marte: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 1-0 GB/FB – picked a runner off second
Adam Olbrychowski: 1 IP, zeroes, 2 K

Low-A Charleston had a scheduled off day.

Short Season Staten Island (7-6 loss to Lowell)
Shane Brown, 1B: 1 for 5
Cito Culver, SS: 1 for 3, 1 R, 2 BB – three walks and no whiffs in his last two games
Rob Segedin, 3B: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI – just five strikeouts in 51 career plate appearances
Gary Sanchez, DH: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 HBP – still waiting on his first multi-hit game with SI
Kelvin DeLeon, RF: 2 for 4, 2 R, 1 2B, 2 K – second straight game with two hits and a double
Luis Parache, 2B & Kelvin Duran, CF: both 1 for 4, 1 RBI – Duran struck out twice, got picked off first and committed a fielding error
Jeff Farnham, CF: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
Mike Ferraro, LF: 2 for 4, 2 2B, 1 K
Matt Jernstad: 6 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HB, 7-6 GB/FB – picked a runner off first
Tommy Kahnle: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0-4 GB/FB – first run he’s allowed … six baserunners and 19 strikeouts in a dozen pro innings

The Rookie GCL Yanks season is over. They did not qualify for the playoffs.

pat

I was reeeeally hoping WDLR would put together a good year.

Didn’t happen.
- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bring-Melvin-To-America/193013541601?ref=sgm Andy In Sunny Daytona
  
  Well, there has to be one.
- hello9
  
  Too much B-12.
  
  Too soon?
  - http://www.mystiqueandaura.com Steve H
    
    Not enough apparently. Though based on Nova it looks like WDLR does a good job injecting it.
Carlosologist

The SLG is over .500!
http://www.twitter.com/stophamm3rtime Dela G

hooray for montero! does anyone know his stats since the cliff lee non-trade debacle. It seems as if they would be astronomically good
- http://www.mystiqueandaura.com Steve H
  
  That was right around July 9th, so I don’t have the exact splits since then, but it was most of July and all of August.
  
  Jul. .342/.441/.632 5 HR’s
  Aug. .353/.404/.659 7 HR’s
  
  Not too shabby.
  - Fred Lemond
    
    .363 since the all star break.
  - RollingWave
    
    Frank Thomasian
- Doug
  
  .357/.411/.693/1.104 with 12 HRs and 30 RBIs over 38 games
shane

Starting pitching looks good throughout the system – AAA, AA, A, L-A all have 4 promotees in their rotations and as of now the only one who looks overmatched is Gipson at Charlotte (and he’s only had a couple of starts, so he might be fine).
jramey

Montero = Mancrush
sleepykarl

Romanski have a future , or a good, strong org guy?
- JohnnyC
  
  http://riveraveblues.com/2010/04/yankees-sign-josh-romanski-27117/
  
  Was a 4th round pick by the Brewers. Then had TJS and released. Yankees signed him this Spring. Lefty who pitched at U of San Diego with Brian Matusz. Maybe has some upside. Worth a look see by the Yankees.
  - sleepykarl
    
    Yeah, I remember the story. He looked solid in Low A, just wondering how far the upside went.
RalphieD

it really is amazing the turn around montero has undergone..he went from a disappointing AAA season, to a “he held his own” to now a, “wow this dude is 20 and crushing AAA”…truly astounding, his offensive potential is so high it makes me dream about a cost controlled yankee position player putting up huge numbers long before free agency…oh the joy, the rapture
- http://www.yfsf.org AndrewYF
  
  “it makes me dream about a cost controlled yankee position player putting up huge numbers long before free agency”
  
  You don’t have to dream, baby, Robbie Cano’s living your fantasy.
  - MikeD
    
    Would that cost-controlled position be DH? That’s the only question I have. Where are they going to play him, and I’m afraid they still may look to move Montero to fill another need. Not getting too attached to the idea of him being a Yankee until he actually is a Yankee.
    - pat
      
      He’ll remain at catcher. How many catchers were finished products by the age of 20? Not too many. For what it’s worth, a Jesus Montero helmed SWB pitching staff had the 3rd lowest ERA in the IL and just wrapped up the league championship. Obviously team ERA isn’t the best measure of a catcher’s prowess and AAA =\= MLB, but it’s not like his defense and game calling completely torpedoed the club. He’s not going to have to handle a rookie staff and walk them through games. He just has to be on the same page as the big boys.
djyank

call him up
- Betty Lizard
  
  I know Jesus is on that mainline
  Tell Him what you want
  Jesus is on that mainline
  Tell Him what you want
  Jesus is on that mainline
  Tell Him what you want
  Call Him up, call Him up, call Him up, call Him up
  Call Him up and tell Him what you want
  
  (Some things will never, ever get old)
http://yanksdraftsandprospects.blogspot.com/ Jake H

Montero is a beast! He has been on a mission to destroy the league since the all star break.
- Total Dominication
  
  More like since the start of summer.
Reggie C.

Is it too much to ask that Montero be Posada-ish behind the dish next season? Cerv’s clearly not the defensive wizard he was touted to be so perhaps the defensive skill gap between Cerv and Posada isn’t as vast as originally thought. How much more worse cold Montero be than Posada at this point? Posada is a near 40 yr old man!

There’s no flip side to Montero’s play these past 3 months as the man is clearly ready to handle ML pitching.
- Total Dominication
  
  Posadish might be too much, But hopefully he can be at least be Piazzaish, and try to work up from there.
  - larryf
    
    He is at least Piazzaish. I have seen him play several times. He throws well and is bigger than Jorge and Frankie and pitchers like big targets. The last game I went to Tim Redding did not shake him off and pitched a great 8 and 1/3rd. Butch Wynegar and Chad Moeller are with him. He is a major league catcher in my opinion whose speed is somewhere around Posada”s who may be faster-did you see that double yesterday?- and the Molinas….
  - sleepykarl
    
    I saw a scouting report last year saying he was already better defensively than Piazza, and it wasn’t put as a complement.
- andrew
  
  Posada may be 40, but with that age comes a lot of experience. I obviously don’t know this for sure, but I would venture a guess that Montero is not as good at calling a game as Posada, which is much more important than blocking and throwing. Also, to say he is clearly ready to handle ML pitching is a bit strong IMO. He’s still 20, and this final jump from AAA to the majors is a big one. A good offensive season at AAA does not necessarily mean he is ready for the majors.
  - poster on another computer who happens to be a deuce bag
    
    I remember seeing, a long time ago (ong being maybe two years) a study donw on game calling.
    
    The conclusion?
    
    It was a myth.
    - Tampa Yankee
      
      I had a buddy drafted by the Rangers and played with John Danks and Thomas Diamond while in their system. Since they (Danks and Diamond) were both the bonus babies they got invites to ST and got to work with Pudge. Both shared with my buddy that Pudge was horrible at calling games. So the moral of the story is even the good defensive catchers can call bad games.
      - whozat
        
        Pudge’s rep for defense was built a lot on his CS%, which you can boost by calling lots and lots of fastballs when runners are on. If they get hit…not a steal. If they don’t, it’s the best pitch to throw a guy out on.
        
        Tampa Yankee
        
        That’s exactly what they said he did. He always called for fastballs especially when runners were on. He rarely called for off speed stuff.
    - MikeD
      
      True, although much of that could be attributed to to any catcher not good enough to call a game is moved off catcher. They get weeded out.
      
      Not convinced Montero will be more than a back-up catcher as a MLBer, spending most of his time at DH. He probably should be taking grounder at first, yet we don’t have an opening there either.
      
      I mean, if we have a guy who can serve 20 games or so at catcher and another 20 at first, and DH another 100, I’m fine with that. I wonder if the Yankees will be fine with that.
- futureman
  
  Posada and Montero had similar PB and CS% numbers in AAA so unless there is some other mystery factor out there, I don’t see why Montero couldn’t be similar defensively to Posada. I mean the pitching staff is doing well and Montero isn’t making a bunch of throwing errors (fewer than Posada in his final AAA season).
  
  I get that Montero isn’t Joe Mauer behind the plate but he is already Posada like behind the plate if you compare their AAA defensive numbers.
  - futureman
    
    Pretend that was written more elegantly.
  - http://canyonofheroes.wordpress.com/ matt montero
    
    But wasn’t Jorge only catching for like 3 years when he was in triple A?
    - Ed
      
      He had about 2 years of catching experience before he reached AAA. He also spent 3 years in AAA.
    - MikeD
      
      Posada caught for three full seasons at AAA before being called up for good in late ’96, and appeared in games as a catcher at all levels of the minors from the point he signed, although his first season he did play more at 2B, his original position.
      
      In fairness to Montero, in one sense he’s actually more “advanced” than Posada, since he’s now caught 100 games at AAA at the age of 20. It’s also really his first full year as the primary catcher as he split time with Romine in past years up until Montero was called up to AA in mid ’09. His season then ended early with the hand injury, so 2010 is Montero’s first complete as a catcher. Posada’s first complete full year as a catcher happened at 21 when he split time between A and AA. The results weren’t pretty. He had 40 pass balls! Clearly that was a big learning year for Jorge. That didn’t stop the Yankees from moving Posada to AAA, where he spent the next three years. His catching improved quite a bit and by the time hew as called up had a reputation as a solid defender. That’s where Posada is more advanced, by quite a bit, than Montero.
      
      The problem for Montero is he’s at a premium defensive position and asking a 21-year-old to become the key catcher for the NY Yankees in 2011 is asking a lot. After three years in AAA, Posada then mentored under Girardi for a whole season, and then shared the position for another season.
      
      The numbers between Posada and Montero may not seem huge on paper, but they are. Posada was more experienced, he did still have a better % of throwing out runners, and players also ran less on Posada than Montero. I’m guessing there’s a reason for that. Montero also has more passed balls at AAA. I think that highlights the problem. Posada was a second baseman, so he could move well behind the plate. Montero supposedly does not have good footwork, reacting slowly on pitches in the dirt (god forbid if he ever has to catch AJ.) Montero is expected to only get bigger, slowing him further. Think about it. He’s being compared to Frank Thomas and Miguel Cabrera and Edgar Martinez. Not catcher-types. He’s going to have to move eventually.
      - Ted Nelson
        
        It’s not clear that Montero can catch in the majors, but it’s also not clear that he cannot. His numbers are quite similar to Jorge’s AAA numbers, I’m not sure why you say they are not. Jorge was not regarded as a decent defensive catcher until several seasons into his major league career… in his late 20s or so. The Yankees were willing to sacrifice some defense for excellent offense behind the plate, and may be inclined to do so again with Montero.
        
        As far as being mentored by Girardi… Posada will be there next season and Cervelli may as well. Girardi himself will almost definitely be in the dugout. He would come up into a somewhat similar situation as Posada did.
        
        As far as scouting reports… the consensus isn’t always right.
        
        The kid is 20 years old. He may still spend the better part of next season in AAA. He’s unlikely to be the everyday catcher even if he is catching in the major leagues next season. If they give him a shot and he’s unbearably atrocious to the point he’s costing the Yankees wins… they’ll move him. If he outgrows the position… they’ll move him. If he can hit for an OPS of 1.000, though, they might not care if he’s the worst defensive starting C in the league. Depends what their options are. Certainly there may be some right behind him in Sanchez, Romine, and Murphy.
        
        I just don’t see any point to making absolute pronouncements at this point. Right now he’s a catcher. That’s all we know for sure. We’ll see what happens going forward.
http://www.twitter.com/TomZig Tom Zig

It seems as though Montero is done with Triple-A but he isn’t rule-5 eligible while a number of other guys are so he probably won’t get called up till next year.
- DallasGreen
  
  my bet is early on next year. saw him catch at scranton a few weeks ago and he looked very rocky behind the plate. hopefully some good innings in winter ball will help him to progress. the bat is definitely big league ready. the ball has “that sound” coming off his bat. he’s gonna be fun to watch hit
Mike Pop

I’m always excited to read Dellin’s line.
- Jobu
  
  I hear you. Nice to see him continue to get strike outs in AA.
Mister Delaware

Its almost more fun that he struggled early because now we can just sit back and say “ha, he solved it”. 2011 should be fun.
http://dontbringinthelefty.blogspot.com Lucas AA, aka don’t_bring_in_the_lefty

I was at the Staten Island game today. Cito made some good defensive plays, including a nice stop on a short-hop low line drive. Kahnle hit 98 and was no lower than 95 with the fastball.
- Rockdog
  
  Was at the game too. The two things that I noticed were: 1. Cito seemed very poised both in the field and at the plate. Still very early, but he carries himself well. 2. Gary Sanchez is a beast — the guy is seriously built.
  - http://dontbringinthelefty.blogspot.com Lucas AA, aka don’t_bring_in_the_lefty
    
    Agreed on both counts. That hit for Sanchez in the 8th was an absolute rocket.
Johnny O

Great DoTF. Montero with a ha-YUGE game to clinch the division and the SLG is over 500. Dellin still dealin….less than a base runner per inning, 7:1 K/BB. Culver/Segedin/Sanches all get hits and I’m really liking Tommy Kahnle. He’s gotta go straight to Tampa next year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack

So do Betances, Brackman, and Banuelos start in AAA next year? And how many more games are left on the AAA schedule?
- shane
  
  Right now you have Mitchell, Phelps, Pendelton and Noesi in AAA. There’s no room for more than one of the 3Bs.
  - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack
    
    Are they really concerned about Phelps’ and Pendelton’s development? I’d also imagine (i.e. hope) that Nova and Mosley start the year in Scranton too…I keep forgetting about Noesi and Mitchell also needing to develop.
    - http://twitter.com/JoeRo23 The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
      
      “Are they really concerned about Phelps’ and Pendelton’s development?”
      
      Not as concerned as they are with guys like Brackman/Betances/Banuelos, but that doesn’t mean they can just act like those guys don’t exist.
      
      I don’t like getting into the guessing games, but I’d be very surprised to see more than one of Brackman/Betances/Banuelos in AAA at the start of the 2011 season, and I’d think that one would be Brackman (if any of them). Betances and Banuelos are both considerably younger than Brackman, are coming off of pretty serious injuries, and don’t have many innings under their belts at AA. I think they’ll see AAA in 2011 (health permitting of course), but I’d be very surprised to see them start the season there.
      - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack
        
        That’s something else I didn’t consider the age and experience factor, it’d be nice to see all three hit Scranton next year, but realistically they could have let them finish the year out in Tampa and wait until next year to promote them to Trenton. I guess this is one of those “good problems,” having Betances and Banuelos start in Trenton and go with Nova, Mitchell, Phelps, Noesi, and Brackman (not necessarily in that order) for the Scranton rotation probably makes the most sense.
        
        Shaun
        
        Banuelos and Betances are already in AA Trenton
        
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack
        
        Well aware, I was simply stating that they could have waited until next year to start them there and the two would still be on a somewhat advanced development plan.
- Stuckey
  
  Betances and Banuelos just got called up. I gotta imagine they both definitely start the year in AA.
- Stuckey
  
  And don’t forget Adam Warren, who’s stock is rising.
  - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack
    
    There’s another guy who I forget about, since he’s probably one of the closer guys to being able to fill in at the big league level in case of an injury it probably makes the most sense to have him in Scranton too.
    - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvg7Empjfg Captain Jack
      
      Well…it’d make more sense to have him in Scranton sooner than Betances or Banuelos.
- MikeD
  
  I would think Brackman gets a shot at AAA in 2011, with the other two starting the season in AA.
Brad Toughy

What realistic expectation for Montero’s big league HR power? Is he a 30 HR kind of guy. 40?
- http://www.mystiqueandaura.com Steve H
  
  I think consistent 30’s with 40’s possible here and there is what I’ve heard the most. The most often comps I have heard are Edgar, Big Hurt and Miggy Cabrera. While all great power hitters, not necessarily known for their HR prowess (despite hitting plenty).
  - Total Dominication
    
    Miguel Cabrera not known for his HR prowess?
    - http://www.mystiqueandaura.com Steve H
      
      Not really. He hits a ton, but he’s more known for being a great hitter in general, much the way Manny is recognized as a great hitter, not specific to HR’s.
    - Chris
      
      His career high for homers is 37. He’ll probably pass that this season, and he’s only 27 so he’ll probably pass that again in the future.
  - Brad Toughy
    
    Gotcha. Also, there’s not too many guys hitting 40+ HR year in and year out anymore. 30 homers, especially from a catcher is spectacular.
    - http://www.mystiqueandaura.com Steve H
      
      Good point, the days of several 40 HR hitters is gone. If Montero does get to 40 I bet it will be as a DH/1B down the road, not as a C.
      - Ivan
        
        Well Montero has always been rated to have 80 power on the 20-80 scale, so I think he can surely potentially hit 40+ homers in the future. I mean Piazza had a couple 40+ homer seasons. Im not saying that Montero is going to hit 40+ homers year in and year out but even if he remain at catcher, he can surely hit 40 bombs. The dude’s power is ridiculous.
  - larryf
    
    I’d put Pujols in there. Montero has incredible RF power and has hit a bunch of screaming line drive doubles to left that may get over the fence with additional strength in the years to come. I think Big Hurt is faster :-(
    - Jobu
      
      Is faster today, or was faster when he was playing? If it is the former, we may be in for some interesting on field mayhem.
voIII

With the resurgence of Betances and Brackman, the steady progress of Romine and Montero, and the outstanding debuts of Sanchez, Culver and others to go along with the breakouts of Laird and Nova it has been a huge year for the Yankee Farm System…I would be interested to know where it ranks now…Top 10?
- Mike Pop
  
  10-15 range sounds about right.
  - pat
    
    Callis said it’s Top 10
    
    http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/chat/2010/2610578.html
    - Mike Pop
      
      Apologies. That’s bad ass. They’ve come a long way.
      - pat
        
        Yea it helps when pretty much all of your high ceiling guys poo on teh haterz.
    - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bring-Melvin-To-America/193013541601?ref=sgm Andy In Sunny Daytona
      
      I will bet, when it all washes out, BA will rate the Red Sox minor league system better than the Yankees.
      - Zack
        
        I believe Casey Kelly is now a 6-star prospect, while all Yankee prospect have been kicked down a level- until they get traded, then they will be bumped up another level.
        
        Gonzo
        
        Callis said the Yanks will be rated higher if you don’t count recent draftees. Pretty wild.
        
        http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bring-Melvin-To-America/193013541601?ref=sgm Andy In Sunny Daytona
        
        But BA will count the recent draftees, and even though the Sox draftees have done absolutely nothing this year, it will put the Sox over the top.
        
        BA loves Boston. They are their hype-men just as much as Peter Gammons.
      - Ted Nelson
        
        “o (ct): Let’s get this straight, you are saying the Yanks system is in better shape than the sox?
        
        Jim Callis: I did say that, yes.”
        
        Maybe BA on a whole goes for the Sox, but Callis seems pretty set on the Yankees.
http://www.twitter.com/jordan_smed JGS

“Montero’s two homers help win division title”

#headlinesfromthenextfewyears
Doug

A 5:05 start count as a day game? If so, today’s 2 dingers were Montero’s first 2 in the daylight all season
BklynJT

Montero… 2hrs… jizzed my pants when i read that.
- http://nyystadiuminsider.com nick
  
  Ew.
- http://www.yfsf.org AndrewYF
  
  I wasn’t wearing pants.
Naved

Brackman will be in AAA next year to start. Betances and Man Ban will join him if they perform like they did this year
dan

Out of adam warren, d.j.mitchell, dave phelps, andrew brackman, dellin betances which is most likely to be traded by the yankees a year from now! Please Reply.
- pat
  
  Mitchell and Warren most likely. And don’t beg to be replied to. It’s annoying. Consider this a courtesy reply.
  - Joe
    
    calm down bro there is no harm he asked politely…the answer to your question in my mind is either phelps or warren because they are more wanted than mitchell in my mind.
- Carlosologist
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PR_rzF8ofw
- http://soxandpinstripes.net Angelo
  
  Haha, you always ask these questions. And people will reply to things, don’t stress it. I’d say Warren and Phelps because Brackman and Dellin have the type of the potential the Yankees are unlikely to part with (unless it’s a big time player in return.
  
  Plus, Warren and Phelps are both solid prospects, that the Yankees won’t necessarily need (as starters.) But these things are hard to predict because it all depends on the player being traded for. Brackman and Betances, would each be centerpieces in a big trade. Warren and Phelps, would be centerpieces in a smaller level trade.
YankeesJunkieinMadrid

Depending on how the rotation pans out the AAA rotation is already packed. I see that Phelps and Mitchell will both automatically be in the rotation. Then you have guys like Pendleton and Noesi, then even guys like Moseley and Nova that might start in AAA next year. However, I think Warren and Brackman will be the first two to get the call up either at the start of 2011 or very early because Warren is more polished and Brackman has more experience in AA. I think Betances and Banuelos spend at least half a year in AA before even considering calling them up.
- Joe
  
  why wouldnt Noesi be automatically in the rotation…
Naved

Andrew Brackman will be a September Call up the latest next year. Calling it right now.
sleepykarl

Montero’s hr trot reminds me of the old school footage of the Babe scooting around. The slow pace, short steps in which it looks more like a walk than jog.
- http://soxandpinstripes.net Angelo
  
  Montero will = Babe Ruth
  
  /Book it’d
  
  (I can dream)
Doug

Breaking down the Manchild’s season into thirds:

1st 38 games: .241/.320/.380/.700 (adjusting to AAA pitching)
2nd 38 games: .264/.338/.436/.774 (heating up)
last 38 games: .357/.411/.693/1.104 (en fuego)

And since the start of his hot streak, he’s .345/.406/.642/1.048 over 62 games.
- ColoYank
  
  Very cool post, Doug. I enjoyed it very much.
Rob

Why can’t montero come up and learn under, girardi,posada and most of all Tony pena. ??? I’m calling it he will be in out lineup as a catcher sharing time with posada.
- Camilo Gerardo
  
  cervelli couldn’t hurt, either