Should Russell Martin's hot start effect the catching prospects?

The sweet sound of John Sterling calling a Russell Martin homer in french. While John Sterling's calls might be lame or hated by Yankee fans, it does mean the bombers have added at least a run on the board. Last night at Camden Yards in Baltimore Sterling had the chance to yell his "Russell has muscle" line twice, to add to his total of  6 so far this season. So with Martin's resurgence, the question many Yankee fans are asking, is it time to trade Jesus Montero and some of the other catching prospects?

Let me start by saying that the Yankees could and likely should trade any of the prospects if the right trade comes along. The prospects I am talking about are Jesus Montero, Austin Romine, J.R. Murphy and Gary Sanchez. I don't think that anyone would complain if Montero was sent to Seattle and the Yanks got back Felix Hernandez in return, but their would be an outrage if the Yanks wanted to ship him off to Chicago for someone like Carlos Zambrano. So the deal must be right for the Yanks, but what about the over load of catchers in the minors with a top 10 catcher in the majors? Well I think it's safe to say that of course it is just April and Martin could just be having a great month. He is injury prone, and is set to put up career highs, I think its safe to say that nobody would expect Martin to hit close to 40 homers this season, but that's the pace he is on track for. Martin has been the arguably the Yanks MVP thru the first 17 games, and is so valuable Joe Girardi has sat him just once all season.

While Martin is having a great season in the majors, four prospects are pondering their future in the minors. Montero is the lighting it up in AAA hitting .414, he did struggle during spring training, but that shouldn't effect his overall out look. Romine is more of a defensive catcher, but could proved the occasional hit, Gary Sanchez is very young but could be similar to Montero in a few seasons. Murphy is the biggest unknown, but is suppose to be a fair all around player. The Yankees won't need four catchers, but shouldn't trade them all.

Martin has been on a hot start but will it last? Looking at past history I doubt that. At the trade deadline of the Yankees wanted to trade away one of the catching prospects for a pitcher of equal value I would have no issue, but at this point no need to trade away a bright future for a hot start.

Things to watch for in Spring Training

Hughes,CC and Burnett

Ah the green grass, the crack of the bat and the fresh breeze of a new season starting. No that is not happening in New York yet, but rather in Tampa, Florida where the Yankees pitchers and catchers report tomorrow. With a new season, it brings new questions and things to look for..

The battle for the back end of the rotation: The sky began falling once the Phillies swooped in and signed Cliff Lee, and then completely fell just last week when Andy Pettitte announced his retirement. The pitching rotation starts out strong with workhorse CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and AJ Burnett. But that is followed by a pair of question marks. The main candidates include Freddy Garcia, Bartolo Colon, Ivan Nova, and Sergio Mitre along with many rookie long shots.
My prediction before a single pitch is thrown is that the last two starters are Freddy Garcia and Ivan Nova.

Montero, Cervelli and Posada

Who's behind the plate? In Gran Torino Clint Eastwood often muttered "Get off my lawn", one of these days I'm expecting Jorge Posada to tell the young catchers to get out from behind his plate. The proud catcher has been told that he will be DHing this season although he insists that he could still catch if he wanted to. The Yanks have top prospect Jesus Montero lined up for the job but are afraid to rush him, Cashman signed Russel Martin this off season and has said on numerous occasions that he will be the starter, and you cant forget about Francisco Cervelli.

My prediction is that Yankee fans will have to wait to see Jesus Montero later in the season, Russell Martin will gain the starting job with Cervelli as his back up.

Eric Chavez in better
and healthier days.

Who's benched: Normally being benched is a bad thing, but in spring training the chance to win a job as a bench player is the goal of many young players and aging veterans. Last season the bombers had Ramiro Pena, Austin Kearns and Marcus Thames as the main stays coming off the bench. The only one of those returning is Ramiro Pena and his job is no longer secure. Former World Series villain Andruw Jones was signed to a guaranteed deal so one spot on the bench is already filled. To fill the infield spot include Pena, Eduardo Nunez, Eric Chavez and Ronnie Belliard. The first two are more defense oriented and can play multiple infield spots while Chavez and Bellaird are the more famous players, but are known for their bat and aren't as versatile. If the Yanks wanna carry two outfielders instead of two infielders then Greg Golsen and Justin Maxwell could earn a job, but both are long shots.

My prediction is that Ramiro Pena and Ronnie Belliard join Andruw Jones as the main bench guys. I would love to see Eric Chavez get a shot, but the injury risk is too large.

The invited: I have called this off season "The year of the minor league deal" since Brian Cashman was handing these out like it was Halloween. Each season teams invite minor league and major league players players to spring training on a non guaranteed contract. Once in spring training the players battle for any available jobs, the losers of those competitions are either released or sent to the minor leagues. Some noticeable names on the list are former big leaguers Mark Prior, Neal Cotts, and Luis Ayala. Will any of them make the team? Yeah, except that team is the Scranton Yankees.

The Decision: Cliff Lee style

(This is a look into the future, of what may happen with Cliff Lee)
::  Screen fades black::
Next thing you know Peter Gammons is sitting with Cliff Lee in his home in Arkansas. A Deer's head is mounted on the wall behind Lee, who is sitting in an office chair next to a table with the hats of the Yankees and Rangers. Gammons asks a few questions that Lee answers gives bland answers to. Gammons finally asks who will Cliff Lee play for in the 2011 MLB season. Lee answers " It was a tough choice, but after milking both teams for as much money as possible, I plan to bring pitching talents back to Arlington." Gasps can be heard throughout the baseball universe, wondering why in the world Lee would want to play for a team that has only just made its first World Series appearance instead of for the team that has won 27 titles.

R.I.P Freddy, but you are correct if the Yankees don't get Lee,
expect a state of emergecy in the Bronx.

While the Rangers celebrate yet another victory over the Yankees, the bombers try and figure what option number two is. While many Yankee fans are angry at Cliff Lee and will once again spit and verbally abuse his wife, fault can also be blamed on Brian Cashman. Cashman had  let all the other free agents pass him by while he put on the full court press for Lee. The fall back options are gone, and the other 29 teams realize that the Yankees are in complete panic mode. The Yankees look around the market and choose to take on the risk of Zach Grienke, trading away the future in Jesus Montero, Dellin Betances and other blue chip prospects. Grienke, mental disorder and all comes to New York and makes Kevin Brown look like a normal guy and has the fans begging for Javier Vazquez back. Meanwhile in Kansas City, Montero is playing like the second coming of a young Jorge Posada in his rookie season.

::Flash forward to the Texas Rangers side:: Cliff Lee comes back to Nolan Ryan in open arms, it may have cost the Rangers over $155 million but they have Lee back for the next seven years, until he is 39 years old. While making Cliff Lee one of the richest if not the richest pitcher of all time the Rangers made a huge mistake and repeat there own history. Just like in the winter of 2000 when the Rangers signed Alex Rodriguez, the Rangers will have locked up one player at such a large salary that over the next few years they won't be able to re-sign key free agent of there own. The Rangers will have to sit back and watch as Josh Hamilton, Ian Kinsker, CJ Wilson and Michael Young bolt for other teams, because they could not offer them enough years and money with killing their own payroll. As for the fans, that once cheered on the Rangers during the 2010 World Series run, well they have all left just like the free agents, going back to following the Dallas Cowboys and college football 365 days a year.

Of course this could all be false if Cliff Lee signs with the Yankees. If that's the case then the Yankees will have the best team in the American League and will once again be World Series favorites in 2011 and likely add a few championships over the next few years. The Rangers on the other hand won't turn out as poorly as everyone thinks they will. They will have lost prospects once they traded for Lee, but with the money that comes off the payroll and the draft pick that they will receive from the Yankees the Rangers will be able to continue to be a competitive team in the AL West for years to come.

What does Jorge think of DHing?

Seems safe to say that Posada still thinks he can catch, but stats show otherwise. Earlier this week Jorge's wife Laura tweeted that Posada will be the DH all next season, other news outlets had reported similar things. It makes the most sense that at this time the Yankees use Jesus Montero and add a defense minded catcher as a free agent.

Jesus could be with the Yankees in 2011

From today's NY Daily News : "The consensus among the Yankees' high command is that Montero who turns 21 on Nov. 28 - is ready to assume the starting catcher's job, according to a source with knowledge of the team's thinking."

Its about time, I could no longer watch Jorge Posada constantly running to the back stop to retrieve the ball or not even attempting a throw to second. Scouts have claimed that Jesus Montero is not the best defensive catcher, but is one of the best offensive players in the minors. I'll admit that while I am unsure if Montero is ready it cant hurt to give him a shot, in the mean time, they should go out and sign a catcher who may not produce much with the bat, but is great defensively. Think Jose Molina. If they could do that, they would be able to trade away Francisco Cervelli, and not be forced to call up Montero till after Memorial day and save a year before his is arbitration eligible.

Yanks vs Rangers 8/10/10 wrap up : Yanks don't play big in Texas

Other then the heat here in New York you would have though that tonight's game in Texas was game 1 of the playoffs. In what could end up being a playoff match up this October, the Rangers won the game in walk off fashion in the 10th inning with a David Murphy single off Mariano Rivera.

Truth be told I had never expected the Yankees to compete in this game with a line up that included Marcus Thames hitting third, Austin Kearns hitting fifth and A.J Burnett making his first start since experiencing back spasms.Burnett pitched well giving up three runs over seven innings and was saved from getting a loss when Alex Rodriguez hit a clutch solo homer to tie the score at three in the eighth.

The game would go into extra innings and Joe Girardi would summon the great Mariano Rivera to keep the Yanks in the game, but something surprising happened. Rivera would give up the walk off hit. If you are looking in the box score it will show that Rivera gave up three hits. But two of the hits were hit so soft that the Yanks could not get the runners out.

Yankees Player of the Game: Alex Rodriguez

A-Rod hit the game tying home run, and had this been pre-2009 Postseason it would have lead to a debate over if he was clutch or not. Alex also had a brilliant diving play in the tenth inning on a Vlad Guerrero ground ball that was ticketed to left field. At the time the play saved the Rangers from winning the game, but was over shadowed once Daniel Murphy got the base hit to win it.

Second Guess Move of the Game :

Sadly their are a few moves to choose from, starting with why didn't Girardi pinch hit Posada for Cervelli in the eight inning when the go ahead run was on third base. Girardi said following the game that Posada's shoulder was sore and he would not have been able to catch. If that really is the case then I think that it may be time to bring up Jesus Montero and give him a shot. I know that Montero is not much better then Posada defensively but at least he has hit in the minors, and in the spot tonight would have been able to catch had Posada been used as a pinch hitter. Cervelli hit a weak jam shot to the first baseman, and Brett Gardner continued to slump by not getting the run in.

Honorable Mention : The timing on when Girardi was going to use Mariano Rivera.

Currently the Yankee universe is in panic, the Yanks have now lost two games in a row in heart breaking fashion and Wednesdays game does not get much better with the Rangers throwing Cliff Lee. Javier Vazquez will go for the Bronx Bombers, last time out Vazquez struggled with his command and his fastball lacked velocity. If there is any consolation it is that following the Rangers series the Yanks head to Kansas City to take on the lowly Royals for four games and then head back to the stadium for games against the Tigers and Mariners.

Today 10AM :Welcome Cliff Lee ! Later that day : Who needs Lee !

Following a Yankee victory, late last night while many on the east coast slept Brian Cashman began to discuss Cliff Lee with the team that was just beat by the bombers. Many media outlets were reporting that a deal was close to done, with Cliff Lee heading to NY and the Mariners receiving Jesus Montero,David Adams and another prospect. Last minute the M's backed out according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports because of Adams ankle injury. The Mariners then turned to the Texas Rangers and traded Lee to them for Justin Smoak a young first baseman and three prospects.The Yankees were annoyed at how the M's backed out and one Yankees official was quoted as saying "You just don't do business that way" according to Rosenthal.

With all the hoopla surrounding Lebron James and his decsion to go to Miami and create an All Star team with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh this trade would have done the same for the Yankees(My opinion on Lebron is he took the easy way out,and should have stayed in Cleveland). The Yankees would have actually had too much starting pitching had they added Lee this season.

With the rotation the way it is currently with CC,A.J,Pettitte,Hughes and Javy their isn't anyone you can clearly just remove. CC and Andy would not be removed in any way since they are both having all star seasons. Vazquez could have been possibly traded but has pitched the best of the starting five since May 12th pitching to a 3.05 ERA. Javy is in his last contract year, and has a partial no trade clause. A.J is owed so much money that it wouldn't make sense to put him in the bullpen and make it hard for the Yanks to trade him. Hughes hasn't pitched as well the past few starts but still has had a break out season, he is still 80 innings away from his innings limit. So if Lee was traded to the Yanks it would have made the most sense to go with a six man rotation until Hughes reached his inning limit and then use him in the bullpen.

When they first announced the trade look near for the Yankees, I wasn't too thrilled at the idea of adding a pitcher that they really don't need. Then the thoughts of the famous Sports Illustrated with George Steinbrenner and the 2003 Yankees, with the headline saying "You can never have enough pitching". I also though about how great the post season rotation would be come (aside from the fact the rotation will look like something out of a video game). The negative about the deal would be killing the farm system by removing Zach Mcallister,David Adams and Jesus Montero for a player that can be easily bought this winter.

Maybe its the arrogance of being a Yankees fan but the Yanks are going to get Lee this off season anyways so why trade away a top hitter like Montero who has been compared to Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez. In the mean time I was happier that the Yankees would not be facing Lee tonight and with the Texas Rangers being in a financial mess it seems very unlikely they would be able to re-sign him.